Nine-year-old Ruby-May Howard from Hanwell delivered a standout performance at the Kingston AC & Polytechnic Harriers 40th Anniversary QUADKids Meeting last Saturday (29 March 2025), clocking an electronically timed 11.00 seconds in the 75-metre sprint – the fastest girls’ time of the day and quicker than any of the boys.
Representing both Ealing Eagles and Perivale Panthers, Ruby-May – a pupil at St. Mark’s Primary School in Hanwell – competed in the under-11 girls category, which includes children aged 9 and 10. Her result placed her ahead of all competitors in her age group, including the fastest U11 boy, who ran 11.20 seconds. It also places her among the top-ranked sprinters in the country for her age.
Held at the Weir Archer Athletics and Fitness Centre in Kingston upon Thames, the event marked four decades of Kingston AC & PH with a special edition of their QUADKids meet – a format designed to introduce young athletes to multiple track and field events in one competition. Children competed across four events: a 75m sprint, a 600m run, a vortex throw and a long jump. Around 50 athletes took part on the day, enjoying mild spring weather and excellent conditions on the track.
Ruby-May also competed in all four disciplines, but it was the sprint where she truly shone. According to recent national performance databases, very few girls at the age of nine run under 11.5 seconds. Her time is expected to rank near the top for nine-year-olds in the UK and rivals club records typically set by 10-year-olds.
Her father, Vince Howard, said: “Ruby has consistently shown the will to train and improve. Over the winter, despite freezing conditions, Ruby would always show up and work hard.”
Ruby-May wasn’t the only young athlete from Ealing to make an impression. Abigail Bennett, also nine, ran a strong 600 metres in 2:08.09, placing third overall in the endurance event. Both girls are part of Ealing Eagles’ growing junior programme, and their results show promising depth in West London’s youth athletics scene.
Saturday’s competition also served as a celebration of Kingston AC & PH’s legacy, with several founding members present to mark the 40-year milestone. The Weir Archer track, named after legendary coach Jenny Archer and Paralympian David Weir, was buzzing with activity throughout the morning. Events ran smoothly and to time, with support from a team of club volunteers and officials.
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