4

2

A much higher points tally and some superb results failed to stave off a last place finish in the 2nd round NJAL Fixture at Haringey on Sunday.

Chloe van Wulven provide the only A victory in the 100m hurdles, getting the judges verdict in a close finish. The ladies did contribute three middle distance B string wins thanks to Helen Roche (800m) and Hayley Stibbs (1500m) who both repeated their round 1 victories and league debutant Georgie-Lou Sales who carved 30 secs off her PB to take B 3000m honours.

There were PBs for Frankie Calder (shot & 100m) and for hard-working Lauren Clark, whose efforts were rewarded when she added two metres to her discus PB, finishing third. Katie Richardson became the first club female to tackle the steeplechase, finishing an impressive 2^nd behind Shaftesbury’s Lucy Yeates;’ league record.  Richardson had earlier finished third in the A 800m, and third place points also went to Robyn Matson in the A 3000m.

The ladies finished the day on a high in the 4 x 400m relay finishing third as Lauren Clark’s first leg set them up and strong legs from Megan Foley, Katie Richardson & Robyn Delivett kept them in the race.

The men found top three placings hard to come by, but the 110m hurdle event saw PBs for Anthony Williams & Richard Demko who placed 3^rd and 2^nd respectively in PB times which rank them 3rd & 4th on the club all-time list). Demko had earlier made an impressive 400m hurdles debut with a fast 57.9s for 4th.

Second claim member Michael Read did well with a pole vault third place and the 800m pairing of Ashley Reece and the returning Ross Clarke were 4^th & third in their events – Reece returned to the track just 20 mins later to run the 400m. Joe Forde threw PBs in both hammer (placing fourth) & shot.

But the team had their fair share of misfortune as Luke Stott’s tight hamstrings restricted him to one sprint event, Chris Clements pulled a hamstring in the 200m, Nicola Hill withdrew after her first event with strained back and Chloe van Wulven’s sunburnt shoulders restricted her to just one token effort in her usually successful high jump.  Further woes came when competitors in the women’s high jump and javelin, and men’s long jump failed to register a mark.

At halfway in the four-match season the team are bottom of the eight-team division.

Inaugural club record

H.J.

Chloe van Wulven

8

1.30m

H.J.

NH