Harriers blow off cobwebs with first track & field event

The track and field athletics season got underway once more at Darlington two weeks ago. The Kieran Maxwell Open hosted by Darlington Harriers attracted athletes from across the north east keen to get back to competition after a long winter.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Apr 2021, 09:39 BST
Athletics.Athletics.
Athletics.

Alnwick Harriers Talia and Leila Thompson competing in the Shot both won their respective age categories. Tal winning the U17 category and Leila the under fifteen age group.

Closer to home this weekend the girls competed at Morpeth in the first North East Counties Athletic Association open meeting. Once again, they both had a great Shot-Put competition winning their categories and Talia throwing a brilliant personal best of 10.99m. Lilia Purvis also competed in the shot and managed a massive 83cm personal best throw of 8.5m! Leila and Lilia are currently ranked first and 15th in the UK!

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On the track Lilia and Finlay Telfer both raced the graded 800m. Lilia raced first finishing just outside her personal best time from the end of last season. Finlay was next setting himself an ambitious target of a 7s personal best on last year. The race started slowly so after the first 200m Fin took the lead, picked up the pace and lead from the front to win the heat by a clear 20m in 2 min 31s.

Harry Knox was the only Alnwick Harrier to brave the 3000m and put in a good time of 10 mins 48s in his first attempt at the distance.

Leila Thompson managed a good set of throws to win the Discus & Talia still a bit rusty managed an excellent second place in the hammer throw.

An excellent day’s athletics and some great results for those athletes that persevered with their own personal, lonely training over the long lock down winter.

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Meanwhile, Morpeth Harriers blew away the cobwebs with their first track and field event last week.

Over 50 veteran Jason Dawson won his heat of the 200m with a time of 27.96 secs and U/17 Ellie Wickens was second in hers with 29.18s.

Eric Adams won his 400m heat in 2.26.01, U15 Oliver Tomlinson racing well to take his heat in 2:21:08.

Brother and sister team of Jess and Ed Gardiner had a busy afternoon, competing in both Discus and Hammer. Jess threw 32 metres 10 cms in the Discus with younger brother Ed 29:32. In the Hammer, Jess was disappointed to only throw 37:87m.

Related topics:Darlington