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.
The Oxford xc league began at Cornbury Estate on Sunday. Weather conditions were good for the races on what was a very tough course. First Team Kennet runner to tackle the challenge was Ella Parsons who came 12th in the girls under 11 race. Anna Hall was our other junior, finishing an excellent 7th in the girls U15 category. The men’s and ladies’ races took place over an undulating 8.2k course and In the men’s race Hefin Jones led the way in 30th and a 2nd place in the V50 category. Andy Colling was next in 128th and 2nd in the V60 category Our other finishers were 184 Phil Baker, 219 Dave Smith, 236 Mitch Poustie, 268 Simon Hockaday,299 Simon Gale and 305 Rob Parsons. Katie Reynolds flew the flag for the senior ladies finishing in 99th position.
Richard Dunbabin travelled to Torremolinos in Spain last week to compete in the 2024 World Triathlon Age-Group Championships. Richard finished 11th in his age group and was the 3rd GBR triathlete over the line. Due to his success this means he will pre-qualify for next years World Championships, for the 3rd successive year.
Several Team Kennet athletes were in action over the last week and some of the end of season track and field open meetings.
Penelope Lyth attended the Oxford Midweek open, the final round for the season competing under floodlights in the 800m and finished 2nd in the U13 girls category.
Turkay Altuntas won the shot with a throw of 12.95m at the Radley Open Meet. Theo Nightingale was 2nd in the High Jump with a new PB 1.82m. Chester Bailey entered the Quadrathlon finishing in 4th place.
Great time was had by all TK members at the Overton 5 mile race last Sunday. A rolling course (to put it mildly!) but with a downhill finish in the last mile which was more than welcome! Opening race of the Hampshire Road race league ensured some fast club runners were in attendance. First over the line for Team Kennet was Nick Burdett, MV50 35:02 11th MV50, Mitchell Poustie followed 36:59 20th MV40, Simon Hockaday 41:17 25th MV55, Julia Gaye 45:56 15th FV40, and Simon Gale 46:51 34th MV50. Elodie Burdett took part in the junior race finishing 1st overall.
Harriet and Matilda Saunders of Team Kennet were in action over the weekend at the Bournemouth Open. Poor weather hampered their early performances, but Matilda ran a huge PB in the 600m of 2:01.85 to clinch second place overall in the QuadKids event and not to be out done Harriet powered to victory in the U13 girls 800m in a PB of 2:34.33.
Team Kennet secured a match win at the recent Oxford Young Athletes League match held at Abingdon to take the overall League title and taking some age group league Titles as well from Under 17 Women and Under 13 Girls.
Match score
1st Team Kennet 39
2nd Oxford City 37
3rd Abingdon 30
3rd Banbury 30
5th Witney 27
6th Radley 25
7th Bicester 22
8th White horse 2
A new League record was set in the under 15 Boys Shot from Turkay Altuntas which also broke the clubs record with a huge throw of 14.47 to rank him 6th in the UK.
Both the under 17 age groups won their matches on the day, which certainly helped TK to overall winners on a very hot humid day, starting with the boys, Kenechi Akosa was on form as he just missed two league records, he won first the 400m in 52.0 easing back halfway round, later clocking 23.4 in the 200m, Jo Hoaen made a welcome return winning the Discus 28.97, taking 2nd place in the Shot and third in the Javelin, Theo Nightingale secured a win in his favourite event the High jump with 1.75, James Simmons and Nightingale teamed up in the Long Jump both taking 2nd places, Simmons taking 2nd place in the 200m B string and Simmons and Nightingale teamed up in the 100m to gain further points.
The girls saw Clare McGonnell win the Javelin with a 33.53 throw, and team mate Evie Lewis taking 2nd place in the B string, Lewis threw 26.07 to win the Discus, then went on to win the Shot with 8.95. The High Jump secured two 2nd places from Leilah Gaye 1.40 and McGonnell 1.30, and in the Long Jump McGonnell came 3rd A string and Emelia Lunn taking 2nd in the B string.
On the Track best result came from the 300m Lunn taking 3rd place 46.8 and Sophie Moores winning the B string. The Shorter 200m Moores took 4th A 29.9 and Gaye 3rd B string 32.9, in the 100m Lunn came 6th 14.3 and Moores took 2nd place in the B string 14.5
The 4 x 100m Relay came home in 4th place.
