Despite the mercury hovering just over 3 degrees as the coach set off for Peterborough en-route to the first EYAL meet of the year, Sunday 14 April may well be remembered as one of the coldest meets, but also one with potentially the largest opening meet scores for the club.  The junior green vests put in a magnificent display to finish in a fantastic second place with a provisional score of 605.  A great start to the track and field season placing the club in 9^th position in the league after just one meet.

How different from a year ago, when the team only managed to recruit 11 boys in total across all three age groups.

Athlete of the day must go to U13 Hollie Martin-Whymark who scored 20 out of a possible 21 points for her individual events.  She opened the day off with a good second position after running a clean race for a PB in the U13 girls 70m hurdles (13.00s). She then went on to steal the show with two blinding performances in the U13 girls 100m (14.1s PB) and 200m (30.4s).  Two blistering starts saw her gain ground on the field and her long-relaxed stride took her across the line meters ahead of her opponents – a clear 2.4 seconds ahead in the 200m. Hollie will definitely be one to watch as the season progresses.

Despite the dreary conditions it was certainly a good day for Harrier Sprinters. U17 Jimi Sijuwola dominated his 100m after a lightening start. Remaining relaxed he opened up nicely to streak away from the field, crossing the line in a new pb of 11.3s. In his 200m running as a non- scorer he clocked the same time as the A string runner.  It looks as though there is plenty more in the tank for a hotter day from this young man.  In the U17 100m B race Henry Lawes, fresh from competing the U17 Men’s Long Jump (5.31m) scored full points for his equally impressive run to claim a win in 11.7s and took another victory in his B string 200m, looking strong as he crossed in 24.3s.   Such is the strength of Harriers sprint squads, there were four other U17 men all vying for swift times in the 100m: Joseph Clarke delighted himself with his first ever sub 12s run, clocking in at 11.9s (and won his non-scoring 200m in 24.8s), whilst Tanaka Maara continues to show improvement with a 12.1s finish. Harvey Daniels ran his first 100m for two seasons to clock an encouraging PB of 12.5s whilst debut Victor Chima gained a PB with 12.5s. Samuel Shippey now an U17 was disappointed with his second- place finish in 200m with 24.00s and has used the experience to reflect on his training.

In the Girls equivalent Maya Rattray had a good start to finish just off her PB to claim second place as A string runner in 13.00s, whilst Chanel Mba bagged full points for her B string race to clock 13.6s. Again, the team had more than enough athletes to create a non-scoring race including Lauren Roan who created a new PB of 13.9s, with throws specialist Victoria Utti running 13.6s.

Having moved up to U15, Olivia Gillon can enjoy a season of settling in and working on technique.  She ran well in a strong field gaining a new hand timed PB of 14.1s in the A string 100m for fourth place. In the 200m she placed 3^rd in the A string in 29.9 sec.  Experienced Tom Ashley, also now an U15 smashed his previous best short sprint time, holding on for a good fifth place in the A string 100m in a time of 13.5secs. He also competed in the 200m where he was placed sixth in a time of 29.5s, shaving a tenth of his previous time, if this diminutive figure can hold out for a decent growth spurt, he is sure to be one to watch in the future.

In the U13 category Jessica Scotchmer took a third place in her 100m in 15.5s and second place in her 200m, new comer Dylan Stewart enjoyed his debut with a fifth-place finish in 15.00s with William Long taking B sting second.  In the 200m Harrison Leek – who is more used to running Park runs – took fourth place for his U13 200m in 32.2s, with Alex Walder also taking fourth in the B race in 35.00s.

