NICHOLAS Hunt dominated the Dorset Track and Field Championships on his return to Kings Park after his midweek success in the Olympic Stadium.
Denied a full work-out a fortnight earlier when day two of his Dorset Combined Events octathlon was washed out, the versatile Hunt gave a multi-events master class in the individual championships instead.
The Portchester School pupil produced four championship best performances (CBPs) as he claimed five gold medals and one silver – one medal more than his all-gold 2010 haul.
Hunt opened on Saturday with a 2.00m high jump – just one centimetre down on the leap which earned him Schools’ Games silver in the Olympic Park.
The Southampton AC star followed up with a 14.15m triple jump and a 15.53m shot putt to post three CBPs.
On Sunday, Hunt shared top spot in the pole vault with Wimborne AC’s Matthew Curtis after they tied at 3.30m. Hunt then threw a 45.24m javelin personal best as runner-up behind Denzil Guy’s top-20 ranked 48.98m. Hunt’s finale was another CBP – 6.95m in the long jump.
n Southampton AC’s colours were also prominent as Ronnie Young clinched an under-20 men’s sprint hat-trick (100m 11.7s, 200m 22.4s, 400m 49.4s).
Andrew Elkins went one better, hurling his hammer 66.59m, but also seeing off the challenge of GB age group decathlete Adam Carpenter in three other throws events.
Meanwhile, Poole AC’s Oscar Borton doubled the long jump (6.52m) and triple jump (12.36m), while club-mate Jack Roach achieved a 1.96m high-jump gold.
Saturday’s strong headwinds restricted Steffi Wilson to a 12.3s under-20 100m sprint, equalling her CBP of last year.
The national indoor silver medallist was able to show her year’s progress in Sunday’s 200m, however, improving her own CBP by 0.8s to 24.6s.
Gabrielle Rowsell achieved a meeting best 5.61m long jump, as well as winning 1.58m high jump gold.
Melissa Courtney’s 400m lap of exactly one minute equalled another CBP, with Lizzie Harris just 0.2s adrift. Brunel University student Courtney also won the 800m in 2:17.1, while Katrina White’s 10.61m won the triple jump for Bournemouth AC.
BLOBPoole Runners’ under-17 men dominated their distance races, with gold for Louis Kellaway (1500m, 4:24.9), Ben Wilson (3000m, 9:12.4) and Declan Toth (1500m steeplechase, 4:44.1).
Andrew Smith edged out BAC’s Peter Horne to add the 800m title in 2:04.3. Kevin Hodgson recorded an 11.9s and 23.6s sprint double for the Kings Park club.
Wimborne’s Matthew Curtis (100m hurdles, 15.0s) and PAC’s George Walker (400m hurdles, 64.9s) won over the barriers.
Matthew Aldridge claimed high jump silver for BAC with 1.85m.
BAC’s Natalie Whisken threw 37.18m to secure the under-17 javelin title, having thrown 36.64m in the Olympic Stadium for fifth place in the Schools Games.
Club-mate Rachel Welch won both 100m (13.4s) and long jump (5.07m), while Sharon Hutchings scored a 2:26.9 and 5:06.8 distance double for Wimborne AC.
Poole Runners’ Holly Aldridge and Hannah McErlane won the 300m hurdles (52.3s) and high jump (1.50m), respectively, as each finished with three medals.
BLOBScott Rutter doubled the under-15 boys’ sprints (12.5s and 24.1s) with PAC club-mate Samuel Wheeler becoming the inaugural 300m champion in this category.
Wimborne AC’s Jason Sotheran won both 800m (2:10.7) and 1500m (4:35.1), while club-mate Ryan Long trebled the 80m hurdles (14.4s), pole vault (2.50m) and triple jump (10.54m).
Poole AC’s Marcel Kraftner won the high jump (1.55m), while Patrick Scylla (5.52m) got the better of BAC team-mate Joseph Rutherford (5.36m) in the long jump.
Thomas Peters achieved a BAC shot (10.50m) and discus double (34.94m).
In the under-15 girls, PAC’s Ashleigh Power completed an unusual treble, adding a narrow surprise 13.6s 100m win to more predictable titles in the hammer (42.42m) and shot (10.55m).
Poole Runners’ Lauren Cooper (26.9s) and Antonia Hancock (27.3s) scored a 200m one-two.
Elisabeth Hood achieved an impressive distance double (800m 2:19.4 and 1500m 4:37.3), while Emma Carpenter claimed a long jump (4.99m) and javelin (29.45m) double.
Jordan Arnold of Poole Runners gained gold and silver from two close finishes. Though denied 75m hurdles gold as the judges’ verdict went to Poole AC’s Olivia Hunter (13.4s), Arnold bounced back to defeat BAC’s Rosie Wootten on high jump count-back at 1.45m.
BAC’s Angel Kerin won the triple jump (9.83m).
BLOBJack Howlett’s five under-13 golds for Poole AC comprised a 13.9s and 28.2s sprint double, 4.89m long jump, 9.16m shot and 29.04m javelin. BAC’s Glen Balfour won the 800m (2:28.7) and high jump (1.25m), claiming two further silvers and a bronze. Jordan Harding won a long jump (4.44m) silver and three other medals, with 1.80 pole vault champion Matthew Jolliffe securing a hat-trick.
Wimborne AC’s Grace Copeland (2:34.0 and 5:12.5) edged out Bess Bickel of Poole Runners (2:34.5 and 5:13.2) in both under-13 800m and 1500m. WAC’s Bethan Burley doubled the shot (8.02m) and javelin (23.65m).
Iona Sheerin won both 100m (14.0s) and long jump (4.58m), where BAC club-mate Hannah Molyneaux finished just 2cm down. Olivia Galloway (70m hurdles, 12.6s) and Gemma Kennard (high jump, 1.30m) were also BAC winners with Wimborne’s Pippa Hine taking 200m gold in 28.8s.
•BAC’s Phoebe Dowson finished runner-up in the Hampshire under-20 discus Championships as her 46.00m was beaten only by Shadine Duquemin’s CBP 49.15m.
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