Woodfords Joice Maduaka

Woodford’s women athletes found the going tough in the second fixture of the UK Women’s League Premier Division at Eton. In a very close contest Woodford finished seventh on 155 points – only 22 from third as Birchfield Harriers comfortably won.

From an individual perspective, wins over 200m for Joice Maduaka and over 100m hurdles for Sarah Claxton were the highlights.

Maduaka’s win in 23.24 seconds was a good one against other international opposition, and came after being placed third in the 100m with 11.72.

Claxton’s victory over the 100m hurdles was in a time of 13.34.

In the B sprint events, Azaria Francis was fifth in the 100m with 12.00 and in the 200m Katie Skelding was also fifth in 24.54 after an earlier third spot in the 400m.

Katherine Foy earned good points by finishing fourth in the B 800m and fifth in the 2,000m steeplechase.

Jess Sparke was third in a competitive 800m A race, while over 3,000m Lauren Stewart was sixth and Charlotte Pappiart took fourth in the B race.

Pappiart also took fifth in the 1,500m and Sidnie Sales occupied the same spot in the B event.

In the long jump, Kitty Eleyae continued her good season as she placed fourth in a high standard event with 6.10m, with Hannah Frankson sixth in the B with 5.33m. Frankson later took second in the triple jump with 13.11m, with Stephanie Aneto also second in the B with 12.50m. On debut Chloe Michaud was a good third in the B high jump with 1.55m.

There were third places for Lucy Marshall and Myra Perkins in both hammer throws, with Hollie Redman also occupying that spot in the javelin.

To round things off, the 4x100m team of Francis, Eleyae, Stephanie Gaynor and Skelding were sixth.

Woodford are now fourth overall in a table in which any of the clubs from fourth to eighth could be relegated in the final fixture at Swansea in a month’s time, with a good turn out required to ensure Premier Division status is maintained.