A RECORD turnout of 95 young athletes helped home team City of Salisbury to secure a big win in an inter-club match against Swindon, Bournemouth, Poole, New Forest and Andover in the Wessex league at the Five Rivers track.

The star of the day was Abi Burn, pictured, who won the under 13 girls 1200m in 3min 57sec, over thirty seconds ahead of the next competitor, smashing her own club record by over seven seconds.

Abi is virtually unbeaten during the past two years. She also holds the club under 13 1500m record as well as being county 1500m champion, county schools 800m and 1500m champion and county cross country champion. For good measure, Abi also won the under 13s discus on Sunday with a throw of 14.43 metres.

Other great performances were a speedy 70m under 13 hurdles by Isobel Viant in 11.8sec; a long jump win for under 13 Iso Norris with 4.26m; a shot put win for under 13 Molly Hole with 7.26m, and a B-string win by Ellie Ringwood in 5.69m. Molly also won the under 13 javelin. Among the under 17s, Alice Smith won both the 200m and the 300m.

Highlights from the boys were: Thomas Newton won the under 13 75m hurdles in 14.10sec; Ethan Ness the under 13 shot with 6.72m; Jonny Batchelor won the under 15s 300m and new boy Alex d’Arbost ran a speedy 4min 38sec in the under 15s 1500m. Dan Pereira took victory in the under 15s 80m hurdles with 12.60m; debutant Mark Jenson won the under 15 high jump with 1.55m and Jacob Collins the under 15 shot with 11.29m.

In the under 20s, Gio Downie was a class apart in the 1500m with a 4min 16sec win and Paddy Creese dominated the long jump, javelin and high jump.

  • At the Giant’s Head hilly off-road marathon in Dorset, Phil Smith ran well to clock 4hours 14min 29sec. Craig Murphy was also well up with 5.04.44, then came Liz Roberts and Melanie Murphy who finished in 5.19, and Andy Robbins clocked 68min in the half marathon.