SOUTHAMPTON AC’s under-17s and under-20s finished sixth in their last UK Youth Development League upper age-group match of the season at Croydon.

It ensures a mid-table finish of fourth in South/West 1A, effectively the third division of the league’s southern structure.

Southampton’s U20 women did magnificently – none more so than Sophie Merritt who won all four A-string throws, taking first in javelin, shot, discus and hammer. Second-claim athlete Evie Wilcox faultlessly backed her up, winning all four B strings in the same events.

Hollie Garrathy won the A triple jump, Alexandra Burchill was fifth in the A 200m and winner of the B 400m, while Anna Sharp headed the A 1500m, was A 400m runner-up and and second in the B 200m.

Hannah Polden managed 3000m first and 800m second, Anna Reavey won the steeplechase and B string 1500m before teaming up with Izzy Bennett, Polden and Sharp to win the 4x400m relay.

For the U17 women Ellie Hodgson and Sophie Feist took dual second in the A/B 100m, Freya Coe placed fifth in the A 300m and fourth in the A triple jump with Rebekha Thacker taking B 300m third.

The 800m was a good source of points with A-stringer Izzy Bennett third and B-stringer Grace Reavey first. Reavey also claimed B long jump sixth.

Grace Kelly’s debut 300m hurdles resulted in A-string second and she was also second in the A javelin and fifth in the A long jump.

Emma Froome dominated the A shot with a huge put of 12.32m and took A discus fourth.

Elizabeth Ball wound up fourth in the A hammer and fellow second-claim competitor Emily MacDonald was the A pole vault runner-up. Reavey, Froome, Feist and Hodgson combined for 4x100m relay second, while Reavey, Thacker, Coe and Feist crossed the line third in the 4x300m.

Matt Callaway carried the flag for Southampton's U20 men, winning the A discus (42.83 metres), while Max Satterly had quite a day for the U17 men.

Satterley won his debut steeplechase, came second in the A 400m and sixth in the A long jump.

Zak Mahamed led the A 3000m and came runner-up in the A 1500m and B long jump.

Sprinter Jack Higgins placed fifth and fourth respectively in the A 100/200m and was fifth in the A shot.

Thrower Ben Upfold achieved twin seconds in the A hammer and javelin.