Five Medals and one Club Record at UK Championships

Of the Woodford athletes who accepted their invitations to compete in the weekend’s UK Championships held at a very windy Manchester, there was a gold medal for Cindy Sember, silvers for each of Phil Norman, Youcef Zatat and Dan Rowden and a bronze for Sam Khogali who also improved the "domestic" Club Record.

Cindy Sember’s title and gold medal came on the final day (Sunday) in the 100mH which she last won in the Covid affected 2020 season. Cindy comfortably won her heat in 12.64 w (+3.9) and then the final with an even stronger following wind in 12.56 secs w (+5.4). Phil Norman who, like Cindy, also won a title over the 3000m steeplechase in 2020, led for 5 laps at a good pace but although beating Zac Seddon who currently heads the UK rankings he just lost out in the closing stages as he finished second with 8m28.06 secs. Also picking up silver was Youcef Zatat with his 18.14m in the shot. The third silver medal went to Daniel Rowden (who also won in 2020) over 800m. In a fast race in the windy conditions, outstanding first year senior Max Burgin led the whole way in the wind with Dan in close touch and although fading a little over the last 50m he held on for second with a season’s best of 1m45.54 secs. The bronze medal went to Sam Khogali in the long jump with a new personal best of 7.83m (+1.8) which is also a new “domestic” (for UK qualified athletes) Club best and just 2cm behind the absolute best. It moves Sam up to third on this year’s UK rankings.

Just missing out on a medal and placing fourth in the hammer was another former Champion Mark Dry with 68.11m. Also 4th was Will Grimsey in the high jump where he cleared 2.15m. Jack Lawrie just lost out on making the final of the 400mH, being the next fastest from the heats where he clocked 50.75 secs for 2nd in his heat. In the 100m Olu Isaac progressed through to the semi-final where he was 5th with a windy 10.27 secs (+4.4) after a 10.33 secs w (+3.5) heat. Others in action in heats were Ellis Greatrex who was 4th in his 400m heat with 48.45 secs, Ollie Cresswell in the 110mH with 14.28 secs w (+3.4), Ben Potrykus in the 1500m with 3m50.81 secs, Jasmine Mitchell in the 400mH with 62.82 secs just behind HCA member Leah Keisler who clocked 62.01 secs Anna Clark with 4m32.61 secs over 1500m and Gwen Datey over 100m with 12.06 secs (+2.8).