Southend AC's fair sex are still in with a chance of promotion from Division Four East of the Southern Women's League after piling on the points in a home fixture at Garon Park.

The club finished on 237 - with nearest rivals Loughton on 183. In fourth place now in the table on 689, Southend could catch third-placed Tonbridge (706) with a good performance in their final fixture early in September.

The highlight of the afternoon, which started in heavy rain before fortunately turning to sunshine, came with the performance of Barnet high-jumper Denise Gale who, with a clearance of 1.73m, created a new ground record.

However, it was generally the skills of the home stars which had the crowds cheering and Sarah Raven summmed up the determination of the home camp by bravely rising from her sick bed to win the senior 800m in 2m.30.4s.

Leasa Williams, who competed in the pole vault at the English Schools' Champion-ships the previous weekend, won not only the A group of that event in 2.70, but showed her versatility by also capturing the B high jump (1.50m) and A triple jump (9.75).

Twin sister Kate was the B pole vault winner on 1.70 and the B long jump (4.19).

A section long jump winner was another all-rounder, Melanie Jacobs, who collected this event with 4.85m and went on to win the under-17 80m hurdles A in 12.7. Rachel Riley won the B in 15.5.

Sam Daly won the senior 1,500m in a personal best 5m.09.9s and B triple jump (9.38) while Sarah Mulins - "ring rusty" on her return from university - was the B 1,500 winner in 5.29.5. Marion Bullock collected the B hammer title. The senior women also won the 4 x 400m relay.

Collette Ager won the under-17 300m hurdles in 57.3s and there were a host of outstanding performances in the under-15s, where a number of athletes covered a host of events to great effect.

Kristina Marshall, who has concentrated on the 800 in recent weeks and is now just 0.4s away from a grade one, returned 5m.07.03 - a second outside her personal best despite having no real opposition - to win the A 1,500.

She did have a winning best-ever long jump of 4.47m and won the B 100m in 14.2s. She later teamed up with Zoe Young, Nikki Corless and Kendal Craymer for a 4 x 100m relay success.

All three of her relay partners made their mark. Zoe won the A javelin with a PB 23.16m throw and the A high jump with 1.25. She was second in the 200 A in 28.8s.

Kendal had a best ever high jump of 1.25m to take the B event and won the A 75m hurdles in 13.7s.

Nikki improved with each attempt in the long jump before settling on a personal best 4.12m for B second place. She won the B 800 in 2m.53.5 - the A having seen Sarah Jeffrey to second place in 2m.42.8.

Sarah was runner-up in the B discus with 13.40m, with newcomer Jackie Smith having personal bests in the A discus, where she was second in 15.91m, and B javelin, which she won with 21.85m.

Julie Warr doubled up for victory in the B 1,500 (5m.34.6) by winning the B 200m (30.6).

(Right) Poles apart - Southend's Leasa Williams left her vaulting rivals way behind

(Left) High-flier - Southend AC's Kendal Craymer (right) left her under-15 opponents trailing when winning the Southern Womens League A 75m hurdles in 13.7s.

Pictures: ROBIN WOOSEY

Basildon fourth at Kingston

Basildon AC were fourth on 159 points in their Southern Women's League division one match at Kingston - Havering and Mayesbrook winning on 199.

The new towners are currently 20th of the 25 competing clubs with 578 points.

No individual results were received from the club this week.

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