Lower YDL Match 2 - Harriers Turn Up the Heat at Trafford
- Danielle McGifford
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
31st May 2026
Turn your minds back to the end of May when our younger athletes headed over to Trafford for Lower YDL Match 2. Apologies that this one is a little later than planned - there’s been so much going on lately that we’re struggling to keep up! You’ll remember the day: the one where our flag gave up trying to stand upright, our officials found themselves doing GCSElevel maths just to read the pole vault heights, and our athletes served up a full day of brilliant team competition.
What really stood out was how much our younger athletes threw themselves into it, gaining valuable experience, cheering each other on, and showing exactly why this group is such a pleasure to watch.
Here are the full results…
U16 Boys
Sprints and Hurdles
PB king Sam Hodgkinson started with a PB (of course he did) in the 100m hurdles (14.9s) for 2nd place. Lucas Shaw came 5th in both the 100m and 200m A races (12.6s and 25.8s respectively), whilst Evan Barnett ran both races as the B finishing 5th 100m (13.1s) and 3rd 200m (28.0s). James Darby ran a superb 300m PB (39.1s) for 4th place.
Distance
Henry Jeffs-Watts ran a solid 2:20.1 in the 800m for 3rd, whilst over in the 1500m, Matthew Trevor came 2nd in the A race (04:35.8), with Elliot Molineux also 2nd in the B race (05:36.3). Well done!
Jumps
Sam jumped a jaw dropping 1.77m to win the high jump, whilst equally impressive was Moses Wotherspoon in the B competition soaring over 1.60m! Moses also jumped a long jump PB of 4.62m for 5th. Great jumping both!
In the pole vault it was Sam once again with the win in a vault of 2.30m.
Throws
Doing their best to gain more team points were James Darby and Moses in the throws. James came 5th in shot (7.35m), whilst Moses came 3rd in the discus (21.19m).
Relays:
4x100m – Lucas Shaw, Evan Barnett, Moses Wotherspoon, Sam Hodgkinson – 5th (51.3s)
4x300m – Lucas Shaw, Matthew Trevor, Henry Jeffs-Watts, James Darby – 1st (02:49.5)
Overall U16 boys came 3rd in their age category.
U16 Girls
Sprints and Hurdles
Great to see Skye Gordon embracing her new event of 300m hurdles, running 51.6s for 4th. Isabella Hunt ran in the B race to come 2nd (58.2s). In the 80m hurdles, Charlotte Darbyshire ran a 15.2s PB for 5th (A), whilst Isabella ran 16.4s and a PB for 3rd (B).
Amber Jones ran an impressive 13.2s for 3rd in the 100m, with Isabella Hunt 2nd in the B race (14.1s, PB). Isabella Foxton ran as a non-scorer in a time of 14.20s. In the 200m, Amber placed 3rd in a time of 27.5s, with Ebony Hales 4th in the B race (31.6s - PB).
In the 300m, Elody Hill (recently challenging herself to this longer sprint distance) came 3rd in the A race (43.2s), whilst Evie Hampson also came 3rd in the B race (49.1s).
Distance
Maisie Cadman looked a class act in the 800m race, winning in a PB time of 02:16.6s. Grace Harris also ran a PB time of 02:46.5s for 2nd place B, whilst non scorer Thea Lucas ran a time of 02:37. In the 1500m, Katie-Lou Malley finished 3rd in a time of 05:08.7.
Jumps
Skye Gordon and Emily Pennington took on the long and high jump. Skye jumped 4.35m for 3rd in long (whilst juggling alongside her hurdles race), whilst Emily came 2nd (B) with 3.57m. Both a win and a PB for Skye in high jump (1.48m), with Emily finishing in 2nd place as the B (1.35m).
A win was also claimed by Sophia Bowden-McKay in the pole vault (2.40m).
Throws
Evie Hampson and Elody Hill took one for the team in the shot putt (Evie 6th – 5.32m and Elody 5th B 4.60m). In the javelin, Isabella Foxton came 6th (7.89m) and Charlotte Darbyshire came 4th B (6.36m).
