SETAFA AC Highlights and Insights from the Latest Hampshire Track and Field Championships on the 9th/10th May at Down Grange Athletics Track in Basingstoke Part 3

Track and field competitions always bring a thrilling mix of speed, strength, and skill. The recent event showcased some remarkable performances, and moments that will be remembered for years to come. This year was the first year of the newly adopted age groups changing from U13,U15,U17 and U20 to the new U14,U16,U18 and U20. This will now mean the UK match up with World Athletics which also takes away the stresses of being a top year athlete whilst enduring important exams.

The Sprint Events That Set the Pace

U18 Girls 100m and 200m

The U18 Womens Events involved the return to action for Harriet Griffiths-Horrod, Mesoma Nwabueze and Gabby Falano.

In the 100m old rivals Gabby Falano and Harriet Griffiths Horrod battled it out in the final after both cruising through the heats. In Heat 1 Gabby who took the 2025 season off to concentrate on Exams posted a new lifetime best of 12.97 finishing 2nd. In Heat 2 Harriet Griffiths-Horrod stormed to a lifetime best of 12.32 finishing in 1st place. Later on in the afternoon both girls lined up in the Final in what turned out to be the closest finish of the day. Gabby finishing in 4th place but she must be pleased with her 12.91 clocking which was another PB. Harriet then battled it out with Chloe Johnson from New Forest Juniors in what was the closest to a dead heat I have ever seen. Harriet finishing 2nd with another PB of 12.23 and the winner 1 hundreth of a second in front with 12.22. Harriet being bottom year has now achieved the ESAA 100m standard. On Sunday we witnessed the return of Mesoma Nwabueze to the Hampshire Champs after her exams in 2025. Mesoma is building up to run the 400m but today took part in the 200m. After a strong run of 26.53 in the heat finishing 2nd there was a long wait for the final which took place almost 5 hours later. In the final Mesoma finished 3rd with a wind assisted 26.83 which saw her reach the podium again where she received her bronze medal

U18 Boys 100m and 200m

In the Under 18 Boys Category SETAFA AC had the very talented newcomer Delana Samakanbi taking part in only his 3nd competition ever. Delana joined the club in January and has developed steadily gaining new PBs in the 100m and 200m. The Hampshire Championships would see Delana gain in confidence starting with a heat of the 200m on Saturday. Even though Delana did not get through to the final he still posted a new PB of 23.91 in what was a very tough race. On Sunday Delana competed in his preferred event the 100m and came out all guns blazing in the 1st heat finishing 2nd in a legal time and new PB of 11.58. In the final Delana struggled with a small niggle but still finished the race with a wind assisted 11.71 but out of the medals this time.