Wells City Harrier Emily Smith was 2nd in the 3000m steeplechase at the England Athletics Senior Championships this past Saturday (August 1st) at Bedford. Emily ran a new personal best of 10.52 for the distance, taking 3 seconds off her previous best. Also competing well this past weekend were a number of the juniors at the SW Cup match, and Tim Hawkins running at the Sturminster Half.
Emily was running in her final track event of the summer before heading off on a long summer holiday.She has had a successful track season overall, taking 25 seconds off her time for this event from the previous year and moving from 7th in the national u20 rankings in 2014 to being 5th in the national rankings for a first year u23 athlete this year. (photo above shows Emily in her black Avon & Somerset vest on the podium)
Meanwhile on the Sunday in the South West Athletics League cup Match, u15s Elise and Ollie Thorner both had great competitions when they competed as part of the combined Yeovil and Wells team that finished in 3rd place overall. They were part of a competitive team, that despite missing several athletes due to holidays still managed to muster some good performances.
Elise won the High Jump with 1.55m, was 3rd in the 1500m with 5.04 (her first 1500 m of the season) and was 3rd in the Shot put with a personal best of 8.23m. twin brother Ollie was 2nd in the 80m Hurdles with a nippy 12.35 for a massive personal best, won the High Jump with 1.75m, and was 3rd in the Shot put with another pb of 9.64m.
Also competing well at Exeter was u17 Michael Biss who was 4th in the 800m with 2.10. For the senior men Sam Harding achieved a double victory with a pb when winning the 400m with 52.02, and a win over 800m with 2.01. On the Tuesday before at a regional British Milers Club event at Exeter Arena, Ollie Thorner managed to lower his 800m personal best to 2.11, whilst Elise ran a 2.19 for the 800m at the same event.
On the road this past weekend Tim Hawkins was 13th in the Sturminster Newton Half marathon on Sunday with 82.13 in a field of 380 finishers. Coming up this next week is the final fixture in the Club’s British Mens League Div 3 match on Saturday, August 8th at Yeovil; and the monthly Yeovilton 5km road race on Wednesday August 12th.
Entries are now being taken for the Harrier supported Baltonsborough 5 mile Road Race and junior races due to take place on the Bank Holiday Monday, August 31st in conjunction with the annual Baltonsborough Fete. See Harrier calendar for all details and entry form.