SAL League Match Chelmsford
Individuals shine on a disappointing day for Harriers
Colchester Harriers slumped to a fourth place finish in their latest Southern Athletics League Division One meeting in Chelmsford.
Sitting 5th in the 16 team format, Colchester were narrowly beaten by three teams that all sit below them in the league.
On another day where key athletes were missing, individual performances out shone that of the team.
Paul Clifford, a sub 2-minute 800 metre man finished strongly to knock almost two seconds off his personal best with a gutsy second place in 1.55.5s. Paul was closely followed home by teammate Jordan Rowe who clinched victory in the B string with a time of 1.56.3s, narrowly missing his best for the event by just a single second.
Stacey Eyers came into her 400m race on the back of a hard thought second place in the A string 800m but somehow managed to ignore the lactic acid in her legs to earn a brilliant personal best of 61.3s for the single lap race.
On the men’s side, there were victories for Paul Clifford in the B string Triple Jump, Matt Rose in the B string Discus and a double success in the Javelin with Paul Cooper and Sam Higgins both winning their events, the latter throwing just one metre short of the former. Paul also managed a personal best in the Shot Put with a distance of 10.80m to claim third spot.
There were again a number of personal bests on another sunny day for athletics. Daniel Jones lowered his 200m best to 23.8s while Michael Smith bettered his 3k Steeplechase time by over 30 seconds in his first race over the distance for two years since breaking his foot. On his comeback from injury, Anthony Barraclough continued his progression in the field events with a personal best in the Pole Vault.
For the women, it was very much a day for the more flexible athletes with many of them competing in four events or more.
If making time to do the 1500m, 110h, Long Jump, Triple Jump and 4x400m was not enough, Helen Bloomfield capped off her busy day with victory in the B string 400m hurdles.
Following suit was Samantha Hart who capped off a triple success with personal bests in the 5k, Triple Jump and 1500m steeplechase while also equalling her highest ever jump in the Pole Vault.
If these two were not enough, Nicola Martell-Smith found time to compete in a handful of events including the 1500m Steeplechase, High Jump, 110h, 400h and the Hammer Throw.
As well as doubling up in the 100m and 200m, Megan Stevens moved to the field events to claim a personal best in the Shot Put with a throw of 6.49m. There was still time for two more personal bests from Lily Waterson with a throw of 15.66m in the Discus and 20.55m in the Hammer.
Also Savanna Harrison in her first ever attempt at triple jump got a remarkable 9 meters 90 showing real talent in the event
In reality, Colchester Harriers struggled as a team with the absence of key athletes but the team spirit they showed to fill almost every event was commendable.
Harriers will be back in action for the final meeting of the year in Milton Keynes on the 9th August.
Other results:
100m – Joe Wilkin, 11.6s. Daniel Jones, 11.9s. 200m – Jake Young, 23.6s. 400m – Jake Young, 50.6s. Jed Asemota, 53.0s. 1500m – Max Caulfield, 4.24.5s. Joseph Boden, 4.57.5s. 3000m – Jordan Rowe, 9.11.4s. Danny Millward, 9.42.9s. 100mh – Matt Rose, 16.7s. Rob Smith, 24.1s. 400mh – Matt Rose, 65.0s. Anthony Barraclough, 72.4s. 3000m Steeplechase – Ben Halls, 11.35.7s. High Jump – Joe WIlkin, 1.53m. Jake Young, 1.48m. Pole Vault – Matt Rose, 3.20m. Long Jump – Jed Asemota, 5.33m. Daniel Jones, 4.68m. Triple Jump – Matt Rose, 11.59m. Paul Clifford, 10.36m. Shot Put – Paul Cooper, 10.80m. Paul Young, 8.69 m. Discus – Rob Earle, 38.57m. Matt Rose, 30.66m. Hammer – Rob Earle, 49.12m. Paul Young, 15.87m. Javelin – Paul Cooper, 46.98m. Sam Higgins, 45.86m. 100m – Anna Taylor, 13.6s. 200m – Katie Rice, 28.6s. 400m – Savanna Harrison, 65.3s. 800m – Denise Morley, 2.27.1s. 1500m – Denise Morley, 5.16.6s. 5000m – Laura Shewbridge, 19.16.9s. High Jump -Savanna Harrison, 1.23m. Long Jump – Anna Taylor 3rd 3.46m. Shot Put – Hollie Speller, 5.04m. Discus – Anna Taylor, 15.66m. Javelin – Hollie Speller, 14.86m. 3000m – Nat Filer, 9.59.4s. 800m – Sam Higgins, 2.04.6s. Michael Major, 1.58.3s. 1500m – Sam Shorter, 4.42.6s. Adam Sawyer, 4.24.8s. Paul Rodgers, 4.59.0s. James Wateerson, 5.14.1s. Mark Harrod, 4.49.0s. 3000m – Fergus Crouch, 10.28.4s. Paul Rodgers, 10.14.4s. James Waterson, 10.59.3s. Mark Harrod, 10.06.5s.
Maggie harrison
Savanna Harrison first ever attempt at triple jump got 9 meters 90
Louise
I know how brilliant was that! She beat the A & B string!! And Meg finally got a PB in her 100m after a long wait of 2 years !!
Maggie harrison
Congratulations meg! Well deserved!