ATHLETES from Hercules Wimbledon Athletic Club laid down a marker in the Southern Athletics League with a win in the first meeting of their five-match series at Uxbridge on May 22.

Two of the club’s international athletes, Dwayne Cowan and Ellen Weir, were in action in the blazing sunshine. Cowan, GB bronze medallist in the 4x400m at the 2017 World Championships, cruised to victory in the shorter sprints, clocking 10.9 for the 100m and 21.9 for the 200m, ably backed up by Hercules Wimbledon coach Devonte Casely-Hayford, who was second in the 100m in 11.8 and and first in the 200m in 23.5 for the B team.

In the women's match, Ellen Weir, who at just eighteen has already represented both GB and England on the track, road and cross country, had a busy afternoon, clocking a PB of 6:49.3 for the 2,000m steeplechase to win the race. She also took the 1,500m in 4:40.5 - with Over-45 veteran Gina Galbraith taking the B-string win in 5:02.3 – before helping the 4x400m relay team to victory.

Many more of the Club’s Under-20 and Under-17 athletes scored valuable points for the team, notably Under-17 sprinter Josh Martin, who had an excellent debut in the high jump, clearing 1.75m, to equal the winning height but finish second based on previous attempts. Under-20 Albane Fery was the clear winner in the 3,000m in 10:42.7, and Lulu Weisz, also Under-20, ensured maximum points in the 2,000m steeplechase, winning the B-string in 7:55.7 after stepping outside her comfort zone to contribute valuable points in the A-string 200m and high jump.

Covering every event is key to success in these matches, and the contribution of the club’s multi-eventers was crucial. Heather Jones was third in the 100m hurdles and second for the B-string in the 400m hurdles, as well as finishing second for the A-string in the hammer, second for the B-string in the high jump and triple jump, and third in the B-string discus.

In the men’s match Over-45 veteran Christer Hagberg secured maximum points in the A-string shot (12.39m), discus (39.32m) and hammer (43.89m), as well as first place in the B-string javelin with a throw of 37.44m, while another Hercules Wimbledon coach, Mark Andrews, would have completed a decathlon over the course of the afternoon had there been a pole vault competition in the match. He won the 110m hurdles, finished third in the 400m hurdles and was first in the triple jump, second in the javelin and fourth in the long jump. For the B-string he was also first in the discus and high jump, second in the shot and fourth in the hammer.

Between them Richard Jones and Simon Wade also secured maximum points in the men’s steeplechase, while the 4x400m team rounded off the meeting with another relay win.

"We saw some great results and everyone really pulled together with lots of athletes doing multiple events, including some that were not their speciality. A big team win for the club," said team manager Keith Scofield. ‘Roll on the next match at the David Weir Centre, Carshalton on June 12."