Fixture 2 of the Yorkshire and District Athletics League saw the Junior Team travel on the longest trip of the year across to Cleethorpes. A sunny day with a coastal breeze set the tone for the great day Spen athletes were about to have.

The day was kicked off with a victory in the Under 17 ladies Long Jump for Olivia Myers, who went on to claim a second place and a Personal Best throw in the Shot Putt as well as a third place and PB run in the 100m. Estelle Williams continued her great form from the Senior Team the day before, claiming second place in the 80m Hurdles setting a PB time, before running a PB time in the 100m and a third place finish in the High Jump.

In the Under 17 men, Ben Morris joined the team for the first time and got straight to it with a second place finish in both the 100m and Javelin, before going on to claim a third place in the 200m as well.

The under 15’s continued the outstanding performances as Milana Bulgin picked up three first places and PB’s in the 100m, High Jump and Long Jump. Abigail Lane had strong runs in the 200m and 100m finishing first and second respectively, running a PB time in both, before also equalling her PB in the High Jump finishing in second place. Millie Rhodes was determined on the track with two well fought runs in the 300m and 800m, claiming first place in both and later adding a second place finish with a PB jump in the Long Jump. Poppy Henson ran a confident race in the 1,500m finishing in first place with a Season’s Best time.

And the Under 15 boys were not going to be out done either. William McIntosh showed his strength with two impressive first place finishes in the 200 & 300m, both in PB times, along with a SB High Jump for a second place finish. Ben Whitaker worked hard in the shorter distances with second place finishes in the 100m and 80m Hurdles, with a PB time in the 100m, as well as a comfortable third place finish in the 200m. Reece Bridgeman was also determined as he claimed a second place with a PB jump in the Long Jump, a PB in the 100m and a fourth place finish in the 80m Hurdles. Jack Worsnup joined the team once again and meant business with an almost 2 second PB in the 300m and a PB run in the 800m. Harry Rogerson joined the team for the first time and hit the ground running with impressive results to finish second in the Javelin and third place in the Shot Putt as well as trying his hand at the Long Jump to set PB’s in all three.

The Under 13’s weren’t going to let the older athletes have all the fun as Eva Armitage and Hannah Whitaker had two very tight race in the 75m and 150m finishing first and second respectively in both races with both athletes earning PB times in both races in the Under 13 girls. Hannah then went on to win the Long Jump, as Eva continued on the track for a third place finish in the 800m. Abigail Hildon joined the team again and a strong run in a PB time earned a victory in the 1,200m before a first try at the Shot Putt for a fourth place finish.

In the Under 13 boys, Lawrence Carr picked up two first place finishes and setting strong PB’s in both the 75m Hurdles and Shot Putt before a 1 and a half second PB in the 80m sprint. George Thompson joined the team for the first time and had two impressive races in the 80m and 150m finishing first and second respectively, before a third place finish in the High Jump as well. Noah Byrne re-joined the team and a determined run in the 1,500m saw a second place finish and nearly knocking 6 seconds off his PB time, as well as a PB leap in the Long Jump. Jacob Lawton had a big leap in the Long Jump as well to finish second and earn a new PB, along with a third place finish in the 150m setting a strong PB time.

We had three relay teams run, all over the 4x100m distance. The under 13 boys’ team of Thompson, Lawton, Byrne and Carr successfully navigated the baton round to finish in second place after their first time working together.

The under 15 boys and girls ran in the same race and both ran very strong races with both our teams pushing each other along right to the line, with the boys team of Whitaker, Worsnup, Bridgeman and McIntosh just finishing in front of the girls team of Rhodes, Lane, Henson and Bulgin, with both teams finishing first in their own races respectively.

So as the day closed out, we finished with another second place in the division and a collection of Personal Bests and Season Bests, as all returning athletes walked away with either a PB or SB in at least one event they did, simply outstanding!

Final Match Scores:
Leeds City – 539
Spenborough – 369
Halifax – 224