Match 3 took place in far from ideal conditions as competitors in events such as the Pole Vault will attest. Where to start with so many people posting PBs? The results! They were encouraging.
1st Bristol & West AC 371.1
2nd Swansea Harriers & AC 310.5
3rd Yate & District AC 270.3
4th Cardiff AC 266.9
5th Yeovil Olympiads AC 141.3
If forced to choose the performance of the day, it would be Harry Petyt vaulting 3.72 in his first pole vault competition literally weeks after taking up the event under the able tuition of Martin Davies.
The squad of young male sprinters had something of a field day, with Joe Carter, Ed Wilson, Josh Maggs, Luca Williams, Luca William, Yusef Hussien, and star coach Tristan Jamieson all setting PBs. Josh Maggs demonstrated his potential for the long jump with 6.15m jump and I persuaded the lads, having failed to get the baton round the 100m, to have a go at the 4 X 400m which they did with distinction.
The 800m times of the men are 10 secs too slow, but it was good to see Andrew Dean-Young posting a SB, and Josh Moody, not at his best, nobly doubled up in the 800m & 1500m. Here Ben Maliphant improved his PB again and is rapidly turning into a 1500m runner. Jack Bancroft and Ben Westhenry took maximum points in the 3000m. This race was only Ben’s second over this distance since 2017, and distinctly faster than his indoor performance in 2019.
Jedani Wright took first place in the triple jump while the father and son Froudakis combination claimed maximum points in the discus. Andrea Manfroni returned to the fray in the javelin and with Matt Bryce took 2nd A string and 2nd B string. Matt was also third A string in the shot with young Ruben Brady 2nd B string.
The women's team looked strong, and so it proved to be. There were some very fast times in the 100m with Junior international Jenna Blundell getting under 12 seconds for the first time with 11.86 and posting a PB of 13.18 in the 100mH. Natalia Isherwood was close to her PB’s in both the 100m & 200m. Sarah Kearsey and Jordanna Morrish both had busy afternoons with Sarah collecting points first in the 400mH and then the 400m flat, while Jordanna, along with Lily Bailey, garnered maximum points in the high jump, and more in the 100m hurdles & 400m flat. Special mention must be made of Master Hen Anstey picking up valuable points in the 400mH.
Maria Jones won the 800m in a PB of 2.17.13 despite the efforts of the wind, and in the 3000m Katrina Entwistle did the same. Ella Bowell notched up another PB in the LJ, as did Sam Barrett in the triple jump, recorded for posterity by Dad, Gary which can be seen on the chat page. Cally Walder posted a SB in the pole vault. Moni Brady won the shot 0.02m shy of her PB, Cat Beatty & Anna Loughlin collected maximum points in the hammer with Anna posting an SB and our young javelin throwers were stars again, with Sophie Hamilton making her debut for the club, 2nd A string and Jess Lewis first B.
Lastly, thank you to all those I haven’t mentioned some of whom were not at their best after Covid jabs etc, next our officials and all the coaches who have helped the athletes realise their potential.
Chris Elson