Southend Athletic Club, who gained promotion last season, won their first ever Southern Men's League division one match when they triumphed at Croydon.

There were no stars in the seasiders' line-up - just a superb team effort that ensured Southend made up for their disappointing display in the previous match at Basildon. They currently stand seventh.

Colin Miles produced a sparkling display by winning the A 1500 in 4mins.00.09secs in the A 800 in 1.57.6.

Graham Eastty, back at the club after a three-year break, won the B 400 in 51.7 and B 400 hurdles in 60s dead.

James South showed strength in depth on the field by winning the A shot (14.04m), A discus (44.97) and finished second in the A hammer (40.05).

Southend's three representatives in next weekend's English Schools Championships in Exeter all performed well. Under-17 Mitchell Wilkin took the long jump in 6.47, while Jason Fry collected the under-20 A pole vault with 4.20 and another representative from that age group, Greg Goodrem, leapt to A high jump honours with 1.90.

Three more firsts came from under-17 Richard Abrahams, (B high jump 1.80), Neil Scrivener, (B javelin 42.93) and Jamie Webb (B pole vault 3.70).

There were second spots for James Hinds (B 800 in 2.06.1), Goodrem (B 110 hurdles 17.7pb), Steve Brown (B long jump 5.68) Roy Scott (A 3000 steeplechase 10.5.4) and Mark Waine (B steeplechase 10.25.4).

The 4 x 400 relay team of Palmer, Hinds., Barry and Eastty won in 3.35.4 and there was a notable performance in the 5,000m from Jon Weaver, who, in finishing third in 16.16.4, shattered his personal best.

Southend's 127 total saw them seven points clear of nearest rivals Ashford.

Lara shines

Basildon Athletic Club's Lara Carty was in fine form as Essex produced some outstanding performances in the East Anglian regional final of the English Schools' Combined Events Championships.

Lara won the senior girls heptathlon at Rugby with clubmate Lindsay Nash finishing second in the junior girls pentathlon.

Young guns rescue Southend

Despite consistent performances from their spirited band of under-15s, who collected 101 of the 105 points available in their section, lack of numbers among older age groups cost Southend dear in their Southern Women's League division four east match at Peterborough.

Collecting victories and personal bests is all that team managers can ask for from their members and this double achievement at under-15s was managed by Zoe Young (javelin 20.80 and high jump 1.28), Julie Warr (javelin 11.36), Kristina Marshall (200m 28.2 and long jump 4.43), Sarah Jeffery (discus 12.92) and new recruit Kendall Craymer (100m 14.5 and 75 hurdles 14.3).

Zoe (100 in 13.9), Kristina (discus 18.46) and Kendall (high jump 1.20) completed a hat-trick of successes while there was a triple triumph for Nikki Corless (800 2.40.1, long jump 3.93 and shot 5.63). Nikita Aspinell took the 75 hurdles in 16.2. The under-15s also won the 4 x 100 relay in 57.5.

Among the older girls, the gallant band of four collected three firsts, six seconds, three thirds, and eight personal bests from Selina Fox (100 14.9pb, javelin 13.39 and long jump 4.30), Xena Hadjicostas (400 64.6, 200 29.5pb and shot 5.30pb), Melanie Jacobs (long jump 4.64 and high jump 1.55) plus new recruit Holly Harrison.

The latter had four personal bests in 100 (15.0), 200 (33.2), 400 (75.9) and shot (6.79).

The net result was second place on 154 - 22 behind the host club - and leaves the seasiders seventh and badly needing to pile on the points when they host their leg of the League at Garon Park in just over a fortnight.

Basildon's Southern comfort

Basildon's senior men enhanced their Southern Men's League division one standing by securing a brave second place behind hosts Herne Hill Harriers - a team that remained undefeated throughout last season.

The match was as tight as anyone can recall. After ten events only three points covered the first four teams.

At this point, however, Basildon and Herne Hill began to pull away from the others. Herne Hill finally gained just a two-point advantage over the new towners from the last three events to snatch victory by that tiny margin.

That leaves them in 13th position from the 25 competing clubs in the top division. James Tydeman, Greg Deacon and Andy Lingard each contested two middle distance events on the hottest day of the year so far.

They amassed 19 points from their efforts and kept the club in contention throughout.

The future of the club looks bright when noting the performances and efforts of Basildon's teenagers. In the pole vault two extremely talented 16-year-olds, Kit Branch and Brad Payne, gained two second places with 3.80 and 3.00 respectively.

Another 16-year-old, Karl Orford, won the B string high jump with 1.90m - a personal best - and then set back to admire the strength and technique of the supremely talented 18-year-old Darryl Stone.

Stone won the A high jump with a fine 2.14m which he has approached on a number of occasions this season. This qualifies Stone for the European Junior Championships.

Another double first came in the 400m hurdles in the speedy form of Steve Surety, fresh from his South of England success the previous week, and fast-improving Dan Glover. Steve went on to take the 400m flat for a fine double.

Mark Oldham won the B 800 and Matt Colton the 100m hurdles. Lingard added to his second spot in the 1,500 by winning the 3,000m steeplechase.

A very busy James Everard took second spots in the javelin and triple jump and scored a fine seven points in the long jump, discus, shot and hurdles.

Glover achieved a personal best 13.45m to take second in the A triple jump, while John Jordan was second in the 200 to add to third in the 100.

The final race saw Steve Surety, Mark Oldham, Glover and Paul Wakefield gain second spot in the 4 x 400m relay. The fourth match of the season is on July 2 at Ware - not Welwyn as originally planned.

Meanwhile, Basildon's fair sex athletes were third in the Southern Women's League Division One match at Guildford and are 21st of the 25 competing clubs overall.

On the track, internationals Kim Wall and Katie Flaherty both pulled off impressive sprint wins in the senior competition. Kim took the A 100 in 12.1, while Katie was first here in the B (12.8) and first in the 200 (26.5). Heidi Nicholas took the B 200 in 26.7.

Lauren Hartnett won the A 400 in 60.2, while Karen Goode triumphed in the B 800 in 2.22.6. New Town colleague Alexa Joel was third in the A 800 (2.18.7) and 400 B runner-up (62.0).

Basildon also won the 4 x 400m relay while, for the under-15s, Jayne Elmes won the shot putt (7.97) and R Bunce the javelin (28.69).

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