Streatham based Kristal Awuah is Herne Hill Harriers rising sprint star whose ascent could see her hit the roof if she climbs at a rate any quicker than she has done so far in 2019.
Still only 19 years old, Awuah in her first senior competitions has claimed a National bronze medal at 60m in Birmingham last month, then acquitted herself well against some of the best in the world in the Muller Grand Prix meet at the same venue a week later and now in Glasgow for the European Indoor Championship she could not physically have come any closer to a bronze medal in a continental senior championship unless she had shared the medal with team mate and experienced defending champion Asia Phillip.
The photo finish awarded Awuah with fourth place in Europe in Glasgow on Saturday evening and she missed out on a medal by one thousandth of a second. Awuah is now the fastest ever teenager in Great Britain track history at 60m with her 7.15 sec, usurping none other than European outdoor 100m and 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith at the top of this particular tree and it almost goes without saying that her time is a Harriers club senior women’s record, of which her club are very proud indeed,
It is, however, in her nature that she will still have felt some disappointment with not winning the race or a medal as she aims exceptionally high and has a hugely positive mindset.
That her coach Matthew Thomas is doing a stellar job was further underlined by performances from her training partners over the weekend. Under 20s Lakeisha Owusu-Junior placed a very good second wearing her first England vest at the Welsh International meet in Cardiff, running 60m in 7.62, while Chira Hussey who was also in racing action recorded a very good PB of 7.68 at her race meet.
In the throwing events, Michaela Obijiaku is rewriting the Herne Hill club record books as well as two school records in different events at her college in the USA. She won the weight throw with 19.76m then place second in the shot put with 16.10m which is a huge PB and a new club women’s record for the event.
Exciting times for HHH women’s track and field in 2019.
Geoff Jerwood