National Junior League, Southern Premier Division, Eton 20 June 2004

Match Result

A barn-storming 400m relay leg by Megan Foley ensured the HMAC junior ladies team ended up in second ahead of Blackheath in the match, as Woodford romped to victory at Eton in the Southern Premier fixture on Sunday. 

As the teams lined up for the final event the 4x400m relay Havering Mayesbrook were clinging onto second place by half a point, ahead of Blackheath & Bromley, as powerful league leaders Woodford Green had already secured team victory, and Shaftesbury and Ashford were locked in a separate battle for fourth place. So the HMAC foursome had to finish ahead of Blackheath to hold onto second, and the team had experienced a late reshuffle as inexperienced Jenny Szantai had been drafted in after Lauren McVicar withdrew through injury.

Katie Richardson led off and ran a strong opener in 61.9s to take a short lead and hand over the baton to Jenny Szantai, who had earlier equalled her 400m PB of 65.1secs for 7th.  The Aldershot runner quickly went past her and others closed in but she went with the pace and ran magnificently to complete her lap in third, timed at 64.0 secs, over one second faster than before. Hurdler Nina Brennan took over on the third leg and powered off to put daylight between her and the pack as Aldershot streaked into a winning lead they would hold to the tape. Although the early pace took its toll in the home straight but Nina still passed the baton to anchor Megan Foley in third, after her 63.8s lap, with Blackheath holding the vital second place. With the Blackheath team was  anchored by Rebecca Syroki, who had earlier won the individual 400m ahead of Megan, it seemed like the HMAC quartet and the team overall would have to settle for third. But Megan hadn't read the script and covered the Blackheath runners moves and came into the home straight a stride adrift. Inch by inch she closed the gap and threw herself across the line leaving spectators unsure of the final result. It was all down to the track judges who gave the nod to the faster finishing Havering youngster, who was clocked in a superb 58.8 secs.

Earlier another crucial result had gone Havering Mayesbrook's way as Chloe van Wulven got the verdict in an exciting 100m hurdles race as her late charge at the line got the better of Blackheath's Harriet Robinson as both girls crossed the line together in 14.5s, a PB for both and a new club u17 and u20 record for Chloe, beating Kate Brewington's four-year-old best by 5-100ths. With two seasons after this in the junior ranks Chloe could put the record out of sight. Chloe also went close to her 200m PB, finishing 2nd in the B competition, and popped over the high jump bar for vital points.       

Another club junior record was added as rapidly-improving Danielle Ross equalled the U20 pole vault record of 2.30m in only her fifth competition, and now looks set to challenge Hannah Gamester's senior record which is just one centimetre higher.

On a day marked with few winners Sara Luck and Nina Brennan again made it a 400m hurdles double, and Lynsey Clark threw a season's best to win the discus, as well as adding long and triple jump points.  Katie Richardson eased to a B 800m victory as Megan Foley had to give second best to national schools champion Charlotte Browning in the 800m A, and earlier was second in the one-lap event. 

The club's second-claim contingent performed well as Jessica Mole came out on top in the B shot and Kara Graham equalled her 100m PB and smashed her 200m best, finishing second in each. Vicky Falconer was third in the B hammer.

Mel Harrison piled up the points in the throws, and Kirsty Smith added jumps points, and Lauren McVicar was 3td in the100m before puling out with a twinge in her knee.

With just the final match of four on 25 July at Haringey the squad look set for their best ever season in the league, in second place behind the dominant Woodford team and are almost assured a place in the end of season National Final, against the best of the Northern clubs.

League positions (after 3 of 4 meetings)

PB = Personal best                                                                                                              CR = Club Junior Record

Non Scoring

100m 3rd  Jenny Szantai 14.0