Colchester Harriers played host for the penultimate EYAL match on Sunday 30 July and succeeded in claiming a good third place ahead of rivals Colchester and Tendring.

Highlights of the day saw young sprinter Graig Anya Joseph up against top European U15 sprint hurdler Joseph Harding from Basildon in the 100m.  Joseph managed to cling on in a thrilling run that rewarded both athletes the same time, 11.1s but it was the green vest who gained top marks and yet another PB breaking his own Club record he set at the English Schools championships.  Training partner Henry Lawes was equally successful in the B string achieving another first place and lowering his PB to 11.8s which secures him entrance to the U15 National championships at the end of August.  Both boys also brought home top points and PB’s in the U15 boys 200m races with Joseph clocking in at 23.5s in a comfy win that saw him finish just under a second ahead of his nearest rival.  Lawes also enjoyed his win in a time of 24.7s.

Kasaura Ayoola in just her third meet for the Harriers achieved a brilliant new PB in her 100m ducking under the 13s mark in 12.96s and a well-earned second place to one of the country’s top 15 girl sprinters. She followed that up with an equally fast 200m and her second PB of the day, where she ran 27.7s. Eliza Betts equalled her PB of 13.5s to take 4^th place in a tightly fought B string 100m and claimed 4^th in her 200m.

In the men’s U17 sprints and without the clubs three top sprinters, it was up to Mufaro Shava and Thierry Ajala to bring home the points. In a blistering A string race where just half a second split all the athletes it was Shava who claimed 4^th slot in a time of 11.6s and in the B race Ajala claimed a good second place in a new PB of 12.0s. He then went on to finish second in the 400m in a respectable time of 52.6s.

Megan Stevens continues to make improvement as an U17, taking a new PB in her 100m in 13.0s and second place points; her 200m was a much closer battle ending in a third-place finish in 27.8s.  Lauren Strutt gained herself another second-place finish in the B string 100m race in a time of 13.6s. Katie Rice commanded a strong win in the 80m Hurdles in a time of 13.7s.

In the middle-distance races U13 Charlie Parmenter secured a good second place in his 800m in a time of 2:43.5s whilst Milly Presland once again proved her talent to finish in second place in the U15 girl’s A string 800m in a time of 2.29.4s an improvement this season alone of four seconds. In the B String, another PB was earned by Grace Rothwell.  For U17 women Daisy Hilson made her club debut finishing in third place as an A string runner in a time of 2:47.8s with Lily Waterson taking third in the B string in 2:52.2s.

Matthew Wisdom returning from a niggly injury enjoyed a fabulous meet claiming two amazing PB’s:  firstly in High Jump where he increased his height by 11cm to clear 1.45m and then throwing a heavier weighted javelin threw 26.69m in the U15 boys 600g javelin. Micah Shaljean showed potential in the U15 Boys high jump, despite being a non-scorer he would have claimed second place in the B string.   Graig Anya Joseph had to settle for second place in his discus event which produced his third PB of the day and another club record with a throw of 36.26m.  Training buddy Kayleigh Hale also gained success in the U15 girls Javelin, winning a new PB of 27.48m and second place. In Long Jump Lauren Strutt produced a good jump to earn second position in the A string, whilst Savannah Harrison won the B string.

Rounding off the day, the women’s sprint relay team made up of first year U17’s Katie Rice, Lauren Strutt, Megan Stevens and Savannah Harrison ran a text book smooth race, gaining metres over their competitors at each meant they won in a time of 53.4s.

Special mention must go to all the volunteers who gave up their time to help make the day such a success for all the young athletes.  Harriers compete at Stevenage on Sunday 13 August in their last EYAL of the year.

PB’s gained:

Under 13 Girls: Zion Ateba   HJ 1.40m, 100m 14.4s; Chloe Goddard 100m 16.9s; Rebecca Collins 800m 3.064s, Shot Putt 4.29m; Lois Gore Long Jump 3.66m; Anna Ritchie HJ 1.20m; Olivia Simon Hurdles 15.0s, Javelin 18.08m; Lily Upton Discus 11.80m; Jennifer Woods 200m, 35.0s; Jess Longford 1500m 6.40 s. U13 boys: Noah Papley 100m 15:9s, LJ 3.48m; Charlie Parmenter 800m 2:43.5s.

Under 15 Girls: Rhianne Boatswain 200m 29.7s, Shot 5.15m; Jessica Elmer 100m 15.0s; Mia Farrell 300m 48.2s, Shot Putt 5.83m; Kausara Ayoola 100m 12.9s, 200m 27.7s; Kayleigh Hale, Javelin 27.48m; Molly Whiteford 75m Hurdles 17.2s. Aliyah Soames Discus 13.88m;.  U15 Boys: Harvey Daniels 300m 46:2s, PV 2.10m; Matthew Wisdom 800m 2:33.1s, HJ 1.45m & Javelin 26.69m; Micah Shaljean 300m 49:4s, Shot 6.41m & HJ 1.40m; Charlie Walder 2:44.7s Discus 10.97m, 200m 30:7s; Sebastian Jacobs Javelin 11.24m & 200m 29:2s.

Under 17 Girls: Savanna Harrison TJ 9.47m, LJ 4.15m; Ammaarah Parker Discus 22.3m, Hammer 17.91m; Megan Stevens 100m 13.0s; Tito Sogeke 100m 15.1s; Lauren Strutt HJ 1.40m.  U17 Men: Thierry Ajala100m 12:0s; Archie French 400m 56:9s; Joseph Boden LJ 3.62m; Callum McKay Discus 22.34m; Bailey Hunt 200m 26:9, LJ 3.73m and Javelin 15.09m.