SWINDON Harriers are celebrating promotion from the Southern Athletics League Division Three West.

The club not only secured promotion but were also crowned league champions after winning the fourth and final match at Plymouth.

The combined men's and women’s squad amassed a total of 31 wins, 24 seconds, and 10 third places - plus a sparkling club record of 49.51secs for the winning women’s 4x100m relay team of Teresa Iannetelli, sisters Laila and Delleah Belgrave, and Lydia Rogers.

“The women’s team, managed by Keeleigh (Chapman) and Rachel (Moscrop), played a huge part in our success,” said men’s team manager, Luke Byrne.

“I think, pre-Covid, we had just four or five women in the team. But on Saturday in our team of almost 50 athletes, half were women. They have come on leaps and bounds, and we would not have got out of this league without them.”

In six events, the club’s women delivered maximum points by winning both the A and B strings. Amelia Brandon starred in three of those, winning the 100m hurdles A race plus the 400m hurdles B event and the B high jump.

Hannah New won the B 100m hurdles, Teresa Iannetelli the 400m hurdles A race, and teenager Meredith Prosser the A high jump with a PB of 1.50m.

Delleah Belgrave and Lydia Rogers did the double in the long jump, with Rogers teaming up with teenager Faith Herring for maximum points in the triple jump. Finally, Katie New and Leila Belgrave did the double in the javelin.

For the men, there was an outstanding double-double for teenagers Ohsotare Kadiri and Jaiden Dix as they swept the board in the long and triple jumps. Fletcher Hart and Isaac Scott did the double in a thrilling 800m which came down to the last few metres, while Simon Byrne and Ben Lines dominated the 5000m.

There were also PBs for Matt Woodward (400m), Isaac McAdam (steeplechase), team boss Byrne (steeplechase), teenager Chris James in both the pole vault and high jump, and Hart in the B javelin.

Iannetelli also made an impressive debut to win the 400m hurdles while Jessica Howard equalled her PB in the pole vault.

“I must also thank all the people behind the scenes who also did so much to help deliver this success,” added Byrne.

“We might have had 50-odd athletes competing for us, but there were probably as many people doing essential jobs to make it all possible. It was just a fantastic all-round team performance.”