Top class field as Witton hosts meet (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Top class field as Witton hosts meet

5:33pm Friday 5th June 2009

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There will be first class track and field athletics on view at Witton Park this Saturday when Blackburn Harriers host a Northern Senior League Premier Division meeting.

The Harriers were just edged into second spot in the opening meeting at Manchester by the hosts on that day, the redoubtable Sale Harriers who hold a place in Division One of the British Athletics League. On that occasion they did not have the services of a number of their stars who were involved in the British Universities Championships. This time they will be virtually at full strength and looking to do one better.

In the opening field event, the ladies hammer, Sophie Hitchon should notch a home win and possibly improve on her own UK and Commonwealth records. Simultaneously Holly Bleasdale could get near to the four metres mark in the pole vault. Four metres is about twice the height of an ordinary living room door and such a clearance is an impressive sight to see. Another likely lady winner for the hosts is Sarah Henton who is North of England Discus Champion.

On the track, national junior 800 metres champion Alison Leonard, who was fourth in the World Junior Championships, steps down to the 400 metres and will run the anchor leg in the 4x400m relay. She should feature prominently in both races. Lancashire 1500m and 3000m champion, Charlotte Atkinson is still in the under-17 bracket but will hold her own among the seniors on Saturday.

The men’s team will be equally star-studded. Paul Bradshaw, British Universities 800m champion, will be looking for a win and a good time.

Luke Evans, Lancashire 100 and 200m champion, has personal bests of 10.8 and 21.8 seconds in the sprints. He is the best sprint prospect seen in this area for some time and will also take a leg in the short relay. Ben Fish will lead a strong middle distance section and club captain Claude Peter-Thomas will do his usual round of sprints, hurdles and field events.

This is by no means a complete list of Blackburn prospects. I apologise to those I have omitted but will be there to shout for them on Saturday. I hope that other local enthusiasts will join me and we will enjoy a cracking afternoon of super track and field with Sale Harriers, Trafford AC, Leeds City, Wakefield, York and Blackpool providing classy opposition for the home squad.

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