Eton is the venue for a competitive Premiership round one match in the UK’s top domestic league
The 2025 season for the National Athletics League got underway in exactly the same format as in 2024 with three rounds of matches, which culminate in finals on August 16, Martin Duff reports.
That will see the third Premiership match at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham and a knock-out competition between the top two clubs from the four mini area leagues at Horspath Arena, Oxford.
The mini area league format was devised to ease travelling costs for clubs in the lower reaches of the league but some clubs in the south and west find themselves travelling when there is a local match closer at hand.
PREMIERSHIP, round 1, Thames Valley Athletics Centre, Eton, May 31
Thames Valley Harriers have won the title for the past four years, but here were in a close competition with local rivals Harrow before just losing out by 16 points, as the rest of the clubs were well out of it throughout the competition.
However, they got their campaign off to a winning start as Samuel Clarke comfortably took the men’s 400m hurdles with a personal best 50.66. Nicole Kendall then made it a Valley double by taking the women’s race in 58.12.
Madeline Casey made it three TVH track wins out of the first four by taking the women’s 800m in 2:11, to ensure that her club opened an early lead over Harrow – 141 points to 121 – but it was Harrow’s Susanah Lecoutre who had a quicker run in the B race with a 2:08.53 personal best.
Harrow hit back on their rivals as Luke Dorrell won the 100m in 10.40 but Bianca Williams, the Commonwealth and European relay gold medallist, countered with an 11.55 women’s sprint win for TVH.
Harrow continued to press the four-time winners and brought the TVH lead down to just six points after 10 events before Thames Valley extended again after 12 events – by 206 to 192 – as the rest of the clubs were left struggling.
There was an early boost for City of Sheffield as they began with a win in the men’s 800m as Robert Shipley ran 1:52.52, but in the B race Shaftesbury’s Kojo Kyereme, the World Masters double indoor champion and second on the M50 800m all-time lists, ran 2:00.38 in seventh. Sheffield then had to wait for their second win until Chuks Osammor won a tight shot competition with a 16.59m last gasp effort.
As the early starting field events began to unwind as the results compilers caught up, Molly Palmer hit back for Thames Valley with a 6.28m long jump win before Edson Gomes responded for Harrow with a 13.86 sprint hurdles win.
Hosts Windsor had been having a thin time on the top of the podium but junior Ella Davey, the English Schools champion, put that right with an 11:01.59 win in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, where there were 10 match event starters and just eight finishers from the possible 16.
This came as Charlotte Payne, the 2022 British champion, was winning the women’s hammer with 65.64m and then, later in the afternoon, Jake Norris, the 2018 world under-20 champion, made it a home club double by taking the men’s event with a 74.14m sixth round effort to see off Jack Paget’s 71.42m.
It was mid-afternoon and Harrow began to put pressure on the holders as Paris Olympian Nick Percy won the men’s discus with five 60-metre plus throws and a best of 61.15m from the second round
The 2024 BUCS champion Marli Jessop added the women’s 100m hurdles with 13.33 and Poppy Malik the women’s 400m in 52.12. This was from second placed 16-year-old Casey Musgrave, whose 54.09 was a personal best to go third on the 2025 UK junior lists.
These wins gave Harrow a narrow 12.5-point lead in the match but field event points totting up was delayed, which left the actual situation some-what hazy after 17 events had been scored. Nevertheless, UK silver medallist Freya Jones’ women’s javelin throw, of 53.96m, was soon added to the club score. In a similar late addition to the points scores was Sam Callaway’s discus win for Thames Valley, with 51.96m.
Woodford had been having a lean time until Alex Knibbs won the 400m flat in 46.27 but then their Calum Henderson took advantage of a 2.6m/sec gust of wind to sail out to 7.90m in the long jump. The east London outfit have relied on veteran Tosin Oke in the triple jump and he again delivered with 15.53m legal and 15.52m wind-assisted jumps.
It was a similar situation for Birchfield until they threw in English National junior cross-country champion Aron Gebremariam to win the men’s 1500m in 3:51.06.
Shaftesbury too were short of an A string win until Krishawn Aiken took the 200m in a season’s best 20.79 to just get the nod on personal bests from Woodford’s 18-year-old Ethan Franklin and Thames Valley’s Ezekiel Lowe as the top five all bettered 21 seconds.
These wins for the other clubs ensured that Harrow remained just five points clear of TVH after 26 events thanks to Adelaide Omitowoju’s 12.87m triple jump win over Windsor’s Amy Warre.
It stayed that way after 30 events as Harrow enjoyed a 15-point margin over Thames Valley with the rest of the clubs out of contention.
