Newport Harriers 
BAL Plate Final

  BAL Plate Final 10th September, Derby

Newport conclude track & field season with national trophy

Newport Harriers sat at the top table of club athletics when they contested the finals of the BAL Cup. It was three appearances in a row for the men while the women were in the Super8 Plate Final for the first time. The day concluded with Newport winning the trophy for the Most Improved Team.

Newport Men – Tyrone Fowler toughs it out

Despite being Newport’s 7th ranked pole vaulter Tyrone Fowler was required for A string duty, but met the challenge when his 1.20m clearance was enough to beat Luton on count back. Tyrone then switched to track in a high quality 3000m, but suffering in the autumnal heat he dropped to 6th place with 250 metres to go. The gap appeared to open around the final bend but Tyrone drew on all of his energy reserves for a determined sprint finish to beat Brighton before collapsing over the finishing line. Thankfully our very own ‘tough of the track’ recovered and his effort was a tonic for the rest of the team.

Best placing of the day for Newport’s men came courtesy of Tom Morgan who was 2nd in the javelin, to go with his 4th place in the high jump. Cory Ruiz is one of this season’s new signings and proved invaluable with PBs in the discus and triple jump. Ben McEwan ran close to his best in the 110m hurdles, while brother Carl McEwan (400m) and Lemarl Freckleton (100m) were our two top track placings in the men’s competition in 3rd place. Emrys Penny would no doubt have finished near the front in the 1500m but had already doubled-up in the 800m. Ed Lantzos was close to his SB in the 200m, then led for the relay team which finished 4th.

The BAL Cup is targeted with serious intent by Newport’s men and our commitment to the competition was acknowledged on the day by the Cup Secretary Ed Broome. Although 6th overall it was still our achievement to be present in the Plate Final and on another day we might have advanced a place or two.

Newport Women – Lindsay Badman bounces back after tumble

It was mixed fortunes for Lindsay Badman. Proving that anything can happen in the sprint hurdles, Lindsay looked set for a fast time before crashing into the final barrier and depositing a thin layer of skin on the synthetic track surface. However, that fast time was still itching to get out and Lindsay then produced her best 200m for five years to make her long journey to Derby worthwhile.

Kirsten Waring agreed to double-up in the 800m and 400m before checking the timetable first, only to discover that there was only 30 minutes between races. Kirsten was nonetheless rewarded with an SB in the 800m. The ink was still wet on the Harriers contract for new signing Alice Essam as she made a promising club debut in the 100m. Cassidy Skinner PB’d in the 1500m and that was after running the 3000m. Sian Jordan was 2nd in the discus in her farewell competition before returning to Essex University. Lauren O’Reilly completed the women’s team with a brace of victories in javelin and high jump. Lauren PB’d in javelin but was prevented from a third attempt at a high jump PB because she had used up her maximum eight jumps.

At one point Newport were 2nd but then followed the three events where we had no competitors, so who knows what our women might have achieved with a full squad. 3rd overall represented a good performance in their first Super8 final and lays the base for improvement in next year’s Cup.

Cory Ruiz – not welcome in Stevenage

As a footnote to our own efforts, the main battle for the Plate Cup was between Bolton and Stevenage. They finished with equal points and Bolton won on count back. Stevenage may well reflect on the discus where Cory Ruiz threw 20.59 for 5th place, one place ahead of their own athlete who threw 17.98m, and if only this titanic struggle had been reversed then Stevenage would have been holding the cup aloft. They’re already calling it the ‘Throw of God’ incident and the Freedom of Stevenage Borough will not be extended to Cory for the foreseeable future.
 

Results

Men

Match score

Women

Match score