Harriers shine in home meeting to secure two second-place finishes

WORTHING Harriers men and women’s teams both finished second in their home meetings in the Southern League on Saturday.

They finished only four points behind winners Luton, who scored 184 points, but ahead of both Chelmsford and Enfield & Haringey.

Harriers led at the halfway stage, but Luton put in strong performances in the final races of the day, the relays, to win the meeting.

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By far the most satisfied Worthing athlete was Craig Baker, who took first place in the men’s 110metre hurdles with a time of 15.8sec, the hammer, where he threw a distance of 44.82m, and the discus, won with a distance of 36.43.

Harriers again had a weakened team, with several of their first-choice athletes representing Sussex at the National Trials in Maidstone, but many of their B string competitors impressed.

Adam Stainsby won the 400m in 53.6sec, Scott Courtney won the high jump with a personal best 1.85m and Sarah Wells was second in the A string 1,500m, but was classified as the B string winner in 5mins 39.7sec.

Men’s team manager Alan Easey said: “We scored highly, it moves us up the table slightly. We had two strong teams, both A and B, and we’re pleased with the day.

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“Craig Baker performed well for us, it was a great team effort and second place for the boys and the team overall is pleasing. We had good support and it was a great day.”

The field events were a particular success for Harriers. In the women’s competition, Caroline Garratt won the triple jump, Jo Davison, returning after a two-match absence, took a B string first place in the hammer, and the consistently impressive Laura Duke secured maximum points with an excellent victory in the shot put.

Kayley Alcorn also shone for Worthing with first place in the high jump.

Simon Evans and Ed Pillai were also victorious in the shot and javelin respectively for the men to round-off an impressive showing in the field from Harriers.

For the full results, more reaction and pictures, pick up the Worthing/Shoreham or Littlehampton Gazette out now (August 3).

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