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YDL UAG Walton

Thank you to all those who attended this weekend’s final YDL match at home. As suggested on my competing invitations, summer holidays did severely impact the numbers of athletes attending over all of the teams. Team Highgate attended with three athletes. The events were subjected to high winds which also contributed to a downward trend in the weather throughout the day, culminating in heavy rain
As ever, Jacob Thomas kicked off WAC proceedings with his continuing battle with six metres plus in the Long Jump. Inevitably, Jacob (U20) secured top spot for Walton at 5.83m.
WAC’s multi-eventer (U17) Tobi Aderoju was next up, in the women’s Shot with a massive 9.44m  PB throw, and if that was not enough, the distance also secured another top spot for Walton. As ever, Tobi added further points to the club’s tally later in the day by throwing a 17.41 Discus, taking second spot; finally she ran a speedy 14.7 seconds in the 100m.
The match saw the competitive debut of Toby Dickenson with a win in Hammer over 29.88m and second spot in the Discus with 13.94. It was a great way to open his competitive account.
In both the men’s and women’s 100m, WAC has some great sprinters. In the U20s, Jacob competed, equalling his 11.3 PB in second spot. In the U17s Oliver Brown sped to a 11.7 finish despite reporting some muscle concerns
The emerging stream of U17 women continued into another match with the 100m. In addition to Tobi already featured above, Lily Francis stormed over the finish line securing a great 13.4 as her first competitive time. During her race, Gabrielle Wapshott lost her footing slightly, but still managed a respectable 14.9. I understand from Gabrielle’s mum that the family will be moving out of the area soon, so I would like to wish Gabrielle all the best in her athletic endeavours elsewhere in the country.
In the 400m field, Walton had two U17s Matthew Mckenna and Lewis Bainbridge. Matthew secured top spot in the ‘A String’ with 53.2 and Lewis did the same in the ‘B String’ with 60.2.
Next up for Walton was Alfie Pike with second spot and yet another new PB of 10:22.8 in the 3000m event.
At the last moment, Oliver Brown put his hat in the ring for the triple jump, and leapt to a various impressive 11.80, securing second place.
The event timetable then moved onto the U17s 200m. Oliver Brown sealed an ‘A String’ third place with a 24.20 run. Mason Lynch had a great debut at the last YDL, and continued that form by securing top spot in the ‘B String’ with 25.70.  In the women’s U17s, Gabrielle carried the Walton banner with third spot and a time of 31.60.
Walton fielded three U17 men in the 800m. Matthew Mckenna seems to specialise in thrilling finishes and did not disappoint again as he fended off a challenger to secure ‘A String’ top spot with 02:01.10. Lewis Bainbridge delivered top spot in the ‘B String’ with 02:27.50. Callum Campbell-Curd as the club’s non-scorer ran an impressive 2:25.
To finish the day of with a bang the U17s 4x100m (Tobi, Mia-Louise Howard, Gabrielle and Lily) relay team sped home in top spot with an excellent PB of 57 seconds.
In respect of helpers at the event, I wanted to say a huge thank you to Robert, the Mace Family, David Moles, Marie Marks and the unexpected addition of Toby Dickenson.