Andover Sport
Superb jump debut for town's Annie
9:26am Wednesday 25th January 2012
The South of England Indoor Athletic Championships continued over the weekend with the remainder of the events taking place over the Saturday and Sunday.
Six Andover AC athletes were competing; Matt Chant who was hoping to build upon the 400m silver he achieved last week, Lauren Marlow and Annie Brooks all competing in the U17s categories, Alice Boughton in the U20 women and Andre Diurno (60m) and Adam Ricketts (200m) in the Senior Men.
Following last week’s exploits and competing over the shorter 200m, Matt had to cope with another three rounds, 1.5 hours apart, which is a lot to ask at the age of 15. Despite this, he showed true class to take both his heat and semi-final in convincing fashion, making the final as the fastest qualifier, despite being bottom age. Facing last year’s U17 champion, Jermaine Hamilton from Orion Harriers (now top age) in the final, it was always going to be a great race and it did not disappoint. Hamilton won in a new championship best time with Matt just behind in a new personal best of 22.63 to take his second indoor south of england medal.
Six rounds in a week was tough and Matt did himself proud coming home with two silvers.
Annie Brooks was competing in her first ever SEAA triple jump. She achieved a great set of results including jumps of 10.57m, equalling her best and the club record and following up with 10.59 smashing both. This fine achievement was due to a more effective run up and stronger jump phase. Commenting after the event Annie said: “I would like to thank the special attention that Ernie Chambers has given me over the last few months to help refine my triple jump technique.”
Lauren Marlow is another ever improving athlete and competing against a large field of more than 30 athletes, smashed her current 60m hurdles best and the club record with a time of 9.39 to secure a place in the semi- final. In the semi’s she also ran a time under her old pb just missing out on the final. She followed with a great series of long jumps, which also had a high number of competitors, finishing in a very creditable fifth. Her best jump, 4.98m was a new indoor pb and her second furthest jump ever.
Keeping the trend of pb’s and breaking club records, Alice Broughton qualified for the final of the 60m hurdles final, taking eighth in the final in a time of 9.72. This is the first time Alice has ever competed at the SEAA indoors and only the second time she has ever run over this distance. James Coney, Andover AC senior coach said: “A great set of results for the club with three silver medals from across the championships in the 400m, 200m and triple jump plus a number of semi- finalists and finalists and lots of pb’s and club records made it a fantastic championships for the club.”