Southern Athletics League - Match 1 at Milton Keynes

For several seasons Chiltern Harriers has been involved in the Southern Athletics League, a competition for vets, seniors, U20s and U17s across the south. This has been in the form of composite teams with Bedford B and Vale of Aylesbury, neither of which have been particularly successful.
 
So this year the club have joined up with Wycombe Phoenix who have operated at a good level by themselves in this league. The South Bucks name continues the composite that has worked successfully in the YDL Upper Age Group for U17s and U20s for many years.

The first match was at Milton Keynes on Sunday and the South Bucks team recorded a good win. The team scored 327 with Luton second on 246, Biggleswade on 189, Northampton 180, Maidenhead 160 and Aylesbury 19. There were eleven Chiltern athletes involved in a strong South Bucks team of thirty-five. Conditions were good with clear skies and warm temperatures, but this made life tougher for the longer distance events.
 
Seb Mills (SM) and Tom Askey (U20) ran in 800m with Seb second in A string in 2.03.9 and Tom second in B string in 2.05.00. Tom also helped shortly afterwards with third in B string 400m in 55.80. In 1500m Alex Paul (SM) won the B string in 4.23.9 and Max Baxter (U17) ran non-scoring in 4.49.00.
 
Mila Luker (U17) gained two PBs, first in B string 100m in 13.00, and second in A string long jump with 4.80m. Abbie Henderson (U20) took an A string win in 800m in a season’s best 2.26.20 with Olivia Edwards (U20) running non-scoring in 2.27.60. Alice Brown (U20) was third in A string 400m in a PB of 62.10 and Grace Thorpe (U20) won the B string in 66.60. Holly Henderson (U20) tackled the gruelling 2000m steeplechase and finished as B string winner in 8.14.80. Charlotte Docwra (U20) won B string 1500m in 5.09.50.
 
In addition to match points, promotion is determined by the standard of performance by individuals. There are six man of the match and woman of the match awards, and four of the twelve were achieved by South Bucks athletes : David Clark (4.03.0 – 1500m), Chris Blandford (50.51m – javelin), Raihan Lenoire (50.9 – 400m) Nemiah Munir (3.85m – pole vault.
 
The next match is at Luton on Sunday June 12th where the South Bucks will hope to build on their good start.