Colchester Harriers continued their rise up the Southern Athletics league Division One table with an impressive one point victory over Blackheath and Bromley.

On a swelteringly hot day at the Garrison track, Harriers were spearheaded by Man of the Match performances from Paul Clifford and Philippa Davenhall. Paul clinched victory in the 800 metres in 1.58.4s. This was Paul’s last race for the Harriers and we all wish him well at University in Manchester. With victory in the Hammer, Discus and Shot Put, Philippa led a spirited Women’s team who had various athletes away competing at national championships.

Stacey Eyers stepped in to run the 400m, 800m, 1500m and 4×400 relay, somehow finding the energy to win the 800m and be part of a winning relay team. She was supported in the relay by Savanna Harrison, Jennifer Palmer and Heather Rose, the latter of which clinched team victory with an amazing sprint finish.

There were victories for Ella Gray in the B race 100m, Maya Rattray in the B race 200m and Helen Taczynski in the B race 800m. Personal bests followed for Jennifer Palmer in a time of 64.4s in the 400m, Ellie Cumner in the 1500m in a time of 5,22.4s and Aliyah Soames with a throw of 18.76m in the Hammer, enough for Aliyah to win the event.

For the distance athletes, Lucy Mapp claimed second place and a new personal best with 19,21.6s in the 5000m and Nicola Martell-Smith managed second place and a new personal best with 6,08.03s in the 1500m Steeplechase. Special mention to Natasha Rice, competing in her first Senior League, helping out the team with two personal bests in the 1500m Steeplechase and 5000m.

On the Men’s side, Callum Mckay did the double in the 100m and 200m, winning the B string of both events in 11.5s and 23.1s respectively. He followed home Jake Young who took 200m A string victory in a brisk 22.9s, his third sub 23 clocking of the season.

To the distance events and an extremely competitive 1500m saw Ermeas Afewerki just pip Ramadan Osman to second place with a time of 4,13.5s. Ramadan’s time was good enough to give him B string victory in 4,14.8s. Max Caulfield and Michael Smith continued the good performances with personal best and second place finishes in the 3000m and 3k Steeplechase in times of 9,26.4s and 11,11.2s respectively.

In the hurdle events, Robert Smith and Matthew Rose continued the Harriers dominance. Rob winning the A 400m hurdles and the B string 110m hurdles, while Matt reversed their fortunes winning the A 110m hurdles and the B string of the one lap event.

The field events saw the Harriers more experienced athletes really come to the fore.

Paul Cooper claimed victory in the Discus and the Javelin while gaining new personal bests in the Hammer and Shot Put. Rob Earle claimed victory in the Hammer in a season’s best throw of 49.03m while Samuel Higgins won the B string Javelin in 45.52m. Special mention to Jack De’Ath who managed 2.00m in the Pole Vault after having a crash course in the event just a couple of hours before.

All in all it was a brilliant day for the Harriers who will now look forward to the final meeting of the season, at Southampton on the 18^th August.