As the day was drawing to a close and we were looking for some team photos, comments of “where’s Ebony?” could be heard. Ebony Hales found herself in one of the much later events – discus – and her teammates were wondering what had happened to her (she finished 6th with a 12.17m throw and more valuable points for the team)! ……Although she did have a few words for me about how they “put really good people in it this time who were throwing over 20m.” Keep at it Ebony and that could soon be you .
Relays
4x100m – Isabella Hunt, Ebony Hales, Amber Jones, Elody Hill – 3rd (53.9s)
4x300m – Evie Hampson, Maisie Cadman, Skye Gordon, Katie-Lou Malley – 1st (03:03.2).
Overall U16 girls finished 3rd in their age group.
U14 Boys
Hurdles and Sprints
Zain Porter- Alam made the step up to the 80m hurdles running 14.1s for 5th. Coach Dani will be very proud to see her “pool noodle” training taking shape. Zain also ran the 100m in a PB time of 14.1s for 5th.
Distance
Ryan Catton came 5th in the 1500m in 05:55.9, equalling his PB.
Jumps
Zain came 6th in long jump (3.98m) with Beau Wotherspoon 5th B (3.77m).
Throws
Beau gained all of our points in the throws, coming 4th in the shot (7.83m), and then smashing out a 32.62m javelin PB for the win – congratulations!
Overall, U14 boys came 6th in their age category.
U14 Girls
Sprints and Hurdles
A 13.8s PB for Jessica Wraith in the 75m hurdles for 3rd place, with Erin Baron 4th in the B race (17.3s).
It was 3rd place for Sophie Atherton in the 100m (13.7s), with Rosie Crowder 4th place B (14.0s). Kathryn Trevor ran as a non-scorer in a time of 17.0s.
In her first 200m race, Rosie stepped up as the A runner to come 4th in a time of 29.6s, whilst Lexi Conradie came 5th in the B race, running a PB of 30.9s. Hameedat Alhazan ran as a non-scorer in a time of 30.20s.
Distance
Poppy Duffy ran a PB time of 02:23.3 for 2nd place in the 800m – well done!
Jumps
It was PBs all round for our long jumpers – Emily Mason 4.57m for 2nd (A) and Rosie Crowder winning the B competition (4.32m). Great work!
Whilst in the high jump, Jessica Wraith soared over 1.50m to win, which places her 19th in the UK rankings!!!! Amazing Jess!
Pole vaulter Erin Baron won her competition with a 2.30m vault.
Throws
Matilda Darby came 4th in the shot putt (6.93m) whilst Emily Mason won the B competition (6.90m). Matilda also threw a 11.49m discus for 5th and a 17.56m javelin for 4th.
In the hammer, Erin Baron (currently showing some great potential in the event) threw 23.62m for 2nd (only her second time at this event)…..just remember Erin “LEAVE THROUGH THE BACK OF THE CIRCLE!!!!!!” – I’m sure your Dad will tell you the same .
Relays
4x100m – Sophie Atherton, Rosie Crowder, Emily Mason, Jessica Wraith – 2nd (55.4s).
Overall the U14 Girls came 2nd in their age category.
Finally….
Wigan finished the match in 4th place, which puts us in 3rd place overall in the current standings – lots to fight for!
A massive thank you to everyone who played their part on the day - athletes, parents, coaches and our brilliant Wigan officials, who somehow managed to get through four events (including the pole vault maths challenge of the century) with their usual good humour. They really are troopers. What stood out most, though, was the team spirit from our younger athletes: the way they supported each other, celebrated every effort, and made the whole day feel like something special. It’s a pleasure watching them grow in confidence and experience with every match.
Please let your coach or myself know if you are available for the next match on Saturday 18th
July @ (our very own) Robin Park, Wigan.
John Hewitt – Team Manager YDL
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