By league organiser Philip Westbury
Athletes from across Sussex gathered at the Lewes Athletic Club track on Monday, 1st June, for the second fixture of this year's Sussex Masters Track and Field League.
The league brings together athletes aged 35 and over from clubs across the county, providing a competitive but welcoming environment for runners, jumpers and throwers. Teams competing in the match represented Arena 80, Brighton & Hove, Eastbourne, Hastings, Haywards Heath, Lewes with Haywards Heath Harriers, and Worthing.
After a spell of hot weather, competitors were greeted by cooler, grey conditions that proved ideal for racing, with only a brief light shower interrupting the evening.
The programme included track events over one mile, 100 metres, 400 metres, 3,000 metres, and the 4x100 metres relay, alongside field events such as the shot put, triple jump, hammer, high jump, and javelin.
Over the evening, athletes produced several impressive performances across the evening.
In the men's one-mile races, Jeremy Henwood took victory with a strong time of 4.35.1, followed by Sean Moss (Worthing) in 4.44.3 and Paul Howard in 3rd place with 4.47.1.
The men's sprint events saw Martyn Reynolds (HAC) win the M35 category and Rob Cooper (Lewes AC) win the M50 100 metres. Barry Blackwell (Lewes) continued his strong evening by winning the M50 400 metres, with Jonathan Burrell also taking first place in the M60 race.
In the women's events, a close contest took place in the mile with Hastings Laura Gill taking first place in 5.54.1, narrowly ahead of Helen Watts (HHH) in 5.57.7. Lucy Venables (HHH) won the F35 100 metres in an impressive 15 seconds, Stefanie Dornbusch (B&H) first in V50 100m with 15.3 seconds. Sarah Robinson (Lewes) won the F60 400 metres and followed up with second place in the F60 3,000 metres, with Penny Scott Andrews winning F35 race with a superb time of 10.43.8.
Among the women's field events, Annie Close won the F35 triple jump, while Sarah Robinson finished second in the F60 competition. Jayne Baldock (HY) threw 7.56 to win the Shot and 30.43 to secure another win in the Hammer. Stefanie Dornbusch (B&H) followed up her 100m victory jumping 1.2 metres and securing a win in the High Jump.
In the men’s field events, Matthew Harmer (HY) secured the Hammer top spot, Stuart Pelling (Eastbourne) won the High Jump with 1.6m and over in the Triple Jump, Zhao Liang Tay jumped an impressive 10.89 to take the win.
Following two of the season's four matches, Brighton & Hove lead the league standings, with Lewes and Haywards Heath Harriers in second place and Hastings third. With two matches remaining, the battle for the league title remains closely contested.
Thank you to all those that competed and those that helped officiate. The next fixture takes place on Monday, 29th June in Eastbourne.
If you would like to know more details please contact Lewes AC Chair, Philip Westbury.
Chair: Philip Westbury: E: chair@lewesac.co.uk | T: 07733 004968 | www.lewesac.co.uk