Press Report 16th June 2026
EASTERN YOUNG ATHLETES LEAGUE
A team of 30 Ilford AC Junior athletes competed at the second EYAL fixture held at Watford.
Despite a smaller than usual team the athletes competed brilliantly to achieve a magnificent 25 Personal Best performances
Kicking off the competition Under 14 athlete Daniel Okereke ran PBs in 100m & 200m clocking 12.0 seconds & 25.3s respectively gaining 2nd in both events. Teammate Daniel Nzurike continued his recent good form with 3 PBs in 100m , 13.5s, 200m, 27.4s and 7.90 metres in the Shot putt
Not to be outdone by his teammates A.J. Mullings-Roache jumped a fantastic PB height of 1.60 metres as well as recording 30.6s for his 200m hurdles debut. A.J. completed his individual day with a Long jump of 4.24metres
Zackariah Gayle 100m 15.7s Long jump 3.40metres and Elijah Muirhead 100m 14.4s. 200m 33.8s Long jump 2.76m completed the U14 team with the 4×100 m relay team finishing second in 51.9 seconds
U16G
Gloria Ananwa had a consistent run in 100m clocking 13.7s before setting a PB in 200m with 27.3s
Gloria completed her events with a leap of 1.20m in high jump
Dara Daramola had another impressive day, setting 3 PBs in 100m. 13.6s. 200m in 28.3s. and a Discus throw of 24.78 metres
Sophie Burrow continues her recovery from injury with solid performances in 300m. 50.9s. Shot putt 6.57m. Hammer throw 29.30metres earning valuable team points
Hawaa Patel had a successful competition with a PB of 1.40m in High jump . 3.48.3m in 800metres and a Long jump of 3.66metres
Charis Ojewunmi climbed onto the PB bandwagon with a great throw of 8.87m in the Shot putt and followed up with 8.86m in the Discus and 22.97m in the Javelin
Iris Wan continued her recent improvement in 1500m clocking 6.01.6m
Debutant athletes Gabriela Boohene. Jordan Pellius-Bastien and Iyimide Owolabi all had solid performances
Gabriela. 300m. 55.6s
Jordan. 100m 13.6s. 200m 28.7s
Iyimide. 100m 15.9s. 200m 35.9s
U16 Boys
Max Andrews continues to put his training to great use with a brilliant High jump PB of 1.75m and a 100m PB of 12.3s. Max finished his competition with a Long jump of 5.21m
James Houghton was another athlete to set 2 PBs in both 300m. 39.1s and Shot Putt 8.13m.
James also recorded a time of 2.15m to claim victory in the B string 800m race
Zakaria Choudhury produced a dominant performance in the A string 800m to leave a strong field in his wake, winning in 2.05.9minutes . Zak also debuted in the javelin, earning valuable team points with a throw of 11.48metres
Fellow debutant Aryan Gohil had a good run in 1500m finishing in 5.38.5minutes with teammate Elias Furreedan completing another solid run of 5.29.9 m for his 1500m
Specialist thrower Dhanusshan Ponnambalam proved to be as reliable as ever with a PB of 11.65m in Shot putt. 30.44m in Discus and 22.97m in Javelin
Sprinter Toye Oguntoye produced another PB in 100m with 12.5s and a solid run in 200m 27.4s
U18men
Ryder Islam, returning from recent injury produced a valuable points winning performance in the 800m with a time of 2.28.9m
Versatile athlete Robert Stanciu gained a PB of 4.26metres in Long jump and followed it up with solid performances in 1500m. 5.04.3 and 17.23m Discus throw
Troy Harris continued to prove how valuable he is to the team with consistent performances in High jump 1.55m. Javelin 34.69m and Shot putt 9.05m
Sprinter Dunsin Daramola produced 2 fine runs in the 100 and 200m with PBs of 12s and 26.6s respectively . Dunsin gained team points in the Shot putt with 5.50m
Despite a painful ankle injury Triple jumper Brian Domfe-Bonsu finished 3rd with a leap of 11.09m and a Long jump of 4.59m
Leron Adjei showed good form to win his 200m race ,despite a niggling knee injury he recorded a good time of 23.8s
U18 women
Despite only having 4 athletes available the women’s squad produced some great performances
Experienced athlete Marissa Osas-Bavis had 3 consistent performances in 400m 68.7s 200m 27s and High jump of 1.25m
Zahira Campbell-Thomas took on the throws events with PBs in both Discus 21.97m. and Javelin 16.75m. Zahira also produced a solid throw of 7.99m in the Shot putt event
Eliora Arthur-Kennedy continued her ongoing improvement with a 100m time of 13.6s 200m 29s and a Long jump PB of 3.35m
Undoubtedly Star of the day was Sofia Crane who was competing for points in a group that was 2 years above her age and with heavier equipment.
Sofia produced 3 Personal best throws in Shot putt 5.29m. Discus 9.29m. Hammer throw 23.09m earning valuable team points The ladies ended the day with a brilliant 4 x 100m relay 2nd place in a time of 52 seconds
Although this was a smaller than usual Ilford AC team , all of the athletes showed a great willingness to cover as many events as possible and their performances are a great credit to their desire and dedication to the team. Well done to everyone and a special thanks to our Officials, volunteers, parents and Coaches for allowing our athletes to compete
VALENTINES PARK 5km (ELVIS #3)
The third round of this year’s Elvis tournament was held on a torrential rainy evening over a flat fast course in Valentines Park.
