Crawley victorious again in National Young Athletes League; Woking, Sunday May 20th 2012

Despite reasonable weather forecasts the second National Young Athletes League match at Woking turned out to be another cold and overcast event. However, the cool temperatures, impending school examinations, road works and poor signage for the venue, did not put off the Crawley young athletes who attended in larger numbers than the previous competition at Sutton. They also achieved better performances, both as teams and individuals.

Hot-foot to victory
Whilst all the athletes and officials contributed to the marvellous overall score of 829 points special mention has to go to Lauren Callaghan who competed in the U15 Girls 1500m. The race started with all the girls jostling for position, amongst all the 'argy-bargy', Lauren's foot got clipped and she lost one of her spiked running shoes, meaning Lauren had to run over 1400m wearing only one shoe. Undeterred, Lauren took the lead for most of the remainder of the race, and after her Horsham rival passed her in the home straight, she found the speed to out-kick her rival for an impressive victory. In the same race, Hannah Westwood also sprinted to victory in the b-string. Earlier Sophie Mansfield ran from the front to victory in the U15G 800m. In his first race for the club this season, Fraser Thompson was a strong winner in the U15B 1500m, while Ben Golding easily won the U17M 1500m. Both Matt Boxall (U15B) and Matt Franklin (U17M) ran new personal bests in their 800m races.

Matt Boxall looks worried as dad and team manager discuss the possiblity of Matt running steeplechase

In the U13 Girls team three athletes dominated their respective events. Orla Brothers won all her events; 75m sprint (10.4s), 150m sprint (21.1s) and long jump (4.13m). On the track Estelle Ireland won her 75m (10.9s) and 150m (21.4s) sprint races whilst in the field Lillie Franks leapt into first place in long jump (4.20m) and high jump (1.30m).

Not to be outdone the U13 Boys responded with fine performances. Joe Massimo continued his domination of sprinting winning the 100m (13.0s) and 200m (26.3s) events but unfortunately had to withdraw from long jump and relay with an achilles injury. Jamie Kealey won his 200m (28.7s) sprint, whilst Christian Lee won his 1500m (5.05.3s) race and Alex Jenkins was a fine second in high jump (1.33m) after winning his b-string 75m hurdles race. Other successful hurdlers were Matthew Overall (U17M 100m Hurdles), Joel Buckett (U17M 400m Hurdles) and Melissa Cheeseman (U15G 80m Hurdles).

Sophie Mansfield	Melissa Cheeseman

The U15B heavy throwing double act was in action again, with this time Jonny Haines (44.94m) taking the honours in hammer from Munroe Ritchie (42.43m). Munroe went on to win shot (11.77m) and discus (32.97m). A special mention for Justin Tarrant who despite appearing on crutches took part in discus and shot for the team. Justin was joined in the throws by an injured Sam Cunningham, who having damaged his hamstring and unable to run, also did his best for the team!

By far the best performing team on the day were the U17 Women, especially in the field. Robyn Petitt returned to form in high jump (1.65m). Beth Crocker won triple jump (10.7m), came second in 80m hurdles and won long jump (5.01m). Ima Ekanem came second in her three throwing events; shot (7.84m), but her discus (28.22m) and hammer (17.40m) were PBs. Holly Talbut-Smith came a close second in the 300m hurdles (47.8s), whilst Asha McAlphine won the long jump (4.69m). 

Joel Buckett was the pick of the U17 Men sprinters with a new PB in winning the B-string 200m (23.9s). At close of play the U17 Men sprint teams excelled themselves by winning the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, whilst the U13 Girls and U17 Women won their respective relay races.

As a result of all the hard work and determination Crawley AC finished 168 points ahead of their nearest rivals on the day, Guildford & Godalming. Crawley are now well placed in the table with two wins and good collection of points but need to maintain the enthusiasm and commitment for the final match at Guildford.

photos courtesy of Darrill Stoddart - Wallpatches

Sussex Athletics Championships 12th/13th May 2012 - Crawley medal winners

Bright, blustery conditions awaited the athletes for the 2012 Susssex AA Championships held at Crawley's K2 Leisure Centre. First gold medal of the Championships was won by Joel Buckett with a fine 59.4 in the U17M 400m Hurdles; next on the track George Grainger won the U20 Mens 400m Hurdles (60.8) with Griffin Shiel finishing third (62.0). In the ladies events, Claire Stokes won Senior Ladies 400m Hurdles Gold (69.0) and, making only her second attempt at the event, Holly Talbut-Smith gained the U17 Women 300m Hurdles Bronze (47.9).

In the sprint hurdles, the multi-talented Beth Crocker won bronze in the U17 Womens 80m Hurdles (12.5) before Amy Barclay raced to a fast (13.9) for victory in the Senior Ladies 100m H, the following wind being over the allowed limit for the time to stand as a new club record. For the men there were two bronze medals; Toby Lane U17 Men 100m Hurdles (15.2) and decathlete Jono Ketley U20 Men 110m Hurdles (16.5).

The jumps saw Jono Ketley take the silver in the U20 Mens Long Jump (6.18m); Matt Warren bronze in the U17 Mens (5.77m); Robin Pettit earned silver in the U17 Women High Jump (1.65m) while Beth Crocker added bronze (1.60m) before leaping to Silver in the U17Womens Long Jump (5.20m) and Gold in the U17 Womens Triple Jump (10.71m) - quite a medal haul for Beth!

