Team Kennet impress in Oxford
Team Kennet were in action in the third round of the Wessex Young Athletes League in Oxford on Sunday, June 26.
Team Kennet finished third with 375 points, behind Oxford City in second and winners Waverley.
The under-15 girls are still in contention to defend their age group title, but had to settle for second place this weekend.
Clare McGonnell was in fine form. She won the javelin thanks to a throw of 25.92 metres and the 300 metres in 44.4 seconds.
Mia Wright won the high jump after she cleared 1.43 metres.
The under-17 women also finished second on the day.
In-form throwers Alanna Smith and Eve Brown made sure Kennet claimed both titles in the javelin events. Smith won the A string with a throw of 30.89 metres and Brown was B string champion in a distance of 28.86 metres.
Smith also won the B string 800 metres in 2.44.5 while Annabel Maclean was champion in the A string discus.
It was a successful weekend for Kirsten Fraser who went home with silver medals in B string discus and shot put.
There were a series of stellar performances from the under-17 men as they finished second in their age group.
Brandon Carter threw 41.37 metres to win the javelin while Seb Simpson won the B string event with a throw of 24.56 metres.
Simpson then won his favoured event, the discus, with a distance of 34.41 metres.
Simpson and Carter once again combined to secure a second double win of the afternoon, this time in the shot put.
This time, roles were reversed – Simpson was A string champion with 9.82 metres and Carter was B string winner with 8.38 metres.
George Down maintained his unbeaten record in the long jump with a leap of 6.15 metres.
The under-15 boys were third in their match. James Fenner was the star man, winning the A string javelin with an impressive throw of 39.86 metres.
The under-13 girls were third overall in a hotly contested competition.
There was a double in in the discus thanks to Eliska Simpson, who won the A string with a distance of 17.06 metres, and Zoe Dickson, who was B string winner with a throw of 15.28 metres.
Amber Stiles remained unbeaten in the high jump after clearing 1.30 metres.
The under-13 boys finished fourth in a competitive and challenging match.
Harry Fenner and Will McDonald rounded off a typically dominant weekend in javelin for Team Kennet.
Fenner became the first athlete to beat McDonald this season – his throw of 31.90 metres was one centimetre clear of McDonald and secured Kennet another double win.
It was a weekend in which Team Kennet’s athletes were competitive across both track and field – a weekend of which they can be proud.
Team Kennet Quadkids were also in action in Oxford. Kennet finished second, behind the hosts.
Oscar Larkin was top scorer for the boys, who finished fourth overall, with 209 points – he was fifth in the individual standings.
Luke Stiles was a close second with 193 points – he recorded personal bests in the long jump and vortex throw.
Malik Gaye and Elliot Bell were Kennet's strongest 75 metre sprinters while Ronny and Rudy Bowsher starred in the 600 metres.
The girls put in a strong performance to finish second overall.
Ella ensured it was a great weekend for the Larkin household – not to be outdone by her brother, Oscar, she was Team Kennet's best individual female performer and finished third overall.
There were also fantastic performances from Matilda Clare, Quinn Joyce and Penelope Lyth.
