FIVE Thurrock Harriers went to the Eastern Masters Athletic Championships on Saturday in Bedford and came away with an impressive medal haul of 10 medals, including eight golds.

Marek Kowalski led the way in what he described as ‘the best day of his sporting life”.

Competing in the over-40 age group he won four gold medals in the long jump, high jump, triple jump and high hurdles all in lifetime best performances.

His high hurdle performance moved him up to seventh in this year’s UK age group rankings. He also won silver in the 100m.

In the 1,500m Mick Bumstead won the over-65s and Bernie Johnson the over-60s, with both achieving season best performances despite wet and windy conditions.

Bumstead’s time of 5:17 is the third fastest time recorded in the UK by an over-65 this year while Johnson’s medal was his first individual gold of his career.

Jon Metcalf, competing in the over-55 age group, won gold in the 800m, and bronze in the 400m both with season best performances.

Metcalf’s 800m time moved him up to sixth in this year’s UK age group rankings, and Steve Kemp also won gold in the 2,000m walk, as well as fourth in the 800m and 400m.

Harriers’ relay teams ran well at the Essex Relay Championships at Garon Lane Southend, bringing home four Essex medals in the process.

The under-13s girls’ team won gold, with the winning team Funmi Adewole, Tumi Abbas, Alessia Daniele and Kennedy Beardwell.

Silver was won by the Under-17 men following a very close final race but just missed out on the gold. The team consisted of Charlie Splarn, Liam Chivers, Daniel Soyebo and Emmanuel Orebela.

And bronze was brought home by the senior men's team following a very tight race – with Michael Shorthall, Ben Gibbs, Yinka Sopido and Nweike Nwabude excelling.

Another bronze was won by the Under-17 women’s team, who won their heat but came joint second (timings) in the final. The team was made up of Kendrea Nwaelene, Lola Omowanile, Jess Whitbread and Funmi Olajide.

The other teams included under-13 boys team Frances Omowanile, Tosin Olajide, Jakub Kawalsi and Liam Norcott, under-15 girls team Sola Taiwo, Ruby Bridger, Evie Croom and Elise Milan-Vaga and under-15 girls team Jess Rowe, Tolani Odumosu, Emily Fall and Alex Gordon.

All also ran well but unfortunately did not medal on the day.