Croydon Harriers’ junior team endured another tough afternoon in Southern Premier Two of the UK Youth Development League.

Held in Reading on Saturday, the U17 and U20 men and women finished sixth out of the six competing clubs, with squad numbers affected by injuries and exam season.

Despite this, a number of Croydon athletes posted encouraging performances ahead of the Surrey Championships.

Sprinters Chuks Ajeh (11.19secs, U17 men’s 100m) and Taylor Campbell (15.85secs, U20 women’s 100m hurdles) both notched wins.

Tosin Salami staked her claim for an English Schools place with a wind-assisted double win in the U17 women’s 100m (12.27secs) and 200m (25.69secs).

She would later team up with Ola Olufemi-Krakue, Sonyce Archer and Chrissy-Marie Nangban to clock 49.70secs to secure victory in the 4x100m.

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Sonyce Archer, far right, in action over the hurdles for Croydon Harriers

Emma Fossett (34.56m, U20 women’s hammer) shone on the field and would later take second in the javelin (35.23m), with Saskia Navratnam (14.69m) winning the B event.

The junior squad will be hoping to turn around their fortunes ahead of the next fixture on June 28 at Croydon Arena.

Elsewhere, the girls' team enjoyed better fortunes at the Lily B girls league at Guildford finishing as runners-up.

On Wednesday, Croydon’s men’s team placed fourth overall out of the six competing clubs at the Rosenheim League at Battersea Park.

There were three third places courtesy of Jake English (3,000m, nine minutes 10secs), Chris King (hammer, 22.83m) and Andy Del Nevo (pole vault, 2.00m).

The 4x200m relay team of Samson Chinaka, Colm Teeluck, Nate Standing and Matthew Pepper notched runners-up spot in 1:39.24.

In parkrun action, Anna Corby was first home in the women’s category at Lloyd Park in 24:44, while Jordan O’Dongo was sixth overall in 19:45.

At the Sutton 10K, David Brown was the first Harrier home in 37:57 to finish 38th in a field of 472 - James Moore (115th, 42:19) and Norman Hemming (336th, 53:46) were also in action.

This weekend, sees Croydon take on the best in the county at the Surrey Championships at Kingsmeadow in Kingston.