Last weekend saw some of Thanet AC’s finest U11 athletes taking centre stage when they competed in the County Sportshall Decathlon. In a field of 131 boys and girls each athlete competed in 10 different Sportshall events to accumulate points in a bid to place as high as they could on the day. More importantly this event is also used to pick a squad of 15 boys and girls to determine who will represent Kent at the Regional Sportshall Champs in February.
In the Boys Decathlon competition Cooper Ralf (year 5) was our highest placed athlete in 17th overall with personal bests in the Standing Long Jump (1.80m), Speed Bounce (46), High Stepper (13.7s), Chest Push (5.00m) and Javelin (13.00m).
Our 2nd boy competing was Rios Mod’el Tarjomani (year 6) who placed 61st. Rios also had an array of personal bests in the Speed Bounce (31), Javelin (7.00m) and a huge personal best in the Standing Triple Jump (4.71m).
Cooper Ralf (left) and Rios Mod'el Tarjomani (right) showing their balance skills. Photos by Darren Hatton.
In the Girls Decathlon competition our top place finisher was Kitty-Rose Hatton (year 6) who narrowly missed out on a Bronze medal with a 4th place finish overall. She had personal bests in the Balance Test (1st overfall with 60), Standing Long Jump (1.77m), Speed Bounce (1st overall with 59) and Chest Push (5.00m).
Esme Gabriel (year 6) finished 2 places behind in 6th place with personal bests in the Speed Bounce (52) and Standing Triple Jump (5.25m).
Next we had Isabelle Shuai (year 6) who finished in 18th place overall. Isabelle had personal bests in the Standing Long Jump (1.85m), Speed Bounce (40), Javelin (9.00m) and Standing Triple Jump (5.40m).
Kitty Rose Hatton (left), Esme Gabriel (middle) and Isabelle Shuai (right) in action. Photos by Darren Hatton.
Close behind was Chloe Figgins (year 5) in 20th place. Chloe had personal bests in the Balance Test (1st overall with 60), Standing Long Jump (1.73m), Speed Bounce (49) and Standing Triple Jump (4.92m).
Alice Tye (year 5) finished 3 places behind in 23rd overall. Alice had personal bests in the Balance Test (51), Chest Push (4.00m) and Standing triple Jump (4.95m).
Daisy lee finished in 34th place overall. Daisy had personal bests in the Balance Test (53), Standing Long Jump (1.54m) and Chest Push (5.25m).
Chloe Figgins (left), Alice Tye (middle) and Daisy Lee (right) mid competition. Photos by Darren Hatton.
Later that evening the selectors sent out 30 emails to athletes selecting them for the Kent team, and we are proud to announce that we managed to have 3 at Thanet AC receive those emails.
- Kitty-Rose Hatton was selected again after competing for Kent in this event last year as a year 5.
- Esme Gabriel, after a strong showing today, gained her debut County selection.
- Alice Tye received her debut Kent selection a year young as a year 5.
These girls will now have a last training session as the Kent squad before travelling to Burgess Hill on the 16th February to compete against 7 other Counties to try and qualify for the National Sportshall Finals in April.
U11 coach Darren Hatton went on to say “This is such a huge achievement for these 3 girls to compete for their County at the Regional Finals in February, but all 8 athletes were at their best today and would have made the Kent selectors jobs a difficult decision. Both the boys and the girls events were of super high quality, and for our athletes to rise to the occasion like they did shows how far they have come.”
Darren Hatton
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