Harlow’s Young Athletes fare well at Ware.

WODSON Park, Ware, was the venue for the second round of the Eastern Young Athlete’s League. The team ended the day fifth overall but notched a notable milestone by winning an age group, the first time this has occurred for a number of years. The Under 13 Girls scored 108.5 to edge out Dacorum and Tring by a single point.

There were also two outstanding individual performances. Sophia Bridle jumped 4.63m in the U13 long jump to secure first place on the day and sixth place on the national ranking list. Marley Sarling, in the Under 15 Boys, won the javelin with a throw of 41.64m. This was a PB by over ten metres and ranks him sixth nationally for the event.

The day’s weather was perfect for short track and field events and a succession of PBs were set. Mia Rowan, Lizzie Stables and Grace Iyinbor all reduced their PBs in the hurdles. Freddie Henderson and Marley Sarling both recorded the exact time of 12.0s to record second and first in the two U15 scoring 100m events. Louise Owen and Lucy Kemp also ran new PB times in the U17 Women’s 100m.

The hot and still conditions were not conducive to the longer distances so positions rather than times was the order of the day: Rhys Cole was fourth in the U13 A 800m and Katie Lee was first in the B event. Lois Hale and Mackenzie Cranfield were both third in the U15 events. Grace Malcolm’s fourth in the U17 race was all the more impressive as she equalled the time she set indoors in February. James Malyon was the club’s only male competitor and he managed sixth in the U13 A race.

The 1500m was similarly affected by the heat Lizzie Stables and Francis Wright picked up both fourth places for the the U13s; Maddie Piron was third and Lydia Harvey fourth in the U15s. Alex Milkowksi made his track debut for the team and was fifth in the boy’s U13 race.

Personal success continued in the longer sprints. In the absence of the injured James Petty, Elliot Butcher stepped up and ran a great 300m, taking third place and setting a new PB in the process. Amelia Loveridge shaved four tenth of a second from her previous best and Millie Upton and Mia Ratcliffe were both fifth in the U15 Girls. Jamie Putt was the club’s sole U17 Man and he ran 54.5 for second in the 400m.

At the 200m distance Sophia Bridle won the A race and BeBe Jackson made her debut for the club and was fifth in the U13 B race. Abigail Dawson was the only U15 girl and she managed fifth in a new PB time. Breanna Philip was seventh in the A race at U17 and Mari Malcolm was forth in a new PB time in the B race. For the boys, the standout performances came once again from Henderson and Sarling: Sarling was fourth in a very fast A race and Henderson was second in the B event.

The field proved to be just as productive as the track. The high jump was particularly fruitful with Mia Rowan and Olivia Williams third in both U13 competitions; Grace Iyinbor and Abigail Dawson were fifth and sixth for the U15s and Gabrielle Bridle was fourth for the U17s. All heights recorded were PBs, except for Iyinbor who went a centimetre higher at last weekend’s combined events competition.

In addition to Bridle’s outstanding leap, Samson Brichieri was fourth in the U13 event and Henderson’s good day continued with a third place and a jump that broke the magical 5m barrier for the first time in the U15 competition. Louise Owen took part in her first triple jump competition and was third.

Brichieri then went on to take second in the boy’s shot and team mate Arron Wilkinson won the B event. Alex Gamzakova was third and Grace Iyinbor won the B U15 girl’s shot and Mairi Malcolm picked up fifth in the U17s. Sophia Bridle was fourth and Mia Rowan won the B U13 shot.

Sophie Brennan and Harriet Carreford made their debuts in the U13 javelin and had good days. Brennan was third in the A event and Carreford second in the B. At U15 level Ellie Marklew showed great commitment by competing and then dashing off to a family wedding. She was rewarded with fourth place. It was a good day for all three Putt boys as twins, Logan and Sam threw PB distances in the U13 javelin. Not to be out done eldest brother, Jamie, threw a PB and fourth place for the U17s.

Discus also brought success for the team. Olivia Williams and Katie Lee were third and second respectively in the U13 girl’s event. Meanwhile Sam Putt and Arron Wilkinson were second and first for the boys at the same age group. Alex Gamzakova and Annalyse Hassanally picked up a pair of fourths for the U15 girls and Breanna Philip threw her first competitive discus as an U17 for second place.

Following the match club chair Steve Lott said; “Forty athletes competed this weekend and we won an age group. This is great news for the club and for the athletes. Particular congratulations to the U13 girls for their success. Well done to all our young athletes but particularly Marley and Sophia who have both achieved something special.”

Dacorum & Tring 735
Basildon 660
Nene Valley 481
Herts Phoenix 418
Harlow 379
Team Norfolk 244
Luton 110