This was despite England silver medallist Felicia Miloro needing just a single attempt in the pole vault for a Harrow victory at a height of 4.10m.
Her club were then helped by a first-place tie for Divine Duruaku’s 2.10m in the men’s high jump after he could not be split from Shaftesbury’s Akin Coward.
Birchfield added a second men’s distance win thanks to Omar Ahmed in the men’s 5000m, who had a 10-second cushion over Phil Norman and Tom Butler when winning in 14:04.04. Other wins came their way late in the afternoon when Benji Pearson threw 71.04m in the final round of the men’s javelin and Adele Nicholl comfortably took the women’s shot with 17.36m.
With Harrow seemingly sailing on to victory, Thames Valley made a series of great efforts by filling the first two slots in the women’s 5000m, with Ella Burfitt getting the nod on clubmate Emily Carroll by two seconds in 17:38.94. Here, Harrow were third and fourth but there were only eight of a possible 16 starters.
The Valley also took wins in three of the four relays but it all came too late and Harrow narrowly came out on top.
Match: 1 Harrow 644.5; 2 TH 628; 3 WSEH 443.5; 4 WG&EL 441.5; 5 Glasgow Jaguars 416; 6 Birchfield 402; 7 City of Sheffield 354.5; 8 Shaftesbury Barnet 350
100 (2.0): 1 L Dorrell (Harr) 10.40; 2 M Odamtton (WG&EL) 10.45; 3 B Whitehead (Sheff) 10.50
200 (1.4): 1 K Aikin (SB) 20.79; 2 E Franklin (WG&EL) 20.84; 3 E Lowe (TVH) 20.85
400: 1 A Knibbs (WG&E) 46.27; 2 V Dos Santos Soares (TVH) 47.16; 3 J Watson (Bir) 47.64
800: 1 R Shipley (Sheff) 1:52.52; 2 M Bishop (TVH) 1:53.46; 3 G McEachern (Glas, U20) 1:53.76
1500: 1 A Gebremariam (Bir, U20) 3:51.06; 2 A Milligan (Harr) 3:52.95; 3 W Perkin (TVH) 3:53.47
5000: 1 O Ahmed (Bir) 14:04.04; 2P Norman (WG&EL) 14:14.49; 3 T Butler (SB) 14:23.12
110H (0.7): 1 E Gomes (Harr) 13.86; 2 E Akanni (WG&EL) 14.25; 3 S Clarke (TVH) 14.34
400H: 1 S Clarke (TVH) 50.66; 2 T Watson (B ir) 51:48; 3 B Francis (Glas) 51;76
3,000SC: 1 T Fawden (Harr) 9:28.76; 2 O Newton (TVH) 9:52.69; 3 J Geddes (Bir) 9:59.87
HJ: 1eq D Duruaku (Harr)/A Coward (SB) 2.10; 3 C Husbands (Bir) 2.05.
LJ: 1 C Henderson (WG&EL) 7.96/2.6 (7.28/1.3); 2 2 Tshireletso (WG&EL) 7.22/1.8; 3 E Uwaifo (Harr) 7.18/0.8
TJ: 1 T Oke (WG&EL, M40) 15.53/0.6; 2 J Aki-Sawyerr ((WSEH) 14.87/0.1; 3 K Stephens (SB) 14.61/0.9
PV: 1eq G Heppinstall (Sheff)/S Ouiles (Harr)/T Walley (TVH) 4.80
SP: 1 C Osammor (Sheff) 16;69; 2 G Thompson (SB) 16.64; 3 Z Davies (Harr) 16.48
DT: 1 N Percy (Harr) 61:15; 2 G Thompson (SB) 56.38; 3 C Osamoor (Sheff) 53.92
HT: 1 J Norris (WSEH) 74.14; 2 J Paget (TVH) 71;42; 3 C Murch (Bir) 68;67
JT: 1 B Pearson (Bir) 71.04; 2 G Millar (Bir) 64.61; 3 M Allison (WSEH) 62.51
4×100: 1 TVH 40.69; 2 Harrow 40.83; 3 Sheffield 40.86
4×400: 1 TVH 3:12.41; 2 WSEH 3:12.89; 3 Sheffield 3:13.61
Women
100 (0.7): 1 B Williams (TVH) 11.55; 2 S Grace (WSEH) 11.80; 3 G Disley (WG&EL) 11.89
200 (1.4): 1 A Bell (Glas) 23.01; 2 M King (Harr) 23.67; 3 S Grace (WSEH) 23.81
400: 1 P Malik (Harr) 52.12; 2 C Musgrave (Sheff, U20) 54.09; 3 A Wilson (TVH, U20) 54.71
800: 1 M Casey (TVH) 2:11.11; 2 S Monk (Harr) 2:11.68; 3 C Clare (Glas) 2:11.85
1500: 1 S Lecoutre (Harr) 4:25.63; 2 S Monk (Harr) 4:28.57; 3 L Gilbert (WG&EL) 4:29.12
