St Albans AC s outstanding U15 Boys team were cup final winners as they totally outpointed their rivals in Sunday s final of the Eastern Young Athletes League at Chelmsford. The victory included a javelin throw of 45.39m by Verulam pupil Joel McNeill, whi

St Albans AC's outstanding U15 Boys team were cup final winners as they totally outpointed their rivals in Sunday's final of the Eastern Young Athletes League at Chelmsford.

The victory included a javelin throw of 45.39m by Verulam pupil Joel McNeill, which smashed a previous club best that had stood since 1996 by almost 2.5m.

There was also a third place for the U13 girls team with Alice Townend's 21.65m effort in the discus also breaking the old club record, this time by close to 3m.

Ironically, both throws were only good enough to earn second places at a meeting where the collective team competition was won by the hosts with St Albans fifth in the six-team final.

Underlining both quality and strength in depth, the U15 boys had rivals chasing shadows most of the day.

There were wins for Jake Awe (100m A, long jump A, high jump B), Christian Gaddes (80m hurdles A, high jump A, long jump B), Luke Yaxley (80m hurdles B, 100m B, 200m B), Joel McNeill (200m A, 400m A), Chris Hilton (800m A, 400m B), James McMurray (1500m A), Chris Gillespie (pole vault A), and Sassoon Moskofian (shot putt B).

Second places were delivered by Josh Pieterse (hammer A, shot putt A, discus B), while Oliver Poulain was third in the 1500m B, Jason Tang fifth in the discus A and Gillespie fourth in the 800m B.

The prominent show from the U13 girls was built on teamwork and consistent results from across the whole committed squad.

Useful points scoring came from Townend, who followed her discus effort with another second in the shot putt, and the runners-up slots also secured by Lucy Dicks (high jump A), Isobel Copley (discus B) and Cate Brooks (shot putt B).

Failure to deliver points in the U17s cost St Albans in the overall team result but Khalid Al-Abaidy won both the 800m and 1500m A races, Laura Farrar the 800m A, Catherine Mackintosh the 800m B and Abi Holman the A triple jump.

In the U15 Girls, wins were recorded by Steph Rukin (75m hurdles B) and Laura Owler (long jump B).

Alex Brown won the U13 Boys' shot putt.

St Albans AC's outdoor season reaches a climax this weekend with the club championships.