Ilford AC had a squad of 21 and a very successful event with 1st and 2nd place and first V50 and V60 males.
Shamil Mohamad won the race in 15:27, followed in 2nd place by Philip Ellul in 16:18. Richard Morris was next home in 15th place in 17:51.
Steve Philcox, following his club record last week over 5m, broke the clubs 5k record in a time of 17:57 coming home in 16th place and placing 1st in the VM60 grouping. Malcom Muir was next home in 18th place in 18:17, placing 1st in the VM50 grouping. Danny Holeyman completed the Male teams scoring squad, coming home in 19:28 for 37th place.
Also gaining honours in their age groupings were Neil Crisp, who was 2nd VM60, coming home in 45th place in 20:12 and Andrew Catton who placed 3rd in the VM70 grouping with 24:34 for 134th place.
The men placed 3rd on the night, and remain 3rd place in Division 1 of the Elvis league
Leading the ladies home was Natalie Crisp placing 9th in 22.06. Next home, and placing 2nd in the FV60 grouping was Alison Sale placing 26th in 24:07. Alison was followed home by Jennie Sheehan in 25:41 for 39th place. Next home was Rachel Halpin, placing 42nd in a time of 26:07. Completing the female team were Dianne Crisp in 27:54 for 71st place and Frieda Keane in 30:32 for 91st place.
The ladies finished 2nd on the night, and remain 2nd in Division 2 of the Elvis league.
Also running on the night were:- Diarmuid Mac Donnell 20:55, Bradley Brown 21:41, Steven Horsley 22:01, Stephen Lacey 22:42, Pathrose Louis 27:07, Launa Broadley 30:36 and Colin Mcdermott 30:36
High Easter 10k
Ilford AC sent a team of thirteen runners to High Easter in Chelmsford at the weekend to compete in this popular 10k race, which this year incorporated the 10k Essex Champs.
The race is a one lap, fast and flat course, through the High Easter village.
It was a successful day for the squad with 2 Silver medals and a Bronze.
Leading the team home was Stephen Philcox, who not only gained a Silver medal in his age grouping, but also broke his third club record in a week, becoming the fastest Ilford runner in his age group over 5m, 5k and 10k. Stephen finished the race in 40th place with a time of 36:44.
Next home was Malcolm Muir 37:02 43rd, Richard Woolterton 38:55 67th, Danny Holeyman 39:19 71st, and Dyfan Garmon 39:56 82nd.
Next home and 2nd medal of the day was David Thomas winning a Bronze in his age grouping in a time of 41:48 for 110th place. Following David was Terry Knightley in 115th place in 42:08.
First female home was David’s daughter, Dani Thomas in 46:48 for 174th place.
Next medal of the day was a Silver in his age grouping for Andrew Catton in 238th place in a time of 50:30.
Completing the team on the day were Alison Sale 50:38, Beverley Thomas 58:46 Frieda Keane 62:37 and Julia Galea 70:22
Herts and North Middlesex vets league
Ilford Vets athletes travelled to Stevenage on the evening of Monday 8 June for match 2 of the Herts and North Middlesex vets league.
The track events started with the 800m.
Malcolm Muir came down age groups to cover the V35 categories finishing fifth in 2.32.7. In the 200m he placed fifth in 33.3 and in the 3000m was also fifth in 10.27.3.
Richard Woolterton ran as the V40 athlete in the 800m finishing fifth in 2.35.4. In the V50 category for the 3000m he placed third in 11.00.7.
Chris Scott in the 800m finished second in 2.22.0 as the V50 athlete.
Neil Crisp was the V60 athlete for the 800m and finished third in 2.49.5. In the 3000m his time of 11.50.7 secured fourth.
David Butler covered all V70 events. In the 800m he placed second in 3.07.8 and his time of 41.4 secured third in the 200m. In the discus his distance of 11m 04 placed him fifth.
Akwasi Nkrumah ran the 200m as V40 finishing third in 27.3. His V35 shot put of 7m 73 placed him third.
Henry Ricketts covered the 200m (30.1) and long jump (4m 37) athlete for sixth and second respectively as the V50 athlete.
James Lambden covered the V35 long jump placing seventh with 4m 17. In the 200m as the V60 athlete he was also seventh in 32.7.
Craig Burrow debuting as a vet covered the V50 throws, placing third in the shot put with 9m 56. Fourth in the hammer with 29m 28 and first in the discus with 32m 41.
Peter Whiting in the V60 discus achieved seventh with 19m 76.
The 4 x 400m relay team of Chris, Richard, Malcolm and Akwasi brought the baton home in 4.27.0 for fourth.
The men’s team finished second on the evening and now sit third overall after two matches.
Anna Crawley competed as the sole female athlete for Ilford. Over 800m in the V35 category she finished third in 2.39.7. Over 3000m in the same age group she finished second in 11.17.7. The women’s team are seventh after two matches.
Full results will be on Power of 10.
Thanks to Diane Crisp for the support and Steve Crane who supported and officiated field events across the match.