St Albans athlete claims second with new PB

ATHLETICS: DAVID Perry leapt to a high jump personal best at Hemel Hempstead on Sunday as St Albans AC cemented their place in next month’s A final of the National Young Athletes League.

Club officials were awaiting confirmation of final standings but a possible fourth-place finish in their section would be a best ever achieved by the Westminster Lodge-based club.

With a number of athletes unavailable, several of the St Albans team had to compete in events that they are not normally associated with but Perry showed the rapid advances he has made during the summer with a 1.70m clearance that earned him second in the U17 catergory and promised even more in the coming weeks.

Perry, who also won the triple jump and B string long jump, was one of a string of contributors as St Albans (599pts) finished second in the match to Basildon (639).

Another noteworthy effort was delivered by Lauren Dewar, who landed the U15 long jump plus victories in the B string 100m and 75m hurdles.

Pippa Bailey (800m), Kelly Wright (discus), Alice Townend (shot putt) and Emma Clarke (long jump) were among the winners for a dominant U15 girls squad with Steph Wonnacott (javelin B) also recording a good winning effort on the back of hard work in training.

Therre were also PBs for Andrew Wheatcroft with his second spot in the U15 1500m in 5m 05 secs, Letitia Hatton with her 1.30m clearance for the runners-up berth in the U13 high jump and Jack Gentle with a 8.34m throw that won the U13 shot putt.

Focus this weekend is on the U15 and U17 National Championships at Bedford.

St Albans look like having five competitors - U17s Jake Awe (100m), Christian Gaddes and Luke Yaxley (100m hurdles) and Abi Wilde (javelin) alongside U15 Alicia Tymon-McEwan (75m hurdles).

NYAL score: 1 Basildon (639pts), 2 St Albans (599), 3 Dacorum & Tring (578), 4 Luton (322), 5 Vale of Aylesbury (255), 6 Biggleswade (85).