Southern Athletics League Match 2

Winchester & District Athletic Club (WADAC) faced their second Southern League match with a trip to Horsham Sussex to face teams from Brighton, Swindon and Exeter. With athlete numbers small on both men and women teams for WADAC it looked unlikely that anything but a bottom place finish would occur. So the 2nd place that the team achieved was an outstanding achievement.
nWomen team manager Sue True definitely led by example competing in as many events as possible for the team. There was a double win for WADAC in the womens 400m with Sue victorious in the A race in 66.5 and Sophie Torrance winning the B race in 71.0. Sue also won the 400m hurdles in 75.6 plus running a leg of the 4x400 team along with Jo Jefferies, Aisling Dunne and Poppy Clements who won their race in style. Sue showed she could gain points in the field as well as the track with 2nd places in the Triple Jump A and Long Jump B events.
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nIn the mens competition Colin French was a prolific points gatherer for WADAC taking part in an amazing 10 events. On the track Colin ran both hurdles events with 3rd in the 400m hurdles and 2nd in the 110m hurdles plus running the 100m in 12.9 as well as legs in both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. In the field Colin did not seem to stop competing all afternoon as he high jumped a seasons best of 1.51m for 3rd, plus long jumping 4.67m and triple jumping 9.12m. Colin also threw the Javelin 32.51m for 2nd A and the Discus 24.79m 3rd A.
nAnother man having a busy afternoon was Steve Pethen who sprinted in both 100m (3rd B 13.6) an 200m (2nd B 28.0) as well as running legs of both relays. In the field Steve volunteered to high jump despite having never competed at the event before and managed to scissor kick his way to 1.28m for 3rd B. Steve also threw the shot 7.57m for 3rd A.
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nAnother athlete having lots to do was Heather Mballa who threw the Javelin 28.68m to achieve 2nd A and also the Discus 29.60m also for runner up spot. Heather also tossed the Hammer out to 22.19m for 3rd A. Heather gained many more points for WADAC in the High Jump, Triple Jump and Shot plus running the 100m hurdles or 2ND A. Heather was accompanied in the Hammer and Javelin by Sue Hume.
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nMens team captain also contributed pints to enable the team to keep in 2nd position throughout the match. He ran the 800m and 1500m (5.33)on the track and picked up field points in the Long Jump, Shot, Discus and Javelin.
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nPoppy Clements ran controlled in the womens 800m A race to easily win tin 2.33 with plenty to spare. Making his WADAC debut Jamie Cornaud ran well in the mens 800m A race in a rapid 2.08.6 for 3rd position, he also ran a life of both relays.
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nThere was some good points collected in the womens 1500m where Aisling Dunne ran confidently for 2nd place in 5.09.7, she was backed up by Jo Jefferies who won the B string in 5.46, Jo had earlier ran the 5000m and was 2nd in 20.50, showing her stamina credentials.
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nIn the women sprints Serena Charles ran the 100m in 14.2 for 3rd A and Kathryn Miles running 13.9 for 2nd B, Kathryn also sprinted the 200m in 29.9 for 3rd A backed up by Sophie Torrance 2nd B 200m.Kathryn earlier jumped 3.74m in Long Jump whilst Serena added points in the Shot 8.48m and Discus 19.96m.
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nBen Healey took time off his University studies to run a fast 400m in 52.3 for 2nd A, also running 400m was young U17M Andrew Stanfield who ran 56.4 for 3rd B , Andrew also ran the 200m A in 24.7 plus adding legs in both long and short relays.
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nIn a very fast mens 3000m Wayne Bevan ran strongly to move through the field to 3rd A in 10.01.7, he was backed up by Ben Ringrose-Voase 2nd B 10.10.3
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nThe mens 4x400 relay team ran 3.54.6 for 2nd with the sprint relay team 3rd in 50.0. The womens 4x100 team were 2nd.
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nAll the extra events individuals did ensured WADAC finished 2nd and it was a great all round team performance.
nThe next match is a home for WADAC on June 23rd.
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