THE WEEKEND THAT WAS
UK ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sale Harriers were, as ever, among Britain's best at the weekend's UK Senior Championships at Sportcity.
LAZARUS BENJAMIN added the Pole Vault silver to his bronze medal last year. From his recent England championship title, he's ready for take-off for the U20 European Championship in August.
KIRSTY LAW retained the silver medal she won last year. She wrote on social media “I'm so happy to take the silver with a seasons best 57.30.This one means a lot. If this season has taught me anything, it's to have fun and enjoy what you do. This season has been tough for a number of reasons, and I'm so grateful for the love and support from my family friends and Coach”. Kirsty was the British Discus Champion in 2020 and is a multi Discus medallist over the years.
JONA EFOLOKO won the 200m bronze with a 20.45 PB. Readers will know that the club's Olympian last year won European and Commonwealth Gold and World Championship bronze in the 4 x 100 metres relays.
SEUN OKOME leapt to a personal best of 15.93m (+2.0) in round six to secure his British bronze triple jump medal and he adds it to last year's bronze.
GABRIELLE GARBER, the club's 2nd claim High Jumper and the UK's No.1 in the U20 rankings, won the bronze medal with a PB and European qualifying standard of 1.81m.
There were several of the club's very talented youngsters with great futures who gained invaluable experience in this major cauldron. Some even produced PB's. Of special note....
- U20 SUCCESS EDUAN recorded a 200m PB of 23.20 to rank 2nd in her U20 age-group in Europe. Her time is also a club record beating Sale Harrier's very own SHAUNNA THOMPSON's 15 year old 200m record of 23.42 set in 2008 at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India.
- RACHEL BENNETT, new to Sale Harriers, recorded a 200m PB of 23.66 to now rank 3rd nationally in her U23 age group.
- U20 FREYA DOCKERTY recorded a 100m Hurdles PB of 13.99.
- U23 EWAN BRADLEY dipped under 14m for the 1st time in the 110m Hurdles to record a PB of 13.99 to rank 4th in the UK.
- SHAUNNA THOMPSON recorded her best ever position in the Shot in this Championship. As in February's UK Indoor Championships she just missed out on bronze in 4th place.
- There were several more of the club's talented youngsters with great futures who gained invaluable experience in this major, intimidating cauldron. Some even produced PB's. Of special note....
- U20 SUCCESS EDUAN recorded a 200m PB of 23.20 to rank 2nd in her U20 age-group in Europe. Her time is also a club record beating Sale Harrier's very own SHAUNNA THOMPSON's 15 year old 200m record of 23.42 set in 2008 at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India.
- RACHEL BENNETT, new to Sale Harriers, recorded a 200m PB of 23.66 to now rank 3rd nationally in her U23 age group.
- U20 FREYA DOCKERTY recorded a 100m Hurdles PB of 13.99.
- U23 EWAN BRADLEY dipped under 14m for the 1st time in the 110m Hurdles to record a PB of 13.99 to rank 4th in the UK.
- Then there were TESS Mc HUGH (400m), MAX WHARTON (1500m), MEGAN DAVIES (1500m), JESS SPILSBURY (1500m), HERMIONE MASON (400m Hurdles), HANNAH BLOOD (Hammer), SOPHIE ASHURST (Pole Vault), Olympian ABIGAIL IROZURU (Long Jump) REYNOLD BANIJO (Long Jump), NICHOLAS WALSH (100m) and MARCUS Mc CLEAN (100m).
SIZZLER 2
Among the 28 Harriers who participated in the 2nd club promotion of the 4 x 5k Sizzler series, those with good reason to celebrate were:-
- FINLAY GODDARD who was again 1st U20 and JACKIE CORDINGLEY again 1st L60
- KATHY WELLAM who ran her fastest 5k since 2016.
- WAYNE SHAW (19.08) who improved his PB by 5 seconds, SOPHIE ARMITAGE (20.57) who improved by 23 seconds; DMITRY ROZHDESTVENSKIY (21.37) by 34 seconds, DEBBIE Mc EVOY(24.14) by16 seconds and M70 GEOFF BEATTIE (25.36) who improved 40 seconds on his 1stSizzler
- MARCUS NICHOLSON (16.20), BARNABY GORDON (19.06), LUCY COOKE (19.30), HEATHER LENNOX (26.51) and LISA WORMLEIGHTON (26.56) all made their 5k debuts.
- The encouraging turn-out of a new generation of volunteers to take this important club promotion into the future is applauded.
WILMSLOW SUMMER 10k
The Wilmslow Summer 10k is the North-West's super fast, popular course with 2,500 finishers this year. Thirty green-hooped vest were among them in pursuit of fast times and lifetime best performances. Most of the club's 30 runners had every reason to celebrate.
They drank from the elixir of a PB
KEN HUNT (32.24): A 15 second PB on his Manchester 10k
STEVEN HENDERSON (34.16): A 9 second PB on 2022 Lytham 10k
CHRIS MILES (35.52): A 38 second PB on Trafford 10k
JON SMALLEY (36.12): A 14 second PB on 2021 Wilmslow Festive 10k
JON TERRY (37.02): A 18 second PB on last year's race
CHRIS WEBB (44.19): A 12 second PB on last year's Trafford 10k
DEBBIE Mc EVOY (50.44): A 35 second PB on last year's race
CHRIS TAIT (37.19): Debut 10k
BARNABY GORDAN (39.36): Debut 10k
HEATHER LENNOX: (57.45) Debut 10k
It was their best of 2023 (so far!)
PAUL PETERS (32.34)
TOM STEPHENSON (33.36)
JASON BOWERS (36.44)
DUANE CORDINGLEY-GAUNT (39.15)
ALISTAIR KELL (39.28)
KATHERINE BARKER (44.11)
JOHN MORRIS (43.58)
FRANK CORDINGLEY (47.16)
HELEN REAGAN (57.38)
JACKIE CORDINGLEY (44.51) was 2nd L60 and JOHN ARCHER (49.36) was 3rd M70