Track & Field
Young Athletes League 2009 - Match 3 report
Having picked up six points from a possible eight in the first two rounds of this years Young Athletes League, Halifax Harriers were back on home soil for the third round involving three other teams from West Cheshire, Wrexham and Pudsey & Bramley. The sun was shining; the wind was still blowing but none the less another strong performance was required to maintain the early season momentum. There was a string of AAA's graded performances throughout the day and a pleasing result in the end especially against opposition relegated from the Premier Division last season.
In the U17 Men's section AAA's graded performances were scarce, but Chris Sage ran 02:03.2 in his 800m for a G3 and picked up a further G4 for his 1500m steeplechase finishing in a time of 04:59.7. Sam Kerfoot-Roberts was unavailable but Michael Gaughan made a welcome return after a short injury. Josh Nuttall ran 57.00 for his 400m and was less than half a second from his G4. The U15 boy's section continues to prosper. Harry Mallinson ran a solid 12.2 in his 100m for a G4 and improved to a G3 in the 200m finishing in a time of 24.5 to consolidate his improvement in this higher age group. Saul Rigg improves week on week he ran 12.5 in the 100m for a G4 and produced a G3 in the 400m with a time of 56.4 seconds. Whilst Jerome Castelow and Jack Dighton are just outside their G4 target in the 800m this milestone is not too far away. Eddie Hester ran a rock solid 04:30.2 for a G3 in the 1500m without any real opposition. In the U13 boys section Dan Beadsley maintained his G1 times in both the 100 and 200m races finishing in 13.0 and 26.4 respectively and produced a 4.66m long jump also for a G1. Jay Connor was a tenth of a second outside gaining his G4 in the 100m with a run of 14.2 seconds but success not too far away. Alex Bradley ran a super 800m in a time of 02:32.8 comfortably for a G4 and less than 2 seconds from a G3. Luke Hartley and Michael Silvester continue to improve in the 1500m and should find some form before the end of the season. Cameron Lake was a whisker away from a G4 in his high jump, 1.25m and similarly for Sam Shaw in the "B" long jump with 3.96m.
The U17 girls continue to work well as a unit, with most trying their hand at both track and field events. Holly Martin ran a solid 45.3 for the 300m and was a fraction from a G4. Beth Kerfoot-Roberts ran a smashing 300m hurdles in 51.5 again agonisingly close from a G4. Lorna Gill, Natalie Wardle, Hannah Pilkington and Helen Roby all gave their usual gutsy performances in all disciplines to ensure a steady flow of team points throughout the afternoon. The warm weather has played a major role in ensuring that the ever-impressive U15 girls continue in their successes. Speed queen Kate Wasyliw, who seems to improve with every stride, turned in another two excellent G1 performances in both the 100 and 200m races with times of 12.4 and 26.0, with the opposition left trailing behind. Leah Shaw found some good form running 13.4 for a G4 in the 100m and 28.5 in the 200m again a fraction off a G4. Rebecca Sullivan pulled out a 02:27.9 in the 800m earning a G4 and was backed up Roisin McCallion who ran a great 02:33.8 after having been plagued by injury on and off this season. Rebecca also finished with a G3 in the high jump when clearing 1.45m. Fran Oddy and Holly Callaghan, also returning from injury, toiled in the mid-day heat in their 1500m races with Fran again a fraction from gaining a G4. Ellie Greenwood, Elena Dodd and Molly Jagger as in the U17's helped to maintain the total team points ticking over. Not to be outdone by the U15's the U13's had a trick or two up their sleeves as well. This emerging pack of athletes is beginning to show the promise-identified from their earlier exploits. Hannah Walker and Regan Smith dominated the 800m both gaining a G1 for their respective times of 02:28.6 and 02:30.6 blowing the opposition away with ease. Hannah then matched her G1 in the 70m hurdles in a time of 11.9 and added a G4 in the high jump with a leap of1.25m. Regan then chipped in with a G3 for her 10.7 in the 75m and G4 in the long jump with 3.79m. Relative newcomer Caroline Johnson ran a super 150m in a time of 20.4 for a worthy G1 and later went on to run a time of 04:15.3 in the 1200m for a G3. Scarlett Lake had G3 success with her 1.30m in the high jump and Emma Sutcliffe a G4 for 6.05m in the shot putt.
After all 82 track and field events the final match scores were 1.West Cheshire 407pts, 2 Halifax 365pts, 3 Wrexham 258pts, 4 Pudsey & Bramley 139pts.
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