JOINT-team managers Martin Smith and Craig Scott have paid tribute to Swindon Harriers’ young athletes after the crop gave the club a terrific start to the new season.

Harriers' youngsters followed up their recent victory in the Wessex Young Athletes League at Bournemouth with a hard-fought third place in the opening YDL Midland Premier South West match at Carmarthen.

“We have a good squad, a terrific team spirit and everyone cheers and helps each other,” said Smith.

“We had a great start at Bournemouth but we knew the YDL was a step up in class. As we travelled home on Sunday, Craig said to me that had we been offered third before the match we would have taken that with the depleted team we had.

“I think we are definitely capable of challenging for second place, and if we had everyone out and were at full strength then we could push Cheltenham, though they are very strong in all departments at the moment.”

Two superb club records ensured that Ethan Bryon took centre stage at the weekend. Firstly, he won the U13 boys’ 150m in a sizzling personal best time of 19.51secs to eclipse Al Virgilio’s club record of 19.6secs set in 2021.

He then anchored the squad of Jayden Messiah, Kurtis Osei-Ofosu and Jody Lloyd-Owusu to victory in the 4x100m relay in 53.74secs to beat the record of 54.9secs. Bryon also won the long jump (4.43m).

“What a trooper Ethan was on Sunday doing all those events and he is such a pleasant lad as well,” added Martin.

Holly Scott won the U15 girls’ hammer and was runner-up in both the shot and 75m hurdles. Lucy Bull was runner-up in the javelin but went straight into that event having just finished fourth in the 1500m – and barely had time to catch her breath! She was also runner-up in the discus.

Elsie Scrase won both the U13s javelin (PB 20.96m) and 800m (PB 2:33.41), and Lottie Harding threw a PB of 6.57m to win the U13s shot.

Oakley Hogan was another big points winner as he won the high jump – Arthur Pearson won the B event – and was third in the discus and javelin.

Lewis Belgrave cleared a PB of 1.35m for second in the U13s high jump and Jody Lloyd-Owusu dipped under 14 seconds with a PB of 13.90secs to win the 75m hurdles.