Southampton AC got their campaign off in fine style in the lower age group of the Youth Development League by finishing runners-up in their South Premier 2 league match at Croyden.

The city club are targeting a top-two finish this season and promotion to top flight South Premier League 1.

Both U13 & U15 age groups had a string of victories with dozens of personal best performances.

The U13 girls’ team consisted of Georgia O’Dell, Jade Clements, Freya Coe, Amaya Scott, Elli-Rose Francis, Grace Kelly, Poppy Wright, Machaela Strickland and Samantha Callaway. Conditions were tricky with a blustery wind but sprinters Clements and O’Dell produced pbs in both the 75m and 150m. Scott gained pbs for the 800m, shot put and the high jump. Javelin throwers Kelly and Callaway won both the A and B string events, and came first and second overall in the event.

Southampton had two Year 6 pupils, Wright and Strickland, battling the conditions in a tough 1,200m.

The U15 girls team scored 104 points out of the club total of 429, despite being a couple of athletes short of a full team due to holidays.

Southampton were second in the U15 girls age group behind overall match winners Herne Hill, whose U15s scored 114 points.

Most notable performances were: Rhianna Beavis – 800m 2m53s.69 (PB), Izzy Bryant – Javelin 24m (PB), Millie Cavanagh – shot putt 10.29m (overall winner), Hollie Garrathy – pole vault 2.50m (overall winner), Hannah Griffiths – 200m 30.21s (PB), Ellie Hodgson – 100m 13.20s (PB), Katya Oldfield – 75mH 12.89s (PB), Eleanor Prinsep – 1,500m 5m44s.11 (PB) and Anna Reavey – 1,500m 5m51s.60 (PB).

The 4x100m relay team of Bryant, Oldfield, Griffiths and Hodgson won in a time of 52.87s that was close to a new club record.

Jacob Phrachai made his club debut in the under-13 boys’ team, winning the A string in the long jump (3.97m).

George Rosam clocked 12.85 secs in the hurdles, moving him up to fifth in the UK rankings.

Seth Furniss, in the hurdles for the first time, also ran the 800m with a 2.42.88 pb.

Edward Spencer gained a pb of 14.61 in the 100m, while Patrick Fisher claimed two pbs – in the 800m (2.44.45) and the javelin (10.63m).

Daniel Hoiles (12.93m) threw the javelin for the first time for the club. Jack Higgins ran a great 1,500m in 5.10.53.

The under-15 boys got off to a flying start with Eddie Jenkinson coming first in both javelin and discus.

Joshua Nash won the B-string shot putt with 6.89m, an impressive start for his first competition.

Adam Jones won the high jump, while Owen Lawrence achieved a new personal best of 1.70m in winning the B string.

Both boys went on to win the A and B string long jump.

Andrew Douglas won the pole vault while Kieran Apps, in his first pole vault competition, vaulted two metres.

Reiss Jarvis achieved a new pb of 26.79s in the 200m, beating his previous pb by almost three seconds.

Lynden Olowe achieved a new pb in the 100m.

The next league match is at Winchester on June 1.

Results: 1 Herne Hill Harriers 454.5 pts, 2 Southampton AC 429, 3 Croydon Harriers 385, 4 Team Dorset 378.5, 5 Winchester & District AC 324.