The third match of the 2018 senior track and field league took place on a hot and sunny Saturday in Cleethorpes during one of the warmest seasons I can remember. The team was on a mission from the first event to the last. The goal was to be in a position to challenge for promotion in the last match of the season on August 4th in Wakefield.
The first three track events saw our men throw down a marker for the other teams, as our six athletes all placed in the top three. Notable was the brave run from Jack Muir, still in his first season in the senior team, who ran from the front in the 800m, challenging the older, more experienced runners to keep up. He held his lead until the final stages and came a creditable second. His intent, however, steeled the team for the rest of the day. Jacob Gill-Hirst returned from university to run the notoriously tough 400m hurdles, and then volunteered to fill a space in the 1500m, which was after placing first in the high jump. Oliver Robinson dominated the men’s 400m winning by over 2 seconds. Archie Scott took another second off his 1500m PB, and went on to run a strong leg in the 4 x 400m.
The women’s field events started in equally positive fashion. Katie James and Abigail Allport both gained top three places, with Abigail jumping another personal best. Janine Crosby on her return to the team convincingly won the discus and placed second in the shot. She was backed-up by Alana Gill in both throws. Alana had another busy day also running the 800m and 200m; it was good to see her returning to form after illness. Phoebe Francis continued her good form securing second place in the 3000m in a time of 11:27. Joanna Lawler-Rhodes dominated the triple jump with another jump over 11m.
The relays were a further display of the team’s commitment to each other. Long-jumper Katie James, who competed in the first event of the day at 11:30, ran the anchor leg in the 4 x 100m, so the team could push hard for second place. Equally dedicated to the cause was the 4 x 400m team consisting of Harriet Paulat-Brigg, Alana Gill, Phoebe Francis and our A-string hammer thrower Marnie Leach. The men’s sprint team of Sam Berry, Archie Scott, Oliver Robinson and Jacob Gill-Hirst won their event, and, in the final event of the day, the men’s 4 x 400m team continued their unbeaten run this season with a victory by seven seconds. Ultimately, we finished third, which was enough to remain in a promotion spot. The last match of the season is on the 4th August in Wakefield and, all things being equal, the team will be pushing very hard to maintain that promotional place.
Keith Daniel