Hunts AC started the summer with a strong runners-up performance when hosting their opening Southern League fixture.

The Hunts Post: Nicole Covell (left) and Siobhan Skinner (right) of Hunts AC in the 800m.Nicole Covell (left) and Siobhan Skinner (right) of Hunts AC in the 800m. (Image: Archant)

The locals impressed at St Ives last Saturday as only a lack of availability denied them overall victory in the Division Three North meeting. They ended up 17 points behind triumphant Harlow AC, but it would have been different had they managed to provide athletes in seven events.

Team manager Siobhan Skinner led by example with a start-to-finish win in the women’s 800m ‘A’ race in 2:24.8 and 15 year-old Nicole Covell, competing in her first senior league meet, backed her up superbly by comfortably taking the ‘B’ honours in a personal best-equalling 2:29.4.

Skinner completed a double with 400m ‘A’ success in 1:01.7 while another promising 15 year-old, Aleta Fraylich, won the ‘B’ race in 1:04.8.

Hunts AC dominated the female middle-distance races with Rachel Sweatt (5:01.7) and Katie Lawrence (5:46.4) securing ‘A’ and ‘B’ glory respectively over 1500m. It was a similar story in the 3000m as Polly Smith (11:42.9) and Amelia Darnell (11:57.4) did the double.

The Hunts Post: Joey Croft of Hunts AC in the 2000m steeplechase.Joey Croft of Hunts AC in the 2000m steeplechase. (Image: Archant)

Smith went on to claim her second win in the 2000m steeplechase (8:31.1) while there was success in the sprints from Jamine Hope (100m A) and Callie Leighton (200m B).

The Hunts AC men were also in fine form on the track.

Tom Walker breezed to ‘A’ race success in the 5000m with a pleasing effort of 17:53.0 while Ian Gallagher slashed 40 seconds from his best to gain victory in the ‘B’ race in 18:00.2.

Teenager Mo Khurshid actually came home first over that distance as he posted a fine time of 17:44.6 when running as a non-scorer.

Rising star Joey Croft made his first-ever 2000m steeplechase outing a successful one. The 15 year-old won the ‘A’ race in 6:43.6 while AJ Ellwood bagged ‘B’ honours in 7:48.6.

Success in the field was limited to the pole vault where Diana Pereira (2.10m) and Sandra Pedley (1.80m) won the women’s event while Dave Ensor claimed the ‘B’ string men’s win with 2.00m.

Pereira also showed her ability on the track when joining forces with Leighton, Fraylich and Hope for a 4-100m relay triumph. Fraylich also starred in the club’s successful 4-400m quartet along with Skinner, Lucy Waller and Jodie Vuylsteke as Hunts AC made a fine start in their bid to better a ninth-placed finish in the overall standings last year.