The under 13 Boys won their match on the day and had to settle for 2nd place overall in their age group league, there were some superb double string wins, in the Field the Javelin saw Jenson Nichols 30.44 and Berkay Altuntas 22.56, in the high Jump Oskar Larkin cleared 1.35 in a thrilling competition with team mate Sam Atkins 1.30 making it another double win, Altuntas won his Discus 31.82 and Shot 8.92, in the B string Alfie Cronk came 2nd. On the track day started with Harry smith in the 1500m coming home in 2nd place in the A string and this was matched by Josh Bailey in the B string 5.50.9, Malik Gaye came 3rd in his sprint hurdles, Sprints were tough but Nichols, Thomas Williams and JJ Mercer picked up good points to the tally.
The under 13 Girls had to settle for 2nd place on the day just behind Oxford, again some superb double wins came from the 1500m Harriet Saunders 5.16.3 and Jessie McCurtin 5.37.9, The High Jump secured another Double win from McCurtin 1.32 and Matilda Clare 1.20, there were also good wins from Isla Ladds who threw the Discus for the first time throwing 16.50, she earlier came 2nd in the Long Jump 3.78, back on the Track Olivia Bentley won the 800m just missing her best time 2.34.3, using her ability and speed she came 2nd in the 100m 14.7, Clare came 5th in the 200m 30.5 and McCurtin made it a Hatrick of wins in the B 200m 31.0, Afra Bailey came 3rd in her best event of the day 800m, also taking part was Ella McDonald 3rd in the B string Javelin 12.41 and Quinn Joyce took part in the non scoring 800m and Long Jump.
The under 15 girls were depleted on the day, only 3 turning out, Charlotte Bailey won her 1500m in 5.08.3, coming 3rd in her 300m 47.1 and teaming up with Ella Cronk both came 2nd in their strings, in the high Jump Cronk had to settle for 3rd place 1.30, on the Throws Zoe Dickson gained good points.
The under 15 Boys came 3rd on the day, some great results came from Will McDonald 2nd A string 36.42 and Noah Lauder Clarke B string win 34.55 in the Javelin, Rueben Kuijten made sure he backed up Turkay Altuntas to win the B string Discus with a throw of 23.91 and Altuntas 30.71, Kuijten had to settle for 2nd in the B string shot, Josh Ladds won the B string Long Jump 3.96 and Lauder-Clarke taking 4th A string, Frank Edwards gained good points in the 1500m and also Josh Brian in the 100/200 and 300m
Also in action were the Team Kennet Quad Kids with some remarkable results on the day. Congratulations to Ella Larkin for breaking the Oxford League record in the 600m! With this incredible achievement, Ella now holds the records for the Oxford League, Wessex League, and Team Kennet.
Also congratulations Lenny Wyvill, who shattered his own records in both the Oxford League and Team Kennet! In the 600m. An incredible performance from all the athletes in the final match of the season. The U9 Boys finished 1st, Chester Bailey led the charge with another outstanding individual victory! U11 Boys finished 5th overall, with a stellar performance by Sebastian Lane, who secured 2nd place individually. U9 Girls2nd place on the day, with Sienna Preston taking the overall individual win and U11 Girls another remarkable win, with Ella Larkin claiming 1st place overall!
Andy Collings of Team Kennet finished 28th V60 in the World Cross Country 8km Championships in Slottsskogen City Park, Gothenburg as part of the 25th World Masters Athletics Championships. Andy was the 4th GB runner to finish so unfortunately missed a team gold medal (top 3 to score). Good team performance, with 2nd and 3rd individual medals.
Team Kennet were back in action during the summer break in Banbury at the weekend, for the second year running with very hot conditions on the day for the second Oxford League Match.
The warmer conditions didn’t stop the U13 girls who finished in 1st place on the day. In the 100m Isla Ladds 4th 15.1s A String and Affra Bailey 15.5s B string for 3rd. in the longer sprint 200m Penelope Lyth 5th 30.9s A String and Ladds 2nd 31.7 B String.
Harriet Saunders made her debut in the 800m finishing 1st A string 2.35.4 and Bailey 2nd B String 2.56.1. 1500m was sure to be a tough race in the warmer conditions, Lyth 2nd A string 5.35.8 and Ella McDonald 5.57.1 for B String.
On the field Quinn Joyce made her debut in high jump finishing 4th with 1.15m A string. Long jump Ladds 3.99m A string to finish 2nd, McDonald 3.53m B string to finish 1st. McDonald also in the javelin 14.66m to finish 3rd A String. Lyth finished 1st in the discus A string 12.63m and Saunders 5th A string shot with 5.58m, Bailey 2nd with 5.23m for the B String.
For the U15 girls Emerald Hill Sawyer was 4th A string for the 100m 14.1s and 3rd in the 300m 46.8s. In the 800m Ella Cronk 2nd A string 2.52.7. On the field Cronk 1st in the high jump A string 1.35m, Long Jump Hill-Sawyer 1st A String 4.31m and Cronk 2nd B string 4.02m. Zoe Dickson 3rd A string Javelin 14.84m 1st A string Discus 18.78m and 2nd A string shot 6.97m. U15 girls finished 5th on the day.
