The Kent Young Athletes League for under-13 and under-15 boys and girls commenced on Saturday at Ashford with new composite teams competing, writes Alan Newman.

Dartford Harriers combined forces with Swanley and District to compete as a joint team in Division 1. Medway Park Phoenix joined Invicta East Kent and Paddock Wood linked with Folkestone Running Club to form competitive teams in Division 2.

Medway and Maidstone finished fourth in the boys' match and the girls showed improved form to finish second to champions Blackheath.

Medway Park Phoenix/Invicta East Kent finished sixth in Division 2, with Paddock Wood/Folkestone surprise winners of the girls’ match.

Winners for M&M in the top flight boys’ league included under-15s Isaac Milham (40.89sec) and Jacques Cunningham-Marsh (40.95) in the 300m; Milham (12.54) and Connor McCormick (14.80) in 80m hurdles and Joe Webb, Owen Featherstone and Cunningham-Marsh in 3x800m relay action (7min08.37sec).

Ellie Turner took the under-15 girls' 100m (13.51) and was matched by M&M winners Megan Walsh (44.29) in the 300m; Natasha Scott (12.3) and Poppy Dinley (12.7) in 75m hurdles and Amber Durrant (1.60m) and Jade Oni (1.45) in high jump.

Medway Park Phoenix/Invicta East Kent enjoyed a Division 2 win for Joseph Fox (5.32.4) in the under-13s' 1,500m B after Johannes Sadler (5.17.8) had finished third in the A race. The under-15s' 1,500m was dominated by Medway Park/Invicta athletes Billy Harrop (4.56.80) and Quinn Austin (5.11.40).

Middle-distance was also a strength for Medway Park/Invicta’s girls with Alex Millard (4.14.2) and Alice Mount (4.19.24) winning under-13 1,200m races and Emily Bond (5.03.04) and Ella Fox (5.06.66) a class apart in the under-15 1,500m.