Sprinters Star
7:01am Monday 21st May 2012 in Athletics By Pat Calnan
It has been a remarkable few days for the sprinters of Blackheath & Bromley led by the exploits of James Alaka and Dina Asher Smith. At the PAC-12 Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, James achieved the Olympic A qualifying standard for the 200 metres when he ran 20.45 to win. It is the fastest time by a Briton this year. Not only this, he also broke his own Club Record in the 100 metres when he finished second in 10.22, the third quickest by a Briton this year.
He has been developing steadily since joining the Club as an 11 year old and Dina Asher Smith is making similar progress. She has broken two Club Under 17 records this week . At the Sainsburys Schools Games in the Olympic Arena, she won the 200 metres in 24.01. Then, at the County Championships at Ashford she took two hundredths of a second off Montell Douglas’ record winning the 100 metres in 11.75. These performances rank her top of the National Under 17 200 metres lists and second in the 100 metres.
Louis Mascarenhas just missed out on a gold medal in the Schools Games finishing runner up in the discus with a throw of 43.73, only 12 centimetres behind the winner..
Most successful Senior at the Kent Championships was Shaunagh Brown with a hat trick of gold medals, winning the shot, discus and hammer contests with distances of 15.87, 49.72 and 57.59. Training partner Steve Timmins won the shot with a new best of 14.24, and took silver in the Hammer and bronze in the discus, an impressive weekend from an over 35.
The Club had a clean sweep of the medals in the pole vault and the 200 metres. Liz Hughes won the vault with a clearance of 3.50 from Rachel Arnheim (3.40) and Christina Moore (3.10). Montell Douglas took gold in the 200 in 24.26 from Serita Solomon and Grace Sheppard.
Grace returned the next day to win the 100 metres in 12.85 and more track success came courtesy of James Poole who won the 800 metres. Back in the field Sandra Alaneme won the triple jump title with a leap of 12.42.
The medals continued to be won in the under 20 age group. Rachel Dickens was in dominant form in the 400 metres winning by nearly six seconds in a seasons best of 55.99. Rhiannon Jones continued her successful first year in this age group by winning the 100 metre hurdles in 15.27 while Samantha Brown won the 400 hurdles in 63.87. Craig Morten won the mens 400 hurdles in 55.76.
Tom Parker was an impressive winner of the hammer with a distance of 57.64 which ranks him 7th in the country. Ellie Duffy Penny continued the medal charge as she won the discus with a throw of 35.06 and Frances Read won the long jump with a leap of 5.16.
As well as Dina Asher Smith’s 100 metre Championship Best Performance in the 100 metres, Shannon Hylton won the 200 metres in 25.20, a new best, as was her 12.11 in finishing third in the 100. Twin sister Cheriece won the 300 metres in 40.32. In the field, victories came from Alex Wheelwright in the high jump with a clearance of 1.55, and from Gemma Brown with a new best throw of 37.66 in the discus.
More throws success came in the under 15s age group where Akina Gondwe-Onobrauche won the shot with a distance of 9.98.
At the Surrey Championships at Kingston, Oweka Wanogho claimed the Senior Mens 200 metre title with a time of 21.81and he was also third in the 100 in 10.75.
First year under 17 Stefan Amokwandoh impressed again in the triple jump winning with a leap of 13.26 and more jumps success came in the under 15s age group as Jed Botham won the long jump with a leap of 5.90. On the track Maya Bruney won the under 15 girls 200 metres in 25.41. The British Masters Athletics Federation Road Relays took place at Sutton Coldfield with the Club’s best placing coming in the womens over 35 age group. The quartet of Julie Reynolds, Rosie Ferguson, Kate Pratten and Carolyna Jones Baldock finished in 6th place in a time of one hour twenty three minutes and thirty three seconds.
The mens over 35s team was incomplete but, nevertheless first leg runner Steve Cooper did clock a very useful 16.32 on the opening stage. Mark Ellison, Andy Lawes, Adrian Stocks and Ian Montgomery made up the other stages.
Keith Ewing who ran an excellent 16.12 for the over 45s team on the opening stage. With subsequent legs from Neil Ayrton, Mark Watling, Steve Pairman, Roy Smith and Con Griffin, the Club finished in 10th position. Organiser Anne Cilia flew the flag in the womens over 45s race.
The womens over 55s team finished in a very useful 7th place thanks to the efforts of Helen Godsell, Annie McDonough and Maz Turner.
Maz’s husband John, who she first met when they were both celebrating their 18 birthdays 44 years ago next month, is currently engaged on a most ambitious project, to run from John O’Groats to Lands End with fellow Club Member Pete Rogers. They aim to raise money for The Cure Parkinsons Trust.
The dynamic duo have now covered well over 630 miles and have now reached Yanley, near Bristol having just crossed the Severn Bridge and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Anyone wishing to sponsor the duo should visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/TheJogleBrothers To keep updated on their progress visit www.offexploring.com/Jogler Jamie Gosnell was the Club’s first finisher in the latest Bromley Parkrun at Norman Park. He finished in 12th place in 18.54 with Andy Tucker 17th and Barry Wetherilt 65th. First female from the Club to finish was Georgina Piper in 116th with Tracey Ashenden 139th.
As the Club fields teams in all age groups, from under 13s upwards to the Masters age groups, it always welcome new members. The Club has a Competition Policy which aims to provide appropriate levels of competition to all athletes of all abilities.
For further information on your particular interest please e-mail enquiries@bandbhac.org.uk Alternatively leave details on the Club answer phone service on 020 8462 3115.
For all the latest Club news visit the website at www.bandbhac.org.uk
