Sussex clubs have been inventive over the lockdown period with virtual distance races taking place between Lewes AC, Phoenix and Hastings. However, much missed, track and field competition finally returned to the the county with a sold out, socially distanced Open at Worthing Athletic club.
On a still and balmy Tuesday evening, athletes travelled from as far afield as Wales and Norwich to take part in the "Track Night" organised by Gavin Stephens. The weather was perfect, with a slight wind at times, and the conditions led to scores of personal best performances.
There were many Sussex stars in action, such as Archie Davis and Toby Harries, but a crop of young British talent including 2019 European under-20 medallists Holly Mills and Lucy-Jane Matthews and British indoor 60m champion, Dom Ashwell, had also made the journey to the coast.
Unfazed in such stellar company, the actual star of the night was one of the youngest athletes in the competition. In the 100m, 12-year-old Nell Desir, of Cardiff Archers AC, ran the seventh fastest time ever by a British under-13 girl, clocking 12.34s, before storming to 25.96s in the 200m.
The races were all graded and in the quickest 100m, Dom Ashwell dipped to victory in 10.60s just pipping Swansea's Daniel Beadsley into second in 10.64s, with Eastbourne's Bailey Wright 3rd in 10.74s.
Hurdlers Lucy-Jane Matthews and Holly Mills battled in the 100m with Matthews finishing in a PB of 12.03s to Mills 12.07s. Mills, who is also now one of the UK's leading heptathletes, later front ran to an impressive victory in the 800m, taking two seconds off her PB, for a win over Phoenix's Almi Nerurkar in 2:12.32 to 2:16.26, which was also a best for Nerurkar. Meanwhile, Almi's clubmate, Beth Kidger, ran in a mixed gender race and was fourth, just half a second off her best in 2:08.36.
Chichester under-20, Liam Dunne, looked impressive as he ran to a 1:54.86 victory in the penultimate men's 800m. But it was Phoenix's Archie Davis who set the final men's 800m race alight. Pulled through the first lap by meeting organiser, and 2018 World Masters 400m Champion, Gavin Stephens, Davis looked effortless on the home straight as he ran to a fine personal best and win over Brighton's Thomas Niner in 1:48.53 to Niner's PB of 1:51.47.
Crawley's Holly Turner was the fastest woman over 200m with a PB of 24.66s and Phoenix's Toby Harries ran a swift 21.29s.
On the field there were some good performances. Under-17, Emilie Oakden of Lewes, won the pole vault with 3.15m. In the long jump Eastbourne's Bradley Eisnor leapt a PB of 6.89m, just four centimetres behind the winner, Enfield's Eliot Thompson. Crawley and Italy's, Mame Sow, long jumped a PB of 5.71m for her win.
Luke Smallwood of Justiming was on photo finish and track results flashed up seconds after the races ended. In total there were 73 personal bests, in what could not have been a more perfect night for the return of track and field.
See the full results here.
The next Open at Worthing is scheduled for Tuesday 18th August. Other upcoming events in the county include a Jumps festival at Lewes AC on 12th September and an open track and field meeting on 4th October at Withdean Stadium - details to be confirmed.
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