In the U17 women Sophie Moores 13.9s to finish 4th A String 100m and Emelia Lunn also 13.9s to finish 1st B String. Moores 3rd A string for the 200m 28.9s and Leilah Gaye 4th B string 32.5s. Lunn and Moores both in the 300m with Lunn finishing 2nd A String 45.4 and Moores 1st B String 48.3s. In the 800m Beth Maclean 1st A string 2.32.0. On the field Gaye 2nd A String high jump 1.35m, Lunn 2nd Long jump A String 4.46m and Maclean 1st B strong 4.26m. Maclean 1swt in the javelin A string 26.88m. U17 Women finished 1st on the day.
In the boys U13 Thomas Williams 7th A string 100m 16.3s and Jenson Nichols 1st B String 14.5s. Williams 5th in the 200m 35.2s and Harvey Butler 1st B String 30.5s. In the 800m Malik Gaye 6th A string 2.53.8. Harry Smith 4th A string 1500m 5.01.8. In the field Gaye 1.22m in the high jump ti finish 1st A string. In the long jump Smith 4th 3.83m and Gaye 5th B string 3.41m. Nichols 1st place in the javelin A string 25.80m, Alfie Cronk 3rd A string in the discus 10.32m 7th shot 4.60m a string with Harry Smith 3rd B string 4.24m. U13 boys finishing 4th on the day.
In the U15’s Josh Brian 6th 100m A string 13.9s and 7th A string 200m 30s, Josh Ladds 5th B string 30.6s. Noah Lauder Clark 4th A string 300m 47.8s. On the field in the long jump Brian 4th 4m, B string Ladds 3.95m. Will McDonald finished 2nd in the javelin A string 37.53m, Lauder-Clark 1st B String 33.06m. In the discus McDonald 3rd A String 17.73m, Lauder Clake 1st B String 15.43m. U15 boy’s 4th on the day. Overall, on the day Team Kennet were 2nd behind Oxford and are now joint top of the league.
Also on the day our QuadKids athletes delivered some incredible performances.
Harvey Baker shattered records with a lightning-fast 11.9 seconds in the 75m and launched the Vortex to a massive 38.96m, setting new Oxford League and TK records in both events!
Lenny Wyvill blazed through the 600m, finishing in 2:02.04 and setting a new U9 boy’s record!
Chester Bailey soared to 3.45m in the long jump, breaking the Oxford League and TK record!
U9 Boys dominated the day, securing 1st place overall!
U9 Girls took 2nd place with Hazel Blatch as the sole competitor!
U11 Girls secured another victory, while the U11 Boys finished a strong 4th!
Overall combined team score: 2nd place, just 12 points behind the top spot! We’re heading into the last match tied on points with Oxford.
Team Kennet Quadkids were back for the final Wessex League Match of 2024 in Abingdon this weekend. The girls currently are top of the league and look certain to retain their title.
A full squad of 10 for the U11 girls hoping to finish in the top spot again. In the 75m sprint Ella Larkin 11.4s, Orlagh Stratford 11.5s and Karaleia Bamfield and Alice Stratford both clocking 12.1s. Larkin leaped the furthest in the long jump with 3.64m but close behind Sophia Mahoney 3.62m then A Stratford 3.21m. In the longer run 600m saw Larkin break the league record clocking 1.45.7. The Stratford twins close clocking 1.58. Finally, the Vortex throw A Stratford threw 29.55m, Larkin 26.94m and Mahoney 26.94m. Ella Larkin finished in 1st place overall on the day with 253 points. Also in the top scores A Stratford 222points, Sophia Mahoney 216 and Orlagh Stratford 213. Overall, the team scored 904 points to ensure 1st place on the day. This is the first time at TK where the girls have scored over 900 points and only the 2nd time any club in the Wessex League has scored over 900 points., Also taking part Maisie McCurtin, Praiya Foreman, Noella Martinez Martin,. Darcey Scaplehorn and Cecily Wyer.
For the boys 7 boys taking part in the 75m sprint Louis Cartwright quickest for TK with 11.5s, William Maloney 11.9s and Alexander Browning 12.2s. Moloney leaped the furthest with 3.27m, Cartwright 2.85m and Joshua Kuijten 2.80m. The longer run Cartwright clocked 1.54.7, Moloney 2.05. In the Vortex throw event Moloney threw furthest with 26.64m, Kuijten 23.20m and Cartwright 22.73m. William Moloney secured 5th overall on the day with the boys finishing in 3rd place as a team. Also taking part Jacob Williams, Eion Fussel and Sebastian Lauder-Clarke.
