SPRINTER Joy Ogunleye marked her Colchester Harriers debut by claiming an impressive bronze medal at the South of England Indoor Athletics Championships, at Lee Valley.

Ogunleye, who has switched to the Green Vests from Colchester and Tendring Athletic Club, shone in her first outing as a under-20 age group athlete.

Competing in the 60 metres sprint, she set a new club record for the event.

After easing through her heat in 7.69 seconds, she then ran a hard semi-final in 7.67s before fighting hard for her third-place finish in the final in a truly exciting finish, after clocking 7.65s.

Ogunleye was one of a number of Harriers' under-20 track athletes who opened up their indoor season, in North London.

Notable performances were produced in a highly competitive and hard-fought weekend of high quality athletics.

The 60m sprint also saw a good performance from Harriers' Caitlin O’Reilly, who has overcome niggly injuries and interruptions to training to come away with a pleasing start to the season following a 7.94s timing.

The same can be said of Callum McKay, whose 7.19s in the 60m was a good marker to lay down for the start of the year.

Joe Wilkin gained a personal best (PB) in his first year as a under-23 athlete, after running in the Senior Men's 60m race.

He ran 7.43s whilst Toyin Olufemi, in her first year as a Harrier, ran 8.72s.

Rebecca Jeggo put in a good performance, reaching the under-20 women’s 200m final, with a best time for the day of 25.39s.

O’Reilly ran another fine race in the 200m, with a time of 26.72s and McKay’s 200m was another solid performance.

Thierry Ajala clocked 53.91s on his under-20 men’s debut, in the 400m.