The U20 Ladies team finished fifth in a high quality National Junior League final at Derby yesterday (Sunday) as Southern Champions Blackheath & Bromley held off the early challenge of Northern leaders Trafford to claim the trophy. 

The chilly overcast conditions and cold headwind took the edge off performances and top three placings were hard to come by. In fact only three club athletes struck gold, all in the middle distance events.

Harriet Scott was the only A string winner, taking the lead on the second lap after a pedestrian early pace and kicking for home with 300m left, surviving a late challenge from Trafford's Victoria O'Donnell. Katie Richardson faded after following the early pace but held on to do enough to win B string honours. On a disappointing day the ring-rusty English Schools Champion Katie was way off the 800m pace in 6th.

Megan Foley added the only other victory as she won the B 800m for the second successive year, coming home over 30m in front. Megan also returned to the track less than an hour later to win bronze in the 3000m event, before heading off to South Wales to join an A-level school Biology Field Trip which she had received special permission to join late.

Lucy Sargent had to settle for second in both sprints, behind current UK u20 number one Montell Douglas who has returned to fitness and posted some excellent marks in recent weeks. Lucy now aims to take a well-deserved break before starting her winter training - but first she celebrates her 17th birthday on Tuesday.  

There was a tremendous competitive finish to the day in the 4x400m relay as Harriet Scott, Robyn Delivett, Lauren Clark and Lucy Rodgers recorded the fastest time ever by an u20 quartet in club colours. 1500m winner Harriet set the team up for a good result with her 59.6s opening lap, handing over third and Robyn Delivett ran her fastest ever relay leg of 61.9s to hand over in top-four contention. Lauren Clark's 59.1s third leg maintained the challenge but the squad seemed to be out of medal contention as the top three shot off leaving it all to do for Lucy Rodgers on anchor. With 200m to go it seemed fourth place was on the cards but Lucy's amazing last 200m reeled in the opposition and she claimed third in the final strides, edging out Trafford's Sally Teague by 6-100ths to clock 57.0 for her leg. The squad's time - 3m 57.59s - almost two seconds inside the existing u20 record of 3:59.5s - which will stand for a little while longer as Lucy is at present a 2nd claim member. She has now resigned from her first claim club Thurrock and will compete for HMAC in all competitions next year.

Lauren Clark and Lucy Rodgers had both gained 400m podium places earlier, finishing 3rd and 2nd. The only other  track medals went to Robyn Matson - 2nd B 300m - and Christina Kalejaiye, bronze in the B 100m. 

On the field only the javelin yielded any medals as Kim Box was third in the A event and Emma Christmas was unable to repeat her club record form of the previous weekend, placing 2nd in the B competition.

Katie O'Sullivan was the only team member to equal a PB, with her 2.00m pole vault clearance and she worked hard for little reward in her three events. 

Lynsey Clark also had little to show for her efforts in three field events and the 4x100m relay. In the discus she threw 37.60m - close to her season's best and further than the distance which won her bronze last year but it was good enough only for fifth in a top class competition. 

Sara Luck was fourth in both her 400m (A) and high jump B events, and Chloe van Wulven - 18 the day before - was fourth in the A high jump and fifth in the 100m hurdles. Nicola Schofield was fifth in the B 400m hurdles.

There was an unenviable experience for Kirsty Smith who after posting three no jumps in the long jump, had the misfortune to repeated this in the triple jump.

When the points were tallied the team finished in fifth - one place behind defending champions Woodford who had also been expecting greater things.

Harriet Scott, Lynsey Clark and Sara Luck all head off out of the u20 age group to start their university courses, while Nicola Schofield, who is having a year's break from education before starting her course, also competed for the last time as an u20.

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