Hercules Wimbledon round-up: Impressive away win at Southern League opener in Portsmouth
BY GEORGE MALLETT
Hercules Wimbledon Athletic Club’s senior squad took to Portsmouth for the first of four Southern Athletics League Division 2 South & West fixtures, earning an impressive away win thanks in large part to some impressive performances in the sprints.
Points are scored with first place A and B string runners receiving six points, all the way down to the sixth place in each string receiving a single point.
Hercules earned 278 points ahead of home club City of Portsmouth AC, setting themselves up brilliantly for their home fixture on June 22.
Adam Ofeimun had a superb day, winning the men’s A 100m and 400m in 10.96 and 51.76 respectively, being able supported in both events. Both are impressive personal bests for Ofeimun. Jaleel Roper, who won the B string 200m (22.82) was a strong second in the Bs for over 100m, where he ran a speedy 11.08. Javon Blake, still an U20, was second in the B’s 400m, running 52.03.
Perhaps unsurprisingly Hercules also won the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m, the first almost three seconds clear in 42.72, with five seconds separating them from Havant in the longer relay.
Heather Letley had a busy day, winning the women’s A pole vault (1.10m) and B string 400m hurdles (1:32.10). In the latter Charlotte Gurney earned maximum points, winning by almost nine seconds from her nearest opponent in 1:18.21. Letley returned to score seconds in the women’s A 100m hurdles (21.42), women’s B 2000m steeplechase (10:33.07), and thirds in the A triple jump (7.73m) and B 3,000m (14:38.53).
Further wins came in the women’s B string long jump, U17 Izzy Chimah leaping to 4.22m, and the women’s A 3,000m where Chelsea Spanoudakis ran 11:08.69. Spanoudakis was also second in the women’s A 1,500m (5:28.84), where she was matched in position by Charlotte Lam in the B String (6:03.18).
For the men wins came through Christer Hagberg in the A hammer (42.16m), Ed Charlesworth in the B 3000m steeplechase (13:09.85) and Charlie Eastaugh in the 800m (2:01.52).
Away from Portsmouth, some final events from the Surrey County Athletics Championships took place, the majority of which were held last weekend. Isabella Harrison dominated the U17 women’s 3,000m, winning by 38 seconds to clock 9:47.30. Rose Evans was fourth in the same race (10:57.66). Freia Harper-Tee, who last weekend took the U15 girls 1,500m crown was second over 3000m, running 10:30.71. Anna Wait was fourth in the same event (10:38.89), with Jessica Wood sixth (10:44.53).
Further bronze medals went to Alexander McGuigan (U20 men’s) in the 1m500m (4:06.86s) and Pancho Panchev in same age group’s 3m000m (9:02.18). In the later Noah Fernandez was fourth (9:09.52). A final bronze went to James Fraser in the U15 boys 3,000m, where he ran a speedy 9:36.50 to finish five seconds clear of fourth.
PICTURE: LISA THOMAS
