Senior League: The WAKE-ning

Back again for another year the senior league team took a trip up the road to Wakefield for the first match of the season. The team featured of 20 athletes, 14 male and 6 females.

Starting with ladies first, sprinter Holly Martin ran a Pb in the 200 metres and in the 100 metres to claim a second place finish in both. Under 20 Molly Waring had two impressive runs in the hurdles claiming a first in a season’s best time in the 400 hurdles and a second in the 100 metre hurdles along with a solid run in the 200 metres for a second place finish. Natasha Geere ran two great races in the 1500 metres and 300 metres with a fantastic sprint finish in the 3000 metres to create and exciting dip for the line and run a season’s best time. A debut in the senior league team saw Be Curley take the leap and take on the 800 metres and 1500 metres and ran great races in both scoring valuable points for the team. Beth Thomas and Fiona Thomas found some springs for their shoes and leaped out of their comfort zone and into the long jump pit for team Spen. Following this Fiona was victorious in the shot with a season’s best throw as well as a second in the hammer, third in the hammer and fourth in the javelin. With Beth also winning her shot putt followed by a second in the hammer and fourth in the discus.

Onto the men’s events were Glenn Aspindle vaulted his way up to a pb in the pole vault before rushing off to get a long jump in. Later taking on the mountain that is the 110 metre hurdles to a victory with a close second in the javelin. In the throws an injured Darren Thomas overcame his ankle troubles to throw a season’s best and winner in the shot and a second place in the hammer, along with a sb throw in discus. Tom Dart had an impressive run in the steeplechase to end with a first place finish. Also in the steeplechase Jason Newell added to the points total along with the 5 other events (400 hurdles, 400 metres, high jump, Pole vault and triple jump) to build up the clubs points as well as losing a fight with the high jump upright in the process. Henry Carter ran a strong race in the 5,000 metre and leaped in the long jump to add to the teams point. Also in the 5,000 metres Joe Sagar dominated the playing field to finish in first place with a pb run. Dominic Lamb ran an impressive 100 metres for the win after his success at the Yorkshire Counties the weekend before. The Ogdens ( Ian Ogden & Kevin Ogden) both ran good races in the 1,500 metres to add to team Spens total, with ‘retired’ Kevin Ogden also running a good race in the 800 metres to add extra points to the total. Toby Aspindle showed off his perfected technique of ‘Jog and Jump’ to take on the gruelling 110 metre hurdles and get across the finish line as well as a return back to the javelin throw. Two under 17 athletes compete with Daniel Smith who ran three impressive hard races in the 200, 400 and 800 metres against a much older field. Tyler Cossins raced in the 100 and 200 metres against an older field as well to run a pb in both races. Adding to the points total Jake Darby competed in six events (Hammer, Shot, Discus, 400 metre hurdles, TJ and HJ) with a hammer victory and 3 seasons best in the throws.

Three relay teams were featured today, both men and women successfully navigated their batons round faultlessly in the 4x100 metres, teams made up by Curley, Waring, Geere and Martin for the women and T.Aspindle, Lamb, Cossins and Darby. The men also had the 4x400 metre team of G.Aspindle, Carter, Smith and Sagar.

Well done to all athletes, a lot trying new events or stepping out of their comfort zone. The male’s team managed to fill every event with an athlete which is great to see.

Thanks to all the officials who helped the club especially after officiating the day before.

Final Standings:
1. Sale Harriers- 403
2. Holmfirth Harriers- 400
3. Liverpool Pembroke- 363
4. Bingley Harriers- 315
5. Spenborough- 305
6. Wirral- 140