This weekend sees the opening of the 21st Olympiad at Montreal. Last Saturday the Olympic stars of the future competed in the Blackpool Young Athletes' League.
Wallasey AC sent colt's, boys' and youths' teams and a junior ladies team, all under 16.
The first event of the meeting was the 800m. In the youths' race, Dave Southern reaped the benefit of his recent dedicated training and ran a personal best time of 2 mins 12 secs, and came fourth. Rick Hemmings, running the shorter distance for the first time this season followed in fifth place. In the (b) race Kevin McGee was third and Keith McAlister, fifth.
However, the best 800m was the colts' race in which two of our most promising athletes, the D'Arcy brothers ran.
Phil D'Arcy, the older brother led from gun to tape to win very comfortably in a personal best time of 2 min 31.9 at the age of 11.
Steve D'Arcy chased his brother with grim determination to finish in an excellent fourth and personal best time of 2 min 39. Steve is aged nine. The D'Arcy brothers are making an early mark on athletics and have a great future.
SPRINT
In the sprint events, Wallasey athletes showed great potential. In the first heat of the 100m for junior ladies, Lynn Jenkinson ran very well to come third in 13.8 secs. Loliya Harrison also came third in the second heat in a time of 14.1 secs. Both girls showed an improvement in style that comes only from consistent training.
In the boys' 100m, Ian Macleod was placed 3rd in the first heat in 13.1 and new member Eric Cox, although coming fourth in the second heat, ran the distance in a pleasing 12.6secs. Both boys are only 13 and again have potential.
Mark Wigfield, Wallasey's fastest colt sprinter, came second in his 100m race. Mark has won most of his races this season and his personal best of 13.9secs. for 100m, gained a few weeks back, is very fast for an 11-year-old.
In the 1500m team race for youths, Wallasey's team of Kevin McGee, Rick Hemmings, Alan Smith and Keith McAlister had tough opposition in the form of Liverpool Pembroke and Blackpool. In this highly tactical race, Blackpool's team won easily but second place was doubtful. Pembroke's team had two runners up front but their other runners trailed. Wallasey's team worked together well and finished in a close bunch of Kevin McGee 4th, Rick, 6th, and Alan 7th. This excellent team work paid off and Wallasey came second.
STRENGTH
Lynn Jenkinson showed her strength over the longer sprint in the junior ladies 200m. Again running with excellent style, Lynn won with a 20m lead on the second athlete.
A novel addition to the programme was the Swedish relay. For the boys this consisted of a 400m, a 200m, and two 100m tags. The youths' team ran hard but, unfortunately, finished fourth. However, the Colts' team slaughtered their opposition.
With a team comprising the D'Arcy brothers, Mark Wigfield and new member Martin Makeevan, Wallasey was easily the best team. Phil D'Arcy left his opposition standing in the 400m first leg. He passed the baton to Mark who extended our comfortable lead. Martin Makeevan secured the lead in the 100m third leg and nine-year-old Steve D'Arcy romped down the finishing straight to give the Wallasey team a winning time of 2min. 11sec., the second team followed 31 secs, behind.
The girls' team race was slightly different. The first leg was 800m. Oona Norris ran well, putting Wallasey in the lead on this first leg and she passed the baton to Joanne Macdonald. Joanne ran her 200m leg extremely well but her opposition were slightly stronger and she lost only inches,
Lynn Jenkinson and Lol Harrison ran the last two legs of 100m and Wallasey's team finished second.
Results
YOUTHS
800m - D. Southern 4th, R. Hemmings 5th, K. McGee 3rd, K. McAlister 5th.
1500 team race - K. McGee, R. Hemmings, A. Smith, K. McAlister, all second.
Swedish relay - D. Southern, M. Delap, E. Cox, I. MacLeod, 5th.
BOYS
100m - I. MacLeod, 3rd and E. Cox, 4th.
200m - I. MacLeod 4th. E. Cox 3rd.
Long Jump - E. Cox 3rd, I. MacLeod 4th.
4 x 100 relay - 3rd.
COLTS
800m-P. D'Arcy 1st S. D'Arcy 4th.
100m- M. Makeevan 5th, M. Wigfield 2nd.
200m- M. Wigfield 3rd.
Long jump-P. D'Arcy 7th,
Swedish relay-P. D'Arcy, M Wigfield, M. Makeevan, S. D'Arcy 1st.
JUNIOR LADIES
800m-C. Jenkinson 4th.
100m-L. Jenkinson 3rd, L. Harrison 3rd.
200m-L. Jenkinson 1st, O. Norris 5th.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 17/07/1976
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