ATHLETICS: Thurrock Harriers claimed valuable points in the latest round of the Southern Athletics League at King’s Lynn, despite having a much depleted team.

Competing against Ryston Runners, Stevenage & North Herts, and Medway & Maidstone, Harriers expected a tough afternoon but they excelled.

The highlight of the men’s efforts was an excellent win in the 4x100m relay, with Charlie Splarn, Jess Allen, Yinda Sidipo and Ben Gibbs finishing in 43.08 - just 7/10s of a second outside the 30-year-old club record.

That sprint squad scored good points in the 100m and 200m and in the horizontal jumps, coming second in the high jump with Charlie Splarn clearing 1.63m.

The middle distance squad saw Jon Metcalf (V55) and Bernie Johnson (V65) perform well, with Metcalf’s 800m time (2.18s) putting him in the top five in his age group nationally.

Alex Marshall, in his first seniors match, claimed a personal best on his 800m debut.

Sue Lawrence led a strong women’s throws squad, as they only dropped three points all afternoon.

Lawrence won the shot, discus and hammer, while Jill Boosey, Toyin Olyferri and Megan Smith made up a strong ‘B’ team with two wins and two second places.

The sprinters also earned good points. Toyin Olyfemi, Tolani Odumosu and Lola Omowanile covered the sprints and jumps efficiently.

Rebecca Barnard is the female equivalent to Ben Gibbs and earned good points in a variety of events.

Thurrock closed on 125 points, ahead of a shorter journey to Croydon.

Final points: Ryston Runners 212, Stevenage & North Herts 212, Medway and Maidstone 198, Thurrock 125.

In the Essex Schools’ Combined Events Championships, five Thurrock Harriers took part at The Brentwood School on Wednesday, May 24.

The competition is the main source for selection into the Essex squad at the English Schools’ Combined Events Championship with first and second place gaining automatic selection.

The Hathaway Academy’s Ruby Bridger came first in the under-15 competition with a pentathlon score of 2,943 which ranks her second in the country.

She secured PBs in the high jump (1.58m) with Sola Taiwo from William Edwards School coming third with 2,802 points (PB) taking a best time in the 800m (2:31:7).

The girls currently sit first and third in the East region.

Theo Adesina, also of William Edwards, came first in the under-17 competition in the pentathlon (2,538).

Theo took PBs in the 400m (52.8s) and 100m hurdles (14.4s).

Daniel Ogutuga of Ockendon Academy came seventh in the under-15 competition with 2,290 points.

It was a good day for Jamie Crane from the Harris Academy in Chafford Hundred as he competed in his first year as an under-15 athlete.

He gained PBs in all his events: 800m (2:28:2), 80m hurdles (15.1m), high jump (1.35m), long jump (4.58m), and the shot putt (7.53m) with his pentathlon score 1,658.