Alex runs another pb
It is a sign of how far the club has come that we had 6 young athletes competing at the National U20/U23 champs in Chelmsford at the weekend and this would have been more but Lily Neate (coach Nick Anderson) had to withdraw through injury and Annie Mann (coach James Mann) was resting after her record breaking efforts on Wednesday.
nStar of the show as he has been all season was Alex Beck (coach Mark Upton) who recorded a new pb and absolute club record (the fastest anyone at the club has ever run over the distance) of 47.30 in coming 2nd in the U20 mens 400m. This breaks Louis Sellers 15 year old club record and Alex's ears surely would have been burning at the selectors meeting yesterday for the Commonwealth Youth games although we will have to wait a little while for the outcome of this meeting. Alex's record breaking run was achieved despite food poisoning earlier in the week and when you finish with superstar Charlie Carvell (4th in the Euro U20 champs in 2021 after just turning 17) in your sights you know the time is going to be a good one. Alex himself is still only 16 years old and coach Mark Upton has done fantastic coaching job with the long speed sensation.
nArabella Wilson (coach Andy Fisher) was WADAC's one winner of the weekend as she won the U18W 400mh (some U18 races had been put on at the champs to help facilitate qualifying times for the CYG) in another CYG qualifying time of 60.86 secs and no doubt her ears were also burning at the CYG selection meeting yesterday.
nCharlie Elford Pond (coach Eric Davison) took 4th place in the U20 mens hammer throwing a smidge under his pb with the 6kg weight and although Charlie can lament the lack of a hammer competition at the CYG, there is an U18 International fixture in August in the shape of the Manchester International so the rest of his season is an excting one as he returns to form.
nOliver Thatcher (coach Andy Fisher) taking his summer rest from collegiate life in the States was 4th in the U23 mens long jump with a wind legal effort of 6.83m and this was a fine jump given Oliver is far from fully fit after a frustrating year of minor injuries.
nSam Clifton (coach Jeremy Clifton) was 5th in the U23 mens hammer although Sam will have been disappointed to only manage 2 legal throws.
nMia Judd (coach Tony Bateman) completed the WADAC entries and Mia was 6th in the U20 womens HJ despite competing up an age group and Mia once more jumped 1.70m to show what a season she is having.
nSo 6 top 6 finishes from the WADAC contingent at the National champs as the season continues to fill the highlights reels from our superstar young athletes.
