National Junior League
On Sunday WGwEL’s U/20 track and field team ensured another season in the Premier Division of the National Junior League. Having placed 7th in the league, they were forced to contest the end of season promotion match along with winners of the various first divisions, but a solid all-round effort saw them end up relatively comfortable winners to retain their Premier League status. Woodford scored 510 points, as they won from Herts Phoenix on 485 and Ashford on 411.5 Good points in the men’s sprints with a notable 400m and “B” 100m double from Omololu Abiodun, and a women’s middle distance double from Lauren McGregor, as well as three personal bests for Holly Pattie-Bellili, were among a number of fine performances as many athletes rallied round, competing in more than one event to ensure success.
Woodford’s U/20 men called upon several of the junior athletes that had contributed in the senior ranks to a fine British League performance the previous day. Although obviously tired, they were pleased to do their bit for the team. Sam Watts won the “A” 100m into a stiff headwind recording 11.08 secs (-3.1) as Omololu Abiodun took the “B” in 11.25 secs (-1.6) as well as winning the “A” 400m in 50.61 secs. with Tyler Bown 3rd in the “B” with 52.10 secs. Jordan Kirby-Polidore took the “A” 200m in 22.21 secs (-0.8), and Paul Scanlan the “B” in 22.92 secs, before placing 2nd in the “B” 800m with 2m02.36 secs. Abiodun, Kirby-Polidore, Scanlan and Watts combined to take both relays, in each case going close to the Woodford U/20 record as the 4x100m team recorded 42.58 secs and the 4x400m team 3m18.93 secs.
In the other middle distance races, Dan Yaxley was 4th in a good ‘A’ 800m in 1m59.37 secs, before gaining additional valuable points with 3rd in the 3,000m with 9m43.25 secs and also 3rd in the 2000m s/ch with 7m12.43 secs. The 1500m saw James Stockings place 4th with 4m22.22 secs and Liam Blaikie 3rd in the ‘B” with 4m28.58 secs. Sam Benge was 2nd in the “B” 3000m with 10m17.59 secs. In the 110mH Simon Omesba was 4th with 17.70 secs, and in the “B” Peter Karibo was 2nd with 18.09 secs, having earlier placed 4th in the 400mH with 64.68 secs. Peter also gained valuable field event points as he won his speciality, the triple jump, with 13.89m (-0.4) and placed 3rd in the high jump with 1.75m. Also gaining good jumps points was Healson Ihume, who won the long jump with 6.94m (+1.7) and placed 2rd in the “B” high jump with 1.75m. He later placed 2nd in the javelin with 43.83m. Younger brother Chistman Ihume won the “B” triple jump with 13.02m (w?) as Joseph Dewar, despite having run-up problems, did just enough to win the “B” long jump with 6.14m (+0.8).
In the other throwing events, Kurt Martyr won the “B” javelin with 41.60m, having earlier placed 4th in the discus with 33.84m, and placed 2nd in the ‘B” hammer with 34.90m and 4th in the shot with 11.77m. Harry Clarke was 2nd in the ‘A” hammer with 53.58m, 3rd in the ‘B” discus with 29.70m and 3rd in the “B” shot with 8.36m .
In the women’s events, Lauren MacGregor’s double came in the 1500m where she won with 5m10.29 secs and in the 3000m where her winning time was 11m24.90 secs. In those “B” events Kate Stockings was 2nd in the 1500m with 5m43.51 secs and Isobel Moss won the 3000m with 11m59.40 secs. The 800m saw 4th and 2nd placings from Lucy Hayes with 2m36.22 secs and from Holly Bedeau with 2m46.41 secs. Over 400m Georgina Ferrari was 4th with 65.77 secs, and also 5th in the “B” 200m with 30.46 secs, and in the ‘B” 400m Stephanie Smith was 3rd with 73.65 secs as Ebony Bobb-Semple was 7th in the “A” 200m with 28.95 secs. The 100m saw Pamela Milla place 5th with 13..29 (+0.2) secs and Kumi Fawole was also 5th in the “B” with 14.15 secs (-1.2). Many of those also competed in other events; Pamela winning the “B” hammer with 20.07m, Stephanie placing 3rd in the pole vault with 1.80m, Kumi placing 7th in the “B” shot with 5.87m and Ebony took part in the “B” discus but sadly had no-throws.
In the other throws, Victoria Onyeka had a good hammer win with 30.03m and also placed 4th in the discus with 32.36m and 6th in the shot with 7.99m.The javelin saw Isobel Moss gain valuable points, 8th in the “A” as did Hannah Pattie-Belleli for 8th in the “B”. Hannah was also 3rd in the “B” triple jump with 9.09m and 3rd in the “B” high jump with 1.35, as older sister Holly Pattie-Belleli placed 4th with 1.50m. Heptathlete Holly also contributed enormously with two good hurdles races; in the 400mH she placed 2nd with 64.43 secs, as Amy Doyle was 2nd in the “B” with 71.25 secs, and in the 100mH Holly was also 2nd with 14.75, with Amy 3rd in the “B” with 18.86 secs (+1.1) secs (+1.2), both personal bests for Holly before going on to win the long jump with another as she reached 5.37m (+0.3). In that “B” event there was also victory for Ronan McKenzie with 5.01m (+1.7) and a later 4th place in the triple jump with 10.22m.The 4x100m team of the Pattie-Bellili sisters, Pamela Milla and Kumi Fawole were 4th in 52.78 secs, but the 4x400m team were disqualified for a changeover box infringement.