WORCESTER Athletic Club shone in the sunshine and strong winds at Hereford in the opening Midland Track and Field League Division Six meeting.

Talented long jumper Olivia Merry led the way in the first women’s event of the match with a leap of 5.12 metres.

She was backed up by Shalayna Hutchinson, who won the ‘B’ string contest.

Both athletes went on to enjoy double success with Merry beating her rivals in the ‘B’ 100m and Hutchinson starring in the triple jump.

With Zoe Styles and Amber Griffiths, the duo triumphed in the 4x100m relay in a club record 52.4 seconds.

Helen Reeves won the first track event of the day in the women’s 400m hurdles and then added the 100m hurdles, as well as the 4x400m relay with Katie Martin, Alice Wright and Jenny Nesbitt.

The performances set the tone for the day with many more wins amid a string of excellent displays.

Styles won the women’s 200m and 100m ‘A’ races, while Nesbitt and Wright claimed the ‘A’ and ‘B’ 1,500m respectively.

The versatile Wright, normally a 3,000m runner and current national cross country champion, won the 800m and was third in the 400m.

Amber Griffiths (200m) and Sammy Spencer (javelin) rounded off the day’s winners among the women with the latter also competing in the hammer, shot and discus.

Martin threw the javelin, shot and hammer and came second in the ‘B’ triple jump.

Mel Garland (high jump and discus) and Gill Repton (‘B’ 400m) completed a fine team effort.

The women won their section with 184 points — well ahead of second-placed Abingdon (158).

Meanwhile, the men’s team also got off to a flying start on the track.

Team manager Richard White won the 400m hurdles, with one of the athletes he coaches, Jack Lannie, second in the ‘B’ race.

In the men’s sprints, a double success in the ‘A’ 100m and 200m for junior international Alex Bradnick was ably supported by second places for Luke Kinsey in the ‘B’ races.

Paul Maguire and Andy Kinney won the 400m races, as well as taking part in the winning relay teams.

The middle distances were a clean sweep for Worcester with sixth former Lewis Roberts and his younger brother Ollie claiming the 800m races.

The 1,500m runs were won by Josh Carr and David Jubb — also sixth formers.

Adding experience to the team, Andy Peach and Dave O’Brien ran into the wind on the back straight 12 times to complete the 5,000m with the latter also competing in the 2,000m steeplechase.

The men’s field eventers were, again, a blend of youth and experience.

Schoolboys Hakim Shepherd (second ‘A’ triple jump and ‘A’ high jump), Tom Southam (second ‘B’ triple jump, fourth ‘B’ long jump) and Adam Higgins (first ‘B’ high jump) impressed.

They combined with throwers Nick Daniel, Pete Stewart, Andy Kinney and decathlete Mark Flannery to gather valuable points.

It culminated in the men’s team winning their match with 203 points, ahead of second-placed Abingdon (178).

Many of the younger athletes competed in their first senior match and gained personal bests, giving them confidence going into tomorrow’s county championships at the Nunnery Wood track, Worcester.