St Albans Athletics Club made full use of familiar surroundings as they produced a stunning set of results in round two of the 2023 Eastern Young Athletes League season off to a flying start.
The club use the facility at Westminster Lodge and it was one of four venues being utilised for the day of fixtures.
The EYAL is a track and field league for boys and girls, held over three age categories - U13, U15 and U17.
In total 24 clubs take part in five fixtures before the top six head to the grand final.
And St Albans romped to a huge win in their match against Ilford Orion Harriers, Cambridge & Coleridge, Bedford, Harlow and Colchester & Tendering.
Saints picked up 501 points, more than 100 ahead of Bedford in second.
The league has almost a full itinerary of events, including the four jumping and four throwing events, as well as track events from 100m through to 1500m and sprint hurdles.
The programme meant many of the athletes doubled up to ensure the maximum number of points possible.
Among the outstanding performances was a first and second from Bella Kerry and Amelia Drane in the U13 1500m while Oscar Nagalingam won the U15 boys race over the longest distance.
Josh Hirst claimed victories in the 300m and 800m while Chloe Coia claimed the U13 javelin.
Rhys Bethall set a new PB of 52.1 seconds on his way to success in the U17 400m and there was a victory for Adam Smith in the 800m and Dahlia Corp, who cleared 1.65 metres to win the U17 high jump.
In the throwing events there was a win for Joseph McGrath in the U13 javelin and Sam Penfold the U17 discus.
Phoebe Gill, fresh from her 2023 lead time set at Watford on Wednesday, dominated the U17 800m, winning by a huge 12 seconds.
There was also relay events with St Albans' boys winning the 4x100m at both U13 and U17 while the girls were triumphant in the U15 race.
A spokeswoman for the athletics club said: "With young people under increasing performance pressure from schools, it is of paramount importance that our young athletes enjoy their sport and learn every step, jump or throw of the way.
"This way instead of potential demotivation from performances, which don’t always go the way they hoped for, we encourage them to think of them as something to learn from."
Some of the older athletes from sister club St Albans Striders travelled to St Ives in Cambridgeshire for the Southern Athletics League.
Trailing after 10 events, the team stepped up with their throws and jumps to finish third behind Royston and Huntingdon.
They even had to drag one of their supporters away from his picnic to compete in the 4x400m relay.
Not that the sausage rolls slowed Tom Mulligan down as he completed his leg in 56 seconds.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here