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UK Womens League
Division 1


Report by:Bryan Murray

9th July 2000 - Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow



Wakefield Harriers travelled to Glasgow for the second match in Division One of the UK Women's League - and came home with a super third place. The side produced a great team effort with each athlete contributing - and quite often, doubling up without adequate recovery.

The multi-eventers gained many valuable points, with Kerry Jury taking a break in the middle of the high jump competition - taking on Denise Lewis, named athlete of the day, in the 100m hurdles.

Sprinters Nicole Crosby and Emily Freeman performed well against top-class opposition, while Shirley Griffiths, Sharon Marshall and Alice Butler all competed strongly in the middle distance events.

Wakefield's star of the day was Penny Thackray, who quickly set off and established a 50m lead in her 5000m race, which she kept increasing to the end, despite being hampered by poor conditions, and a waterlogged inside lane, to claim a magnificent win.

Julie O'Mara, running for the club for the first time won the B race ahead of GB international Angela Joiner.

Conditions for the field events did the athletes no favours, with Suzanne Roberts finishing third behind Lorraine Shaw and Lynne Sprules, although she did beat rival Holden for the first time.

The pole vault took place in great controversy but Jenny Cunnane gave the club valuable points to add to their total.

Wakefield's ladies managed to finish third with 149.5 points at the event, giving them overall 3rd place in the league with 12 points - which has virtually guaranteed them a place in the league for next year, while also re-establishing them as Yorkshire's top women's athletic team.

Match results: 1st Sale Harriers 206 pts; 2nd Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers 204pts; 3rd Wakefield Harriers 149.5; 4th Windsor Slough and Eton 146.5pts; 5th Birchfield Harriers 145.5pts; 6th Aldershot and Farnham 131 pts; 7th Trafford AC 127 pts; 8th Glasgow 123.5pts.

Harriers individual results:

A events: 100m: Nicole Crosby 12.03 (3rd); 200m: Nicole Crosby 25.0 (4th); 400m: Alice Butler 60.39 (8th); 800m: Alice Butler 2:12.64 (3rd); 1500m: Shirley Griffiths 4:27.44 (2nd); 5000m: Penny Thackray 16:35.38 (1st); 100m hurdles: Kerry Jury 14.28 (5th); 400m: hurdles: Julia Sykes 66.25 (7th); discus: Sue Backhouse 42.24 (5th); hammer: Suzanne Roberts 52.67 (3rd); high jump: Kerry Jury 1.65 (equal 2nd); javelin: Rebecca Foster 38.64 (3rd); long jump: Fiona Westwood 5.59 (6th); shot putt: Kerry Jury 11.51 (5th); triple jump: Kelly Brow 10.54 (7th); 4x100m relay: Wakefield - Fiona Westwood, Emily Freeman, Kerry Jury, Nicole Crosby, 48.24 (4th); 4x400m relay: Wakefield - Nicole Crosby, Sarah Beevers, Kerry Jury, Alice Butler - 4:00.45.

B events: 100m: Emily Freeman 12.29 (4th); 200m: Emily Freeman 25.08 (4th); 400m: Sarah Beevers 62.41 (7th); 800m: Shirley Griffiths 2:13.04 (3rd); 1500m: Sharon Marshall 4:47.28 (3rd); 5000m: Julie O'Mara 17.19.66 (1st); 100m hurdles: Rebecca Foster 15.68 (4th); 400m hurdles: Sarah Beevers 66.52 (4th); discus: Amanda Shepherd 36.78m (3rd); hammer: Helen Taylor 42.93 (3rd); high jump: Rebecca Foster 1.45m (7th); javelin: Julia Sykes 27.80 (6th); long jump: Kelly Brow 4.61 (7th); shot putt: Amanda Shepherd 9.94 (6th); triple jump: Julia Sykes 8.80m (7th)