Harriers Dig Deep at Wavertree as Premier League Battle Intensifies

Upper YDL Match 2 – 24th May 2026

The second YDL Premier League match at Wavertree was always going to test us - half-term holidays, GCSEs and A-levels meant availability was stretched from the start. We asked athletes to turn out even if only for a single event, and those who did made a huge difference. A massive thank you to every athlete who stepped up for the team. Staying in the Premier League matters to us, and this was another reminder that we’ll need to throw everything we have into every fixture to make it happen.

Here are the full results:

U20 Men

Sprints and Hurdles

Second claim Joel Watson finished 6th in the 100m (12.59s), whilst U18 Will Ashcroft stepped up to the U20 400m race and ran a fantastic PB (51.95s) for 3rd. It was Corey Middleton and Owen Baron in the hurdles. Corey won the 110m Hurdles A race (15.12s), whilst Owen won the B in a PB time of 16.88s. In the 400m hurdles, Corey came 2nd but in a PB time (54.95s), with Owen winning the B race (59.80s).

Distance

…….and this is where it gets interesting . Corey, doing everything in his power to get out of throwing a javelin, volunteered to run in the 2000m steeple chase - a bit extreme but great for points. A time of 07:34.55 placed him in 2nd, and it was a sight to behold watching him sail over those barriers like the true hurdler he is. Well done Corey – same again next time??

Jumps

Joel boxed off all of the jumps for the U20 men finishing 3rd in long jump (5.70m PB), 2nd in high jump (1.65m) and 3rd in triple jump (10.67m).

Throws

Second claim member Charlie Climpson equalled his PB in the shot to finish 2nd A, (10.37m), with Corey winning the B (8.61m). It was Charlie again in the discus (34.67m) 2nd, with Owen Baron 2nd in the B competition (15.71m). A PB in the hammer (32.49m) and 3rd place finish for Charlie…………and guess who threw a PB in the javelin (41.85m) to finish 2nd…………yes…it was Charlie (again)! Well done!

U20 men finished 2nd in their age category – great stuff!

U20 Women

Sprints

Holly Capstick ran 12.86s in the 100m to finish 3rd, whilst Grace Winrow (impeded by the hooter sounding at the same time as the gun) ran 14.03s for 3rd (B). Holly unfortunately was forced to withdraw from the 200m due to a tight hamstring, whilst Grace finished 2nd in the B race (28.69s).

Jumps

Amy Hewitt won all three of the jumps. Long jump 5.43m, triple jump 10.60m and high jump 1.45m (did enough for the win but was resting a sore heel). Well done Amy.

Throws

Yasmin Baker won the shot putt (12.97m) and the hammer (26.85m), also coming 2nd in the discus (25.59m). Gracie Scott won the B shot putt and discus competitions (8.78m and 15.43m respectively), plus a win for Gracie in the javelin (32.08m). Amy Hewitt won the javelin B with a single throw of 30.23m whilst balancing alongside the triple jump competition. A great bit of multi-tasking.

Despite low numbers, the U20 women won their age category – amazing ladies.

U18 Men

Sprints

Second claim athlete Christian Morrall-Santana ran 12.07s to place 4th in the 100m. In the 200m it was another second claim member Thomas Darbyshire running a PB of 23.66s for 5th, whilst Henry McLeod finished 4th in the B race with a PB time of 24.41s (however unfortunately the wind was over the legal limit +2.6). Thomas came 3rd in the 400m (53.63s), whilst Alexander Glenn (returning from shin splints) finished 2nd in the B race in a PB time (53.28s).

Distance

A big PB for second-claim Jack Broadhurst saw him finish 4th in the 3000m (10.23.20). Well done Jack.

Jumps

Christian came 5th in the long jump (4.56m) and 6th in triple jump (10.04m) – close to his PB. In the high jump, Alexander Glenn jumped 1.40m for 4th, with Will Ashcroft 2nd in the B competition (1.35m).

Throws

Isaac Wright finished 3rd in the shot putt (10.27m) and 2nd in the discus (34.54m), whilst Thomas Darbyshire threw 26.74m in the javelin for 6th.

U18 men finished 5th in their age category.

U18 Women

With just 5 athletes, it was a stretch for our U18 women, but they gave it their best shot.

Sprints

Ellie Barker ran an impressive 25.95s for 2nd in the 200m – although at +2.2 it was just over the legal wind limit. Ellie also finished 2nd in the 400m (60.48s) with Olivia Berry also finishing 2nd in the B race (64.60s). Great to see you back Olivia following a long injury.

Distance

Second claim athlete Elizabeth Lees won the 3000m (11:03.92) with Katie Bonner 2nd in the B race (12:14.62). Well done girls in that heat!!!

Jumps

Fantastic to see Lauren Hewitt getting back to form in the high jump with a promising 1.50m for 4th. Lauren also came 3rd in the triple jump (10.23m) showing great potential in the event. Pole vaulter Emily Wilson finished in 3rd place with a 2.80m vault.

Throws

4th place for Lauren in the shot putt (9.12m), and 4th place also for Ellie Barker in the hammer (26.51m).

Overall, a 7th place finish for our U18 women.

Finally

Wigan finished the day in a hard-earned 4th place, which keeps us sitting 3rd in the Premier League with just one fixture left. That final match on 12th July at Ellesmere Port (West Cheshire) is absolutely crucial, so please SAVE THE DATE and let us know as soon as possible if you are available. We need the biggest turnout of the season to secure our Premier League status - and who knows, maybe even have a real crack at winning it.

A huge thank you, as always, to our brilliant coaches, our officials, and the parents who travel, cheer, support and keep this team moving forward. And finally, a special mention for our dedicated membership secretary and official who somehow managed to get herself locked in the Wavertree toilets… thankfully rescued in time to carry out her duties, with spirits high and dignity only slightly dented. I can’t take her anywhere!!!

John Hewitt – YDL Team Manager