JERSEY Spartan Athletic Club won medals galore from the 100th Hampshire Track and Field Championships in Portsmouth.
Rising to the grandeur of the event’s centenary year, the hard work of the athletes paid off as they came home with an impressive set of results.
Competing against several other English athletics clubs at the Mountbatten Stadium, 42 medals were won by JSAC athletes, highlighted by 86 personal bests, two club records (to be officiated) and a new championship record.
A total of 56 athletes from U13 to senior level made their way over to the South East – the biggest team Spartans has ever assembled for the annual Championships – with ten coaches to provide support and guidance.
Conditions were mostly pleasant but at times windy meaning athletes had to work harder to achieve top times.
Rebecca Orpin, chairman of Spartan’s executive committee, expressed her pride at the squad’s achievements: “We’ve had the biggest team [go to Hampshire] which shows how healthy athletics is on the Island.
“Spartan’s athletes re improving year upon year and [these events] give more kids the opportunity to compete off-Island and inspires them to continue to compete in the future”.
Club records were achieved by two athletes, two on the track and one on field.
Daniel Dubras in the U17 men’s javelin threw 53.74metres [also a PB], while Florence Williams in the U13 girls 1500 metres, set a time of 4mins 53.32secs.
Williams’ time was not only a club record but the second gold she achieved over the weekend and a championship record for U13 girls 1500m.
As well as Williams, several other athletes performed impressively, achieving a medal in every event they competed in.
Orpin added: “The results were amazing. It was windy as well, which isn’t conducive to good times so athletes had to work harder and still they pumped out personal bests which was lovely.”
With the remainder of the athletics season still ahead, it was a great start for Jersey Spartan AC.
Winners in each event at Hampshire, those who came in gold and silver position, may also be invited to represent Hampshire at county level. Those selected will depend on age, event and ranking throughout the continuing season.
A full table of results from the weekend can be found on JSAC’s website, www.jerseyspartan.com.
