Woking Athletes have been in action in 2 major championships in the past week with some outstanding results against the best in the country and beyond.
At the highly prestigious English Schools Championships held in Manchester Woking had 2 athletes representing Surrey Schools. The Championships are a breeding ground for future Olympic and World Champions with the likes of Paula Radcliffe, Kelly Holmes, Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis Hill and Greg Rutherford with the best athletes from the across the country competing. The competition was as hot as the weather and the 2 Woking athletes, both recent graduates from the Club’s Academy, rose to the competition.
In the Junior Girls (under 15) 1500 metres Lola Roake was ranked 28th out of the 45 competitors going into the competition so on paper wasn’t expected to reach the final. However Lola is a very determined girl and ran an absolutely brilliant run in her heat knocking nearly 10 seconds of her previous best time running an outstanding 4 minutes 37.45 seconds. In the final she again ran superbly being in the top 5 for most of the race before a few fast finishing athletes passed her in the final 150 metres to finish a fine 8th in a slightly quicker time of 4 minutes 37.32 seconds shooting her up the UK rankings to 14th. Lola has a another year left in the age group so hopes will be high for next season.
In the under Junior Girls discus Alice Clark was in action and also showed great competitive spirit in what was her first ever national championships and her biggest ever competition. Alice equalled Lola’s finishing position of 8th with a fine throw of 27.92 metres, which is just 24cm shy of her best ever and gave her great experience for future big competitions.
At the World Masters Championships in Tampere, Finland 4 Woking athletes were in action. Dave Awde and Ian Horlock both ran great races in the heats of the Mens 35 400 metre hurdles to reach the final, with Ian running a personal best time of 57.31 seconds. In the final they were up against top competition and both ran extremely well to finish 5th and 6th respectively with Dave running an impressive 55.84 and just a touch slower than his heat running 57.37 seconds. In the 400 metres flat Dave continued his fine form to fight through through the heats and the semi finals to take his place in the final where he ran just outside his best as a 35+ athletes to finish 7th in a time of 51.33 seconds, a fantastic effort. He also finished 6th in the 110 metre hurdles with 16.31 seconds. In the same afternoon he was part of the victorious British 4×100 metres relay team that stormed home to gold beating Spain by just 0.02 seconds.
In the Women’s 45 2000 metre steeple-chase Bea Lafreniere got a personal best time of 8.00.77, beating her previous time by nearly 10 seconds, to win a very impressive silver medal whilst unfortunately Jacqui Haynes was unable to perform to her best in the 800 metres due to injury.
Woking are back in action over the weekend with the Seniors having their 3rd Southern League fixture of the season at Bracknell and the under11’s to Under17’s are in Swindon for the 3rd Wessex League fixture.