Entries are up15% on last year for this weekend’s Sussex County Track and Field championships at Crawley’s K2 stadium but only in the Younger Athletes events.
With many of the top Sussex seniors away at University the lack of support for the senior events follows the nationwide trend of the past decade but although fields are small battles could be intense. The senior women’s 200 and 400 metre battles, providing the main protagonists turn up for the starter, could be corkers.
Going head to head in both events should be Mandy Gault, from Portsmouth, and Crawley’s Holly Turner with both athletes very close on times so far this season in both events. The 400m could be even more exciting as that race is likely to be run in conjunction with the U20 race where Brighton & Hove’s Amber Anning, who is running up an age group, is on a par with the seniors while local girl Orla Brothers has a cracking 400m hurdles time to her name this year that would suggest that she is quite strong and likely to be a real challenge. Both Championship best performances are in serious danger.
Coming early on the first day of the championship will be the senior men’s 5000 metres race where there is a strong entry, including most of the leading Sussex runners. County 3,000m champion Neil Boniface and Brighton & Hove’s Howard Bristow, who are both veterans should put up a good battle on their own but Crawley’s James Westlake, Max Dumbrell (Phoenix) and Brighton & Hove’s Jamie Knapp, Kevin Moore and James Turner are all capable to getting amongst the medals.
Let’s hope they all turn up and we are not deprived of what could be the best 5,000m championship for decades though Brighton & Hove’s Andy Bristow CBP of 14:06.9s from 1990 is likely to remain intact.
The women’s 3000m, on Sunday, could also produce a good battle between veteran Caroline Hoyte (Arena 80) and former champion Helena Tobin (Brighton & Hove).
On the field the Hammer throwing Evans twins, Matt and Simon from Worthing could well be challenged by Mick Jones the former Commonwealth Games champion, who is now a veteran and set the CBP way back in 2000.
Most of the excitement over the weekend however will probably come from the Young Athletes and this is where we can spy the stars of the future.
The event starts at 11.00 on both Saturday and Sunday but give a thought for the officials as it will be 5.00 before they are finished each day.
If you have any queries or want more information regarding this post, please Email Reg Hook.