UK Women's League

WGEL's women placed a fine second in the UKWL at Derby on Sunday. In a very tight fixture they finished just one point behind Enfield as they scored 196 points to E&H's 197, and ahead of Notts on 190 and Wigan on 184. A fine team effort with several athletes competing beyond their specialised disciplines contributed to the result which now leaves Woodford 2nd in the League on 14 points behind E & H on 16, and ahead of Notts on 10, and Sale on 8. Amongst that fine team effort here was just one "A" string victory from Elaine O'Neil, but there also was a personal best for Megan Edwards and pleasing returns to competition from Kim Murray and Sarah Claxton.

Elaine O'Neil's "A" string victory came over 100m, where she record a season's best of 11.90 secs (w?). Elaine later placed 4th over 200m, also in a season's best of 24.43 secs. Megan Edwards' personal best came over 800m where she placed 2nd with 2m 07.09 secs, and was one of several good middle distance performances from Woodford athletes. Gemma Coe was close to her best as she finished 3rd in the "B" 800m with 2m13.65 secs, and then placed 2nd over 1500m with 4m41.39 secs. V45 Bernadine Pritchett continued her fine season as she won the "B" 1500m with 4m55.83 secs and then placed 4th over 3000m in a season's best of 10m31.16 secs. Jenny O'Sullivan was 2nd in that "B" race with 11m02.6 secs, and then made her debut in the steeplechase, where over 2000m she finished 6th with 8m33.79 secs.

Kim Murray was back in action for the first time since 2012, and in her main event, the long jump, she won that "B" competition with 5.73 secs. Missing their specialist high jumpers and as the team sought as many points as possible, Kim also placed a valuable 6th in the high jump with 1.55m, and then surprised with her 3rd place in the "B" 400m with 58.77 secs. Beijing Olympic 100mH finalist Sarah Claxton was also back in action outdoors for the first time since 2012, and over her Olympic distance finished 5th in 14.37 secs (+1.2), before contributing more valuable points with a 7th place in the "B" javelin with 22.27m. In the "A" long jump Kitty Eleyae just pipped Kim with her 5.78m for 2nd, and Kitty was also 3rd in the "B" 100m with 12.40 secs (+0.4), and placed 2nd in the "B" triple jump with 10.65m. In that "A" event Zainab Ceesay placed 2nd with 11.42m. Also sprinting well was Katie Skelding who was 3rd "B" 200m in a season's best of 25.00 secs, and also recorded 12.3 secs in the non-scoring 100m. Jo Ryan placed 5th in the "A" 400m with 58.95 secs, and over 400mH Emily Moss had a rare under distance race and placed 7th with 66.50 secs.

In the throws, Lucy Marshall placed 2nd in her specialist event, the hammer, with a season's best of 56.20m, and then gained valuable points in the shot where she was 6th with 10.63m, and 7th in the "B" discus with 25.77m. Hollie Redman also competed in three throws, 3rd in her specialist event the discus with 42.06m, also 3rd in the "B" hammer with 37.74m and then 3rd in the "B" shot with 10.78m. In the javelin Rhiann Van-Horne made her senior UKWL debut and placed 5th with 29.92, as well as gaining valuable "B" high jump points with 1.25m for 6th. Another making their debut was new member Katie James who, in a good pole vault competition, placed 4th with 3.50m.

Both relay teams placed 3rd. The 4x100m squad of Sarah Claxton, Kitty Eleaye, Katie Skelding and Elaine O'Neil recorded 48.21 secs, and the 4x400m team of Kim Murray, Jo Ryan, Emily Moss and Megan Edwards recorded 3m55.13 secs.

After two good second places in the first two fixtures, Team Manager Keith Newton will be hoping for a good turn-out in the final fixture at Liverpool to ensure promotion back to the Premier Division.