Track & Field Round-Up

In addition to those athletes competing in the SAL at Woodford others were in action at a number of high class meetings both at home and abroad. Several competed at the Loughborough International on Sunday, where Woodford performances were highlighted by a second Olympic B Standard and WGEL Cub record in the hammer for Mark Dry. Mark enjoyed a busy and successful weekend. On Saturday he competed at Halle, Germany in the international throws meeting where he placed 3rd in the hammer with 73.88m. The following day at Loughborough Mark went even better winning that competition in a personal best of 74.88m. That was Mark's second time over the Olympic B standard (74.00m), improved his own WGEL Club record and now ranks 9th on the UK all-time Lists. In that same competition, Andy Frost placed 4th with 69.82m.

Emeka Udechuku whose early season has been low key, showed improved form as he placed 4th in the discus with 57.86m. Other useful field event performances came from Ben Challenger, 4th in the high jump with a season's best of 2.13m, Kitty Elaye who placed 6th in the long jump, with a best ever, but marginally windy jump of 6.19m w 9+2.4), Alasdair Strange 8th in the pole vault with 4.80m, and HCA member Myra Perkins who was 7th in the hammer with 57.93m. On the track at Loughborough, Tracey Duncan was 3rd in the 400mH with 58.87 secs,and HCA member Simeon Williamson was 4th in the 100m with 10.70 secs (-1.2). In guest races at Loughborough, over 200m Jordan Kirby-Polidore placed 3rd with 21.31 secs (-1-1), ahead of Sam Watts, 6th with 21.80 secs (-1.1), over 400mH Mike Baker was 2nd in his race with 53.01 secs, and Andy Mariani recorded 1m53.98 secs for 8th in the B guest race.

Andy Mariani, like others had also been in action the previous evening at the BMC Grand Prix in Manchester, where he recorded a season's best over 1500m of 3m53.58 secs for 6th in the E race. In the D race, Alex Cornwell also placed 6th and also recorded season's best, of 3m49.93 secs, whilst in the C race Tom Phillips was 9th with 3m51.19 secs.In the women's A race, Jess Sparke placed 10th with 4m22.95 secs, whilst over 800m Matt McLoughlin was 9th in the B race with 1m53.40 secs, and Ben Phillips was 3rd in the H race with 1m58.46 secs.

Also at a BMC meeting but at Milton Keynes there were personal bests for two Woodford juniors, Ed Shepherd won the 1500m with 3m57.66 secs, with James Stockings 4th in 4m00.35 secs. Jon Cook was in action for Cambridge University in the annual varsity fixture and won over both 800m and 1500m with 1m52.15 secs and 4m13.09 secs respectively. Competing in Spain Francis Smith was in action over both 400mH and 110mH with timers of 54.08 secs and 15.13 secs.

At Manchester in the street races, Joice Maduaka raced over 100m recording 11.68 secs. whilst in the BUPA Great Manchester 10km held in conjunction with this meeting Matt Gunby clocked 29mins42 secs, Hywel Care 30 mins 23 secs and Felicity Milton 35mins 33secs.