The first of this year’s Southern Athletics League competitions took place at Woodford on 25 April. The team was small in numbers unfortunately; thank you to those who took part and especially those who took on multiple events. The next event is on Sunday 31 May at Sandy in Bedfordshire. A call to all athletes who qualify for this league – WE NEED A FULL TEAM TO TAKE PART TO EARN POINTS; PLEASE SUPPORT THE CLUB AND YOUR NEW TEAM MANAGER.
Congratulations to our sprinters. In the 100m and 200m events Sam Akpabio ran a PB in the 100m and was 3rd in the 200m with Marlon supporting in the B race. Bartosz Sikora PB’d in both events. Eleanor Gadsby finished 3rd in the women’s 100m and Julia Austin was delighted to run a new V50 Club Record in the B string 100m (17.79). New Team Manager James Davis had a very busy afternoon competing in six different track events; in the sprints section, he ran a new PB in the 400m and won the 400m hurdles event.
William Ralston and James Davis ran both the 800m and 1500m for the men. Will finished 4th and 3rd respectively; James won the B string 800m event and was 3rd in the A string 1500. The 5k event saw James up again, this time finishing 2nd in the B string with Charlie May 2nd in the A string. James’ final event of the day was the 2k Steeple Chase which he won with a new PB of 7:22:49. Julia Austin was our sole middle distance runner for the ladies and finished 4th in the 800m.
We had a fairly successful afternoon in the field events with Rochelle Arulanandam2nd in the Triple Jump and 3rd in both the A string High Jump and Long Jump. Amy Obiamago was 2nd in the B string Long Jump with a PB of 4.21m; she also finished 2nd in the Shot Putt with a 9.18m throw – Brenda Russell was 3rd in the B string. Brenda took on two further events finishing 2nd in the B string Discus and 3rd in the Hammer. Bartosz Sikora finished off his successful day with a third PB in the Discus where he was 5th – it was his first competition since moving up in weight and as an U17 athlete, the only junior competing against all senior athletes.