Two club records fell as the National Young Athletes team racked up a big points tally against bottom clubs Bedford & Bexley in the final league fixture at St Albans on Sunday.

Mercy Gutteridge improved her U15G pole vault record yet again, clearing a new best 2.30m for victory. And the U17W 4x300m quartet of Becky Stanley, Jess Seekings, Nicola Peachey and Debbie Knight carved another two seconds off their previous mark to dip under three minutes for the first time with 2:59.1s.

There were many first or second placings and a glut of personal bests in warm and sunny conditions.

The Under 17 Men provided seven individual victories plus a relay winner and added another seven second places. Josh Olawore won a long and triple jump double but crashed out of the sprint hurdles, which Adam Wileman won in his absence. Andrew Kerr won the hammer and was second in the vault, despite not having his usual pole available and scored important ‘chase points.  A standing throw was enough to give Danny Wilson discus victory and he was also second in the shot, after sustaining a hamstring strain in the 400m hurdles as Jake Nelson won the latter.  Nelson was also runner up in the high jump behind team mate Harry Phillips. Glenn Wileman was second in the ‘chase, Massi Dendani was runner up in the 800m and Michael Lewis marked his return to track action with a PB and runner up spot in the 200m. Dale Marks–Swain joined Olawore, Lewis and Dendani in the wining 4x400m relay quartet. Lewis Walker-Dobson joined Nelson, Lewis and Phillips in the second placed 4x100m squad.

The Under 17 Women dominated weak opposition with six individual and two relay wins and no fewer than ten second places.  The record breaking relay quartet also scored well in their individual events. Debbie Knight improved her javelin PB for victory and added second place and another PB  in the 100m.  Nicola Peachey and Jess Seekings had a one-two in the 300m hurdles and both added runners up placings in the long jump & high jump respectively. Becky Stanley set PBs in all three individual events with second places in 800m & triple jump and third in the 300m.  Other successes came from Becky Lawrence with a pole vault win & high jump equal second, Rylie Trott in the sprint hurdles and siblings Sophie & Erin Baggs with a discus one-two. Shannon Sullivan & Patsy McWeeney eased to a 3000m one-two and Annie Adewole was shot runner up. Bethany Hall marked her league debut with third in the 1500m and joined Rylie, Becky (Lawrence) and Patsy in the winning 4x100m team

The powerful Under 15 Boys gave a fine display, winning six individual events plus the sprint relay. Billy Bilton had a double win in the 400m and javelin and was also runner up in the hurdles and anchored the 4x40m squad to second place wit the fastest leg.  Karl Tucker completed a busy weekend with a hurdles win in a new PB and improving both his 100m & 200m bests in third. Alex Law was a good long jump winner and was second in the discus, while Reece Mathurin won the 100m and was second in the 200m. Alex Habbershaw, who scored well in long jump, pole vault and shot, joined Reeve, Karl and Alex Law in the wining 4x100m relay squad. Oliver Garwandoe was joint winner of the pole vault and added high jump and pole vault points and joined Nick Duffey (800m second – PB), Finbar Smyth and Billy Bilton in the second placed 4x400m quartet.

There were five wins for the Under 15 girls.  Mercy Gutteridge’s vault record led the way but Bethany Chambers added a 200m & long jump double and was 100m runner up. George Taylor winning discus effort was close to her best and she added javelin victory with Rachel Forder second

The Under 13 girls continue to improve with some fine results. Heidi Surman-Wells continues to lead the way with victories in both 800m and hurdles, and Freya Gutteridge won the long jump. Emma Whitby was second in both 75m and150m sprints in PB times and Michelle Hughes’ PB earned her shot runners up spot. Heidi, Freya, Emma and Michelle combined for relay victory.

The Under 13 boys scored well with three wins and three second places. Fraser Scott won the 1500m and PBs from Thomas Pitkin (hurdles) and Ryan Green (long jump) added further wins. Alex Hewitt raced to PBs in both sprints, placing second in both while Sean Wilson scored more second place points in both the 800m and high jump.

The squad's points score lifts them to third in the table & wins a coveted place in the Area Final at Hendon in two weeks where the opposition will be Windsor SE& H, Tonbridge, Reading, Team Southampton, Enfield & Haringey, Blackheath & Bromley and Croydon. 

Area Final Timetable

1 August 2010