THE latest round of the National Young Athletes Track League held at the Victoria Park track, Warrington saw a great performance by St Helens Sutton A.C. to finish in second place behind promotion favourites Trafford and to ensure their place for next season.

Once again club records fell with six new marks being set.

Newcomers Jordan Purnell and Mike Jukes soon showed their value with Jordan setting new club records in the under 15s hammer, 22.54 m, and the shot 8.98m, and Mike improved the ten year old under 13s 200 m record to 27.8 secs.

With Mike also running 100 m in 13.3s for second and winning the long jump with 5.48 m, he was the deserved winner of the Athlete of the Match award.

The other record breakers were Vicky Johnson, under 15s girls shot, 10.36 m.; Jake Davidson, under 17 yrs. long jump, 6.02m, and Zoe Woodward who improved her own under 13s 1200 m. record to 4 min.0.6 secs.

In the under 13 yrs. girls events, Heather Drillingcourt won the 75m in 11.0secs., Laura Crook won the 150m. in 21.3 secs and the shot in 6.92 m. and also ran the 800m in 2 min.28.3 secs. Joanne Sturgeon won the 800m. with 2 min.29.3 secs, was second in the high jump with 1.15m. and ran 150m in 22.5 secs. Nicola Gravene was second in the 70 m. hurdles in 14.8 secs. and high jumped 1.15 m.

Nicola, Laura, Zoe Woodward and Heather won the 4 x 100 m. relay in 59.3 secs.

In the under 13s boys, Mike Atkinson won the shot with 7.60 m and long jumped 4.08m. John Ashcroft was second in the 800 m with 2 min.40.1 and long jumped 4.08 m. Jake Healey was third in the 1500m in 5 min.17.7.

The team of John, Mike Jukes, Paul Nichols and Mike Atkinson won the 4 x 100 m. relay in 58.6 secs.

The under 15s girls events saw Jessica Cretu winning the 200m in 27.9 secs. and taking second place in both the 100 m, 13.3 secs, and the 75m hurdles, 12.7 secs.

Rachel Hutchinson won the high jump with 1.35m and ran the 200m, 28.4 secs, and the 75 m hurdles, 13.8 secs. In addition to her record breaking shot, Vicky Johnson also won the discus, 27.10m and the javelin, 21.30 m.

Shauna Kerr took third in the long jump with 2.30m and there was a third placing for the 4 x 100m team of Hanna Green, Laura, Zoe and Heather, 59.3 s.

For the boys in this age group, Thaddeus Amin-Somuah won both the 100m, 12.2 secs, and the 200m 24.8s, and was second in the 400m with 58.4 secs.

Dave Forrester won the 3000 m in 9 min.23.9 and ran 59.3 secs for the 400m Mike Ehlen won the high jump 1.55m, was second in the long jump with 4.53m, and threw the discus 18.91m. Graham Morley was second in the javelin with 21.36 m.

The 4x 100m. team of Anthony Marsh, Thaddeus, Jordan and Mike Ehlen finished second in 53.0 secs.

The under 17s women's events saw a triple winning performance from Caroline Morley, 200m in 27.3 secs, 80m. hurdles in 12.9 secs and the 300m hurdles in 47.6 secs. Vicky Davies took second in the high jump, 1.35 m, and the long jump, 3.82 m, and ran 100m in 13.8 secs.

Nichole Harrod was second in the shot with 6.18m. and she threw the javelin 14.84m.

Sarah Lewis was third in the 100m, 13.9 secs, and the 300m, 46.4 secs, and threw the discus 9.76 m. In the 4 x 100m relay, Vicky, Caroline, Taja Rundle and Sarah took second place in 54.4 secs.

The men's events saw Steve Knowles winning the high jump with 1.73 m, coming second in the hammer, 22.29 m, and throwing the javelin 12.90 m.. In addition to Jake Davidson's record setting long jump, he took second place in the shot put, 10.20m.

Lawrence Bright was second in the discus with 18.92m, threw the javelin 19.48 m. and put the shot 17.10 m.

There was a third place in 50.2 secs for the 4 x 100m team of Steve, Jake, Lawrence and Tom Rigby.

In the Northern Decathlon event at Hexham were Dean Macey qualified for the Olympics, Phil Robinson set a new club record of 4 530 points breaking the old club record by 200 points and his own previous best performance by 500 points.

Phil's performances in the ten events over two days of competition were - 100m 12.48 secs, long jump 5.61m, shot 9.23m, high jump 1.59 m, 400m. 55.70 secs, 110m. hurdles 19.93 secs, discus 29.67 m, pole vault 2.30 m, javelin 26.79m, 1500m 4 min.54.2s.

Phil finished fourth in the Northern Championship.