Our senior mens team gave a good all round performance to win their opening match of the British League (Division 1) at Cardiff on Saturday.
Relegated from the Premier League last season, they look set to bounce straight back to the top flight, especially as the team had some top men missing from their winning line up.
Sam Ellis ran his fastest time of the season, controlling the 800 metres to win in 1:50.70 with Steve Evison making it maximum points for the club winning the B race in 1:51.17.
Mukhtar Mohammed ran in the 1500 metres rather than the 800 where he ranks seventh in the country this year. He responded with a massive personal best of 3:52.81 to win the B race with Andy Heyes running well to take fourth in the A race with 3:51.39.
Other good Sheffield track performances included personal bests for Matt Quine, third in the 400 (47.96) and Steve Garrett, runner up in the 400 hurdles (51.93). Garrett was also runner up in the B 110 metres hurdles (15.81) and Tom Grantham was second in the 400 hurdles (54.70). They were also runners up in the sprint relay and won the 4 by 400 relay.
In the field, the javelin was a maximum point event, Lee Doran throwing 72.22 to win the A event and Sam Ellis, showing unusual versatility for a middle distance runner, winning the B event with 57.56.
We also scored full points in the hammer, Matt Lambley winning with a throw of 68.63 and Simon Bissell winning the B string with 55.37.
The shot and discus, always strong events for the team, produced good points. Jamie Williamson was runner up in the shot (16.47) and third in the discus (46.56) whilst Daniel Brunt (14.62) and Simon Bissell (46.17) won the B events.
There was a good contribution from Ben Mourbey who was second in the high jump with a 1.95 clearance.
Match score:
1 City of Sheffield 359
2 Cardiff 320
3 Kent AC 282
4 City of Liverpool 281
5 Blackheath and Bromley 264
6 Gateshead 245.5
7 Basingstoke 218
8 Trafford 189.5
