Author: Team Kennet Administrator

Team Kennet were back in action in the final Wessex Young Athletes match of the Season being held at Aldershot in the Military Stadium.

A big squad of over 45 athletes turned up and in between thundery showers the Yellow/Blue vests of West Berkshire secured a great team victory to secure a top 6 overall finish in a league of 26 clubs.

Match Score

Team Kennet         398

Slough Jun            345

Oxford City           315

Aldershot             306

Radley                 236

Andover               114

On the Day there were age group wins from the under 13 Girls and Under 13 Boys and Under 15 Boys.

The Under 13 Girls secured their 3rd match win of the season to secure a top 3 in their age group league, Ella Larkin stole the show for the girls as she stormed ahead in the 800m to win with a top UK 25 time of 2.25.68 actually ranking her 2nd in the UK for her own age, Affra Bailey ran a great race to win the B string 800m in 2.48.8, in the Longer 1500m Elodie Burdett came home in 2nd place with 5.39.6 and Penelope Lyth won the B string. The only other win on the track came from the 4 x 100m (Larkin, Matilda Clare, Isla Ladds, Orlagh Stratford) clocking 58.7.

On the Field a superb double win came in the Long Jump with both TK girls matching each other, Matilda Clare winning the event 4.07 and Ella Larkin winning the B string 4.05., B string wins in the throws came from Clare in the Javelin and Affra Bailey in the Shot 5.22, Bailey secured a fine 2nd place in the High jump with 1.20.

14 TK u13 girls turned up for the club which they all contributed well towards non scoring and point scoring.

The under 13 Boys as the season has unfolded have grown in confidence with more boys joining the club, secured their second match win in a row. A Double win came in the 100m with Jenson Nichols 13.7 and new comer Owen Tilsley 14.0, in the 200m Seb Lane had to settle for 2nd place in the A string 29.5, Tilsley picked up his 2nd win in the B string 29.4. Another Track win came in the 4 x 100m relay with Tilsley, Nichols, Sam Atkins and Lane clocking 56.7 to win by over 10m.

The field events is where the boys pick up high points, this was again in the Javelin as a double win came from Nichols throwing 37.62 to secure a UK number 7 spot and Josh Bailey winning the B string. Nichols made it another win in the Discus 22.87 and team mate as all season Alfie Cronk secured a B string win 14.23, Sam Atkins won the B string Long Jump with 3.80.

The under 15 Boys also secured their second win of the season, On the Track Harry Smith earned a great p.b. in the 1500m to win in 4.41.95 with Frank Edwards securing a B win also a p.b. in 4.53.49, The 300m secured another Double win Noah Lauder-Clarke 43.8 and Smith 46.9.

Matias Manrique Huelglas ran well in his sprints best 2nd place in the 200m 25.7 and the 4 x 100m relay team of Lauder-Clarke, Smith, Oscar Larkin and Huelglas were just pipped in to 2nd place 56.0.

The field as with the younger boys also secured high points, a Double win came in the High Jump from Lauder Clarke 1.35 and Oscar Larkin 1.20, Lauder Clarke made it another double win in the Javelin throwing 37.15 and Berkay Altuntas winning the B string 21.25, The Discus Altuntas threw 37.24 to win with Oscar Hook winning the B string 25.15 and to make it a hatrick of double win in the throws Hook won the Shot with 10.54 and Altuntas winning the B string 10.33

The under 17 men welcomed James Simmons back after exams scoring well in the 100m 12.99 and 200m 26.08, Haydn James came 2nd in his 400m 58.65, on the Field Theo Nightingale came 2nd in the High Jump 1.75 in awful conditions, in the Long Jump Nightingale took a win 5.52 and James Simmons was beaten by 1cm in to 2nd place 4.97.

On to the throws in the Javelin Will McDonald came 2nd 37.92 and Turkay Altuntas secured a win 24.50, Altuntas had to settle for 2nd in his favourite event the Discus 36.73, but made it up in the Shot with a win 13.31 and James winning the B string 10.53

The under 17 men finished in third place.

