Blackheath & Bromley Harriers enjoy opening National Athletic League meeting

BY PAUL HALFORD

Blackheath & Bromley Harriers’ athletes enjoyed a tremendous opening fixture in the new National Athletics League last Sunday as they placed second on home turf.

Although the Norman Park-based club finished behind Thames Valley Harriers, they placed ahead of Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow and Southampton as they put together a quality set of performances.

Shot-putter Nana Gyedu, who was already the top junior in the UK this year, went over 15 metres for the first time when she threw 15.03m for second place. The performance is a qualifying mark for the European U20 Championships in Tallinn next month and she will be looking to confirm her spot on the team at the trials the weekend after next.

Also in the form of his life was Sam Reardon, who won both the 400m and 800m in personal best times. His time of 47.62 in taking the shorter event put him within 0.12 seconds of the time needed for Tallinn, while his 1:50.87 was a revision by nearly two seconds. “It’s one of the best days of my life,” he said.

Also taking nearly two seconds off her best over two laps was team captain Niamh Bridson-Hubbard, who led by example with victory in the 800m (2:08.77). She also won the 3,000m in 9:56.02.

Similarly, javelin thrower Lauren Farley made a big advance, adding more than two metres to her personal best and climbing to second on the UK under-23 rankings for 2021 with 50.20m for victory.

Another win for the home club fell to Anastasia Davies in the 100m hurdles as she set a personal best of 13.38. “I love racing at Norman Park,” she said afterwards. Hannah Macaulay was another winner for B&B, throwing 42.22m in the discus.

As the young of B&B were showing the future is in good hands, it would have been a pleasing sight for John and Margaret Baldwin, past presidents of the club, who were looking on. It was fitting they were among the spectators on the first day of the new league. They were also competing at the inaugural matches of the British Athletics League and UK Women’s League, the NAL’s predecessors, in 1969 and 1975 respectively.