Young Multi-Eventers Put On A Show

Four of Thanet AC’s U13 athletes took a giant step in their development before the age group changes of next season with some fantastic performances in the County Combined Events Pentathlon on Bank Holiday Monday.

Bella Winfield, Kitty-Rose Hatton, Aisha Faux-Bowyer and Amber Jackson competed over the 5 events of the Pentathlon in a baking hot day in Tonbridge.

Everything started with the 70m hurdles where Bella produced a time of 13.2s, Kitty-Rose her second quickest time of 14.2s, Icy and Amber with huge personal bests of 15.9s and 18.4s.

Event 2 was the long jump where Kitty-Rose produced the best jump of the group with 3.72m, closely followed by Bella with a last ditch jump of 3.63m to smash her lifetime best. Icy was next with another personal best of 3.28m, closely followed by Amber who also had 2 out of 2 personal best with a distance of 3.15m.

Next on the timetable was the shot putt, which for these young girls can be really hard to come to terms with seeing as they are still developing and throwing a 2.72kg weight. Icy came out on top here with her second best ever throw of 4.57m, with Amber close behind with her second best ever throw of 4.39m. Bella kept up this trend with her second best ever throw of 3.98m, and Kitty-Rose throwing a personal best of 3.63m.

Their 4^th event of the day saw them back jumping in the high jump. In the searing heat Bella was just shy of her lifetime best with a clearance of 1.18m, Amber next with 1.09m, Kitty-Rose with 1.03m and Icy in only her second ever high jump competition unfortunately not managing to clear a height.

The girls had to summon one more final effort to get round 2 laps of the track in their final event the 800m. Being out in the heat for 7hrs didn’t deter them as they all put in super performances.

Bella managed her second best ever time of 2:58.03 to finish the competition our top Thanet AC athlete only a couple of places outside the medals in 5^th place with a personal best overall points score of 1508pts. Kitty-Rose ran her second best time of 3:16.22 to finish in 11^th place with a personal best overall score of 1142pts, Icy came in with a huge personal best of 3:12.79 to finish in 13^th place with an personal best overall points score of 860pts, and Amber with her personal best of 4:06.91 to finish in 14^th place with a personal best overall points score of 655pts.

Lead coach Darren Hatton said “This combined events competition is such a highlight of my season where we get to see the prestigious young talent that Kent has to offer. Thanet AC has always valued this event to enter our talented young athletes in.

It gives them a chance to test their skillsets over the course of 5 events in one day where the test is not just physical, but a huge mental battle with the ups and downs of running, jumping and throwing where every event counts towards the final points tally.

All of them passed the test with flying colours, and their smiles were for all to see!”.

• Darren Hatton