The under 15 girls unfortunately lost 3 of its athletes in the week which put a dent in the team score, but the 5 girls that were there gave all their best to secure high points, Double win came in the Long Jump with Issy Payne 4.57 and Emerald Hill Sawyer 4.19, New Comer Tanishi Banerjee enjoyed her first outing for the club as she won her Javelin 27.52, won her Discus 25.54  and made it a hat trick of wins in the Shot 9.54, Annie Warner came 3rd in the 1500m 5.51.6 and Olivia Rayfield clocked 14.1 in the 100m and 30.4 in the 200m both 4th places, Issy Payne clocking 14.0 in the B string 100m for 3rd place and Hill Sawyer 29.2 for also 3rd in the A string 200m

In the under 17 Girls age group Chloe O Riordan made a welcome return coming 2nd in her 300m 46.9, 5th in her 200m 30.3 and 3rd in the Long Jump. Suki Humphreys added a win in the Discus 20.67 and 4th in the Shot 6.19 and Amelie Tayton won her 800m 2.50.8

Team Kennet athletes were in action ahead of the track and field season at the spring open meetings.

At the Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC Young Athletes Open Alfie Cronk, under 13 was 2^nd in both his events, shot 2.81m and discus throw 15.48m.  Sister Ella Cronk, under 15, finished 3^rd in the high jump 1.25m, 7^th in the 800m 2.51 and 5^th in the long jump 4.28m.  Elodie Burdett Uder 13 was 4^th in the 800m.  Also, for the under 15 girls Emerald Hill-Sawyer finished 3^rd in the long jump 4.39m and 10^th 200m 28.64s.  Zoe Dickson Under 17, finished 1^st in the discus 21.36m and 3^rd in the hammer throw 21.58m. 

At the Radley AC Kear Memorial Open Graded Meeting held at Abingdon Tilsey Park, Grace Williams under 9 finished 2^nd in her age group in the Quadrathlon with 208 points.  Under 15 Harry Smith was 4^th in his 800m clocking 2.29.  Isla Ladds under 13 2^nd in the long jump 4.04m,  2^nd in the 100m 15.10s and Discus throw 1^st 18.02m.  Also, for the under 13 girls Quinn Joyce 3^rd in the long jump 3.61m, 2^nd in 200m 32.18s and 1^st in the 800m 2.46. 

Matias Manrique Huelgas under 15 was 5^th in the 100m 13.81s and 2^nd in the 200m 27.08s.  Zoe Dickson was again in action under 17 4^th in the discus 20.47m and 5^th in the Hammer 23.81m.

Over in Windsor at the Dennis Daly Memorial Spring Track & Field Open Meeting, Kenechi Akosa finished 2^nd in the 300m 34.89s and 11.51s in the 100m to finish 1^st U17. 

On Sunday it was over to Swindon for the Mark Cawte Memorial Open Meeting.  Ella McDonald under 13 was 6^th in javelin 18.09m and 8^th in the 150m 23.27s.  Elodie Burdett finished 3^rd in the 600m 1.59 and 12^th in the 150m 24.16s.  Will McDonald under 17 finished 6^th in the javelin 36.76m.

On Saturday Team Kennet athletes competed at the Hampshire Cross Country Championships held at Fairthorne Manor near Southampton.

The day started with the U11 girls racing in sub-zero temperatures. Matilda Saunders joined the leading group from the start and fought hard to finish a very creditable 4th in her first year in the age group. She was followed by Elodie Burdett in 13th, producing a gutsy performance despite being unwell over the Christmas and New Year period.

In the U13 race Harriet Saunders settled into the breakaway group and, with a display of strong running, finished just outside the medals in 4th. Olivia Bentley took a while to settle into the race but battled throughout and, with a fast finish, secured 14th place.

Harriet’s performance secures automatic selection for the Hampshire team however there is no county team for U11.

Ben East won the Senior Men’s Long Throw Championship Javelin today held at Loughborough University Track with a throw of 73.50m.

Team Kennet Quadkids were in action at Andover with a full squad of 20 athletes.

