Palin and Tymon-McEwan claim gold at South of England Athletics championships

CARL Palin and Alicia Tymon-McEwan both struck gold as St Albans AC bagged four medals at the South of England Athletics Championships at Ashford.

Tymon-McEwan landed the first victory when winning the U15 75m Hurdles in 11.63secs on Saturday.

Twenty four hours later, Beaumont pupil Palin, a sub 50-second performer already this season, won his first major championship title despite tiring in the closing stages and recording a time of 50.35secs.

There were also bronze medals for James McMurray, who got up on the line to snatch third place in the U17 800m in a club record 1min 55secs, plus an unexpected podium finish for STAGS pupil Alice Townend in the U15 Shot Putt (9.12m).

Both athletes are in the first year of their age groups and the Westminster Lodge-based club had a clutch of similar athletes who produced personal bests that augured well for the future.

These included a club record 29.70m for Kelly Wright in the U15 Discus, which earned fifth place, plus new club records in both the 100m (11.46

secs) and 200m (22.88secs), which earned Jake Awe fifth and fourth places respectively.

Christian Gaddes set a new club best of 14.11secs in reaching the final of the U17 100m Hurdles, an event where Jason Tang set a new PB of 14.86secs in the heats.

Steph Rukin lowered her best time with 12.65secs in the U17 80m Hurdles, Abi Wilde’s new best of 33.45m was enough for sixth in the U17 and Miwa Sykes has a new 200m PB of 28.57secs posted during U15 200m qualification.

Laura Farrar finished eighth in the U17 1500m while Kate Jones produced a respectable performance in her first major event with a 1.55m clearance for seventh in the U15 High Jump.

Joetta James and Laura Nofer gained valuable experience in the U15 80m Hurdles and Luke Yaxley was fifth in his U17 200m heat.