READING AC’s young sprinters travelled to London’s Olympic Stadium to take part in the Anniversary Games on Sunday, as they pitted themselves against some of the best relay teams in the country.

As well as giving them the opportunity to compete on the track, they also got to experience everything behind the scenes from the indoor practice track to being led from the call room out onto the track as the stadium announcers introduced them to the spectators.

The Under 13 girls comprised Megan Pickup, Amelia Walsh, Georgina Ashby and Topaz Samuel, setting a new club record of 52.72secs in finishing fifth out of eight teams.

Jacob Isaacs, Hagen Mzee, Louis Hutchings and Sammy Ball produced a stunning effort to come second in the U13 boys race, setting a new club record of 51.59.

A third club record (45.28) was set by the U15 boys – Thomas Anderson, Harrison Lynch, Shillou Johnson and Sam Elwood – who also grabbed the runners-up spot.

The U15 Girls team of Ellie Gilder, Liani Springer-Thompson, Chloe Eames and Fatou Gaye came sixth with a time of 51.64, and that was matched by the U17 Girls team of Kyra Hannibal, Becky Richardson, Chante Bynoe-Gittens and Emily Whybrow (50.82).

The U17 boys team of Harry North, Oliver Matthews, Christian Santos and Malachi Henry ran 45.73 for seventh and their fastest time of the season.

  • READING AC won their Southern Athletics League Division Two fixture at Palmer Park.

For the men there were A-string victories for Ibrahim Turay (200m), Tom Jervis (3,000m), Michael Dyer (110m hurdles and discus), Jacob Rajkumar (high jump), Scott Garraway (long jump), Alex Spratley-Kemp (shot putt), Michael Dzandu (javelin).

For the ladies Katrina Vidzupe won both the A-string 100m and 200m, Ella Saunders won the 400m dipping under 60s for the first time with 59.7secs, and there were also wins for Georgia Walton (800m), Georgia Hayes (1,500m) and Molly Bates (high jump) – whilst Linda Church equalled the club’s 200m record for the Vet 50 category with 33.0.

In securing victory, Reading tallied 250 points to Wycombe Phoenix Harriers’ 202 in second place, with Hillingdon third and Ealing fourth.