BICESTER AC made a strong start to their Youth Development League campaign in Leicester.

The north Oxfordshire club finished third in the first round of the Midland 1C lower age group division.

Under 11 Imogen Cox took victory in the A string 800m in a personal best time of 2mins 52.3secs and claimed second in the javelin.

Freya McGinlay was second in the under 13 girls shot, with Charlotte Kavanagh triumphant in the B event.

The latter also ran 11.6secs for second place in the B event of the 75m.

Bicester’s under 13s excelled in the 4x100m relay, with their team of Katie Groves, Holly Offord, McGinlay and Kavanagh runners-up.

Amy Willis ran superbly to win the under 15 300m in 48.6secs.

She also took third in the 75m hurdles and runner-up in the B string long jump.

In the same age category, Amelia Cox was second in the 1,500m, as well as third in the javelin and long jump.

Alex Nicolaides took second in the under 13 boys 100m and long jump.

Both of the club’s under 15 athletes produced personal bests, with Edward Jolliffe runner-up in the 1,500m in 4.59.9 and Sean Lock triumphant in the B event in 5.06.5.

Jolliffe also recorded a new mark of 4.55m to clinch second in the long jump, with Ben Groves setting a pb in the 200m and Sam Rayson matching that in the 100m and 80m hurdles.

Meanwhile, Ben West impressed in the London Mini Marathon, finishing 17th in the under 17 boy’s race.

In the senior event, five Bicester Triathlon Club members battled through the heat to complete the Virgin London Marathon.

Despite temperatures of 24C, Paul Leverton finished in a time of 2hrs 58mins, with Christopher Finister recording a pb of 3.11.43.

Garry James (3.25.45), Amanda McReynolds (5.51.19) and Kate Lowe (5.55.23) all made their debuts in the event.

JANE Simons has qualified to represent Great Britain at the ETU European Championships next year.

The Bicester Triathlon Club member achieved the honour when finishing second in her Veterans 1 age group at the Stockton Duathlon.

At the Storm the Castle Duathlon in Ludlow, husband and wife Steve and Fiona Clark were fifth and 17th in their respective categories.