In middle distance events our teams’ efforts were somewhat diminished by the might of Norwich and Team Norfolk dominance.  However, U13 girls Rachel Sale and Emily Longstaff took on the challenge (PB 2:582) whilst U15 Emily Swan chased hard to produce a massive PB in the 800m, coming home in third with a time of 2.47.2. In the same race, as B string, Jess Longstaff made a determined effort where there was rivalry not only with other clubs but with our four Harriers runners all vying for top spot. Jess finished in a time of 2.57.7 with Grace Gardiner showing great determination in the 800m coming home in a time of 2.54.  U17 Missy Buxton gave it her all to take third place in 2:54.5. Making her club track debut Maisie Waller- Toyne showed grit to overtake in the last moments of the race to claim good points for B string second in a time of 3.00.0s.  In the men’s’ races U17 Samuel Shippey was unable to make up ground and from the gun remained in third place to finish in 2:11.8 with George Mann also claiming third place points as the B runner in 2:24.4.   U13 boys Harrison Leek and Harry Gillon worked hard to remain with the field and both acquitted themselves well to earn valuable points as fourth A and third B runners respectively in 2:40.7 and 2.51.4.

1500 results: U13 Emily McGill (6.07.4) for fourth and Alice Begg (6.24.4) for B string third, William Long and Finley Greenleaf both third in respective races ( disappointed with his race debut) U15 Theo Gardner (5.26.0), U15’s Emily Henderson and Daisy Rickwood both finished fourth in their races in a time of 6.01.2 and 6.30:08 respectively.  U17’s Missy Buxton (6:22.6), competing in their first ever EYAL events Madison Sinclair- Filer (7.07.5) and Thomas Colsell (4.57.6) conducted themselves well to earn valuable experience.

Making commendable debuts for Harriers were U15’s Evie Hood, Oliver Crisp, Jakub Walecki and Harry Thornton-Wood.  Hood had a fabulous first outing as a non-scorer, and in the 800m, lead her fellow team mates round the track to finish strongly posting a time of 2.43.2, before taking on the 300m where from the inside lane she finished in third in 46.8secs. Oliver Crisp who has only been with the club a couple of months really impressed, within the space of two hours he took on the 100m clocking 13.3s for third place, the 300m, again finishing in third in 43.5s and 800m where he ran 2.39.1 for fifth. Whilst Walecki showed his worth and surprised himself by taking a good first in the Shot Putt (8.66m) and a second in his favoured event of Javelin (27.71m). Thornton-Wood bravely volunteered to take on the 80m hurdles for the first time. He smoothly negotiated his way to the finish line to claim a creditable fifth place. He also competed in the 300m and was second in the B string shot putt.

In Field events relative newcomer Wyatt Larkins amassed some much-needed scores to finish a brilliant  first in the U13 Shot with a best of 7.66m, and gained two respectable second place positions in both his Discus (16.42m) and Javelin 19.37m) his presence will certainly boost the U13 team this year and is a welcome addition to the green vests throws squad.   Finley Greenleaf made his Harriers debut and despite being nervous conducted himself well to come fourth in the B string Shot with a PB of 4.66m, gained valuable experience in the long jump pit, where he used his gymnastic strength to clear 3.12m.

U15 Marley Henry, at his first ever meet, impressed in the A string long jump coming 4th with a leap of 3.59m. U15 brother and sister Grace and Theo Gardiner both competed Javelin and were placed fourth (17.98) and second  (17.24m) respectively, with Katherine Harvey earning a welcome PB in the U15 Javelin with 12.65m and a fourth place finish. Having stepped up a year, Harvey Daniels had to contend with a new weight of Javelin, but undeterred he added a second PB of the day throwing a best of 25.41m for U17 boys, adding a whopping 10 odd meters onto his previous best distance.

U15 Olivia Simon had an emphatic win in the U15 girls hammer. Her throw of 41.71m was over 20m clear of her nearest competitor and maintains her position as number 3 in the UK. She took fourth place in the A string Shot with a new PB and placed fourth in the Discus too.  Sister to Wyatt, Josephine Larkins was one of the highest scorers on the day, winning her U17 Hammer with a best throw of 41.82m, taking second in the Discus 22.01m and added a third-place finish in the B string Javelin for a new best of 15.15m.  Team mate Aliyah Soames is showing a nice return to form with a great first place finish in the U17 women’s Javelin with a best of 28.76m and took second place in the Shot with 8.73m.  Victoria Utti as A string added 20cm to her previous PB to claim second place with a best put of 9.64m. Young Amelie Taylor impressed with a fantastic debut Discus, reaching 13.99m for a UK top 25 ranking.

