News

The first match of the SAL season got under way at Peterborough. The small team on paper showed great team spirit and work ethic to claim 4th place, with maximum points for officials. Big thanks to our officials Paul Pickard, Helen Pickard, Sarah Berry, Sally Stevens, Mike Gregory, Jane Taylor, and Bob Whitten. Shannon Rapacchi marked return from injury with wins in A-string PV and shotput, while Isaac Whitten won the men’s A-string 3000m Steeplechase. Elsewhere, Libby Taylor won B-string shotput, Skye Barnett B-string 100mH, and Enid Whitten B-string hammer. In the men’s throws, Ed Turner and Milan Snarskis took a healthy haul of points, with Libby Taylor and Shannon Rapacchi doing the same in the women’s. There were debuts at SAL level for Kamilah Adebayo and Laurena Hawkins in the women’s sprints, while Hugo MacFarlane-Cushing and Rowan Roach competed in the men’s, both taking 3rd in the 100m, the former setting a PB of 11.31 early in the season. Martina Barber competed in the A-string 100m and LJ. Owen Watkins competed in the men’s 5000m, clocking 16:35:51. Team manager Rhys Samuel fought off injury and inexperience to PB in the HJ, thanks to some quick coaching from Norma Harris.

There were no 4x400 relays; however, the ladies 4x100 side consisting of Skye Barnett, Kamilah Adebayo, Laurena Hawkins and Martina Barber claimed 3rd in the 4x100. The men’s 4x100 team of Rowan Roach, Rhys Samuel, Owen Watkins and Nile Odejimi-Riley took 1st place – impressive for a team consisting of one sprinter, one jumper, one 5k runner and one injured person!

The teamwork didn’t end there – there was a big team effort to release the team bus from the coach park at the end of the day! A big thanks to Milan, Hugo, Nile, Paul, and Rhys for their efforts in finally getting the gate open; to everybody on the bus for their support, Jacob Cawthorne (Vivacity) for staying well over 2-hours beyond his shift to co-ordinate assistance, and to our driver Keith for his patience!