Harriers allay relegation fears
Placed just above the relegation zone before the fixture, it was essential that the team finished ahead of rivals Tamworth.
With the scores close all afternoon, Cheltenham moved clear late in the meeting to dismiss any relegation fears.
Star performers for the team were once again decathletes Neil Crossley and Jamie Courtenay, who competed in six events each.
The pair ensured maximum points in the 110m hurdles, with Crossley taking victory in the A race in 17.1 seconds while 17-year-old Courtenay won the B race in 17.2 seconds in his first time over the senior height hurdles.
The pair also combined effectively in the long jump, with Courtenay placing second in the A event with 6.13m and Crossley winning the B string with 5.99m.
Later in the afternoon they ensured further success, with Courtenay placing second in the A pole vault with 3.80m and Crossley winning the B event with 3.70m.
Crossley also ensured maximum points in the shot putt when he won the event in a new personal best of 13.02m, with John Phipps winning the B competition with 11.97m.
Good points also followed in the javelin, where Crossley placed second with a throw of 60.85m, while Ben Wilkinson won the B event with 53.96m.
Wilkinson then showed his versatility by placing third in the A high jump with 1.75m.
The Harriers men's middle distance squad also contributed a good points haul in a series of tactical races that were hampered by the windy conditions.
In the 800m Andy Prophett placed second in the A race in 1:59.4, with James Miller winning the B race in 2:00.8.
The 3000m pairing of Dave Roper and Darren Jordan once again scored well, with Roper finishing second in 8:57.6 and Jordan taking victory in the B event in 9:20.4.
Junior athlete Dan Harrison also ran effectively to place third in the steeplechase on his first attempt at the full senior distance.
For the women, 16-year-old Savannah Devillez made a major contribution on both the track and in the field.
In the triple jump she took victory with a new personal best of 9.91m, while Rosie Hall ensured maximum points as she won the B event with 9.39m.
Devillez also placed second in the 400m hurdles A race in 68.3 seconds and then took victory in the B 100m hurdles with 17.5 after Becky Courtenay had placed third in the A event in 17.2.
A strong headwind restricted fast times in the sprints, where Sam Griffiths scored well as she won the B 100m in 13.2 seconds and finished third in the 200m A race in 27.2 seconds.
Despite the blustery conditions, Jess Lawro ran well to record a new PB of 60.7 seconds as she finished second in the 400m A race. Bryony Thurbon also registered a second place in the javelin.
The women's team finished the meeting on a high as the team of Devillez, Ffion Kelly, Courtenay and Lawro took victory in the 4x400m relay.
Lawro's sub 60-second last leg edged out rivals Tamworth in the final stride.
Comment on this story