SAL division 1, Match 3, Finsbury Park
SAL Division 1 – Match 3 – Finsbury Park, 13.7.25
Simon Baker reports below on the third SAL of the season, and then this is followed by the women’s report by Lily Woolcock and the men’s report by Richard Macaulay and the Women’s report by Lily Woolcock (Team managers). The complete results are listed at the end.
Simon Baker reported: “ The third SAL Match of the season saw us return to Finsbury Park as TVH's track at Wormwood Scrubs is undertaking repairs. The Club took advantage of this being a "Home" meeting and there was a great turnout with a host of PB's. Whether that was due to the prospect of competing with the music of Wireless in the background is debatable.
Given TVH and Blackheath & Bromley are both National League Clubs, event wins were tough to secure however Hester Hill (SW HJ) and Wayne Morley (SM 3000mSC) both secured maximums. Despite competing on the Friday/Saturday at the ESAA Championships the team were boosted by Asia, Mikel, Montana and Elkie all contributing vital points. The Club's Track and Field section certainly looks healthy given the number of non-scorers we also had taking part. The only down point was both 4x100m relay teams being disqualified and issues with the Pole Vault Bed which led to some injuries.
The team finished in 3rd place on the day behind league leaders TVH and ICT who as our paired club don't count for league points so we were effectively 2nd and earn 4 points. With Bracknell, Blackheath & Bromley and Reading all in the relegation places we have now, ahead of the last match in Norwich on 30th August, guaranteed our place in Division 1 next season.
Thanks as always to Richard and Lily as Team Managers, all the athletes including Club Head Coach Mark who was down from Derby to compete. A special thank you for Andrew Salton who got up early to help set up the photo finish, Jerry who turned up to trackjudge with an injured leg and everyone who assisted the TVH team run the meeting.
That almost wraps up a busy season for the club with the track hosting 4 league meetings this season.”
WOMEN’S REPORT by Lily Woolcock
London Heathside's women produced another stellar all-round team performance in Match 3 of the SAL season at Finsbury Park. With strong representation across sprints, endurance, hurdles, and field events, the team collected valuable points throughout the day, with several standout individual efforts contributing to a solid team showing.
The sprint squad opened the afternoon in style. Asia Emanuel delivered a sharp run to take 2nd in the A string 100m in 12.6s, close to her 2025 PB of 12.56; while Samiyah Wilson matched the placing with 2nd in the B string in 13.2s, both scoring important early points. In the 200m, Noelle O'Regan returned to place 6th in the A race (27.9s), with Gaelle Elisha running 27.9s for 5th in the B, maintaining sprint coverage in a competitive field.
Over 400m, Rachel McDonald ran an impressive race to take 3rd in the A string in a PB of 60.1s, and Hester Hill backed up well with 2nd in the B in a PB of 61.3s, a strong pairing in the single-lap event. In the 800m, Anna Rawsthorne clocked 2:25.9 for 5th in the A string for her first every track race at Heathside, while Ruby Walls took 4th in the B race with 2:38.4, both battling hard in a fast field.
The 1500m produced one of the team's highlights: Lily Woolcock ran confidently to claim 2nd in the A string in 4:51.5, with Anna Rawsthorne doubling back to win the B race in 4:58.6 not long after her 800m, a vital haul of points from the middle-distance squad.
In the 3000m, Rebecca Piggott delivered a strong performance for 2nd in the A race in 10:22.6 just a second off her PB set in 2016, with Becca Walker securing 1st in the B in 11:06.6 in her SAL debut, completing a superb distance double for the team. In the 2000m steeplechase, Lila Blustin placed 3rd in the A in 7:59.3, while Lily Woolcock doubled back again for 3rd in the B in a very tired run after the 1500.
The hurdles were well covered, with Kyra Smith taking 2nd in the A string 400m hurdles in 73.2s, and Ely Angel Dasilva also taking 2nd in the B race in 76.0s. In the 100m hurdles, Bobbi Robinson placed 2nd in the B string in 36.9s, stepping up for vital points.
In the high jump, Hester Hill led the way with a strong 1.48m clearance to win the A string, with Kesia Adjei contributing 1.30m for 3rd in the B string, securing key points. Hill also competed in the pole vault, clearing 1.70m for 2nd in the A, continuing her impressive contribution as the team's resident multieventer for 2025.
In the long jump, Sian Adeyemi landed a PB of 4.60m for 3rd in the A, supported by Chileshe Gotch who jumped 4.37m for 2nd in the B. Adeyemi returned in the triple jump with 9.22m for 3rd in the A string, and Abigail Bereket followed with 9.04m for 4th in the B – solid performances in the horizontal jumps.
