National League clubs in battle for promotion

Shaftesbury Barnet, Tonbridge, Swansea and Trafford enjoy wins in the Championship on June 22

The Premiership sits this round out as the remaining 24 clubs battled to decide who will proceed to the knock-out at the end of the season and see who advances to the top flight.

NATIONAL ATHLETICS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP EAST, round 2, Hendon, June 22

Shaftesbury Barnet were hoping that home advantage at the Stonex Stadium would enable to them to again come out on top and it proved to be the case.

However, after four events Havering led marginally thanks to fourth ranked under-17 Alicia Fairmaner taking the opening event, the women’s long jump. Shaftesbury were close but Herts Phoenix were well ahead of the rest as Edward Laws and Louise Grenfell both won over the low hurdles, albeit in modest times.

The hosts had assumed the lead after 15 events had been declared and led Herts Phoenix by sixty points with Havering and Chelmsford not too far adrift.

Shaftesbury had Sam Wiggins win a tight men’s 800m, in 1:54.42 over Havering’s 15-year-old Findlay McLaren’s personal best 1:54.81. Then junior Mya Mairs-Ingram made it a double by winning the women’s event in 2:12.20, just squeezing out Havering’s Gemma Kersey.

Herne Hill finished last in the opening match but here drafted in under-17 Emma Rennie, who then won the women’s 100m in 12.23.

Newham & Essex Beagles also got in on the winning act as Emma Nwofor won the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.86 before Robert Crowley and Charley Brisley were first and second in a tight 1500m.

However, their club were still trailing in last overall in the tables, despite Shemar Boldizsar taking advantage of a 1.8m/sec wind to win the men’s 200m in 21.17.

Havering were third last time and Matthew Agnimel win the 400m in 47.86 as Herts Phoenix’ Lauren Rule added the women’s with 54.31, before Jodie Judd won the women’s 1500m in 4:40:63.

The hosts’ Ethan Walsh won the pole vault and Paul Ogun the men’s long jump in a tight competition with 7.14m, before Alexander Baltazar-Hall added the women’s discus with 49.02m.

As the afternoon wore on Shaftesbury continued to pile up the points as banker Greg Thompson led a double in the men’s discus with a best of 54.01m, before later still adding the shot with 14.84m.

Fourth ranked Akin Howard then won the high jump at 2.12m for Shaftesbury and fourth ranked under 17 Tami George the women’s 200m in 24.77 against a modest breeze.

As in the first match, Newham were down…