Over in the High Jump, U17 Daniels showed raw talent to pop over 1.60m with very little effort to take a new PB and fourth place as A string and would clearly benefit from some specific Jumps training to add to his speed and throwing abilities.  U15 Emily Swan showed promising form as she matched her PB, clearing 1.35m on a very cold day and without having jumped for over 6 months. Anna Ritchie was a great competitor in this event, achieving 1.25m despite not having any practice in this event for a year. U13’s Alice Begg and Amelie Taylor both cleared 1.05m and earned second place points for the team. Whilst newcomer Jacob Castle in his first ever competition gained a PB with a clearance of 1.15m U17’s Jimi Sijuwola, Chanel Mba and Shanii McLean committed themselves well despite not having the facilities to train on.

Conditions certainly weren’t great for either Long Jump or Triple Jump and no real remarkable distances were achieved by any competitors but despite that, Eliza Betts, competing just the one event, was disappointed with her 4.87m but did bring home first place points for the effort as A string U17.  Lauren Roan managed to bag herself a nice PB with a best leap of 4.30m in the U17 non – scoring rounds.  In the U15 girls Megan Taylor, competing in her first outdoor meet for the green vests leapt to a new PB of 3.55m whilst fresh from her success gaining a first place B string placing in her Discus (11.53m) Daisy Rickwood was kept busy taking fourth place with a best of 3.22m.  

Victor Chima making his debut for the club, came away with a great first place and a PB of 11.86m in the U17 men’s Triple Jump and a second place finish and another PB for his Shot putt with a best of 9.32, whilst inexperienced Tanaka Maara gained new skills and points by coming third in the U17 B string Shot with a put of 6.82m and a Javelin throw of 18.29m to take a great B string win.  Harvey Daniels added to a brilliant days’ outing by claiming a PB with a best throw of 25.41m in the Javelin to take third position.

As the clouds grew darker the relay teams hit the track; U13 Girls featuring Martin-Whymark, Scotchmer, Begg and Taylor came home in a brilliant second place in 60.8s. U13 boys of Stewart, Walder, Leek and Castle crossed in fourth in 64.8s; U15 girls Hood, Harvey and Gillon  produced some clean changes to cross in fourth in 57.6s; U15 Boys Crisp, Henry, Thornton-Wood and Ashley took fifth in 59s and ending the day on a high both the U17 teams brought home full marks.  Women’s team of Roan, McLean, Mba and Rattray just managed to hold on for first in 53.3s.  U17 Men’s team of Lawes, Clarke, Shippey and Sijuwola took a magnificent first in 47.3s

Completing the team were: U13 Amelie Taylor (200m 35.3), Emily Longstaff (Jav 6.40m), Nancy Filer (HJ & 1500 7:24.00 PB), Alice Begg (100m 15.2s PB), Rachel Sale ( 200m 32.5s PB):  U15 Girls Katherine Harvey (100m 15s, 200m 33.00s, Jav 12.65m pb) Megan Taylor (100m 15.5s,300m 52.2s),Mia Ghignoni (100m 17.2s, 200m 37.4s) U17 W Lauren Roan (200m 30.1 PB), Shanii McLean (LJ 3.39m),  Mia Farrell (100m 14.8s, 300m 49.7s), Isabella Minder (100m 15.6s  300m 53.1s).

U13 Boys Alex Walder (100m 15.9s, LJ 3.29m), Jayden Henry (15.6s), Dylan Stewart (200m 33.8s), Jacob Castle (100m 15.9s, 1500m 5.39: 0s). U15 Boys Marley Henry (100m 15.3s): U17 men Joseph Clarke (200m 24.8s).

A brilliant team effort, with a full contingent of officials who earnt 20 points for the club and many athletes stepping up to try out new events. Momentum now needs to be maintained if the club are to reach the Finals again.  Next meet is Sunday 5 May, Ipswich.