EYAL - ThurrockOn a changeable day Ilford took part in the final round of the EYAL meeting hosted by Basildon but changed to Thurrock due to track repairs at Basildon. Ilford took a fairly strong team that was short on a few due to holidays, but they were still able to field a team of 34 athletes. Other teams competing were Havering Mayesbrook, Cambridge & Coleridge, Thurrock, Basildon & Herts Phoenix.
Stars of the day were Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake for a CLUB RECORD in the u/13 boys 75m hurdles and 2 Sprint PB for Lydia Hall in the u/15 girls 200m & 300m, plus Corina Bryce Arnold in the u/13 girls sprints and hurdles with 2 PB's
In the u/13 girls Corina Bryce Arnold seems to improving with every step she takes. In the 70m hurdles she came 2nd - 12.7s and a PB. This was equalled when she got another PB in the 100m with - 13.6s and 2nd. In the 200m she came 3rd with - 29.3s. Clare Rodway ran well in her first attempt at the hurdles and polished them off in fine style to come 2nd in - 14.0s potential there possibly, she also did the long jump. Mika Marston ran the 100m and finished 3rd with - 14.5s, and equalled her PB in the 200m with 30.2s and 2nd, whilst claiming a PB in the shot with - 6m 97 and 1st B-string. Paris Rhodes jumped - 1m 15 in the high jump for 2nd, and also did the long jump. The relay team came home in 4th.
The U/15 Girls saw Lydia Hall opt for events that she doesn't normally do and this seemed to pay off. Although her 800m ended in her pulling up and not finishing she went on to claim 2 PB's with 1st in the B-String 200m - 30.1s and 46.9s in the 300m and 2nd. Aimee Jones ran the 200 & 300 as well finishing with - 31.8s for 6th in the 200m & 3rd in the 300m with - 47.7s and the long jump was - 3m 43 and 5th. Rochelle Rhodes jumped - 1m 35 for equal 4th in the high jump, 4m 29 for 3rd in the long jump. Charlotte Deacon coming back from a few weeks break putt a good - 8m 96 for 1st in the shot, and - 17m 48 for 3rd in the javelin. Charlotte Smitheram although suffering from a broken toe that she did whilst on holiday recently was still able to putt - 7m 94 for 1st in B-String shot and 5th in A-String discus with - 18m 98. Charlie Clements came 5th in the javelin with - 20m 15 and 2nd in the discus B-String with - 17m 01. The relay team of (Rochelle, Charlotte D, Lydia & Aimee) although a slight hiccup with the baton changing came 6th.
In the U/17 Girls Rachel competing in her last u/17 age group was still unbeaten with a sprint double of - 12.7s for the 100m and 26.7s for the 200m, she also did the long jump coming 2nd with - 4m 27. Sarah Kigozi completed the sprint double by winning the B-String in - 13.4s for the 100m and 29.0s for the 200m, she also ventured into the field events to come 2nd in the javelin with - 15m 56. Laura Townsend ran a time of - 46.5s for 3rd in the 300m, threw - 14m 42 for 2nd in the discus and 3rd in the shot putt with - 5m 82. Jamie Smith threw the discus - 21m 57 for 3rd and the shot putt went a distance of - 7m 19 for 2nd. Julianna Dougan threw the javelin - 15m 96 for 5th in A-String. The relay (Laura, Rachel, Sarah & Julianna) came home impressively with 1st place.
The u/13 boys had Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake come home 1st in both the 100m & 200m with - 13.1s & 27.8s respectively, however it was his 75m hurdles that he decided to do at the last moment that earnt him the CLUB RECORD, with a time of - 13.3s, although not conventional his flat speed helped him tremendously. Joshua Daly ran - 15.5s in the B-String hurdles for 2nd and 31.1s in the 200m for 3rd, whilst leaping to a - 4m 21 and 1st B-String. Jordon Akisanya was also very impressive running - 14.2s in the 100m for 2nd but he went even better than that we a fantastic leap of - 4m 45 for 1st in the A-String long jump. Alex Richards is definitely coming back to form now with a very creditable 2nd in the 1500m in a time of - 5m 01.2s, he also did a non-scoring discus. Rohan Anderson threw 2 PB's with a 2nd in the shot putt - 5m 96 & 4th in the discus with - 15m 19. Ben Jones also did the throws coming 5th in the shot with - 6m 20 and 12m 51 in the discus for 2nd B-String. The Relay (Nethaneel, Alex.R, Joshua & Jordan) came home in 2nd place.
Robert Legon gained a very good PB in the u/15 boys shot putt with a distance of - 9m 29 and 3rd. In the discus he came 4th with 19m 92 whilst non-scoring in the javelin. Chris Dawe threw a respectable - 26m 36m in the discus for 3rd and come 2nd in the B-String shot with - 8m 28. Aaron Akisanya ran the 100m finishing 4th with - 13.1s and leaped to a 4th as well in the long jump with - 4m 71. Mohammed Swamad ran the 400m & 800m coming 2nd in the 800m with - 2m 15.3s and 59.7s for the 400m for 3rd. Kurtland Martyr threw the javelin - 27m 71 for 3rd in B-String and also putt the shot as a non-scorer. Andy Carle was close to his PB and post 2004 club record when he came 3rd with - 39m 18. Andrew Townsend threw the javelin & discus as a non-scorer.
In the U/17 Boys we have to say farewell to Gull Hassen, Elijah Collins & Nathaniel Senior as they are now to old to compete for Ilford in the junior competitions from now. Gull Hassen finished his events with a new PB in the javelin with a throw of - 26m 13, and leaped - 1m 50 for 1st B-String in the high jump, he also ran as a non-scoring 100m. Elijah Collins finished with a solid leap of - 1m 70 for 1st in A-String high jump and ran the 100m hurdles coming 1st in - 16.8s. Nathaniel Senior leaped - 5m 57 in the long jump for - 2nd and came 1st in the triple jump with - 12m 39 and was also a non-scorer in the 100m. Chike Okonji ran the 100m hurdles coming 2nd with - 17.0s, ran the 200m and putt the shot a distance of - 8m 12 for 5th. Simeon Stuart ran the sprint double coming 5th in the 100m with - 12.5s and 200m result to come. He also did the long jump finishing 1st B-String with - 5m 33. Ozi Nzeako ran the 100m B-String with a time of - 12.6s for 3rd, the 400m was also a 3rd in a time of - 57.1s and leaped to a distance of - 11m 10 in the triple jump. The relay rounded the day off with a 5th place (Simeon, Ozi, Chike & Nathaniel)
Well done to all the athletes and good luck to those four who will now be competing in the junior/senior competitions & leagues from next year, if not already doing so. The next meeting is the last Southern Women's Meeting at Mile End on Saturday 2nd Sept, all alternatively the open meeting taking place over the bank holiday at Newham & Essex Beagles track on Sunday 27th August.