Club see records fall at Kettering Open,
while they mix with the stars at the Diamond League meeting in Birmingham
Rugby & Northampton Athletic Club reaped the rewards for a season of hard work with a string of personal-best performances at the Kettering Open.
Satchin Thethy had a day to remember as he notched new personal records in the under-11 boys 100m and 200m, completing the shorter distance in 15.2 seconds and the longer in 31.0.
In the girls event, Megan Burge continued her excellent season with a time of 11.5 in the 75m, and PB of 22.7 in the 150m. Zoe Gardner also scored her quickest time over 150m as she crossed the line in 23.1.
In the under-13s, Ella Watford’s 15.5 seconds over 100m was her record run, while Will Dean ran 14.8 for 100m and 29.3 across 200m.
The fastest time of the day in the 100m came from Clinton Osaba-George, who recorded 11.3, while he took a PB time of 22.1 in the 200m.
An excellent run in windy conditions saw Noah Bennett finish in 1.53.9 across 600m in the under-11 boys, while Grace Hughes (1.59.4) also put on a promising show in the girls category.
There were strong runs in the 800m from Charis Hayes (U-15G, 2.34.3) and Jack Carey (U-15B, 2.22.4), while Peter Currington took the fastest time of the day, finishing in a season’s best 2.03.8. Gus Stapleton showed promise in his first race for the club, completing the distance in 2.41.3.
Further personal-best times came in the 1500m, with Claudia Searle (U-11G, 5.37.7), Amelia McMurtrie (U-13G, 5.34.0) and brother William McMurtrie (U-15B, 5.03.5) all registering their fastest times so far.
R&N’s success continued in the field, as Lily-May Pursey broke a club record that has stood since 2007, throwing 9.31m in the shot put to write her name in to the record books.
Freya Cole (U-15G, 6.73) added her name to the list of PBs in the shot put, while promising performances came in the long jump from Megan French (U-13G, 3.70) and Grace Brown (U-13G, 3.26).
Ben Gidley threw a PB 36.67 in difficult conditions in the under-13 boys Javelin, while there were clearances of 1.7m in the high jump for senior man Andy Reeve and veteran Ian Gidley, in a competition that included two competitors from the Commonwealth Games.
Rugby and Northampton’s mixed relay squads took part in the Diamond League curtain-raiser at Birmingham last weekend, warming-up with athletics legends such as London 2012 gold medallists Greg Rutherford, David R
udisha and Carmelita Jeter.
Starting off with the agility competition, which covers a range of athletic disciplines from running, throwing and sprinting, the R&N team performed outstandingly over all age groups.
The under-17s then wowed the crowds in the relay with a superb debut race. Tom Cheyne’s blistering start saw him pass brilliantly to Tia Clues who then handed to Rico Ewer, who handed over to Simone Ager following a world-class bend. Ager then took up the anchor leg and was only narrowly beaten in to third.
Will Dean, Adele Blenkinsop, Alfie Bowers and Elizabeth Truslove came home a fraction behind fourth in the under-13s race, while a barnstorming last leg from Katie Print helped the under-15s team – made up of Print, Tom Jasper, Laurone Ager and Sam Tutt – to fourth in the under-15s.
The teams spent time talking to GB star Jodie Williams alongside Rudisha, Rutherford and Jeter, who passed on hints, tips and advice on what was a fantastic day for the club members.
More pictures to follow in the Gallery
