Kimberley Reed’s season got off to an extremely early start in cold, wet conditions in late March (Breaking news, 2.4.14), writes her father Scott Reed.
She also had to juggle training with studying for exams which didn’t end until 12 May. But things now are really hotting up in advance of the Commonwealth Games selection deadline early this month. Here’s how the season has progressed so far.
29 March, Central Pre-season Open, Grangemouth: Things got off to a very dodgy start. The circle at Grangemouth hadn’t been cleaned out all winter and was full of grass residue making it extremely slippery underfoot. Combined with the cold, Kimberley had 5 no-throws and a very poor 48.99m.
8 April, Lothian Trials, Meadowbank: Without any serious competition, Kimberley threw a respectable 58.19m on a day when she traditionally sets down markers for all her other throwing events too (shot, discus and javelin).
12 April, Hammerama 1, Livingston: Myra had come north of the border once more to go head to head with Rachel and Kimberley, but was to be seriously disappointed with 59.83m as Rachel threw 62.22m and Kimberley went over 60m for the first time with a great throw of 60.88m. This moved Kimberley to second in the rankings and set a new Hammerama U20 record.
27 April, UK Youth Development League, Meadowbank: With no serious opposition, Kimberley threw a new league record of 60.48m.
3 May, British University Championships, Bedford: This was the first big away-day and was to be another head to head with Rachel, as all the other English opposition fell at least 7 metres behind. Kimberley threw a new PB, but more crucially her second Commonwealth games qualifier immediately in the 1st round with a huge heave of 61.77m. Rachel struggled to respond until a moment of drama in the fourth round when Kimberley was timed out whilst waiting on the referee firing his gun to start the 100m. Rachel immediately struck with a new PB of 63.43m and it was game over. Gold to Rachel, Silver to Kimberley.
10 May, Hammerama 2, Livingston: Opting to do this comp ahead of her last exam on Monday, rather than travel to Swansea with Edinburgh AC for the UK Women’s League, Kimberley chilled out and threw 60.51m. She also picked up the 3kg hammer and threw an unofficial British U20 all-time best of 67.95m.
18 May, Loughborough International: Kimberley was chosen to represent GB Juniors in a 6-way competition versus Scotland, Wales, England, British Universities and Loughborough. All three of Kimberley’s rivals took part: Myra representing Loughborough, Rachel representing Scotland and Susan appearing as a guest. Kimberley struggled to balance on an extremely slippery circle and consequently finished fourth out of the four with Myra and Rachel throwing new PBs of 63.11m and 66.30m respectively. Susan also threw a good 63.82m, Kimberley just 1cm off her current PB with 61.76m. I have submitted a protest about the Loughborough result and will have to await the decision of British Athletics.
Current Scottish rankings
Rachel Hunter: 66.30m
Susan McKelvie: 63.82m
Myra Perkins: 63.11m
Kimberley Reed: 61.77m
Susan was pre-selected last year and, having proved her form, she is certain to go to the Commonwealth Games. Rachel is pretty well uncatchable and has a sufficiency of head to heads over the other two. It’s now pretty much a scrap for the last place between Kimberley and Myra.
Myra has the greater distance, Kimberley has more Commonwealth Games Qualifying marks (3:1), but it seems almost certain that Myra will get another 61m throw for her second crucial CWG qualifier. They are equal in head to heads, so Kimberley needs to overhaul Myra’s best distance in the final 17 days to the deadline on 8 June. Kimberley wasn’t to have met Myra or Rachel again in competition, but we have had to rejig her final competitions in order for her to scrap it out with Myra in Bedford at the Bedford International Games.
Only a few days left … anything could happen.
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NERVE-JANGLING UPDATE (2 June): Things didn't go well at the Bedford International Games, with Myra beating Kimberley on both days ... albeit by less than half a metre. But Myra got two Commonwealth Games qualifying marks just over the 61m, and Kimberley was just short of the 61m. Kimberley's going to have to throw something amazing this weekend to save her chances of getting a place. The last 2 competitions are: Sat. 7 June, UK Women's League, Birmingham; Sun. 8 June, Summer Throws Festival, Livingston.