Blend of youth and experience (From Thurrock Gazette)

Great day at Southern Mens League for Harriers men

2:30pm Thursday 10th May 2012 in Sport

ATHLETICS: THURROCK’S senior men’s team opened their season in Division 1 of the Southern Men’s League at the Bedford International Athletics Stadium on Saturday.

The team consisted of a blend of very experienced athletes and some talented youngsters.

Alec Finch ran his second personal best of the season in the 800 where he recorded 2m3.17s. To break the two minute barrier is now a realistic target for the Stanford student.

Top points scorer was Dan George who competed magnificently all afternoon to notch up 18 points.

Dan’s training has been sparse, but he has lost none of his competitive spirit and not too much of his fitness. His best performance was probably winning the B string shot.

He also scored three second places in the long jump, triple jump and high jump. Michael Shortall, recovering from illness, sped to an excellent victory in the 110m hurdles and scored a further nine points in the jumps and sprints.

Former Commonwealth shot putt champion, Matt Simson, made a surprise but very welcome return to competition.

At the age of 41 he rediscovered his competitive edge by winning the shot putt with the final throw of the competition at 11.66m.

He also threw the hammer a respectable distance of 34.4m. Hopefully he will make further appearances during the summer.

Seventeen-year-old Jack Farmer, from South Ockendon, ran a great 400m to finish second in 53.2.

At the other end of the age scale Mark Jenkins, who competes in the 45-50 veterans section, amassed an extremely useful 16 points.

His highlight of the afternoon was just missing victory in the B string 110m hurdles.

The middle distance squad, in addition to Alec Finch, notched up good performances.

Dennis Cross contributed 10 points in the 800m, 1500m and 3k steeplechase. Nick Houghton ran a good 5k in 17m9.7 as did Adam Essa who recorded 17m18. Three other under 17 athletes were in good form. Jamie Kensey scored an encouraging victory in the B long jump. Akinbola Moronkeji leapt 1.7m to earn runner up spot in the B high jump.And Damon Nugent’s pole vault season took off to a good start with a 3m clearance which gained him a second spot.

Team result: Bedford 116, Thurrock 95.5, Hercules Wimbledon 65.5, Metropolitan Police 41.

For much more athletics see the THURROCK GAZETTE on Friday