National Young Athletes League
National Young Athletes’ League, Southern Premier Ashton Playing Fields
3rd May 2009
It was a baptism of fire for many of our enthusiastic young members on Sunday. Despite having home advantage we repeated last year's opening result by coming 4th. With four league matches remaining it is going to require a supreme effort to ensure WGEL retain our Premiership status.There are still many excellent individual results to report. The team managers nominated Katherine Birch and Peter Kirabo to receive the club Athlete of the Match T-shirt awards.
The Under 17 men put in a great performance, gaining 85 points. They had 13 outright wins, more than the 3 other visiting teams in this age group. On the downside we had gaps in 9 events. Peter Kirabo excelled by winning the A 400m, B High Jump, and the Triple Jump 13.09m (Grade 1) and he ran the 2nd leg of the winning 4 x 400 relay team. Austin Joseph and Omololu Abiodum won the 200m A & B races. Tom Larkin won the 400m B race. Mathew Farley and Alex Olufowbi won the 100H A & B races. Thomas Richards won the Javelin with an impressive 51.57m (Grade 1). Many points were won by: Paul Scanlan in the Shot and Discus; Billy Faulkner in the HJ 1.90m (Grade 1); Liam Blaikie in the 800m & 1500; Dan Yaxley in the 3000m & 1500 S/Chase; Jonathan Leonard in the 100m; James Smith in the Hammer and Discus; Shane Storey and Imran Durowju in the Long Jump.
The Under 15 boys found the going tough with our only outright win achieved by James Bongart throwing the javelin a fine 32.8m (a new PB) and also gaining good points in discus and shot. Joseph Dewar has moved up an age group this year and gained valuable team points in the 200m, 80mH, long jump and 100 x 4 relay. There were fine efforts and team points from Keira McCook 100 & 200m, Kyle Jervier 100m, Sam Robinson 400m & 1500m, James Stocking 800m, Connor Ives 80mh & Javelin, Elliot Joseph long jump, discus & shot, and Charlie Brett PV.
There were no individual wins by the Under 13 boys. The best result was achieved by Lewis Chalk 2nd 1500m A race in 5min 23secs. Other team members, several being debutants, were Kone Eleyae 100m & 200m and LJ, Raphel Duke-Okele 100m, 200m & HJ. Lewis St Hill and Reubin Carrin 800m. Max Alexander-Grange 75mH and Shot.
The Under 17 women put in a reasonable performance against the strong visiting teams. 5 individual first places were achieved. Excellent team points were achieved by Rachel Dean who won the long jump and triple jump. Rachel also placed 3rd 80mH and also led the 300m relay team to 3rd position.
Sophie Fuhr in her first attempt at 300mH ran a good, controlled race to place 2nd
in 48.8secs. Sophie also ran the two extremes of 100m and 3000m! Other team members who
doubled up events were Holly Pattie-Bellilie, Chelsea Ives, Serena Green, Kate Stockings and Sarah Blaikie. A fine team effort from Amy Larkin who threw the Hammer, Javelin, and Discus for 9 match points. Ashley Robertson went over the Pole Vault with 2.30m to gain maximum points.
Claudia Conway & Suna Yokes 800m and Eleanor Flaherty & Lauren
Freeman 1500m gained valuable points in very competitive races.
Katherine Birch was the star performer for our Under 15 girls with a
Grade 1 throw of 26.05m in the discus. Katherine was also placed 2nd
in the Javelin with 19.94m. Alexandra Wilson & Freye Spence ran
both the 100m and 200m. Georgina Ferrari performed well in the 800m and had a brave attempt at the High
Jump. Ellie Foster timed 5min.37 for the 1500m. Stephanie Smith took
part in the 1500m and Shot. Tanika McCook competed well in 75mh and
Long jump. Hannah Pattie Bellilie took 3rd slot in the 75mH. Maya
Bedeau was 4th in High Jump with 1.30m. Lily Francessa doubled up in the
shot and discus.
The Under 13 girls team featured several enthusiastic debutantes. Rachel Oke-Duke was 2nd in the 75m, 3rd in the 150m and jumped 3.23m in LJ. Jessica Narwah won the 75m B race in 11.2secs and was 2nd in the 150m B, then went on to compete in the 70mH. Amelia Barratt ran a gutsy 1200m for 4th place. Lucy Price was a determined new member competing in the 70mH B race, HJ and Long Jump. Tobo Akimumi cleared 1.20m HJ, and later led the relay team home to 2nd place.
Final result
1st Reading AC 452 pts
2nd City of Norwich AC 372 pts
3rd Bedford & County 340.5 pts
4th WGEL 296.5 pts
Link to full results