SAL 2: Throwers dominate again
WGEL’s Sweatshop Southern Athletics League campaign continued at Thurrock. In blustery conditions the team finished third behind hosts Thurrock and Serpentine despite the second-best score the team has ever achieved in this league. The team was a long way ahead of Barnet&District and Mornington Chasers, meaning the club remains mid-division.
Woodford again dominated in the throws, led by a division record 47.69 javelin by Silvia Cruz. Silvia also won the shot and, alongside Hollie Redmond (DT 42.75, HT and B shot), Steph Howe (HT) and Eike Vardja (B DT and JT), scored maximum points in the women’s throws. Eike was once again the club’s top points scorer, also finishing second in the LJ and TJ.
The men’s throws also saw wins in each event, led by Devon Douglas winning DT (45.73) and SP despite sleeping between events due to working night shifts before and after the match. Peter Clark (54.08) and M45 Fergus Harford (33.68) were the top 2 hammer throwers, while Jay Boddington and James Bongart could only be separated by the final throw of the javelin (51.31 to 50.90). The highlight in the jumps was Scott Webster achieving two high jump PBs to win in 1.98, with U17 Joey O’Neill taking the B in 1.70.
The wind significantly limited times on the track but there were several impressive victories. Bernadine Pritchett won the 800m and 1500m, surprisingly her first SAL victories, with Alicia McArdell next finisher in the 1500. Kate Stockings won her first track race in 3 years, the 1500 steeplechase. Steeplechaser Tomaz Plibersek successfully opted for the flat 3k and another man more used to racing over hurdles, Ben Kelk, took the 400m in 52.28. All the women’s sprints were contested by 1st year U17s, who were very competitive including a B string 100m win by Denesha Rocastle, an overdue 200m debut by Rebecca Fafowora (2nd in 100 and 200 A) and a narrow defeat in the 4x100.
The team manager would like to thank all those who competed, including doing extra or unfamiliar events to keep the team in contention despite being understrength in a number of areas, and also to all the officials and helpers who enabled the match to proceed smoothly in the absence of many officials from other visiting teams. The remaining three fixtures are all at home, on Saturday 18 June, 9 July and 20 August, and home advantage can send the team shooting up the league.