Southern Gold for Nicholas Atwell at Lee Valley

Herne Hill Harriers’ Nicolas Atwell clinched senior men’s gold at the South of England athletics championships, winning a final that included two team-mates. Atwell took 400m gold in 48.00, with Peter Phillips fifth and Isaac Ogunlade sixth at Lee Valley Athletics Centre.

This meeting also incorporated the Southern Under 20 championships and this competition yielded a further area gold medal for a Herne Hill athlete as Michaela Obijiaku was a clear winner of the U20 women’s shot put with 12.30m with all 4 of her valid throws being well in excess of her nearest rival. Michaela’s best mark of the season of 13.13m, her winning throw at the Surrey Championship last month ranks her 4th on the current UK U20 list and she could now be in line for an England junior international (U20) vest at the Welsh Athletics International meeting in Cardiff later this season.

There was also a senior men’s javelin silver medal for Gavin Johnson-Assoon who threw 67.21m, with Allandre Johnson finishing in sixth with a best throw of 59.22m, while a further two silver medals were won by U20 athletes Tayo Andrews (1.95m in the high jump) and Mackanaki Williams (11.03 in the 100m).

Harriers’ women also won two bronze medals, as Hannah Edwards ran 2.11.68 in the 800m and Stacey Ward was within seconds of the club 3000m record with 9.39.56.

Mike Cummings was seventh in the 1500m in 4.00.15 and Rushane Thomas eighth in the last (and also best quality) race of the day, the 110m hurdles, in 14.87. Simon Coombes was eighth in the 5000m in 15.37.17 and Billy Black was given eighth place in the U20 men’s 800m in 1.59 despite appearing to finish higher up the field.

There were also a high number of very good performances by HHH young athletes at the London Schools and Surrey Schools championships on Saturday.

On the road, Cathy Ansell was first woman in the Sri Chinmoy 10k in 37.03. Mel Edwards ran in the City of London Mile road race and clocked 5.52.91, before running around a second quicker in a later wave.

Matt Munro was on song as he placed third in the week-long Tour of Epsom races, finishing a cumulative 22 seconds behind the second place runner. The aptly-named Munro then chalked up his maiden race victory in the Midsummer Munro half-marathon in the Surrey Hills.