Liverpool youngsters too good for Premier rivals

Jun 5 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

IN the Young Athletes League Liverpool maintained their lead in the Premier Division with an easy victory over Blackpool, Hull and Wigan.

Phil Leggett and Ben Brown won the 1,500m, Daniel Murphy and Tom Williams the sprints and there was a high jump double for Sophie Bell-Morgan and Lydia Morley.

Liverpool were without Katrina Thompson, who contested and won the National and Northern under-20 heptathlon title, which included 917 points scored for her 24.67 in the 200.

Wirral AC almost upset the odds finishing only 38 points behind high-flying Sale Harriers at Bebington.

Tom Jones and Christian Brown took the 100m, Joe Jones and Harry Sutton the hurdles and 200m double while Rebecca Blackhall and Jenny Roberts were victorious in the high jump.

In the battle between Liverpool Pembroke Sefton and SouthportWaterloo it was the Ormskirk club who came out on top finishing third while the Sandgrounders trailed in fourth.

Andrew Sankey set a club record 51.1 for the 400m, Sally Wareing won the 75m, 150m and 800m while James Armstrong scored a sprint double.

LPS dominated the middle distances, David Forrester (800m/1,500m), Toby Loveridge (3,000m) and Chris Hesketh (Steeplechase) all scoring maximum points.

St Helens-Sutton gave their divisional status a boost by finishing third behind leaders Macclesfield and Warrington at Macclesfield, relegating Ribble Valley into fourth place.

There was a club record for Sam Fraser (9.51) in the shot putt, Chelsea Jarvis in the 1,200 (4.52.2), with the 4x300m team of Heather Drillingcourt, Jemma Shaw, Lauren Bradshaw and Natalie Garrity and 4x400m squad of Danny Hughes, Ryan Fahey, Jake Healy and David T Griffiths each setting new figures.

Saints’ David Forrester tackled the BMC Grand Prix at Sports City, finishing just three 10ths short of the 3.44 required for qualification for the World Junior Championships in Poland in July.

Vicky Griffiths defeated Jenny Meadows by 0.31 seconds over 800m.

John McCole was fourth in the 5,000m (14.21.52) while Michael Rimmer was a shade over 1.47 at Berlin.

This week’s League action is for seniors with LPS and SouthportWaterloo meeting again, this time at Wavertree, West Cheshire, Preston, Seaton and the combined Lancaster, Morecambe and Kendal team completing the line-up.

St Helens-Sutton and Wigan travel to Cleckheaton to meet Spenborough, Holmfirth, Blackpool and East Cheshire with the pole vault cancelled because of a faulty run-up.

Wirral are at Bebington against Leigh, Trafford, Stockport, Manx and Liverpool while Warrington travel to Macclesfield for the second week in succession meeting the host club, Manchester, Altrincham and Manx composition outfit Northern/Western AC.

Other events this weekend include the Grasmere Gallop and the Morecambe 10k.

Ron Scott has announced a Health and Safety course for all County officials on Wednesday, July 9 at Wavertree. All officials who have not received an invitation call Ron immediately.