For the first time Luton Athletic Club qualified all their male and female age groups for the East Anglian League Finals at Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Although none of the teams actually won their groups, there were many noteworthy performances. Vinnie Bruce scored a double win in the Senior Men sprints, running an excellent 10.8s in the 100metres and 22.2s in the 200metres. He also anchored the relay team to success in the last event of the day. Another Senior Men’s double winner was Mark Collins, winning the 100m B Race and the B Long Jump. In the Under 17 Men’s age group, Joe Steele scored aTriple Jump/Long Jump double, breaking the club record with 6.51metres in the latter. Darren O’Mara won his 400m B race, and smashed half a second off his personal best to come 2^nd in his 100metres B race in 11.6s. The Under 15 boys had good performances in the sprints with Theo Williams and Casey Felix both beating their personal bests in the 100m.

Paul Clarke showed character by getting good 2^nd place in the Under 13 Boys 200m after having a nasty fall in the 80m Hurdles race earlier.

The star of the girls team was once again Monica Bramwell, who won both the Under 15 100m and 200m, remaining unbeaten in both events in the league this season. Sarah Simpson ended a very successful season with a 2^nd place in the Under 15 girls 1500metres. Lisa Clarke had a busy day, finishing a close 3^rd in the Under 13 Girls 100metres and jumping over 4metres in the Long Jump.

Amy Jankiewicz and Maxine Hendrickson scored well in the Senior Ladies Sprints and Jane Rasmussen had a good day in the field events, winning the Shot Putt, and Suzanna Wise broke her own Under 17 Ladies Javelin club record.

Considering there were many of their best athletes missing, the teams performed excellently for Team Managers Jenny O’Shea and Linda Tucker. The club now looks forward to a successful season next year.

Gerry Gough 20/10/04