Long jump specialist Mitchell Wilkin was the star of the Southend Athletic Club squad who made the short journey to Basildon for a Bank Holiday warm-up meeting.

For many it was a pointless exercise as the cold strong wind made it difficult for runners to put together any kind of early season performance in the middle distance track affairs.

Life was somewhat better for sprinters and jumpers who, in many cases, found the following wind to their distinct advantage.

Wilkin effectively closed the under-17 long jump competition with his second effort of the day, a 6m.55 personal best. Last season he held the club's age 14 club record and he needs only eight centimeters now to take the best mark at age 15.

New find David Mott ran blistering races to start his 2001 season with two best ever performances - clocking 11.9 for 100m and 24.5 for 200.

Another sprinter entitled to be pleased with her efforts was Suzanne Joad at under-15 level. She had a personal best at 200m (clocking seventh-tenths of a second off her previous with 27.8) after equalling her top 100 time of 13.8.

In the middle distances the only competitors to run pb's were relative newcomers either to the club or event with Sam Daly setting a 5m.21.9 1500m mark at under-17 level and Julie Warr 2m.47.6 at under-15 800.

Newcomers in the girls' under-13 age group have set themselves some targets to gun for throughout the forthcoming season.

Natasha Bailey (2m55), Natalie Clarke (3.10.0), Maria Norton (3.14) and Jessica Hosten (3.23.1) all competed at 800 level with Maria (16.3) and Jessica (16.4) doubling-up in the 100.

Alice Milne had personal bests, 15.0 and 31.5, at 100 and 200 respectively, while Taylor Webb ran the 100 in a best yet 15.5.

(Right) Leaping to fame - a new personal best for Southend long jump star Mitchell Wilkin.

(Left) Over she goes - a competitor strains to clear the bar in the high jump

Pictures: MAXINE CLARKE

By Dick Marshall

Reporter's e-mail: dick.marshall@notes.newsquest.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.