Match 1, May 31st Yeovil

Match Report by Graham Howell

In contrast to last year at Yeovil the weather was warm and dry if a little windy, but far better than the downpours of 2024. The female side of the team looked strong with a good number of athletes turning out. The turnout for the male side of the team was disappointing but the few committed athletes turned in some great performances.

The team welcomed some athletes making their NAL debut – Savana Krunity-Salako (Hammer), Jasmin Richards (Hammer, 200m), Peter Krunity-Salako (High Jump).

Challenging yourself in higher standards of competition should help bring out the best performances and we had a handful of personal bests in the match. Lily Bailey was pleased to achieve a High Jump PB of 1m70, Greg Hayward shaved a few tenths from his 1500m lowering it to 3m58.01s, Kirsty Treglown improved to 25.48s in the 200m, Teresa Iannetelli continued her recent 400m form with a 57.12s PB, Jodie Dale despite some back pain launched a creditable 26m06 Discus while filling in for points and Louie Nelson equalled his High Jump PB of 1m65.

Stephanie Brooks and Daisy Harvey got the team away with a good start in the 400m Hurdles, securing two second places.

Notable in the field for the men Charlie Hickling despite an Achilles problem, managed to secure 20 team points in the throws and was backed up by Liam Hillier also securing 22 points in Pole Vault and throws.

In the men’s 800m Kane Lee front ran the race almost to the finish where he was out dipped by the Swansea athlete and just missed a PB by 9 hundredths of a second.

Similarly, Freya Bradley front ran the women’s 3000m and gradually turned up the pressure on the Yeovil athlete, who had been sitting just behind, to ease away in the final couple of laps for a comfortable win.

A fiasco for the Greg Hayward and Akira Bees in the men’s 5000m. NAL management had caused confusion with the event timetable regarding which distance would be run at the first match, eventually in the days before the match they sent a newsletter to all clubs stating the men would definitely be running 5000m. However this message had not apparently got through to the match officials, the race started and some athletes noticed the lap board showing the wrong laps remaining and voiced their opinions as they passed only for officials to announce it was a 3000m not a 5000m!

Isabelle Walkey continued her return from injury with a solid 100m, indicating her satisfaction with the performance.

The team finished with a brilliant win in the women’s 4x400m relay, Katie Robins, Daisy Harvey, Keira Devereux and Teresa Iannetelli crossing the line 100m clear of the second club.

Well done to all the athletes that made the effort and thanks to our team of officials (Caroline Devereux, Mark Thomas, Mike Smerdon, John Smerdon, Ken Goodger, Hilary Goodger, Charles Eldridge) who furnished an extra 50 points to the team score as well as enabling athletes to benefit

from quality competition and congratulations to Debbie Brooks who had a successful report on her role as Field Referee.

We finished in 5th place, just 5 ½ points from fourth. Looking for more athletes to join us in Match 2 – especially the men – which will make all the difference!

1st Swansea Harriers 635

2nd Yeovil Olympiads AC528

3rd Cardiff Athletics 458

4th Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC 399.50

5th Yate & District AC 394

6th Winchester 289.50