The U11 girls won the match overall with 846 points and the U11 boys finished 3rd overall, 824 points. Combined the took 1st place with 1670 points on the day.

Praiya Foreman finished 1st individual U11 girl scoring 226 points, close behind Matilda Saunders 225 points for 2nd place.

In the 75m sprint, Olivia Kwit was quickest 11.7s, Foreman and Hazel Bach were close behind 11.8s. In the long jump it was Foreman who leaped furthest with 3.42m, Saunders 3.37m. Foreman again took the top spot in the 600m clocking 1:55, Olivia Kwit 1:56:2. Saunders threw furthest in the vortex 29.13m. Also taking part Ines Field, Darcey Scaplehorn, Florance Randell Bird, Marlie-Jai Proctor, Isabella Chapman and Cecily Wyer.

Chester Bailey finished 2nd overall for the U11 boys scoring 237 points.

In the 75m sprint Alexander Browning was quickest 11.30s, Bailey 11.5s. Long jump Bailey took the top spot with 3.40m, Sebastian Clarke 3.07m. Bailey was quickest in the 600m 1:58:9, Matthew Jones close behind 2:00:1. Bailey threw furthest in the vortex 30.96m, Lenny Wyvill 29.92m. Also taking part Idris Gaye, James Rehill, Zac Skelton, Archie Pilling and Eoin Fussell.

Team Kennet athletes were out in force at Andover Athletics Club on Sunday 25th May to compete in the 3rd round of the Wessex Young Athletes League. Although the day remained dry, the blustery winds resulted in very challenging conditions for runners, jumpers and throwers alike. Nevertheless, the team earned an overall second place finish with 356 points, behind Abingdon on 369 points. The other teams competing were Marlborough (323 points), Isle of Wight (203.5 points), Andover (199 points) and Winchester (168.5 points).

A large Under 13 girls team meant very stiff competition for places and, with excellent performances across the disciplines, resulted in a fantastic team points total and first place club in the category. Of particular note were A String wins for Quinn Joyce (800m), Penelope Lyth (1500m) and Matilda Clare (long jump) and B String wins for Elodie Burdett (1500m), Isla Ladds (long jump) and Penelope Gorbold (discus). Second place finishes were achieved by Matilda (javelin), Affra Bailey (shot putt) and the 4x100m relay team (Penelope L, Isla, Matilda and Affra).

The Under 13 boys produced a series of strong performances which, although not always resulting in a win, earned good points and helped secure the overall category win against some very strong opposition. A String wins were achieved by Louis Cartwright, Jensen Nichols, Seb Lane and Freddy Downer (4x100m relay) and Jensen Nichols (javelin and discus). B String wins went to Louis Cartwright (long jump), Alfie Cronk (discus) and Josh Kuijten (shot putt). Second place finishes were achieved by Seb (75m hurdles and long jump), Jensen and Louis (100m), Freddy (800m and javelin) and Alfie (shot putt).

The dominance of the Team Kennet middle distance girls continued in the Under 15 category with further A String wins for Harriet Saunders (1500m) and Olivia Bentley (800m) backed up by a B String win for Annie Warner (1500m). Olivia secured a further A String win in the 200m whilst Harriet won the B String 300m. Harriet, Annie and Olivia were joined by Isobel Payne to take victory in the A String 4x100m relay. Second place finishes were achieved by Olivia Rayfield (100m and long jump) and Olivia B (300m). Despite fielding a small team, these successes, secured a very creditable second place in the category.

The Under 15 boys were up against some tough opposition on the track and, despite gaining some strong second places and good team points, missed out on individual wins. In the field the boys showed their strength however with A String wins for Berkay Altuntas (discuss and shot putt) and B String wins for Harry Smith (long jump), Berkay (javelin), Rueben Kuijten (discus) and Oscar Hook (shot putt). Second place finishes were achieved by Harry (200m and 1500m), Frank Edwards (1500m) and Euan Jones (javelin). This team performance secured second place in the category overall.

