ATHLETES from Meridian and Greneway Schools showed their golden touch once more, with another successful performance at the North Herts Schools Athletics Championships. In the event at the Ridlins Stadium in Stevenage, the Meridian and Greneway partners

ATHLETES from Meridian and Greneway Schools showed their golden touch once more, with another successful performance at the North Herts Schools' Athletics Championships.

In the event at the Ridlins Stadium in Stevenage, the Meridian and Greneway partnership came away with an impressive five team titles and a haul of individual medals, that included 12 golds, 10 silver and eight bronze.

As well as being crowned combined champions in Years 7 and 8 - for the fifth consecutive year - and the combined Year 9 and 10 sections, Meridian and Greneway also won the 'grand prix' award for the best mixed school.

Head of PE at Greneway, Terry Graves said: "With five team championships, this was one of the best performances by a school. To be given the 'grand prix' award is particularly pleasing as it was the team's second official consecutive win for what is a highly prized overall competition."

Year 7 athlete Amber Rivers won the girls' 75m hurdles final with a time of 12.93 seconds, while Amy Cooper claimed gold in a competitive 200m final.

The girls' 4x100m relay also yielded another, with Charlotte Pinner, Hannah Tofts, Amy Cooper and Megan Pinner first home, after Megan had earlier added the long jump title with a jump of 3.98m.

In Year 8 Kelly Stubbs set a new personal best in claiming the girls' 800m gold with a time of 2 mins 45.67 secs, while Charlotte Pinner claimed gold in the 1500m final with a time of 5 mins 45.6 secs.

The Year 9 boys 4x100m team also grabbed gold, with Ayrron Armstrong, Lee Maslin, Daniel Jinkerson, and Josh Tilmouth leaving their rivals in their wake, while in Year 10 more success followed with Will Dacey setting a new personal best to win the boys 200m final with a time of 23.6.

Having seen most of their success on the track, Hayley Faulkner added a second field win with a brilliant performance in the triple jump with a jump of 9.12m in the Year 10 final.

Elsewhere in the Year 10 field events, Emma Linwood calimed gold in the girls' javelin with a throw of 21.96m, while Ben Jackson won the boys discus with a throw of 33.90m.

Graves added: "The Greneway and Meridian partnership was once again incredibly successful.