Exeter Harriers statred their 2007 season with a blistering performance at Mayesbrook Arena in East London.

They won by a massive margin of 19 points: Exeter Harriers 134, Havering Mayesbrook AC 115, Chelmsford AC 106, Serpentine RC 95 & Newham & Essex Beagles 64.

 

8 of the 19 Exeter athletes were teenagers (average age 17) and they accumulated 47 points (out of the team's total of 134) competing in 12 individual events. These youngsters have responded brilliantly to the chalenge of being in the senior team - all have come up through the Harriers coaching system. Notable performances were: Neil Broadbent (18) taking 13 seconds of his personal best coming 2nd in in his 1500m B race in a time of 4mins 13.5 secs,  Phil Almond (17) winning (for the first time) the 1500m A race in a time of 4 mins 4.0 secs being very tactically astute and moving comfortably past the rest of the field in the last lap, Owen Walpole (16) winning his 800m B race in 1 min 59.4 secs & Matt Parsley (17) winning the 400m hurdles B in 57.9 secs bursting clear with about 30 metres to the finish.

 

Of course the senior men all turned in very strong performances in all the track & field events. Notable performances were: Lee Salter 1st in the 400m hurdles A in 57.0 secs, Nick Foxworthy 1st in the high jump B with a jump of 1.76 metres, Jon Milum 1st in the hammer A with throw of 46.35 metres & 1st in the discus B with a throw of 37.28 metres, Rob Woodger 1st in the hammer (B) with a throw of 36.0 metres & Dave Dawson 1st in the shot A with a throw of 14.33 metres . Almost predictably the 400m relay squad won again very convincingly in a time of 3 mins 23.3 secs. Ian Allen nursing a back injury managed 6.28 metres in the long jump competing at a moments notice because the A stream jumper sustained an injury warming up - it happens!! Matt Smith (16) sustained an injury with his first throw in the javelin but carried on and came second with a throw of 51.97 metres - it was brave effort and I am confident he will throw over 60 metres this season.

 

"I thought all the individual efforts and the way the whole team supported, and encouraged, each other was fantastic. They are a very strong team and will do very well throughout the season."

 

Attached are 3 photos: The twosome Matt Parsley & Owen Walpole, the small group - the 8 teenagers and the large group is the whole team that competed on Saturday.

 

Maurice Ault, Team Manager