by Matthew Kiernan

Croydon Harriers’ young athlete’s teams enjoyed a victory and a third-place finish in a double header in the UK Youth Development League in Aldershot and Winchester last weekend.

Having finished third in the lower age group competition (Southern premier two, the league’s second tier) and won the upper age group equivalent (Southern division one, the league’s third tier) in the first round of fixtures, Croydon matched those achievements in this next round.

At Aldershot, Croydon’s junior team earned 16 A event and a further six B event wins, as the Harriers topped the standings on 570points, 22 clear of runner’s up and hosts Aldershot Farnham and District.

Ashleigh Clarke secured a sprint double in the 100m (12.27s) and 200m (25.21s), and further sprint success came courtesy of Damien Powell (U20 men’s 100m, 11.01s), Aaron Adekoya (U17 men’s 100m, 11.3secs), Edwin Miles (U17 men’s 200m, 23.19s), Robert Sakala (U20 men’s 110m hurdles, 16.89s)  and Melissa Mendez (U17 women’s 200m, 27.15s). 

On the field, Croydon’s female javelin throwers stole the show with an event clean sweep thanks to Trevina Medley (U20W, 31.75m), Zoe Fossett (U20W B, 27.55m) and younger sister Emma (U17W 34.03m).

Tamara Reid (31.87m) topped the U20 women’s discus standings, and twin brother Omar won the same event in his age group in a personal best of 44.97m. He was supported by David Olajiga in the B event who won in 30.48m, and then earned a victory of his own in the U17 men’s shot in 12.19m.

Rob Spalding (U17 men’s 1500m steeplechase, 5:25.02) and Jordan Otu (U17 men’s triple jump, 11.45m) completed the team’s A event wins. 

At Winchester for the under 13/15 boys and girls, the squad bagged five A wins and ten B victories, as the team edged home to third, just one point ahead of Southampton.

Coralie Mido ensured a sprint double in the U15 girls 100m (12.8secs) and 200m (26.6secs), and was supported by Chanice Gordon (26.5secs) in the latter event to ensure maximum points.

Emmanuel Lloyd also enjoyed a double win in the U13 boys' long jump (4.63m) and 200m (26.8s).

Two more event maximums were found in the U13 girls' age group thanks to Marcia Sey (12.5s) and Serena Mitchell (12.9s) in the 70m hurdles, while Renae Jenoure-Jackson (7.67m) and Ines Zepa-D’Aboui (6.86m) triumphed in the shot putt.

In the pick of middle-distance races, Kieran Connor (2nd U15 boys' A 1500m) and Omar Harhara (1st U15 boys' B 1500m) fared well against tough opposition.

Croydon completed the day with wins in the U13 and U15 girls' 4x100m.

The result leaves the Harriers fourth in the table out of five clubs, but well clear of fifth-placed Winchester who occupy the only relegation spot in the division.

While the youngsters battled it out with the South of England’s finest, Croydon’s masters athletes competed against the best in the county at the Surrey Masters track & field championships.

Croydon brought home five gold medals in total with two double winners in the form of Tony Richards (M60 shot and discus) and Mandy Rowley-Jones (W50 high jump and triple jump). Alan Burn scooped M45 gold in the 1,500m (4:31.0). At the Southern Counties Masters championships, Andy Del Nevo finished first in the 800m and runner-up in the pole vault.

The mid-week Rosenheim League men’s squad notched their first win in this competition since 2006 at Croydon Arena on Wednesday.

The streak of 42 meetings without a win was finally brought to an end, spearheaded by Colm Teeluck (10.86m) in the triple jump. Although the club’s only victor in the evening, Croydon’s five runners-up spots proved the deciding factor and just held off nearest challengers Hercules Wimbledon.

Runners-up included Scott Fanner (400m, 53.8), Kartik Iyer (800m, 2:11.0), Ben Savill (1500m, 4:21.0), Chris King (hammer, 25.60m) and the 4x200m team of Fanner, Matthew Pepper, Kyle Andrews and Jordan Lewis.  

In road running action, Lisa Harris finished third in the women’s race at the Dorking ten mile event, part of the Surrey road league. She completed the undulating course in 64 minutes and 11 seconds. There was also a lifetime best for Neil Aikman (63:23) to finish 45th out of 482 finishers.

At the Lloyd ParkRun, Sam Clayton bagged his twelfth win at the event in 18 minutes and 34 seconds.