National Junior League, Southern Premier Division, Hendon 25 April 2004

Match Result

A superb team performance ensured the National Junior Athletics League ladies’ team came from behind to beat Woodford Green & Essex Ladies in the first Southern Premier Division fixture at Hendon on Sunday.

A good team performance was always on the cards from the almost full strength team but the much higher standards of competition this season meant that every point was hard won, and Woodford soon raced into an early lead, as the Havering Mayesbrook team got off to a relatively slow start during the early afternoon.  But an excellent all-round team effort ensured that by the final relays Woodford had been overhauled with Havering Mayesbrook a couple of points ahead.

Lucy Sargent again took the headlines on her league debut.  She produced a massive fourth round long jump PB of 5.65m, some 31cms above her two-week old best, to win and then blitzed the 200m field with a stunning a 24.0secs performance, leaving international Gemma Nichol and Tara Bird in her wake. But on a normally still day the slight breeze had turned round for her race and the wind gauge showed a reading just over the legal limit, ruling out a club & league record, although it’s only a matter of time before these fall in favourable conditions. Her 200m run was backed up by Kara Graham’s B string success and Kara also placed third in the 100m; Emma Christmas was sixth in the B 100m.  Kirsty Smith bagged a pair of second places, in the long jump B, and came close to winning the A triple jump, ending just 2cms behind.  At the end of the meeting the 4x100m quartet of Smith, Graham, Sargent and Christmas came second in a fast 51.1s

Another PB went to Nina Brennan who carved almost a second off her 400m hurdles best in fourth, later placing third in the sprint hurdles, while Chloe van Wulven was pipped at the post in the A hurdles, and was back in fourth in a fierce high jump competition with six girls contesting 1.65m.

Mel Harrison was kept busy in the throwing events. Her javelin PB placed her second, and she also finished in runners up spot in the shot and discus B, but a hammer throw a few centimetres shy of her best was only good enough for fourth.  She received strong support from Jessica Mole who won the B shot, Emma Christmas, B javelin runners up, and Vicky Falconer, B hammer third.  Rookie pole vaulter Danielle Ross score vital points for fifth in just her second competition.

The Clark sisters, Lynsey and Lauren were also in good form. Lauren went under 60 secs on her 400m debut, winning the B race, while older sister Lynsey improved her two year old triple jump PB to win the B competition, and spun the discus out to a season’s best for A string second.

London mini-marathon winner Katie Richardson was another making her league debut and despite knocking almost five seconds off her PB came third in a high-class race. Megan Foley' also had to settle for third in her 3000m debut, placing her third on the club u17 all-time list.  Strong support came from Robyn Matson (3000m), Helen Roche (800m) and new signing Harriet Scott (1500m), who were fourth, fourth and third respectively in their events.  Sara Luck was busy, doubling up in the 800m and 400m, finishing 3^rd and 5^th respectively, and also fitting in a high jump effort. 

So it all came down to the final event, the 4x400m relay.  Sara Luck rounded off her busy day to hand over on the opening leg with a narrow lead, which Katie Richardson extended. Megan Foley handed on to Lauren Clark with the team well in front and although the chasing runners closed rapidly she kicked for home off the last bend to come home in front, winning the event, and confirming the club’s winning start.

  Photos below

Non Scoring

800m Jenny Szantai 3rd  ?2m 40?

400m Jenny Szantai 2nd; Carmel Munson 3rd

Shot Louise Yard 8.65?, Vicky Falconer 7.98?