News from South London Harriers
September 23rd, 2007: Southern Women’s League - Final T and F match
Posted by Ian Field at 10:31 amWe have now achieved promotion to Div 1 !!
Our strongest team of the season comfortably won the final match of the season, which included the team who eventually finished 2nd in the League. An outstanding performance, especially in the Seniors, who completed a clean sweep of all the flat track events from 100m to 3000m, except for the 3000m B string where we had no runner.
It was a long, long journey to Kings Lynn by coach, taking just over 3 hours with a brief stop, but we arrived early and in good spirits. The team, incuding new recruit Georgie Bruinvels, and 4 non-scoring youngsters who had made the trip, warmed up, and were ready for anything. It was a nice warm day, but the strong wing was directly into the runners faces on the home straight, which clearly affected some of the times, and made it difficult for the jumps. The journey back was made all the more pleasurable by the victory, and in the end, it was a nice day out. Next time though, we’ll take some earplugs to escape Maria’s 3 hour non-stop cackling fit all the way back.
Junior Girls
With holidays affecting team selection, it was a gritty performance by the girls, who have been outstanding this season. Leading sprinter Shanice Harrison was 2nd in both the A 100m (13.3) and the A 200m (28.0) with Sophie Small 3rd in the B 100m (14.1) and Megan Waller (U13) 4th in the B 200m (32.4). Harriet Field ran close to her best for 2nd in the A 1500m (5:11.1) with Maria Kavanagh winning the B 1500m (5:43.8). Hannah Field was 3rd in the A 800m (2:40.5) with new member Kalise Powell (U13) looking promising with 3rd in the B 800m (2:55.7). Sophie was 2nd in the A 75mH (14.8) with young Megan 4th in the B string with a very good time (14.9) in the strong wind. Sophie then set a PB in coming 2nd in the A Long Jump (4.46m) with Hannah 2nd in the B string (3.71m). Well done to both who had difficulties with their run-ups due to the wind. Hannah was 4th in the A High Jump (1.25m PB) with Megan 3rd in the B string (1.15m), also a PB. Georgina West set 2 new PBs in winning the A Shot (8.72m) and the A Discus (25.54m). She was then 3rd in the A Javelin (18.54m). Lily was a reliable performer, as ever, in the B string throws, and was 2nd in the Shot (6.30m), 1st in the Discus (16.55m) and 3rd in the Javelin (10.73m). The 4×100m relay team, Hannah, Sophie, Harriet and Shanice finished 3rd, close behind Newham, who incidentally had Christine Ohurugu’s younger sister on the last leg !
Seniors
With the majority of our “big guns” available, plus new member Georgie Bruinvels, the seniors had their best match of the season. Natalie Bartley and Estelle D’ja destroyed the opposition winning the A and B strings in 100m (12.2 and 13.5) and 200m (25.4 and 28.2). Georgie started her SLH career in brilliant fashion, winning the A 800m (2:25.5), the A 1500m (5:01.3) and jogging to victory in the A 3000m (10:34) !! Michelle Jenkins also ran superbly to win the B 400m (65.9), the B 800m (2:25.6) and the B 1500m (5:06.1) in times which would also have won the A races. Jessica Case won the A 400m (65.3), was 2nd in the A 400mH (74.4) and 3rd in the A 100mH (18.0). Alecia Alli-Ugbaja won the B 100mH (18.5). Sian Mitchell (U17) controlled the 300mH (49.7) sprinting away in the home straight, and was 2nd in the 80mH despite problems at the 2nd last hurdle (22.5). In the field Kara Miller was unbeatable, winning the A Long Jump (5.08m), the A Triple Jump (10.84m) and the A High Jump (1.50m PB). Kara strained her hamstring in the first leap of the TJ, but had already done enough to win. Olamide Williams won the B Triple Jump (9.68m) and was 3rd in the B Long Jump (4.78m). Alecia was 2nd in the B High Jump (1.25m). In the throws, Team Captain Jill Lula won the B Shot (8.33m), the B Discus (24.53m), was 3rd in the B Javelin (16.63m) and 4th in the A Hammer (31.42m). It was good to have Bonita Francis back, and she obliged by winning the A Shot (9.56m) and was 2nd in the A Discus (26.99m), 3rd in the A Javelin (27.26m), and 3rd in the B Hammer (17.45m).
The highlight of the day was yet to come in the 4×100m relay, in which Natalie, ably assisted by Sian, Estelle and Alecia, got the baton around 6m behind, and in 3rd place. She stormed through to take the win at the tape (55.0) with the whole team gathered at the finish line, screaming her home. Sian, Michelle, Georgie and Jessica, the 4×400m team, not to be outdone, comfortably won the race to the joy of the appreciative, and by now very tired, SLH supporters club on the line.
The non-scorers, Kalise Powell, Kalema Powell, Jazz Crawford and Nicholette Pollard-Odle all competed in the 100m, 4×100m relay and the Long Jump with admirable competitiveness. We have no times or distances for these events, which is probably just as well, as they would be reduced due to the strong wind. Especially well done to Jazz, who was very close to much older girls in the 100m race. Look forward to seeing how they get on this winter. They also provided a lot of well appreciated support for the rest of the scoring team throughout the day, from around the edge of the track.
This result shows that when we get a strong team out, we can more than hold our own. This team would certainly have come in the top 3 had they all been there all season. Roll on next season in Div 1.
Posted in Track & Field, Young Athletes, Women
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