Winter Long Throws championships help athletes progress and prepare
Saturday saw a great start to the Winter Long Throws championships, where Loughborough University welcomed top Senior and Under 20 throwers to make their mark, aim for medals, qualification standards for the European Throws Cup, European Championships and Commonwealth Games as well as improve their rankings and see how well their winter training has helped them progress and prepare for a busy upcoming summer season.
Discus
First to brave the wintry conditions were the discus throwers. A light rain meant the circle wasn’t at its best but that didn’t stop Zara Obamakinwa (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC, Mark Chapman) throwing a new CBP (56.60m) in her second round throw to win the senior women’s competition by almost 10 metres.
The U20 women’s match was a very close result – just 14cm separated Serenity Joynt’s (Mansfield Harriers, Paul Wilson) first round throw from Matilda Farrar’s (Waverley AC, Paul Bingham) final throw. F44 Bebe Jackson (Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies, Alan James) also made the most of her winter’s training by working her way up through the rounds for a PB of 26.14m in the sixth.
The men’s U20 winner Godwin Mutandwa (Dacorum AC, Sebastian Wadlow) also saved his best for last, with 47.01m taking the gold medal - mirroring the women’s event where silver medallist Owen Garrett (Yate & District AC, Paul Filer) gave his best performance in the first round.
Javelin
The weather conditions worsened somewhat for the javelin throwers who had to contend with rain for much of their event. The men and women all competed at the same time which made for a good sized, enthusiastic crowd who were allowed to watch from an area alongside the runway. The U20 men peppered their event with PBs, and no one was more surprised than winner Charlie Mason Cheltenham and County Harriers, Carolyn Franks) with an almost 10m improvement on his previous PB and added his name to the list of CBPs. He was joined on the podium by Daniel Dubras (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, Catarina Hallden): 57.11 and Callum James (Border Harriers & AC, Leonard Miller): 53.79m.
Sophie Hamilton (Harrow AC/Loughborough Students, John Trower) already has the European Throwing Cup standard and today’s performance indicated consistent high form ahead of selection. Also having had a good winter’s training was Jessica Howells (Winchester & District AC, Andrew Fisher) who gave a good season opener with a best very close to her PB.
Seated shot
The seated shot was introduced this year to provide additional competition for all, and qualification opportunities for athletes who are eligible for the Commonwealth Games (F55/56/57). It was great to see representatives from Scotland and Wales as well as England. Michael ‘Taz’ Nicholls (Enfield and Haringey A C, Alison O'Riordan) provided a second season’s best following his England call up in Dubai recently and solidifies his top four ranking in the Commonwealth.
Hammer
The final events of the day took place in the hammer cage. The competition levels were high and intense as the skies cleared. Ethan Kendrick (Wolverhampton & Bilston, Matt Sutton) and Adam Merrett (Yate & District AC, Lorraine Shaw) had a fantastic head to head which resulted in them both going over 60m for the first time.
There were also PBs in the senior men’s event; Jabez Berry (Halesowen ACC, Stephen Pearson) put himself in contention for the European Throwing Cup team with his 67.12m and Owen Merrett (Harrow AC, Matthew Spicer) PBd for the second time this month having also gained a PB in the regional champs. Jake Norris (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow, Nick Ridgeon) threw the Commonwealth standard again and will be looking to work his way up the rankings before selections take place in June.
The day finished as it had started – with CBPs for both the U20 and Senior women. YTP Kukri ambassador Alice Howie (Worthing & District Harriers, Matthew Evans) sent the 4kg hammer soaring 56.61m and Charlotte Payne (Newbury AC, Ian Payne) took her fourth Long Throws win with a huge 71.16 – a second time of Commonwealth Games standard distance, a European Throwing Cup standard and just 34cm off a Europeans qualifier.
England Athletics Event Group Lead for Throws Nick Ridgeon was very happy to see so many great performances:
"A highlight for me was watching the seated shot – and being in the midst of that community which has developed. I hope it will go from strength to strength."
He continued,
"It’s always nice to see records tumbling and PBs gained across the board; we are in a great position ahead of the summer season."