This month Amelia Lawton represented Thanet Athletics Club in the Hammer Throw at the U20 National Championships, held in Alexander Stadium, Birmingham.
This was new territory for Amelia and the club, marking a real milestone for both.
With the temporary loss of training facilities at The Royal Harbour Academy since 2024, it’s been a real challenge to find a site with an appropriate throwing cage facility in the area.
Amelia has had to travel to Canterbury with the rest of the group for a vastly reduced training timetable; meaning less practice than her compatriots.
Due to this being a crucial A-Level exam year, the St Lawrence College sports scholar couldn’t compete a full timetable of events leading up to this to gain that valuable competition experience.
Amelia has benefited from being selected for the England Athletics Youth Talent Program (YTP) in 2023 and over these last two years this scheme has equipped her with skills in nutrition, exercise plans and mindfulness.
She’s also benefited from three great coaches, Mike Both, Tim Williams and Chloe Williams, who saw Amelia’s potential and have honed her skills. Thanet Athletics Club is one of the few UK clubs with high performing field event groups and qualified throws coaches.
Against the best of all the devolved nations and England, Amelia threw a very respectable 40.14m, just shy of her personal best of 42.37m resulting in a 10th place finish.
Despite all these challenges, Amelia performed remarkably well, reaching a national championship for the first time and also the first time a Thanet Athletics Club throws athlete to ever reach this level, marking continues success of the club.
If you wish to Be Your Best and would like to find out more information about the club, please reach out at www.thanetac.co.uk
