A small group of Harriers made the trip to Dagenham to compete in one of the first opens of
the season. The weather was cool and breezy but way better than the end of last season
where many competitions were held on very windy and wet days.

The first races on the track were the 1500’s race one contained 5 of the club’s athletes
leading from gun to finish Theo Gardiner running his first 1500 since 2019 crossed the line in a
large PB of 4.55.14, 30s quicker than his previous best, Theo was followed closely by Paul
Preston V45 4.57.41, Kevin McAlinden V55 5.02.86, and Jerry Walder V45 5.07.67 taking the
4 top positions, Ellie Cumner V40 competing over 1500 for the first time since 2018 ran
close to her PB of 5.22.4 with 5.24.76.

In the next 1500 we saw 3 young members of the Harriers compete in a very fast paced race
which saw Tommy Colsell U20 finish in a new PB 4.34.18, followed by Charlie Walder U20
running a PB 4.48.63 the 3 rd and youngest competitor Harrison Leek U15 started his year
with a PB 4.54.26.

First up in the 100m was U13 Eliza Shippey U13 competing for the first time over the
distance she ran a legal 15.12, Eliza followed this by then competing in the 800 again her
first time over the distance Eliza ran a storming race to finish in an excellent time of 2.42:56.
Next up in the 100m U15 Hollie Martin-Whymark U15, Hollie ran a strong race to finish in a
windy PB of 13.44 with a wind behind of 3.2, Hollie then went on to run the 200m running a
good bend she finished 2 nd in 28.90 just outside of her PB.

U11 Hayden Preston spent the day competing in the 150m and 600m, the 150m was
Hayden’s less favoured event finished 3 rd in 26.16 PB he followed this up later in the day
competing in the 600m Hayden ran a well paced race to finish in 2.09.15 beating his old PB
of 2.12.95 achieved in 2020.

The club had several representatives in the 600m with all achieving PB’s Maisy Woods U15
finished 4th in her race finishing in a time of 1.56.67, the next race saw both Paul Preston
V45 and Emily Swan U17 competing a very large field Paul finishing fast crossed the line in
1.43.99 not showing any fatigue from the 1500 he ran earlier, with Emily running a well
paced race having wanted to run 20s/100m she crossed the line in 2.00.98 she finished
confident that she could run much faster.