Southern Athletics League #5, Colchester
The track and field season is finally over. This report focuses on our overall track and field performance throughout the summer, rather than individual results from the final SAL match (which was windy and, overall, not really a day for PBs – unless your name is Gokce Baydar, in which case you smash the women’s V35 pole vault club record with a whopping 2.20 m and the triple jump club record with a leap of 8.03 m).
At the beginning of the season, we had only recently been promoted from third to second division; we had no track and minimal field (which rapidly became a large mud hole). Athletes were grumbling about having to travel the extra distance to New River, and many suspected that this might be a low point for the club in the Heathside T&F disciplines and competition reputation.
However, as work progressed on our new track, membership and participation in training did not appear to be affected. In fact, we have gained new T&F members, including promising younger athletes as well as seasoned, more ‘mature’ runners who had previously only ever competed in road races. From such a vast and talented pool, we were able to fill every event in the SAL A and B string for the men’s and women’s teams at every single match (a result that not many other clubs managed). This was aided by our international athletes who flew in from abroad to help out, as well as the masses of non-scorers we brought to every match (challenge: name one other club that can provide 3 non-scoring steeple chasing women at an SAL match).
As a result of all this, in 5 short months, we showed the other clubs what we are really made of, and went on to get 2nd place in four matches and 1st place in one match. This was not an easy feat, considering the tough competition we were up against. Bearing in mind that we were only recently promoted, I think most of us would have been happy just to hold our own in the second division. It remains to be seen whether we will be promoted or not. But to come out on top as we have done this season is certainly something to be proud of!
Before we pack away our track spikes and scrub last year’s mud off our cross country shoes, I would like to thank a few people who have put a lot of work into making this T&F season a success at Heathside. Our officials Ivor, Ben, Suzette, John F, John L, Tony, Ed, Angela, Takis, Jessica, Steve, Pete, Gianni, Claire, Chris, Mark, Jacob, Lily, Greg, Richard, Dolci and Israel (I hope I didn’t miss anyone!) ensured that the competitions ran smoothly and were well organized. Our coaches Chris, Kabir, Mark, Jacob, Nathan, Zac and Mike are the reason that Heathside athletes are consistently getting PBs, breaking club records and winning medals at national and international competitions. Our diligent and dedicated membership secretary, Steve, ensured that all our SAL scoring athletes were properly registered to compete (often by registering athletes the day before the competition in response to last minute emails from unorganized team managers). This put us in an advantageous position when the SAL committee deducted points from any club whose athletes were not properly registered. Chairman Jerry provided all round support throughout the season.
Finally, a massive shout out goes to Dave Walton, without whom we certainly would not have any track to speak of. Dave has worked tirelessly to obtain funding to build a brand spanking new track (complete with electronic timing and functioning flood lights!!). Through Dave’s work, we will soon have a first-rate track at which we can host open meetings. Not only is this fantastic news for the current members of the club, but it will also attract new members to Heathside. And we will finally be able to test out the new track at our club champs on Sunday 18th September. However, I do worry about the Heathside steeple chasers when they see the new track. Will they recognise the water jump? And will they realise that they actually have to jump into the water rather than skim across a thick layer of mould and slime, narrowly avoiding the Lucozade bottle? Dave, have we got funding to get those essential water jump items back in place?
Final team scores:
Havering AC: 196.5
London Heathside: 191.5
Ipswich: 165
Colchester & Tendring: 158