The throws saw several strong displays. Ivy Paitoo threw 8.01m for 2nd in the A string shot put, with Molly Harrison backing up well in the B string with 7.01m, also placing 2nd. In the discus, Elkie Baker threw a superb 40.81m for 2nd in the A, and Noelle O'Regan followed with 24.03m to win the B string.
Paitoo also competed in the hammer, throwing 24.02m for 4th in the A, with O'Regan again contributing in the B string with a winning 22.96m throw bettering her own club record set last week! In the javelin, Molly Harrison placed 4th in the A with a new PB of 21.99m, while Paitoo completed her day with 10.46m in the B string, finishing 6th.
From standout doubles to crucial points in the field and consistent relay efforts, the team continues to demonstrate commitment and cohesion across the board. With one fixture remaining, Heathside will look to continue this high standard competition into the final match of the season, finishing high up in division 1. COYH!
MEN’S REPORT by Richard Macaulay
There were some excellent performances from the men's team, especially given that we were facing last year's SAL champions, TVH (who have also won every one of their SAL fixtures so far this year). Our only A string winner was our new steeplechase superstar Wayne Morley (despite forgetting to do the water jump on the last lap and having to run back to do this) with a performance that puts him at number 4 V35 in the country. We came so close to do the double with Isaac Edwards coming a close second in the B race in his steeplechase debut.
Other impressive performances included an excellent 45.22m PB in the Javelin from Marcel Baczek, Montana Dennis's PB in the 110mH, winning the B race in 16.02 (after a 400m 53.99 PB earlier in the day, and all this the day after qualifying and running in the English Schools final), Chris Gracie's 2:00.85 800m debut, and Ben Hampshire's 2:02 & 4:08 800 & 1500 double on his Heathside SAL debut. Carlos Mingoes also won the 100m B race in 11.11 despite a -2.2 headwind. PB efforts were also secured by Mu'izz Ottun in the 200m (23.14, 2nd in the B race), Barry Kelly in the 3000 (8:54, 3rd in the A race), and Will de Cothi (4:08, 2nd in the A race).
Massive kudos to Thomas Wasserman who managed 3 (yes, THREE) PBs in the 110mH, 400mH, and Hammer (as well as competing in the Pole Vault). Ivan Ross also did a great job of helping the team competing in the HJ, PV, 400mH, and Javelin. It was great seeing Mark Lawrence back in London and competing in the team, doing the TJ, LJ and shot.
Massive thanks as always to the team of volunteers who help make these events happen! This includes Emily Targett timekeeping, Jerry on track judge duties and our field team of Tony Killilea, John Flahive, Justin F., and Wayne Morley. Thank you.
Our final SAL fixture this season will be a trip to Norwich on the 30th August - a luxury coach/party bus will be provided. COYH!!!
RESULTS
Team Score
1 Thames Valley Harriers 327 pts
2 Ipswich and Colchester & Tendring 262 pts
3 London Heathside 246 pts
4= Blackheath & Bromley 176 pts
4= Bracknell 176 pts
6 Reading 172 pts
Men
100m
Leon SEALE (U23) 11.40 A 4th
Carlos MINGOES 11.11 B 1st
Mikel ALEXANDER (U17) 11.54 ns
Taha ABDULLAH 12.59 ns
Mu'izz OTTUN NT ns
Neo FUJIWARA 11.1 ns PB
Toby TOTH-STEVENS 11.9 ns
Zain MITHA 11.73 ns PB
