ASHFORD AC narrowly missed promotion to the Premier Division in the National Junior League after finishing a superb third in the promotion meeting at Barnet Cophall Stadium.
They were edged out by Woodford Green/Essex Ladies and Herts Phoenix but it was a terrific climax to the season after winning the Kent Medway Division.
The girls were outstanding finishing second in their match after a sterling effort to cover as many events as possible despite athletes missing with injury or holiday commitments while the boys were seventh.
Stars of the girls team were again the high jumpers with a brilliant double success Debbie Martin winning the A event with 1.65m with Laura Hanagan taking the B victory with a personal best 1.50m.
Debbie was also third in the A triple jump while Laura was third in the A 400m hurdles and second in the B 100m hurdles.
Another victory came in the B 400m hurdles which was a just reward for Sam Beckett after her wholehearted support in a multitude of roles over the season.
Ashford athlete of the match went to Isabel Dickinson for her brilliant efforts covering the 400m, 800m, 1500m and 3000m but this was again a real team effort with fine performances from Lucy Holmes, Rachel Hanagan, Caroline Hatley, Louise Barclay, Caitlin Dock, Amelia Jones and Abbie Purkiss.
Amelia, a promising middle distance runner, took fine seconds in the A 800m and and B police vault with Caitlen second in the A pole vault.
The boys also worked hard to try and cover the events but celebrated just the one victory another commanding throw in the A javelin by Chris Blandford with 47.32m. Chris also scored well in the shot, discus and hammer.
U17 Ollie Rudd did well for a third in the B javelin and also had personal bests in the high jump and triple jump.
Another two personal bests were recorded by Callum Burgess in the sprint hurdles and 200m steeplechase while bests were chalked up by Neil Daughters (800m) and Jack Wreathall and Aaron Kellow in the 3000m.
Blake Robinson had two fine second places in the shot and discus but once again there were terrific efforts from Chris Meakin, Ashley Cochran, Declan O’Driscoll Andy Robertson, Will Dickinson and Jack Huxley.
The whole team deserve awards for their determination and positive attitude. They are still in the Medway division of the league for next season and it will be hoped after this performance that there will be more support so that athletes can perhaps be able to concentrate on their specific event or events to try to go some way to achieving their own personal goals.
Final positions: 1 Woodford Green & Essex Ladies 510, 2 Herts Phoenix 485, 3 Ashford AC 411.5. 4 Southampton 389, 5 Medway & Maidstone 324, 6 Harrow 319.5, 7 Brighton & Hove 315, 8 Reading 255.
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Squad just miss promotion
Ashford take NJL title
ASHFORD AC have won the Medway Division of the National Junior League and are looking to secure a place in the Premier Division at the promotion match at Copthall on August 28.
Also challenging are Kent rivals Medway and Maidstone who just edged out Ashford in the final league match at Canterbury.
Stars of the final meeting were Debbie Martin and Lucy Holmes who set up two double victories in the triple jump and high jump.
Debbie took the A triple jump with a personal best 10.17m with Lucy taking the B points with 8.69m while in the A high jump Debbie was a convincing winner with 1.65m with Lucy again shining with the B win with 1.30m. Lucy was also second in the A long jump and B javelin.
Another win came in the girls’ pole vault taken by Caitlin Dock with 2.70m while Sam Beckett won the 400m hurdles with 71.9 and Caitlin was second in the B long jump with a pb of 4.35m.
Kayleigh Miller-Leslie had a fine win in the B 100m with a personal best 12.8 which would have put her in the top three of the A event but once again this was a fine team effort convincingly winning the girls competition from M&M.
Amber Regardsoe picked up good points in the discus and hammer with fine support from Lizzie Highwood who had personal bests in both events.
Louise Barclay also had a couple of pbs with good runs in the 3000m and B 800m with Isabel Dickinson also scoring well in the distance runs while Sam Beckett, Kim Smith and Amelia Jones did well in the shorter races. Isabel had personal bests in the 400m and 1500m.
Kirsten Hooten was just pipped by 5cm into second in the A javelin and was second in the B shot.
The boys were third after just two event wins with Quazim Omotosho taking the A discus with a 33.32m throw and he was third with a personal best 22.55m in the A hammer and third in the shot with another best of 8.70m.
The only other maximum came in the B triple jump from Oliver Rudd with a personal best 10.25m.
George Huxley had a couple of fine seconds in the hurdles event with 16.2 in the 100m and 62.4 in the 400m and George had another pb to earn points in the shot.
