LEE Valley Athletic Centre provided the venue for another strong showing by Harlow Athletic Club’s senior team as they won their second SAL match, to consolidate their lead in Division 3 North.

The day began in fine style when Polly Woods broke a long-standing club record in the women’s hammer. Her throw of 37.04m was almost two metres further than the previous mark and won the A competition. Former record holder, Steph Fuller, threw over thirty metres to win the B competition.

In the same round of events Dave Bauer made a successful return from injury as he threw 10.78m in the shot putt for second place; Teale Cunningham set a new PB in the high jump of 1.75m and Bethany Harryman jumped 5.06m in the long jump; also a PB and a jump that will put her in the mind of junior England selectors.

In the next rotation the ubiquitous Glen Paxman set a new PB in the pole vault of 3.15m. Meanwhile Polly Woods and Hannah Owen won both A and B javelin events; Owen’s throw of 22.60 was a new PB for her. Glen then joined his brother, Carl, to take another double first in the men’s long jump.

When the track events got underway a good platform had already been set. The team didn’t waste the momentum and fielded athletes in what the club would consider weaker events, picking up points in the 400m hurdles and 800m for both men and women.

Next on track were the sprinters and they were not helped by a strong headwind. Nevertheless, Mohamed Tambedou ran 11.80s for second in the men’s A race and Harry Woodall ran strongly to win the B race. Eilidh Malcolm and Bethany Harryman secured two thirds in a surprisingly strong women’s set of races.

The 1500m then saw three victories as Lottie Rowedder, Katie Champion and Donald Campbell won three of the four races.

Back on the field, in the fourth round of events, Harlow picked up more good points with Polly Woods and Steph Fuller second in both women’s shot put events. Over in the pit Glen Paxman and Leo Chashchin took both firsts in the triple jump and Dawn Jones picked up the victory in the high jump.

Club debutant, Martyn Coulter, alongside stalwart Donald Campbell ran the 5000m and picked up valuable points once again. Campbell secured a third place finish with Coulter in fourth in the B competition. The women fielded only one athlete, Bridget Owen, and she ran well for fifth place and another vital two points.

Dawn Jones was third in the A 400m and Eilidh Malcolm secured an excellent 1st place in the B race. The men also gained a first and third through the efforts of Teale Cunningham and Charles Tankeh.

By the time the 200m events began the match had become a two-horse race between Harlow and Watford. Harry Woodall stepped up for an excellent second in the A race and Ian Smith made a welcome return to club colours in the B race in third place. For the women, Bethany Harryman was third and Annabel Owen fourth, crucially ahead of Watford athletes.

The final round of field events saw the Paxman twins win the javelin events; Dave Bauer win the discus and Polly Woods and Dawn Jones winning the triple jump events. All of which meant that if Harlow could perform well in the Steeplchase they would be unassailable before the relays began. Martyn Coulter and Carl Paxman both played their part by finishing in second and third respectively. For the first time in many years the women fielded two athletes with Katie Champion and Dawn Jones stepping up. With Watford only fielding one athlete the points difference was too great and victory was assured.

Speaking at the conclusion of the match, club chairman Steve Lott said; “We were really forced into the combined men’s and women’s team events due the collapse of the Southern Men’s and Women’s Leagues. However, the format has seen the team really come together. It was great to see the athlete’s encourage each other, there really is a sense of ‘team’ and the mood around the club is buoyant at the moment.”

Men’s A Results
100m Mohamed Tambedou 2nd 11.8, 200m Harry Woodall 3rd 25.84, 400m Charles Tankeh 3rd 55.18, 800m Donald Campbell 2nd 2.12.12, 1500m Donald Campbell 2nd 4.50.12, 3000m Donald Campbell 3rd 10.31.56, 110mH Glen Paxman 4th 21.62, 400mH Glen Paxman 2nd 1.02.38, 3000m Steeplechase 3rd 14.30.83, High Jump Teale Cunningham 2nd 1.75m, Pole Vault Glen Paxman 2nd 3.15m, Long Jump Glen Paxman 2nd 5.88m, Triple Jump Glen Paxman 1st 11.70m, Shot Dave Bauer 2nd 10.78m, Discus Dave Bauer 1st 38.15m, Hammer Dave Bauer 1st 33.90, Javelin Glen Paxman 1st 39.18m, 4 x 100 3rd 49.10, 4 x 400 2nd 3.53.13

Women’s A Results
100m Bethany Harryman 3rd 14.26, Bethany Harryman 3rd 28.52, 400m Dawn Jones 2nd 1.09.56, 800m Eilidh Malcolm 4th 3.00.60, 1500m Lottie Rowedder 1st 5.17.12, 5000m Bridget Owen 5th 29.26.26, 100m H Dawn Jones 3rd 23.33, 400mH Annabel Owen 4th 1.42.11, 1500mSC Katie Champion 2nd 6.26.06, High Jump Dawn Jones 3rd 1.35m, Pole Vault Dawn Jones 1.20, Long Jump Bethany Harryman 1st 5.06m, Triple Jump Polly Woods 1st 10.21m, Shot Polly Woods 2nd 9.02m, Discus Steph Fuller 2nd 25.24, Hammer Polly Woods 1st 37.04, Javelin Polly Woods 1st 27.46m, 4 x 100 2nd 57.11, 4 x 400 4th 5.14.46

Men’s B Results
100m Harry Woodall 1st 12.25, 200m Ian Smith 3rd 26.66, 400m Teale Cunningham 1st 24.98, 800m Carl Paxman 2.54.88, 1500m Carl Paxman 3rd 5.37.33, 3000m Martyn Coulter 3rd 12.00.71, 110mH 1st Carl Paxman 24.33, 400mH Carl Paxman 2nd 1.22.64, 3000m SC Carl Paxman 2nd 16.34.65, High Jump Glen Paxman 1st 1.65m, Pole Vault Carl Paxman 4th 1.00m, Long Jump Carl Paxman 2nd 5.56m, Triple Jump Leo Chashchin 1st 11.18m, Shot Glen Paxman 2nd 9.88m, Discus Glen Paxman 3rd 23.21m, Hammer Glen Paxman 1st 30.95m, Javelin Carl Paxman 1st 38.88m

Women’s B Results
100m Annabel Owen 3rd 15.78, 200m Annabel Owen 3rd 34.58, 400m Eilidh Malcolm 1st 1.09.65 800m Hannah Owen 2nd 3.28.89, 1500m Katie Champion 1st 5.33.26, 100mH Steph Fuller 38.9, 400mH Steph Fuller 3rd 2.17.32, 1500m SC Dawn Jones 7.25.29, High Jump Hannah Owen 3rd 1.15m, Long Jump Polly Woods 1st 4.88m, Triple Jump Dawn Jones 1st 9.67, Shot Steph Fuller 2nd 6.27m, Discus Polly Woods 2nd 16.02m, Hammer Steph Fuller 1st 31.08, Javelin Hannah Owen 1st 22.60m

Match Result:
Harlow 351, Watford 286, Peterborough 278, Loughton 207, Chiltern and Bedfordshire 163, West Norfolk 54