Alex DANIEL 11.78 ns PB
Logan CUMMINGS (U17) 12.05 ns PB
200m
Mikel ALEXANDER (U17) 23.32 A 5th
Mu'Izz OTTUN 23.14 B 2nd PB
Neo FUJIWARA 23.21 ns
Zain MITHA 24.77 ns PB
Taha Abdullah 25.09 ns
Alex DANIEL 25.02 ns PB
Michael OLANTUNJ 25.63 ns
Jordan GOBHO (U20) 24.35 ns
Logan CUMMINGS (U17) 24.85 ns PB
400m
Mikel ALEXANDER (U17) 51.7 A 5th PB
Marc MULLEN (V40) 56.35 B 5th
Montana DENNIS (U20) 53.99 ns PB
Jordan GOBHO (U20) 59.85 ns
800m
Christopher GRACIE 2:00.85 A 4th PB
Ben HAMPSHIRE 2:02.94 B 3rd
Arthur REED (U23) 2:02.67 ns PB
Richard MACAULAY 2:03.60 ns
Artie FEENY-WILLINGS (U20) 2:28.79 ns
1500m
William DECOTHI 4:08.96 A 2nd
Jake EVANS U23 4:17.25 B 2nd
Ben HAMPSHIRE 4:08.66 ns
Etienne DARIES 4:34.96 ns PB
3000m
Barry KELLY 8:54.85 A 3rd PB
Tsegay BERHANE 9:21.24 B 3rd PB
110mH
Thomas WASSERMAN (U20) 17.17 A 3rd PB
Montana DENNIS (U20) 16.02 B 1st PB
400mH
Thomas WASSERMANN (U20) 59.58 A 4th PB
Ivan ROSS (V50) 73.16 B 5th
3000m Steeplechase
Wayne MORLEY 10:35.05 A 1st PB
Isaac EDWARDS 11:11.03 B 2nd PB
High Jump
Ivan ROSS (V50) 1.40m A 6th
Long Jump
Mark LAWRENCE (V50) 5.49m A 6th
Taha ABDULLAH (U23) 4.74m B 5th
Michael OLANTUNJ 5.77m ns
Mihaly JELES 5.20m ns PB
Triple Jump
Neo FUJIWARA 12.25m A 4th
Mark LAWRENCE (V50) 11.45m B 3rd
Shot Putt
Stephen BOOTH (V50) 8.95m A 6th
Mark LAWRENCE (V50) 8.38m B 3rd
Discus
Stephen BOOTH (V50) 30.71m A 5th
Robin HARDY (V60) 23.71m B 4th
Hammer
Thomas Wassermann (U20) 27.47m A 4th PB
Robin HARDY (V60) 17.18m B 4th
Javelin
Marcel BACZEK (U20) 45.22m A 2nd PB
Mihaly JELES 30.70m ns PB
Men's 4x100m
London Heathside DQ
Men's 4x400m
5th London Heathside SM 3:46.4
Women
100m
Asia EMANUEL (U20) 12.56 A 2nd PB
Samiyah WILSON (U17) 13.18 B 2nd
Cara BROWN 14.03 ns
Lizzie MUSA 13.48 ns
Claris LAWRENCE (U17) 13.65 ns
Chileshe GOTCH (U17) 14.03 ns
Abigail BEREKET (U17) 14.40 ns
Kesia ADEJI (U17) 14.50 ns PB
200m
Noelle O'REGAN 27.87 A 6th
Gaelle ELISHA 29.14 B 5th
Lizzie MUSA 27.70 ns
Rebecca QUIRKE 30.62 ns
400m
Rachel MCDONALD 60.11 A 3rd PB
Hester HILL 61.32 B 2nd PB
Noelle O'REGAN 64.35 ns
Rebecca QUIRKE 67.91 ns
800m
Anna RAWSTHORNE 2:25.93 A 5th PB
Ruby WALLS (U20) 2:38.38 A 4th
1500m
Lily WOOLCOCK 4:51.53 A 2nd
Anna RAWSTHORNE 4:58.55 B 1st PB
Rosa CORMACAIN (U17) 5:10.04 ns
3000m
Rebecca PIGGOTT 10:22.63 A 2nd
Rebecca WALKER 11:06.55 B 1st PB
Emily GOESSIER 11:04.60 ns
100mH
Kyra SMITH (U17) DQ A
Bobbi ROBINSON (U17) 36.96 B 2nd PB
400mH
Kyra SMITH (U17) 73.17 A 2nd
2000m Steeplechase
Lila BLUSTIN (U17) 7:59.34 A 3rd PB
Lily WOOLCOCK 8:09.69 B 3rd
High Jump
Hester HILL 1.48m A 1st
Kesia ADJEI (U17) 1.30m B 3rd PB
Claris LAWRENCE (U17) 1.35m ns PB
Pole Vault
Hester HILL 1.70m A 2nd
Long Jump
Sian ADEYEMI 4.60m A 3rd PB
Chileshe GOTCH (U17) 4.37m B 2nd PB
Bobbi ROBINSON (U17) 3.50m ns PB
Triple Jump
Sian ADEYEMI 9.22m A 3rd
Abigail BEREKET (U17) 9.04m B 4th
Shot Putt
Ivy PAITOO (U17) 8.01m A 2nd
Molly HARRISON 7.01m B 2nd PB
Discus
Elkie BAKER (U17) 40.81m A 2nd
Noelle O'REGAN 24.03m B 1st
Hammer
Ivy PAITOO (U17) 24.02m A 4th PB
Noelle O'REGAN 22.96m B 1st
Javelin
Molly HARRISON 21.99m A 4th PB
Ivy PAITOO (U17) 10.46m B 6th PB
4x100m
London Heathside SW DQ
4x400m
London Heathside SW 4:34.58 A 5th
Compiled by Caroline White, with thanks to Simon Baker, Richard Macaulary and Lily Woolcock for reports and Lenny Martin for the photos.
