A new dawn on the start of the 2025 outdoor Track & Field season lit up the Thornes Park stadium as the first fixture of the 2025 season beckoned. Last year was a pleasing year in the league as we had more athletes than ever enter the league, which was a pleasing site to see as we had a high turn out of Spen athletes again!

As usual, the Under 11 Boys age group was a busy field but that didn’t deter John Moore as he threw his way to a fourth place finish in the Shot Putt with a Personal Best (PB) throw before having an impressive sprint to finish second in his 75m race and fifth overall. Joshua Myers returned from last year and sprinted his way to a Season Best (SB) time in the 75m, it was then his second fastest 600m of the year for a tenth place finish and threw to a ninth place finish in the Shot Putt. Noah Bridgeman enjoyed his first competition with a fantastic run in the 600m for a fifth place finish, along with two twelfth place finishes in the Shot Putt and 75m. Albie Byrne also had his first ever competition and ran strongly in the 600m to finish in fifteenth place in a rather busy race.

In the Under 11 Girls, Connie Walker started the new season strong achieving a PB time in the 75m and also jumping to a PB in the Long Jump as well as a seventh place finish in her 600m race. Maisie Henshaw had her first ever competition and set impressive bests in both the 75m sprint and also in the Long Jump.

Over to the Under 13 Boys where Kieran Hird was exciting as ever, winning the 200m overall in a PB time, it was then a second place in the 75m Hurdles, along with a second place finish in the Long Jump as well. Raees Muftee moved up age groups and had his first competition attempt at the 200m finishing third in his race and eight overall, it was then a remarkable equal PB jump in the Long Jump as well as a first attempt with the Shot Putt. Aidan Rhodes also moved up and ran a SB time in the 200m, it was then his second best Long Jump and Shot Putt of the year, finishing in tenth in the Shot Putt.

Lucy Hird kicked her season off with a bang finishing in second in the Under 13 Girls 75m Hurdles in a PB time, it was then a fifth place finish in the Discus with a PB throw, along with a PB time in the 100m. Amaya Brierley was also straight into the action as she finished in third place in the 75m Hurdles in a PB time too, then onto a fourth place finish in the Discus with a PB throw and a fifth place in the High Jump with an equal PB height. Gabi Lauce leapt to new heights for a second place in the High Jump with a PB height, it was then a PB time in the 100m and also the 800m to round of an all PB day. Stella Zurek moved up age groups and earnt a sixth place finish in the High Jump on first competition attempt, it was then a fifth place finish in the 75m Hurdles and seventh place in the 800m both on first competition attempt. Willow Griffiths was competing for the first time and earnt a tenth place finish in the Discus, a first competition try at the 75m Hurdles finishing fifth in her race, as well as finishing her day off with a first competition attempt at the 100m.

Now onto the Under 15 Boys where George Thompson flew to a first place finish in the Long Jump with a new PB, then came a third place finish with another PB in the 80m Hurdles and a final PB in the 100m earnt him a fifth place finish. Joel Cousins sprinted his way to a fourth place finish and a PB in the 100m and then threw his way to a sixth place finish in the Shot Putt. Noah Byrne had a pleasing day earning a new PB in the 1,500m and also in the Long Jump. Joshua Reed threw his way to a new PB in the Shot Putt and ended with a well deserved seventh place finish.

In the Under 15 Girls, Hannah Whitaker had a strong run in the 200m earning a SB time with a fourth place finish in her race.

Jack Worsnup nicely paced his way round the Under 17 Men’s 3,000m to a second place finish in a PB time, followed up with a first competition attempt and fifth place finish in the Javelin as well as a first competition attempt at the 100m. Robert Harness raced around to a fourth place finish in the 400m in an SB time, it was then a sixth place finish in the 3,000m in an SB time before a first competition attempt at the 100m. Reece Bridgeman and Ben Whitaker both returned with Personal Best times in the 100m to finish in eleventh and fourteenth respectively.

Over to the Under 17 Women where Millie Rhodes completed the full top three positioning with a victory in the 800m and a second place in the 200m, both with SB times before going on for a first competition attempt in the Triple Jump for a third place finish. Poppy Nuttman also claimed herself a victory in the Hammer on first competition attempt, backed up with a second place finish in the 3,000m with a PB time and a seventh place finish in the 200m with a PB time. Poppy Watts beat her own PB time in the 100m with a strong run, whilst Jeya Aujla competed for the first time and set a strong best time in the 100m.

In the Under 20 Men, Seb Bartocha earned a victory in the Javelin, it was then a third place finish in the 400m both with SB efforts and finished with an equal PB jump in the High Jump for fifth place. Ethan Williams jumped his way to a second place finish in the High Jump in an equal PB, it was then a third place in the Javelin on first competition attempt and finished his day with a fourth in the 400m.

Olivia Myers had a strong opening fixture as she commanded a victory in the Hammer Under 20 Women with an SB throw, it was then a victory in the Triple Jump also in a best distance for the year and finished with an SB time in the 200m.

In the Senior Men, Jake Darby leapt to a second place finish in the High Jump, with Glenn Aspindle picking up a third place on a shortened run up and Kieran O’Brien had his third best jump of the year to finish in seventh. Glenn maintained his West Yorkshire dominance of the Javelin with a victory, it was a fifth place for Kieran and ninth for Jake. Closing the day off with Jake and Kieran finishing second and third in their 100m race and finishing eleventh and thirteenth overall respectively.

Finishing with the Senior Women, Soraya Crodden earnt a victory in the Triple Jump with a SB jump, it was a second place finish in the 800m and finished off with a fourth place finish in the 200m, both with SB times. Molly Waring stormed to a victory in the 800m before going on to a second place finish in the 200m, both with SB times.

A strong first day for Spenborough athletes as it was a second place finish in the clubs total in the top division. The second fixture see a return to Thornes Park on Wednesday the 7th May.