Thanet Athletics Club

Great Britain decathlete Darren Hatton is coaching with Thanet Athletics Club. 

Hatton, age 31 and from Herne Bay, was English Schools Champion in 1997, he was in the Great Britain squad for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 and represented Great Britain at the European Cup in Poland in 2004.

“Darren has worked with us before and is very popular with the athletes” said club chairman Phil Pittock.  “Darren is working with our Under 13 and Under 15 age groups for six weeks, to provide some continuity over the summer holiday period, and our athletes are already benefitting from his experience”.

The decathlon is a set combination of athletic disciplines, testing an individual’s strength, speed, stamina and endurance.  It includes five events on each of two successive days.  The emphasis of the first day is on speed, explosive power, and jumping ability; the second emphasizes technique and endurance.

The decathlon events are

Day 1 – 100 m, Long Jump, Shot Putt, High Jump, 400 m

Day 2 – 110 m Hurdles, Discus, Pole Vault, Javelin, 1500 m

Daley Thompson is Great Britain’s most famous decathlete.  With four world records, two Olympic gold medals, three Commonwealth titles, and wins in the World and European Championships, Thompson is considered by many to be the greatest decathlete of all time.