There were mixed results for Sussex teams in the opening matches of the Southern Athletics League last weekend.
League matches are very much the basis of athletics competitions throughout the season where athletes can be assured that whatever event you do, it will be in the League programme.
There were two comprehensive wins with both Eastbourne Rovers and Hastings getting off to a fine start in Division 3SE at their home matches while Brighton & Hove, who were relegated from Division One last season made a steady start in Division 2W with a below strength team. They have accepted an invitation to re-join the British League (Male only) so, hopefully, they were keeping some athletes in hand for next month’s British League matches. They finished second to Woking, at Woking.
Crawley, in Division one at Bedford, were also fielding a below full strength as they will be competing in the British League matches in a couple of weeks.
They were squeezed into third place behind the home team and Belgrave and, as was to be expected, the best individual performances of the weekend’s battle came at this match.
Vicki Pellett (U17) was again in fine form in the hammer throw throwing 41.39m for victory and despite using the heavier, senior implement, she again bettered the England Schools standard while another standard came in the pole vault where George Turner (U20) cleared 4.50m for victory which was a National, rather than an Entry standard.
There was an impressive victory for Crawley high hurdler Amy Barclay who clocked 14.86s.
Competing for the home team the amazing Longhill School teacher Leanne Buxton ran second to Barclay in 15.15s and took another second place in the 400m hurdles and her time of 64.95 will be a tough mark for any other Sussex athlete to better this season. Buxton, however, is the World M35 combined events champion.
There were also third places in 3SW for Horsham at Basingstoke, Worthing at Swindon, Chichester at Salisbury and East Grinstead in 3SE at Eastbourne while the Lewes/Haywards Heath team finished fourth in 3SE at Kingsmeadow.
Youth Development Leagues
This coming Saturday it is the turn of the Youth Development League, Lower Age Group, with Crawley in action in West 1 at Poole and Brighton & Hove travelling to the Julie Rose Stadium for their East 1 fixture.
In West 2 Horsham and Chichester are in action at Portsmouth while Hastings, Lewes and Worthing are at Medway for the East 2 match.
Race Walking
Also on Saturday the Slater and Bryce race walking events are being held at Broadbridge Heath starting at 11.00.
London Marathon
After the excitement of the Manchester and Brighton Marathons over the last couple of weekends it is the turn of the “Big One”.
It is the London Marathon on Sunday and the absence of most of the leading Sussex marathoners from last weekend’s Brighton event we can only hope that they will be in action Sunday.