ATHLETICS

A WEAKENED Loughton Athletic Club team struggled to make an impact at the final Southern Womens League match of the 2008 season at Thurrock.

The team finished in fourth place with 91 points, well behind eastbourne, Walton and Thames Valley.

Individual wins were hard to find, but Katie Brooks was the winner of the under-15 girls' 1,500m, while in the senior women's section, Amie Harrison won the B 400m hurdles, Lorna Gaffney won the B pole valut, and Jean Hobbs won the B 3,000m.

The other girls' events saw encouraging club debuts by Maddie Sollof in the high jump and sprints, and by Megan Brooks in the 100m, 800m and long jump. Cara Gaffney also competed in the throws.

In the other senior events, Lara Regan set a personal best in the hammers, Caroline Real was close to her best in the triple jump, and Jo Richardson was only denied a PB in the 400m hurdles by the blustery conditions.

Gabrielle Brooks put in another solid run in the 3,000m and 1,500m, while Michelle Hurley (800m and discus) and Helen Real (100m and javelin) competed well on their return from illness.

Corine Higgins covered three of the throwing events, as Michaela Davis provided team back-up in the sprints and the jumps, and Mary Knapman stepped in at short notice to run a leg in the 4x400m relay.