National Junior League, National Final, Derby 12 September 2004

Match Result

Havering Mayesbrook's under 20 Ladies produced one of the best track and field results in the club's history when they were runners up in the National Junior League Final at Derby on Sunday.  A strong all-round performance saw them see of the challenge of powerful Northern Champions Trafford place second to local rivals Woodford who ran out winners by 19.5 points.

Katie Richardson and Megan Foley were in dominant form as both struck 800m gold. In the A race Katie controlled the pace and kicked home off the bend to come home 15 metres clear of Trafford's Caroline Nelson. Megan Foley made the going in the B race and put in a devastating last half lap to win by five seconds.

Hot favourite Lucy Sargent made no mistake in the 100m as she powered to a massive three metre victory, while in the B event Kara Graham's late charge left her half a metre short of a medal in fourth.

In the longest track event the 3000m Harriet Scott and Robyn Matson both ran good tactical races to earn good points. With the leading quartet setting a fierce pace the the Havering duo settled in a pack of five which ran more cautious races for the minor positions in the wind-buffeted conditions. Robyn took several knocks as the athletes jostled for places, and was almost brought down as Harriet tucked in behind out of trouble. As the Edinburgh girl kicked for home Harriet was the first to give chase and reined her in a couple of strides out to claim fifth overall, fourth A string, while Robyn's late charge brought her sixth, to win B string silver.

Katie Richardson as unable to repeat her 800m success in the one-lap race against swift opponents, finishing fifth, while Lauren Clark, who missed most of the summer through injury, faded to sixth. 

English Schools' champion Chloe Van Wulven performed heroically for the club. A severe reaction to the three insect bites left her with a painfully swollen ankle, which put her participation in doubt until a few hours before. But although someway down on her best she scored in the 100m hurdles and long jump, before winning gold in the B high jump. Chloe's partners were Sara Luck, who jumped her highest for 18 months to place fourth, while Nina Brennan was sixth in the B string sprint hurdles and Kirsty Smith was seventh in the A long jump. Kirsty later returned to place fifth in the triple jump. Danielle Ross earned vital points in both pole vault and shot.

On to the 200m and Lucy Sargent demolished the field by an eight-tenths margin to make it double gold, and Kara Graham's scorching bend saw her lead into the straight before Woodford's Tara Bird came past, as Kara took silver to set the team back on course for a top two finish.

Megan Foley and Helen Roche continued the medal roll. Megan followed the early pace of Shaftesbury's Vicky Webster, who had won the 3000m, and was a comfortable second as Webster claimed a double. In contrast Helen Roche passed the bell back in tenth before unleashing an amazing last 300m which saw her overtake five opponents to finish in fifth in a new PB, breaking the five minute barrier for the first time to win B string silver. 

Kirsty Smith, Katie Richardson, Lucy Sargent and Kara Graham combined in the 4x100m relay to clock a season's best but wound up fifth, but made ground in the match as Trafford could only place seventh.

Meanwhile on the field Mel Harrison shrugged off a disappointing hammer competition to go close to her best in the javelin, for fifth, as Emma Christmas earned B string javelin silver. She returned to contest the discus to place second in the B string, as Lynsey Clark just held her off to win A string bronze. The versatile Clark was fourth in the B string final field event, the triple jump.

The 4x400m quartet completed the medal tally with silver, being promoted to second after crossing the line third, as match winners Woodford were disqualified. Lauren Clark ran well, and Sara Luck and Katie Richardson added team medals to their individual gongs, while Megan Foley earned her third podium position.

With only joint captains Nina Brennan and Mel Harrison moving up into the senior ranks, the talented young squad can look forward to another few years of success in this competition.

PB = Personal best