Ashford battled to cover all the events so there were fine efforts from Will Dickinson, Jack Huxley, Ben Cox, Ashley Corcoran, Neil Daughters and Chris Meakin.
Young athletes on target
FOLLOWING in the footsteps of the Ashford AC UKYAL team success, the under 20/17 team of athletes continued their supremacy of the National Junior League (Medway division) with a runaway win in the third match of the season at Bexley.
Once again the key to success was rallying to the team call and covering as many events as possible. In fact the 26 athletes contested practically every event.
Highlight of the day was, undoubtedly, Nathan Fatola’s debut triple jump win with a massive effort of 13.22 metres, which places him in the top 20 in the UK.
With one more match to go the team would need to do very poorly not to win the league and qualify for a promotion invite. However, this will still need the same level of commitment and endeavour.
Working together never worked so well!! Well done everyone.
Women’s team: – Rachel Hanagan, Laura Hanagan, Samantha Becket, Kim Smith, Amelia Jones, Isobel Dickinson, Lucy Holmes, Caroline Hatley, Caitlin Dock, Amber Regardsoe, Lizzie Highwood, Debbie Martin.
Rachel, Sam and Kim with the support of Amelia, covered the sprints up to 400m, with Rachel also gaining two wins in the long and triple jump. Amelia also won the 1500m and B string pole vault, enhancing her versatility.
Reliable team member, Izzie, took on the 3000m and 800m, a tough task and also supported Lucy in the javelin.
Laura amassed a big points total with excellent performances in the long and triple jump, shot putt and 100m hurdles, where she completed an Ashford double first with Caroline. Laura’s triple jump was also a double first with sister Rachel.
Amber contested the shot, discus and hammer, ably supported by Laura, Lizzie and Rachel, with Lizzie’s discus throw achieving a pb.
Lucy bravely took on the 800m to ensure points for the team adding to her fine win in the javelin and second place long jump.
The women’s rounded off their day with a resounding win in the 4 x 400m relay, recording a very respectable time.
Men’s team: – Andy Robertson, Jack Huxley, Blake Robinson, Nathan Fatola, Quazim Omotosho, Ben Cox, Declan O’Driscoll, George Huxley, Timi Oyedeji, Neil Daughters, Callum Burgess, Jacob Lane, Will Dickinson, Chris Meakin.
Like their colleagues in the women’s team, the men were determined to cover all events, and incredibly they only failed t0 in one event, the 2000m steeple chase B string – an excellent effort.
The sprints were contested by Nathan, Chris, Tmi and Ben, with George and Ben tackling the 400m. Nathan added to his effort with good points in the long jump and his first class win in the triple jump, where he was supported by Will.
Acting team manager, Andy Robertson, led by example in contesting the 2000m steeple chase, 110m hurdles and the 400m hurdles, in the long hurdles, Andy was rewarded with a massive 4 seconds improvement on his best time. He was supported by Jacob who contested the B string as well as the pole vault.
The middle distance events, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, gave Declan, Neil and Callum a full afternoon’s work, earning a tremendous tally of points. Jack stepped in to help with the 1500m and javelin as well as equalling his pb in the pole vault.
Having a rest from 400m hurdling, George gained two pbs in the 100m and 110m hurdles, the hurdles also being a new club record.
The throwing events were left to Blake and Quazim, who between them amassed over 60 points, with Blake achieving a pb in the shot putt.
Although somewhat outclassed in the relays, both squads did compete in and complete the events, again earning valuable points.
Both the women’s and men’s teams put in sterling performances and were deserving of praise from the club for their team spirit, patently obvious to all.
Match scores: 1. Ashford AC 516 pts; 2. Medway & Maidstone AC 408 pts; 3. Dartford Harriers 1127.5 pts; 4. Dartford Harriers 333 pts; 5. Bexley AC 189 pts; 6. Croydon Harriers 161 pts; 7. Invicta/Paddock Wood 150 pts; 8. Tonbridge AC 106 pts.
League positions after 3 matches: : 1. Ashford AC 1326 pts; 2. Medway & Maidstone AC 1144.5 pts; 3. Cambridge Harriers 364 pts; 4. Cambridge Harriers 950pts; 5. Invicta/Paddock Wood 579 pts; 6. Bexley AC 537 pts; 7. Tonbridge AC 517 pts; 8. Croydon Harriers 320 pts.
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