Belgrave seal second in NAL round two with strong Belles showing
Belgrave improved on their performance in the first National League match by finishing second with their combined men and women's score, in the second NAL round at Crawley.
The team placing was largely due to an excellent performance by the women, who headed the five other sides. The Belgrave men, who were missing many of their stronger athletes, could only manage fifth on the day.
Noah Ridgeon awaits the baton
Credit: ac_phots
Erin McBride and Neva Jansen excelled in the discus, while Erin and Mia Callenberg scored well in the hammer. Mia and Simonetta Ifeji also performed strongly in the triple jump.
Out on track, co-captain Orna McGinley and Leonora Lynn finished second and fourth in the 3000m, both securing personal bests. Natasha Smith and Bryony Wilson contributed a healthy amount of points in the 800m - both finishing second in their respective heats - while Emily Goff and Zoe MacDonald ran well in the 1500m, finishing third and fourth respectively. The women took silver in both relay events.
Leonora Lynn ran well in the 3000m
Credit: ac_phots
Of the men, co-captain Mike Burslem and Peter Wild chipped in with 18 points towards the team total in the 400mh, while the boys took silver in the 4X100m and bronze in the 4X400m.
If the team can maintain second position after the third match at Kingsmeadow on July 7, it will earn a place in the Championship playoff match at Bedford on August 4. The top two teams at Bedford will be promoted to the Premiership for next season.
For both these matches, Belgrave will need their strongest athletes if they are to have any chance of promotion.
Rosenheim defence is underway
Belgrave are current champions of the Rosenheim League, a local track and field competition that takes place over several rounds in the summer.
Our title defence is going well so far. The men finished top in both fixtures, while after being narrowly edged into second in the first round, the women dominated the second in Tooting.
There remains one East Division match left on July 17, again at Tooting, before the finalwith the West Division at Kingsmeadow on August 14.