TVH Young Athletics win at Dartford
The TVH young athletes team led by team manager Amber Simukonda travelled to compete on the bright blue track at Dartford on a lovely warm sunny day. This was the second fixture in the YDL, TVH finished second to Cambridge Harriers in the first fixture at Battersea on 21st April. Getting our coach through the very narrow entrance to the park proved to be the most difficult task of the day, after that it was a fantastic day for TVH.
In a close fought contest with Cambridge Harriers, TVH won the fixture by 632 pts to 617.5 pts, leaving us equal on 15 league points but just behind on total match points with two teams to be promoted. The remaining two fixtures will be hosted by Cambridge Harriers at Sutcliffe Park on Sunday 17th June, with us hosting the final fixture at Linford Christie Stadium on Saturday 21st July.
John Husbands reports:
With 8 teams competing on a 6 lane track (8 lane home straight) it required heats in some of the 150m and 200m races, with athletes not knowing their placings until the times from the heats were compared.
There were many fantastic performances on the day and numerous personal bests, but special mention should go to all the athletes who performed in several events to add to our points total, something TVH were less able to do at the first fixture, with many of our athletes competing in the mini-marathon the following day. Athletes can compete in a maximum of 4 events, including relays, but only 1 of the middle distance events. This was particularly impressive given that it was the end of a busy week for several of our athletes, with the county championships the previous Sunday and a Hammersmith & Fulham schools event at Linford Christie Stadium on the Monday.
The Youth Development League recognises that these events cannot take place without the work of the volunteer officials and award bonus points for those bringing 5 field officials, a track official and a timekeeper, which only TVH and Cambridge Harriers were able to do. Many thanks to our hard working officials, especially those who also travelled up to Norwich the following day to officiate at our Southern Athletics League fixture!
One member of the team who was unable to attend the meeting was multi-events coach, Martina Saulich, who has coached our young athletes over the last couple of years and husband Lukas has coached on Saturday mornings. Martina coached her last session at Linford Christie Stadium on the Thursday, arranged a lift to Dartford on the Friday and then gave birth to their first child, a daughter, on Saturday afternoon! Best wishes to Martina, Lukas and baby E (name to be confirmed) from all at TVH.
Full results for the fixture can be found at https://www.thepowerof10.info/