FIVE Worcester Athletic Club prospects competed for Cannock and Stafford in the National Junior League Midland Premier Division.

Despite being aged between 14 and 17, they shone in the under 20s competition against 18 and 19-year-olds in Sutton Coldfield.

Alex Bradnick was third in the 100 metres in 10.7 seconds and second in the 200m ‘A’ in 21.8 before running the third leg in the 4x100m relay as the team took second.

It was the first time Bradnick beat the 22-second mark in the 200m with a following wind marginally over the legal limit.

Ella Gibbons made her debut in the league, jumping as a guest in the long jump where she would have placed highly with 5.14m.

She went on to equal the Worcester club record in the high jump with 1.55m, coming second in the ‘A’ string on count-back.

Due to a slight thigh strain, Libby Merry donated her third leg place in the 4x100m relay.

Gibbons passed the baton to Worcester team-mate Zoe Styles in an excellent changeover which took the team from third to first.

She held the lead to bring Cannock and Stafford over the line in first place in 50.08 seconds.

Styles, promoted to the ‘A’ string, had already run the 100m, recovering from a stumble to take fifth in 12.9 followed by third in the 200m in 26.3.

Worcester’s Merry was first in a strong ‘B’ long jump contest, covering 5.17m.

The cut-off for the last three jumps was 5.12m.

She then went on to take sixth place in the ‘B’ 100m with a time of 13.3.

Georgie Greenwood, two days off her 15th birthday, competed in the high jump and triple jump, coming first in the ‘B’ string in both with 1.5m and 10.14m respectively.

This was a welcome return to form for Greenwood, who is still some way short of full fitness after a bout of flu.

The athletes helped Cannock and Stafford achieve fifth spot, the same as their league standing, ahead of the likes of Cardiff, Charnwood and Rugby. Their management were impressed by the attitude, behaviour and performances of Worcester’s youngsters.

From the athletes’ perspectives, they are all gaining vital experience of competing at a high level on a regular basis.