John Saulters was Team Manager of the Northern Ireland team, running as Team Belfast, competing on Saturday at Lee Valley Indoor Arena in the first semi final of the McCains Inter City Challenge. John assembled by far the strongest squad so far to compete in the Inter City Challenge which was needed against quality opposition. Team Belfast finished fifth with nine podium finishes. Two were provided by North Down athletes by Jeremy Harper who was 2nd in the shot with 13.61m and Tom Reynolds who was 3rd in the pole vault with 4.11m. However Ben Reynolds was the most impressive equalling his indoor high jump pb of 2.00m and blasting to a new club record of 8.26 sec in the 60m hurdles. Ben ran 8.22 secs a fortnight ago in Sheffield but that was at the U20 height of 3″3″ whereas the Lee Valley heights were the full Senior 3″6″, Ben”s first time in the event. The hurdles record has been a Reynolds family affair with Tom and Luke alternating but the bragging rights have now passed on to Ben.As well as Jeremy and Tom, other Team Belfast athletes to gain podium finishes were Anna Boyle, 1st at 60m; Ciara Mageean, 2nd at 800m; Kerry Harty, 2nd at 1500m; Steven Morrow, 3rd at 800m; Mary Devlin, 3rd at long jump and the men and womens medley relays, both 3rd.
Also on Saturday, Phil Browne ran an indoor pb of 7.23 secs for 60m in the Bath Open Meeting.