Report: Vicki Robinson
After the 3rd match of the Northern League, Stockport's senior track and field team look almost guaranteed of promotion to Division 2 next season.
On a hot and sunny Sunday afternoon the team returned to Bebbington, and once again placed second to St. Helens Sutton AC.
In the women's team, Carla Stansfield once again achieved a personal best in the 400 metres hurdles with 73.3 seconds in 2nd place. Sprinter Kelly Blackman was in scintillating form, equalling her personal best in the 100 metres with 13.0 seconds, and smashing her 200 metres best with 26.1 seconds, placing 2nd in both events.
Claire McMurdoch found nobody able to challenge her in the 800 metres, and won easily in 2-18 minutes, while training partner Sarah Kaye stepped down in distance to win the B-event in personal best of 2-32 minutes. Sarah's twin sister Leah was also rewarded with a personal best, this time in the 1,500 metres, which she won in 4-52 minutes, with Carla Stansfield further lowering her best to 5-03 minutes. Hopefully Carla's next race will see her dip under the 5 minute barrier.
On the track for the men Ben Styles and Marc Mullin-Browne were both victorious in the one lap sprint, with Marc running a personal best of 51.2 minutes.
Bashir Hussain had a very busy afternoon competing in 3 track events. His best performance coming in the 1,500 metres where he recorded 4-03 minutes to place 2nd on the British M40 rankings for 2006.
In the 200 metres young Rory Evans flew round in a personal best of 22.8 seconds to win the A-race.
In the field Marie Cosgrove recorded personal bests in both the discus and Javelin with 16.99 metres and 14.70 metres respectively, while Hayley Dugan took her usual victory in the shot putt with 9.90 metres.
Charlie Hesketh took victory in the long jump, winning by half a metre with 4.99 metres, despite carrying a foot injury, her brother Chris Hesketh showed a promising return to the triple jump, placing 3rd with 11.59 metres, with Scott Boothby only 6cm behind winning the B-event.
The team ended the day brilliantly, placing 1st in all 4 relays.
Next Sunday sees the team contesting the Northern Inter Club Champs at Cleckheaton. The final match in the North of England League is on Sunday August 6th at Warrington. Anybody interested in competing should see Alison Hesketh or Dean Loxam.
Caffeine research questionnaire
Nick Wojek, a postgraduate student at Liverpool John Moores University is conducting research into the use of caffeine in sport and would like help from athletes of any standard, details below.
In January 2004, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed caffeine from its Prohibited List and placed it onto a Monitoring Programme. Under this programme, athletes can consume caffeine without restriction and without the possibility of a ban. The research team at Liverpool John Moores University would be most grateful if you could take five to ten minutes to answer our online questionnaire about caffeine consumption amongst athletes by following the website link below: