Senior club records updated
The senior track and field club records reflect the best performances throughout the club at any age group and are, therefore, the most prestigious in the club. Any new record reflects a best performance ever achieved by a WADAC athlete and is, therefore, something to be celebrated.
n For those interested in the history of the club track & field records, a decision was taken 18 months or so ago that it was impossible to validate performances before the turn of the century, when the internet was not as well established. We, therefore, drew a line on 1st January 2000 and the club records reflect all performances beyond this date, when it is clearly able to validate them on pof10 or other websites. We do keep a record of pre 2000 performances in the club archive but in terms of all-time performances, the club records cover the last 21 years.
nIn terms of female performances, Natasha Mitchell (walks coach Clare Mitchell) broke both the 3000m & 5000m walk records this year, the latter in winning the English national title in Manchester in August. I mentioned Shelley Parr (self coached) yesterday in listing the new masters club records, breaking the discus club record. The 4th club record broken was in the hammer with Tamsin Hoult (coach Martin McBriar) having a fine season. The 5th club record broken was in the long jump where 14 year old Arabella Wilson (coach Andy Fisher) leapt 5.48m.
nOther top 3 senior female performances were recorded in the 100m were Arabella Wilson ran 12.50 to win the Surrey county title in August to go 2nd on the club's senior list. Rebecca Mitchell (walks coach Clare Mitchell) joined her sister on the senior lists with all time 3rd place performances in both the 3000m & 5000m walks. The U15 girls 4 x 100m team of Grace Weeks (coach Gary Bettridge), Abi Belward, Carys Jeffries & Arabella Wilson (all coached by Andy Fisher) went 2nd in the all time senior lists. Grace Colmer (coach Andy Fisher) leapt to 5.46m in the long jump, just 2cm behind her training partner Bella, to go 2nd in the long jump senior lists. Natasha Mitchell (vault coach Elias Mtshweni) also went 2nd in the senior pole vault list. Liv Busher (coached out of club) went 2nd in the javelin lists with her only throw with the 600g spear and this is surely a senior club record that will be broken next year. Finally, Jasmine Gordon (coach Martin McBriar) went 2nd on the club's hammer lists and again this is a record that will no doubt be revised next year with Tamsin & Jasmine both improving rapidly with the 4kg hammer.
nNow onto the men, where Stuart McCallum (coached out of club) broke the club's mile record and we are very proud that Stuart continues as a WADAC athlete, despite working away from the area. The other senior male record to fall was in the hammer where Sam Clifton (coach Jeremy Clifton) threw 46.85m with the 7.26kg hammer.
nThere were some notable top 3 performances. David Mitchell (walks coach Clare Mitchell) went 2nd in the club's 3000m walk senior list. Harry Crosby (coach Andy Fisher) jumped to 7.22m for 2nd place in the club's senior lists, a performance that helped Harry achieve his GB junior vest in August. Oliver Thatcher (coach Andy Fisher) became only the 2nd WADAC man to clear the 2m barrier in the high jump when he jumped 2.01m for 2nd place in the senior lists. This performance helped secure Oliver a track & field scholarship to the States and he has been enjoying life in North Carolina for the last 2 months. Joe Marchant (self coached) enjoyed some time out from professional rugby to go 3rd in the club's discus lists and Joe has enjoyed a fine start to the premiership season with Harlequins. Joe also went 2nd in the hammer senior list.
nThe next set of records to be released will be for the U20s; look out for these in a report to hit the website early next week.