Hercules Wimbledon AC: Cowan and Weir help seal victory in Southern Athletics League opener

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 Sunday, writes Sheila White.

Dwayne Cowan and Ellen Weir, two of the club’s international athletes, were in action in the blazing sunshine.

Cowan, a 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 coach Devonte Casely-Hayford, who was second in the 100m in 11.8 and first in the 200m in 23.5 for the B team.

Weir, who at just 18 has already represented both GB and England on the track, road and cross country, had a busy afternoon in the women’s match. She clocked a PB of 6:49.3 in winning the 2,000m steeplechase.

Weir 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.

U17 sprinter Josh Martin had an excellent debut in the high jump, clearing 1.75m to equal the winning height but finished second based on previous attempts.

U20 Albane Fery was the clear winner in the 3,000m in 10:42.7 and Lulu Weisz, also U20, ensured maximum points in the 2,000m steeplechase to win 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 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.

Mark Andrews, another coach, 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.

Richard Jones and Simon Wade also secured maximum points in the men’s steeplechase. The 4x 400m team rounded off the meeting with another relay win