Oluyemi shines in improved Harriers performance

2:08pm Monday 7th July 2008

Following a disappointing seventh out of eight teams in our opening British Athletics League match at Abingdon in June, the Herne Hill Harriers men's team for the second fixture at Kingston was required to be stronger all round to move out of the relegation zoneand upthe league table, writes Stan Allen.

Despite an injury list that is still lengthy, the red and black hoops finished fourth out of eight and a tantalising 2.5 points behind third-placed South London rivals Blackheath & Bromley.

This was a performance that was about all round team effort and ensuring that all events were filled Two HHH eventwins again camein the earlierpart of the match when Paul Oluyemi stepped up to score one of the most decisive wins of the day as he took A string honours by almost 50cm with a jump of 7.08m.

The other early afternoon winner was Mark Hanily in the B Hammer with 53.93m In the sprints without Dele Onifade, who has travelled to Poland to run the sprint relay for Great Britain in the World Junior Championships.

Idris Ojuriye took the opportunity to run third and snatch a great win in the B 200m.

Robert Graham made a welcome return to finish a very close second in the B 100m, while Sammy Mensah showed heis now well on the way back from an indifferent spell by finishing a good third in the A 200m.

In the steeplechaser, Simon Wurr and 45 year old Keith Newtonrecorded a double third in the A and B races and James Parker came over from his home in Sweden to place third and fourth respectively in the 400m hurdles and 110m hurdles The match score was Basingstoke & Mid-Hants 338, Notts AC 308.5, Blackheath & Bromley 288.5, Herne Hill Harriers 286, Swansea Harriers 265.5, Southend on Sea AC 242, Cardiff AC 240, Derby AC 220.5.