The school exam season resulted in a reduced turnout in both the women’s and men’s Under 17 events but those who competed produced a series of excellent results. In the women’s event there were wins for Zoe Dickson (A String discus and shot putt) and Suki Humphreys (B String discus and shot putt) which secured an overall fourth place. The corresponding men’s event saw victories for Turkey Altuntis (A String discuss and shot putt), Haydn James (B String long jump) and Theo Nightingale (B String shot putt). Despite fielding a small team, these performances were enough to take second place in the match.

Well done to all who competed. The final match in the series will be held at Aldershot in July.

Team Kennet Juniors took part in the second round of the Wessex Young Athletes League match at Southampton, with a strong match in hand, TK struggled to find the numbers they needed to maintain their first match.

Just of the pace the club finished in 5^th place out of 7, on a really positive note there were soo many personal best performances achieved by the squad.

The under 13 girls have been so strong this season, missing a few key athletes they battled through to finish 4^th , Matilda Clare had another successful day as she won her Javelin with a throw of 23.13, Ella McDonald backed her up with a B string win 20.40, Clare lept 4.01 in the long jump for 3^rd place, with McDonald in 6^th. On the Track two good 2^nd places came from Quinn Joyce 2.42 and Alice Stratford 2.50, Sophia Mahoney was 4^th in her 100m 14.6, while in the longer 200m Orlagh Stratford was good 3^rd in the B string 30.8.

The under 15 Girls saw an outstanding performance from Harriet saunders in the 1500m, as she pulled away to win with a fast time of 4.47.4, Olivia Bentley had a battle in the 800m to finish 2^nd in 2.28.7 which was matched in the B string with Ella Cronk 2.46, Emerald Hill Sawyer won her 300m B string in 46 seconds, in her long jump 4.73 for 3^rd place in a really strong competition, Saunders taking 3^rd in the B string 4.05

Zoe Dickson was the only u17 women to turn out she took part in the Shot and Discus.

The under 17 mens age group a double win came in the Javelin Will Mcdonald 42.90 and Turkay Altuntas 26.4, Altuntas then won his most favoured event the Discus 43.21 just missing the club record, with McDonald 2^nd B string, the pair matched up again in the Shot Altuntas throwing 13.49 for a great  win and McDonald taking 2^nd place again.

The under 15 Boys saw a tough match, Berkay Altuntas having to settle for 2^nd in the discus 28.13, with team mate Oliver Hook winning the B string 26.89, the pair matched their placings in the Shot Berkay 11.19 and Hook 10.17 and in the Javelin Euan Jones came 2^nd in the A string 28.32 and Altuntas winning the B string 28.15

Frank Edwards ran a good 1500m to finish 4^th just over 5mins

The under 13 Boys Sam Atkins cleared 1.28 in the high Jump for 3^rd place, he came 5^th in the 1500m with 5.26 and 2^nd in his 200m B string 31.5 for three new bests performances. Josh Bailey grabbed some useful points in his 200m and 1500m.

On Saturday 9 November four Team Kennet athletes travelled to Cardiff to compete in the first round of the UK Cross Challenge Series – a Gold Label event on the World Athletics Cross Country Tour and incorporating the European Trials at the next round.

First to race was Matilda Saunders in the Under 11 Girls event. Matilda ran hard from the start to stay in medal contention for two thirds of the race but couldn’t quite stay with the leaders in the closing stages eventually finishing 6th. Matilda remains in the same age group next year.

Harriet Saunders then took part in the Under 13 Girls event over a longer course. An extremely strong field had assembled for this race with athletes travelling from across the UK, including the National Record holder over the mile for this age group. Harriet fought hard throughout the race to finish a very respectable 13th.

Josh Bailey then raced the same course in the Under 13 Boys event, his first time in this age group. In one of the most exciting races of the day there was little to separate the top three as they sprinted to the finish but the high quality racing extended further down the field with Josh pacing his run well to finish in an excellent 19th place.

Last to race, over a yet longer distance, was Anna Hall in the Under 15 Girls event. In another very competitive race, Anna continued her impressive start to the cross country season by settling into the race well and producing a very strong second half to finish 27th. Anna remains in the same age group next year.