|
MEN |
NAME |
RESULT |
POSITION(TEAM) |
|
100 m |
Ashley Braithwaite |
11.7 |
3(A) |
|
Jeremy Firth |
11.5 |
2(B) |
|
|
Cono Ariti |
14.3 |
NS |
|
|
Kevin Simpson |
11.7 |
NS |
|
|
Sam Brown |
13.0 |
NS |
|
|
Emmanuel Nwaobodo |
11.5 |
NS |
|
|
Mike Bense |
13.0 |
NS |
|
|
200 m |
Jeremy Firth |
23.6 |
2(A) |
|
Kevin Simpson |
23.8 |
2(B) |
|
|
Mike Bense |
27.2 |
NS |
|
|
Jimmy Thoronka |
24.6 |
NS |
|
|
Ashley Braithwaite |
25.1 |
NS |
|
|
Cono Ariti |
30.4 |
NS |
|
|
Sam Brown |
28.3 |
NS |
|
|
400 m |
Kevin Simpson |
54.4 |
4(A) |
|
Michael Fernie |
57.1 |
3(B) |
|
|
Ed Garrett |
55.4 |
NS |
|
|
800 m |
Adam Kirk-Smith |
1:56.3 |
1(A) |
|
Richard Macaulay |
2:03.3 |
1(B) |
|
|
Ed Garrett |
2.07.2 |
NS |
|
|
Adam Ibrahim |
2.19.7 |
NS |
|
|
Liam Garrett |
2.21.1 |
NS |
|
|
1500 m |
James Wooldridge |
4:26.2 |
4(A) |
|
Liam Garrett |
4:48.0 |
2(B) |
|
|
Adrian Essex |
6:10.4 |
NS |
|
|
5000 m |
Adam Kirk-Smith |
15:12.0 |
2(A) |
|
James Wooldridge |
16:49.5 |
1(B) |
|
|
Jonathan Litchfield |
18:38.8 |
NS |
|
|
Jacob Howe |
18:54.1 |
NS |
|
|
110 mH |
Israel Nworgu |
16.4 |
1(A) |
|
Ivan Ross |
21.7 |
1(B) |
|
|
400 mH |
Ivan Ross |
63.8 |
3(A) |
|
Israel Nworgu |
65.9 |
1(B) |
|
|
2000 m SC |
Adam Kirk-Smith |
6:10.2 |
1(A) |
|
Richard Macaulay |
6:43.4 |
1(B) |
|
|
Jacob Phillips |
7:47.9 |
NS |
|
|
HJ |
Ivan Ross |
1.40 |
4(A) |
|
Jacob Phillips |
1.35 |
4(B) |
|
|
PV |
Duncan Hicklin |
2.90 |
2(A) |
|
Ivan Ross |
2.70 |
2(B) |
|
|
LJ |
Emmanuel Nwaobodo |
6.38 |
2(A) |
|
Mark Lawrence |
5.81 |
2(B) |
|
|
Sam Brown |
4.65 |
NS |
|
|
TJ |
Emmanuel Nwaobodo |
12.64 |
1(A) |
|
Mark Lawrence |
12.25 |
1(B) |
|
|
Sam Brown |
9.67 |
NS |
|
|
SP |
Izaiah Turner |
10.90 |
2(A) |
|
Adrian Essex |
6.89 |
4(B) |
|
|
DT |
Izaiah Turner |
31.06 |
2(A) |
|
Ivan Ross |
21.31 |
3(B) |
|
|
HT |
Izaiah Turner |
30.11 |
3(A) |
|
Adrian Essex |
15.69 |
3(B) |
|
|
JT |
Jimmy Thoronka |
45.53 |
3(A) |
|
Ivan Ross |
35.54 |
3(B) |
|
|
Izaiah Turner |
31.50 |
NS |
|
|
4x100 |
Jimmy Thoronka |
43.9 |
3 |
|
Emmanuel Nwaobodo |
|||
|
Jeremy Firth |
|||
|
Ashley Braithwaite |
|||
|
4x400 |
Richard Macaulay |
3:41.8 |
3 |
|
Jimmy Thoronka |
|||
|
Michael Fernie |
|||
|
Adam Kirk-Smith |
|
WOMEN |
NAME |
RESULT |
POSITION(TEAM) |
|
100 m |
Alishia Abodunde |
13.6 |
4(A) |
|
Anca Leuca |
14.0 |
3(B) |
|
|
Claudia Bioh |
13.7 |
NS |
|
|
Helene Kehoe |
15.0 |
NS |
|
|
200 m |
Alishia Abodunde |
28.4 |
4(A) |
|
Noelle O'Regan |
28.6 |
2(B) |
|
|
Anca Leuca |
30.1 |
NS |
|
|
Claudia Bioh |
29.6 |
NS |
|
|
Helene Kehoe |
31.9 |
NS |
|
|
400 m |
Noelle O'Regan |
63.8 |
2(A) |
|
Anna McAllister |
70.1 |
4(B) |
|
|
800 m |
Ula Cartwright-Finch |
2:26.2 |
3(A) |
|
Sue Rust |
2:39.4 |
1(B) |
|
|
1500 m |
Celine Murray |
5:07.7 |
2(A) |
|
Sue Rust |
5:19.0 |
1(B) |
|
|
Eilidh Wagstaff |
5:25.2 |
NS |
|
|
Leigh James |
5:27.1 |
NS |
|
|
3000 m |
Celine Murray |
10:55.9 |
1(A) |
|
Leigh James |
11:10.8 |
1(B) |
|
|
Lily Woolcock |
11:52.4 |
NS |
|
|
Jennifer Wing |
12:01.5 |
NS |
|
|
Satu Hietanen |
14:00.0 |
NS |
|
|
Jessica Vinluan |
14:37.4 |
NS |
|
|
100 mH |
Lauren Hendry |
19.3 |
3(A) |
|
Genevieve Weston |
24.0 |
3(B) |
|
|
400 mH |
Lauren Hendry |
1:21.9 |
4(A) |
|
Genevieve Weston |
1.28.9 |
1(B) |
|
|
2000 m SC |
Jennifer Wing |
8:41.5 |
2(A) |
|
Genevieve Weston |
9:09.2 |
1(B) |
|
|
HJ |
Stephanie Kleynhans |
1.45 |
2(A) |
|
Anna McAllister |
1.30 |
2(B) |
|
|
Jennifer Wing |
1.35 |
NS |
|
|
PV |
Gokce Baydar |
2.20 |
1(A) |
|
Genevieve Weston |
1.20 |
1(B) |
|
|
LJ |
Stephanie Kleynhans |
5.00 |
2(A) |
|
Gokce Baydar |
3.74 |
3(B) |
|
|
Anne-Christine Scherer |
4.05 |
NS |
|
|
TJ |
Gokce Baydar |
8.03 |
4(A) |
|
Lauren Hendry |
7.97 |
4(B) |
|
|
SP |
Stephanie Kleynhans |
9.50 |
2(A) |
|
Anne-Christine Scherer |
9.18 |
2(B) |
|
|
Lauren Hendry |
6.41 |
NS |
|
|
DT |
Noelle O'Regan |
25.71 |
3(A) |
|
Lauren Hendry |
16.35 |
4(B) |
|
|
Helene Kehoe |
19.81 |
NS |
|
|
HT |
Noelle O'Regan |
22.67 |
3(A) |
|
Helene Kehoe |
15.45 |
3(B) |
|
|
JT |
Gokce Baydar |
13.61 |
4(A) |
|
Lauren Hendry |
12.81 |
4(B) |
|
|
4x100 |
Anca Leuca |
53.6 |
3 |
|
Noelle O'Regan |
|||
|
Anne-Christine Scherer |
|||
|
Alishia Abodunde |
|||
|
4x400 |
Noelle O'Regan |
4:27.2 |
3 |
|
Anne-Christine Scherer |
|||
|
Ula Cartwright-Finch |
|||
|
Anna McAllister |