Paddock Wood AC junior athletes travelled to Dartford for the 2nd in the Kent Young Athletes leagues. Paddock Wood AC are in a combined team with Folkestone AC and are competing in both Division 1 and Division 2. In the Division 1 U13 boys Alex Stone had an excellent Personal Best in the Javelin which he won with a throw of 26.20m, some 6 meters more than his previous PB. Alex also claimed a personal best in the Shot7.27m, and his 3rd PB came in the Long Jump 4.15m.In the 100m Harvey Fordham ran a seasons best (14.3s) although his previous 100m this season no time was recorded. In his 200m he ran (30.6s). He came 2nd in his long Jump 4.21m. In the U13 Girls in this Division Lucy Tallon and Jessica Penny both ran the 150m. Lucy ran (21.9s) and Jess (23.4s). They teamed up again in the High Jump Jess’s first competition in this event. Lucy jumped a PB of 1.25 and this was equalled by Jess. In the Long Jump Lucy jumped 3.95m and Jess 3.36m. U15 Charlotte Whiffen ran her first 100m race (14.1s) and 200m (29.9s) and competed in the non-scoring Shot 5.91m. Kimberly Garcia ran the A 200m (29.1s) and jumped 4.12m in the Long Jump. U15 Spencer Elphick threw a PB in the Discus 19.30m and another in the Shot 7.41m. He also ran the 800m (2m34.3s), just a second outside his PB. Harry Smith ran the B 800m (3m 03.0) – a bit short for Harry as he prefers longer distances.
In Division 2 U13 Alex Gray, in his first season on the track, won his 100m (14.4s), won the Non-scoring Long Jump 4.17m which would have won the A string competition and put the Shot 6.68m. Dillon Dew opted for the High Jump, having never competed in it before, and jumped 1.20m to finish 3rd. He threw a PB in the Javelin 16.56m and jumped 3.59m in the Long Jump, another PB. Liam O’Neil won the B Javelin with a PB throw of 15.78m, then ran (31.9s) for the 200m and (2m 41.6s) for the 800m. Jacob Kemmit ran the 200m B race (34.5s) and the 800m (2m 58.2s). The only U13 girl in Division 2 competing for the club was Katie Smith who jumped a PB in the Long Jump 3.21m ran the 800m (3m20.1s) and the 150m (26.2s). U15 Grace King ran PBs in both her 100m (14.6s) and her 200m (30.5s). Mollie Dew jumped a PB in the Long Jump 3.72m ran (15.7s) in the 100m and the 75mHurdles (17.2s). Poppy Jury won the B 75m Hurdles (19.6s) and jumped a PB in the Long Jump 3.31m. Jessica Trimmer in her first ever competition on the track ran the 200m (36.4s) and had a go at the discus to gain valuable points for the team by coming 3rd. The athletes gained 14 Personal bests during the day.
Also the same weekend saw the 3rd in the Southern Master’s league hosted by Tonbridge AC. Trevor Simms (M45) ran a PB in the M35 100m (13.4s). Trevor Crysell (M50) ran the B race (14.2s) a season’s best. Les Percival (M60) ran his 100m (14s.9) a SB. Les also putt the Shot 8.42m to finish 2nd. Wayne Balmer won the M35 Javelin 36.15m and ran the 800m (2m15.4s). Yann le Roux ran the B race (2s17.6s). Sam Parrett competed in a field event for the first time where he putt the Shot 6.84m. Mark Woods (M55) jumped 1.45m in the High Jump a PB and ran a SB in the 100m (13.1s). 3 Daniel Grimwood (M40) deputising for a fellow athlete competed in the High Jump without ever trying it before, he jumped 1.20m using the western roll technique which hadn’t been seen by many for several years. Daniel also ran the Non-Scoring 800m (2m30.2s). Alan Newman (M60) covered the M50 800m (2m46.9s) a SB. In the ladies team in Division 2 just 3 ladies were competing. W35 Elizabeth Duffin won the Javelin 22.09m came 2nd in the Shot and ran the 100m in a slow time due to injury. Julie Woods (W55) covered the W50 age group wining the Javelin 9.63m, coming 2nd in the Shot and 3rd in the 100m. W70 Janet Duffin competing for the first time in 18 months due to a back operation came 3rd in the W 60 Javelin to gain valuable points.
