Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow Athletic Club

WSEH LADIES MAKE A SLOW START IN THE UK PREMIER DIVISION

Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow A.C. team have it all to do in the remaining matches of the UK Women’s Athletic League if they are going to maintain the Premier Division status that they fought so hard to regain last season.
The team placed 7th in a close fought 8 team match, a tantalising point and a half behind Woodford Green and within striking distance of both Birchfield & Trafford, who placed 4th and 5th.
Despite some excellent performances in the middle distance races, Javelin, Pole Vault, and Hurdles, the match became as much about the athletes who were not at the match or were under par, as those that were there and on form.
Whilst all the other teams appeared to have all their top athletes competing, WSE&H had a few of their key athletes missing, including the club’s 5 top sprinters. This cost the team, as young athletes Bunmi Awokoya and Zoe Wells were thrust into a daunting baptism of fire in the 100m and the 200m being filled by athletes who had previously contested their key events.
With the club’s top Discus & Shot Putter and Triple & Long Jumper also unable to compete, the affect was devastating and leaves the team with the task of fighting not to be relegated again.

The day belonged, mainly, to the Middle Distance athletes, who produced fine performances in absolutely top class races. New signing, Kerry Harty, lead the way, winning with a perfectly ran 3000m race, in which her partner, Jane Sheard placed 3rd in the B string.
The 800m & 1500m races saw the experienced Kelly Reid and youngster, Vicky Fouhy, excel with a 2nd and 3rd respectively in the A races, whilst their partners, Christine Long and first year U20, Rachel Stedman both placed a creditable 5th.
In the Pole Vault, Laura Rogers narrowly missed jumping a personal best and was rewarded with a solid 5th place in the A string, whilst Irie hill won the B.
Whilst throwing a few metres below her best, Rosie Semenytsh still managed a clear 2nd place in the Javelin, whilst team mate Frances Smithson gained 4th B. It was a similar situation in the hammer competition, where, with an ankle injury preventing Joanne John from throwing her best, she placed 4th A, whilst Bola Ogun just missed out on winning the B.
There were great performances by WSEH’s top U20 100m Hurdlers, Rose Reynolds & Jenny Heckford and solid races from Emily Parker and Caroline Heaney in the 400m Hurdles.
There were mixed fortunes elsewhere on the track, where, despite a daunting baptism of fire, Zoe Wells improved on her best time and Awokoya equalled hers.
It was a disappointing day for Lesley Owusu, who despite being troubled by a back problem ran her key event, the 400m and stepped in to cover the 200m. After a creditable mid table position in the 400, but an under par 200m race, Owusu decided it would be sensible to pull out of the 4x400.
In contrast, Shelayna Oskan was on top form and powered her way to 3rd place in the B 400m in a season’s best time and ran an excellent 54.9 leg in the relay.
Normally a strong event for the club, the Long & Triple Jump results were unusually low, with Sarah Rossiter’s performance affected because she is on a come back from a recent injury and Karlene Turner & Alison MacLeod just not on form on the day.
After a day of ups and downs, the relay performances were a delight, with a young 4x100 squad of Wells, Reynolds, Heckford & Awokoya running an excellent race and the 4x400 squad of Parker, Caroline Livingstone, Heaney & Oskan all running sub 60 second legs.
Team manager, Irene Speller, commented, “It was a disappointing result because everyone did their best on the day. However, with just 1.5 points separating us 6th place and just 15 from 5th, I found myself saying “if only” about so many things on the day. I am hopeful we can turn this around and maintain our Premier Division status, which, on paper, we should. But it is all about the availability of the athletes. The step down in class from this Premier Division to Division 2, which we experienced last season, ought to be enough to ensure that the athletes want to fight to avoid revisiting it”