Jason Hussain was Crawley's star sprinter with a double in the Senior Mens 100m (11.1) and 200m (21.2). Jason's 200m was wind-aided so won't stand as a new club record. Other great sprints were from Chris Brownlee; U20 Men 100m Silver (11.5) and Fraser Cobb; U15 Boys 100m Bronze (12.7).

In the women's sprints, Shekinah George-Lawal took the gold with 12.6 in the U15 Girls 100m, while Amy Barclay (12.3) added the 100m silver to her earlier hurdles triumph. Kim Baptiste took the honours in the Senior Womens 200m (25.5) holding off club record holder Carley Wenham (25.9). Jess Cook won silver in the U20 Womens 200m (28.0) while Steph Shackel stormed around the curve to take Gold in the U15 Girls 200m (27.9)

The U20 Mens 200m saw a battle between two Crawley athletes for the first two medal places, with Jobe Cann (22.5) holding off Rob Allan (22.8). Allan returned the following day to win another silver, clocking 51.6 in the U20 Mens 400m. Also performing well in the one lap event, Matty Franklin followed up a fine heat performance by winning the bronze medal in the U17 Mens 400m with a time of 54.1. The ladies 400m races brought victory for Carley Wenham with 58.0 in the Senior Women, Claire Stokes ran 63.2 for bronze, while Jess Cook saw 65.7 good enough for silver in the U20 Women.

The Senior Men's 800m saw some brave front running by Nick Duggan who took third place (1:55.5) after being passed in the final few metres. Matt Peel ran 4:07.0 in the Senior Mens 1500m, his strong finish to hold off the third place runner gaining him the silver. The busiest Crawley middle distance athlete of the weekend was U17 Ben Golding. After comfortably finishing second in his heat to qualify, Golding took silver in the U17 Mens 800m final (2:01.7). Returning the next day to contest his unfavoured 1500m, Golding smashed 11 seconds from his personal best, running a very strong final 100m to earn the bronze (4:10.1). In the ladies there were two gold medals, Sophie Mansfield running strongly from the front of the race won the U15 Girls 800m (2:20.4), while Abi Ashbee-Simmonds won U20 Womens 800m (2:19.3).

One of the outstanding performances was Orla Brothers victory in the U13 Girls minithon; Orla long jumped 4.26m, threw the discus 20.19m and ran 150m in 20.5 to record 75 points, Sian Bishop took the bronze with a 1.33m High Jump, 5.54m Shot and 20.8 150m (65 points).

Hammer Time! New record for Matt

The field events saw further Crawley success with the highlight being a new championship best in the U20 Mens Hammer for Matt Lasis (63.86m), Matt's winning distance is a new Crawley U20Men record; Matt's brother James Lasis threw 58.01m to win the U17 Mens Hammer with James Hebbard earning the Bronze (35.33m). The strength in depth of the Crawley AC throwers was demonstrated by medals for Jonny Haines; U15 Boys Hammer Gold (44.79m), James Kennedy; U15 Boys Hammer Silver (42.94m), Lauren Thynne; U15 Girls Hammer Bronze (26.15m). Gold for James Hebbard U17M Shot (11.66m), Sam Cunningham bronze (9.95m); U15 Boys Shot; Jonny Haines Silver (9.83m); U15 Boys Discus; Jonny Haines Bronze (24.89) U17 Men Discus; James Lasis Gold (39.27); U17 Womens Discus; Ima Ekanem Gold (27.80m), U15 Girls Shot; Steph Shackel Silver (9.32m); Senior Mens Shot; David Freeman Bronze (8.60m). Steph Shackel; U15 Girls Javelin Silver (27.50m), Beth Crocker; U17 Womens Javelin Silver, yet another medal (27.54m), William Chadd; U17 Mens Javelin Bronze (36.31m)

Surrey Athletics Championships 2012 - Crawley AC results round-up

The weather was perfect for encouraging some fine medal winning and personal best performances from the small contingent of athletes from Crawley AC who went to this year’s Surrey County Championships at Kingsmeadow.

Clear skies and sun on Saturday clearly benefitted Jo Rowland in the Senior Women’s field events where she won gold in high jump 1.58m and bronze in long jump 5.53m. In the long jump pit Oliver Newport put on a display of consistent jumping over 7m and his final jump of 7.23m allowed him to take home a silver medal.

Representing the U15 Boys Matthew Boxall narrowly missed reaching the final of the 800m. On the field Munroe Ritchie caused a delay in the hammer throwing when the Field Referee was required to check his gold medal winning throw (46.50m), as it broke the existing Surrey Championship record that has stood since 1983.

The U13 Boys were represented by Christian Lee (1500m) and Elliot Bayley (javelin) who both performed well but narrowly missed out on medals. However, Joseph Massimo had a storming day taking a silver medal in long jump (4.92m) and a gold medal in 200m (26.35s) – both results breaking existing club records.

After an overcast start to Sunday the sun came out and the successes for Crawley athletes continued. Jo Rowland returned to the field to take part in the Senior Women’s shot putt and added a silver medal (12.70m) to her weekend collection.

Munroe Ritchie returned to the field in a tightly formed discus contest that went to the last throws when he produced a new personal best throw (37.08m) to take gold. He then moved across to the shot area where despite consistent putting he was unable to catch the leader and settled for a well-earned silver medal (11.52m).

Joe Massimo returned to battle with the Surrey sprinters in the 100m winning his heat in the same time as the winner of the first heat. The scene was set for a battle royal but in the final nobody could catch Joe as he broke another club record and took gold (12.94s).