BASINGSTOKE and Mid Hants Athletic Club clinched a promotion spot from the national athletics championship division after securing a commendable second place in a closely contested match held in Bournemouth against Cardiff Athletics Club.

Throughout the day, Basingstoke held a lead over their Welsh rivals, showing remarkable determination. However, Cardiff Athletics Club surged late in the competition, ultimately securing victory with a total of 535.5 points, a mere 8.5 points ahead of the valiant Basingstoke team.

In a parallel championship division match that took place at Wavertree in Liverpool, Tonbridge emerged victorious for the third time, claiming the championship title. Meanwhile, Belgrave, who had entered the match in second place, finished fourth at Wavertree. This twist of fate allowed both Cardiff and Basingstoke to surpass them, securing the second and third positions respectively and pushing Belgrave down in the overall standings.

The top four out of the 16 teams in the division have earned promotion, ensuring their presence in the premiership for the upcoming season.

The success of the Basingstoke athletes was a collective effort, with numerous standout performances contributing to the final results. Notable achievements include Henry Christer's impressive display in the men's sprints U20 category. He clinched second place in the A string 100m, setting a new personal best of 10.59 seconds. Christer continued to excel, winning the 200m in 22.04 seconds and anchoring the 4x100m relay team to a second-place finish.

The club's combined event athletes also shone, with Laura Darcy's outstanding achievements. She secured a victory in the high jump with a clearance of 1.73m, followed by a third-place finish in the A string javelin with 28.72m, and a second-place result in the B string shot put with a distance of 9.12m. Darcy even added the pole vault to her repertoire, clearing 2.23m for a commendable fourth-place finish.

Jordana Morrish showcased her versatility, achieving second place in the A string long jump (5.77m), first place in the B string high jump (1.7m), and second place in the 1500m steeplechase (5:49.26).

The middle-distance events witnessed a series of strong performances. Maddie Deadman secured victory in the 1500m (4:36.12), following her second-place finish in the 800m A race with a time of 2:12.11.

Coach Dave Ragan demonstrated his expertise, claiming victory in the 2000m steeplechase with a time of 6:27.28, while U20 runner Ben White triumphed in the B race with 6:49.38.

Additional highlights included James Beeks' leadership in the 1500m, securing second place in 3:58.43, and Stefan O’Loughnane's win in the B string with a time of 4:4.80.

Sophie Doherty, another U20 athlete, delivered an impressive performance. She earned second place in the B long jump with a distance of 5.08m, followed by third place in the B javelin (27.23m), and clinched victory in the A shot put with a throw of 10.71m.

The men's team also exhibited remarkable prowess, with Mikun Adeniran achieving second place in the discus (40.40m) and second place in the Javelin B with a throw of 38.03m.

Several athletes achieved personal bests, including Will Parkinson with a time of 57.24 seconds for third place in the 400m hurdles, and Scott Gunning with a time of 21.93 seconds for second place in the B string 200m. Bradley White clocked 52.24 seconds in the 400m for a third-place finish, while Cara McGrath completed the 400m in 60.22 seconds.

Cat Hazel excelled in the 1500m steeplechase, securing victory in the B event with a time of 6:6.69.

The day concluded on a high note with the men's 4x400m relay team clinching victory in the final race. The quartet of Bradley White, Jack White, Will Parkinson, and Stefan O’Loughnane exhibited exceptional teamwork, winning in a time of 3:30.28.

As the dust settled, the overall scores stood as follows:

1. Cardiff with 534.5 points

2. Basingstoke with 526 points

3. Herts Phoenix with 447 points

4. Bournemouth with 429 points

5. Yeovil with 421.5 points

6. Portsmouth with 417 points

7. Southampton with 394.5 points

8. Bedford with 216.5 points