CITY of Plymouth’s international hurdler David King got his outdoor season off to a flying start by finishing second at the Canyan Invitational in Phoenix, America.
King clocked a quick season-opening time of 13.56 seconds to finish behind American star Freddie Crittenden in the men’s open 110m hurdles. That moved him straight to the top of the UK rankings.
King also ran the 200m, winning his heat in 21.69 seconds, which was just 0.11 seconds off his PB for that event.
Fellow City of Plymouth hurdler Henry Curtis moved straight to the top of the UK under-20 110m hurdle rankings with a 14.64 second run to take victory at the Loughborough Open.
That event also saw club under-17 colleagues Adam Dingley and Poppy Northcott compete in special under-18 hurdles events set up for athletes looking to try and achieve Commonwealth Youth Games qualifying marks.
Northcott won on her debut over 400m hurdles in a time of 64.24 seconds, while Dingley finished third in a wind-assisted PB time of 14.40 seconds for the 110m hurdles, which was just 0.59 seconds off the qualifying standard on only his second run over the distance.
Meanwhile, City of Plymouth high jumper Ethan Glyde, who has achieved the Commonwealth Youth Games qualifying mark four times in the last two months, set a new PB of 2.10m in Cannes, France, in his first outdoor meeting of the season at the weekend.
Glyde represents City of Plymouth when competing in the UK, but turns out for Nice in France and his mark at the weekend broke Nice’s club record that had stood since 1994.
There were some impressive performances closer to home as Exeter staged the first Devon Open Meeting of the season.
City of Plymouth’s under-17 athlete Nicolas Maczugowski set two new PBs at the meeting. He clocked a new 400m hurdles best of 56.02 seconds, which ranks him second in the UK, and then ran another PB of 50.44 seconds to win the 400m flat, which ranks his fifth nationally.
Tavistock’s Rory Summers took second in the under-17 400m in a PB time of 51.41 seconds.
His Tavistock team-mate Joe Wheeler was first under-20 over one lap in 52.00 seconds.
There was some quick sprinting from under-17 and under-20 men at Exeter.
City of Plymouth’s Connell McCarthy won the under-20 100m an 200m in 11.28 and 22.79 seconds, respectively. Five athletes – McCarthy, Tavistock’s James Wheeler, Plymouth’s Zachary Griffiths-Moreton, Andreas Isaias an Mackenzie Pike – all ran under 12 seconds in a strong under-20 100m.
City of Plymouth’s Joss Nicholls was first under-17 in the 100m and 200m in PB times of 11.80 and 24.01 seconds, respectively. Tavistock’s Seth Taopo pushed him hard in both events, clocking a PB 12.21 in the 100m an 25.19 in the 200m.
Tavistock’s Erin Cockle was quickest under-13 girl over 200m in a PB time of 28.53 seconds, while Plymouth’s Finley Eales was first under-13 boy over the same distance.
Erme Valley Harriers’ Matthew Gilvear was first under-20 in the 1,500m in 4:31.98, while Tavistock teenager Charlotte Walker enjoyed a good debut in the 5,000m, clocking 18:42.13.
Hannah Walker was first under-20 woman in the hammer with 32.72m, while Plymouth’s Hannah Gellatly set a new PB to win the women’s hammer in 48.17m.
In the high jump, City of Plymouth’s under-20 athlete Ella Isaias set a new PB of 1.66m to finish as first woman. Tavistock’s Nell Maguire was first under-15 girl with a PB of 1.38m.
Tavistock’s Evie Palmer won the under-15 javelin with 26.96m, while Plymouth’s over-60 veteran Ben Prout was first man with 28.96m.
Torbay-based Exeter athlete Joshua Taylor was just denied a UK-leading under-17 100m hurdles time due to a slightly strong wind. He clocked 13.32 seconds.
Full results can be found HERE. (Picture gallery below)
On the road, Tamar Trotters’ Jane Bremner produced an impressive run at the London Marathon to finish as third female 65-69 in 3:35.36. Her team-mate Linda Tout also caught the eye, finishing 12th in the F70-74 age group with a 4:39.32 run.
Tavistock’s Fynn Baker and Thomas Hennessey and City of Plymouth’s Holly Reid were among the athletes to represent the South West at the Mini London Marathon. Baker clocked 8.29, Hennessey, 8.59 and Reid 9.27.
Both Baker and Hennessey had helped a relay team of 26 Tavistock College students clock 2:45.08 for a marathon to raise money for Young Lives Against Cancer and to raise funds for athletics equipment.
Each of the 26 students did a mile each, with the final leg runner doing 1.2 mile.
Staff members Dr Kelly and Mr Hearne, a previous London Marathon finisher, both paced students, with Dr Kelly then running this year’s London Marathon and clocking 2:57.53.
The school raised more than £1,000 for the run and donations are still open.
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