5000: 1 E Burfitt (TVH) 17:38.94; 2 E Carroll (TVH) 17:41.21; 3 E Warren (Harr) 17:42.32
100H (1.6): 1 M Jessop (Harr) 13.33; 2 D Hales (Bir) 13.49; 3 U Uwakwe (WG&EL) 13.51
400H: 1 N Kendall (TVH) 58.12; 2 S Fisher (Harr) 59.73; 3 O Brennan (WSEH) 59.79
3,000SC: 1 E Davey (WSEH, U20) 11:01.59; 2 A Paton (Glas) 11:11.06; 3 A Tharenos (TVH) 11:18.46
HJ: 1 P Rogan (TVH) 1.73; 2 R Wheeler-Henry (SB) 1.70; 3 S Connolly (Harr) 1.65
LJ: 1 M Palmer (TVH) 6.28/1.3; 2 R Jerges (Harr) 6.22/0.9; 3 A Hopkins (Harr) 6.17/1.5
TJ: 1 A Omitowoju (Harr) 12.87/2.0; 2 A Warre (WSEH) 12.78/1.5; 3 M Elcock (WG&EL) 12.65/2.2 (12.58/1.2)
PV: 1 F Miloro (TVH) 4.10; 2 M Bailey (Harr) 3.90; 3 E Kutman (TVH) 3.80
SP: 1 A Nicholl (Bir) 17.36; 2 S Callaway (TVH) 14.79; 3 A Kennedy (Glas) 14.64
DT: 1 S Callaway (TVH) 51;96; 2 S Du Toit (Harr) 48.65; 3 S Mace (TVH) 48.25
HT: 1 C Payne (WSEH) 65.64; 2 A Barnsdale (Sheff) 61:24; 3 K Preswell (TVH) 61.24
JT: 1 F Jones (Harr) 53.96; 2 S Hamilton (Harr) 49.19; H Court (TVH) 46.30
4×100: 1 TVH 45.09; 2 Harrow 45.62; 3 Glasgow 46.05
4×400: 1 Glasgow 3:44.15; 2 Harrow 3:46.40; 3 Birchfield 3:47.02
NATIONAL ATHLETICS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP EAST, round 1, Chelmsford, May 31
Hosts Chelmsford were ahead throughout the match before coming out on top overall by 58 points over Herts Phoenix.
After 13 events, Chelmsford had taken four A string wins to lead the rest by well over 40 points in what looked like the best quality of the four mini area leagues.
They were pegged back a little by Havering after 17 events as Herts Phoenix and Blackheath remained in contention.
Herts had Edward Laws set a personal best 51.00 to take the 400m hurdles and Matthew Cox the Long jump with 7.07m.
As the events unfolded, Chelmsford confirmed their position at the top of what looked like a loaded area league so that after 24 events had been totalled, they were 30 points clear of Blackheath but Herts Phoenix and Havering were also in contention not far down.
Chelmsford posted a double in the men’s and women’s hammer as Helene Ingvaldsen and Oliver Graham came good.
Top performances continued and, in the men’s 5000m, junior Joseph Grange set a personal best 14:51.96 when heading Blackheath’s under-17 Joseph Scanes by almost 10 seconds.
With just three events left to be scored, Chelmsford had it in the bag with a 53-point margin over Herts phoenix.
Despite 10 individual A string wins, one of which was Daisy Snell’s 6.30m long jump, Blackheath languished in fourth while Herne Hill and Belgrave, both of whom failed to field a full squad of officials and therefore lost points, brought up the rear.
Chelmsford also had their 46-year-old Paul Grange the UK all-time second best M45 800m runner come out on top in the age graded stakes after a 1:54.96 effort.
The second-best age graded effort went to 16-year-old Herts’ Daniel Skilbeck whose 47.89 PB was third in the A string 400m.
Match: 1 Chelmsford 610; 2 Herts Phoenix 552; 3 Havering 519; 4 Blackheath & Bromley 510; 5 Herne Hill 389; 6 Belgrave 365
NATIONAL ATHLETICS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP NORTH, round 1, York, May 31
Hosts, City of York came out on top at the York University track but this division only had five of the possible six club takers.
They took an early lead with 177 points to 150 over Trafford after 11 events and extended it to 30 points after 17 events but high-quality performances were few and far between.
One of their best-looking efforts came in the men’s 200m, where junior Adam Pearson battled a headwind with a 21.50 clocking.
Sale Harriers had begun to challenge and had Kirsty Law out to 52.88m to take the women’s discus throw, as her club went second after 23 events had been posted, but York were still 37 points clear.
The match threw up several good individual performances and City of York took the top two places in the men’s 5000m thanks to Angus McMillan’s 14:29.95 and they now led Trafford and Sale by 35 points.
Sale saw Lucy Armitage win the 800m in a personal best 2:04.96 before returning later to add the 3000m in 9:48.69. They also had Melissa Booth win the triple jump with 12.07m.
The last event to complete is usually the men’s javelin and York completed their points score with Oliver Wright’s 66.87m win, as their track squad were adding both long relays.
Match: 1 City of York 544; 2 Sale 495; 3 Trafford 481; 4 Notts 439; 5 Liverpool 376
Note: no officials points added
NATIONAL ATHLETICS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SOUTH, round 1, Poole, Dorset, May 31
The Ashdown Centre in Poole played hosts as locals Bournemouth led after 11 events and continued to be ahead throughout the day before winning by 56 points from Crawley.
At that point, they had 205 points to Crawley’s 185 as five clubs had early victories.
The Bournemouth lead increased after 15 events to 38 points over Crawley and Tonbridge as local rivals Southampton posted their own first A string win through their top veteran Kirsty Booth in the women’s steeplechase, with a 6:53.35 clocking.
Several A string wins saw Crawley begin to challenge Bournemouth after 23 event results had been posted and were just seven points down at this stage.
Bournemouth, however, continued to notch up A string wins and had Abdi Elmi defeat Tonbridge’s Ben Cole by 30 seconds in the 5000m with 14:22.71, as his club were now 30 points clear of Tonbridge after 34 events had been declared.
The best age graded performance came from 55-year-old Julia Machin in the high jump with 1.60 behind junior Carmen Rose’s 1.71m for Kingston & Poly. Elsewhere, a series of teenagers also impressed.17-year-old Sam Sprostranov won for Crawley with 1:54.26 in the men’s 800m.
Sprinter Cristiano Anah ran 10.96 in the men’s 100m, behind Tom White’s 10.82 for Kingston. Lily Cowan, 16, won the women’s 200m in 24.65.
These Kingston & Poly performances did not much help their cause, as they finished a distant sixth overall in a match that saw many performances fall below what might be called a National League standard. Not taking enough officials to the match also miss out on 35 points.
Match: 1 Bournemouth 589; 2 Crawley 543; 3 Tonbridge 511; 4 Portsmouth 419.5; 5 Southampton 344; 6 Kingston & Poly 254
NATIONAL ATHLETICS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP WEST, round 1, Yeovil, Somerset, May 31
Swansea dominated at the Bill Whistlecroft Stadium as they took early victories and, after 13 events had been scored, led with 233 points to Cardiff and hosts Yeovil with 147.
After 16 events had been scored Swansea continued to dominate, 89 points clear of Yeovil, with nine A string wins led by junior Millie Gold’s 2000m steeplechase with 7:02.07.
As Swansea romped away with the match, the second spot was up for grabs and Cardiff notched up a series of A string wins to go second five points clear of Yeovil but 89 down on their Welsh rivals.
After 29 events had been posted Swansea were 124 points clear having won a dozen A strings but now it was hosts Yeovil who were a clear second 25 points clear of Cardiff and it stayed that way until the end.
Best performances were made by Yeovil’s 17-year-old Tom Webb whose 8:38.45 3000m was adjudged to be a league record. Also making a mark were two Winchester & District teenagers, who came out on top in the women’s 400m.
Firstly 17-year-old Elsie Brindle won the A string race in 55.82 before 16-year-old team-mate Chloe Poore added the B race in 55.69.
Cardiff might have expected to challenge their rivals from across the River Severn and had junior Nicolas MacZugowski win the men’s 400m with a 48.71 personal best, but plaudits behind went to 16-year-old Zak Reynolds, who ran 49.43 for fourth.
Swansea notched up more than a dozen A string wins overall and among them was a single pole vault jump of 3.50m for their Carys Jones.
Match: 1 Swansea 585; 2 Yeovil 478; 3 Cardiff 428; 4 Basingstoke & Mid Hants 349.5; 5 Yate 344; 6 Winchester & District 264.5.