TWINELLE Hopeson was at the forefront of the Croydon Harriers gold rush last weekend as she netted a double win at the South of England Championships at Crystal Palace.

She was victorious in the U20 100m (12.24 seconds), albeit into a -3m/sec head wind, and the 200m (24.13).

Two more U20s, Tunde Amosu and Ned Quiney, also struck gold. Amosu's triple jump performance of 15.46m was further than any senior registered and fell just four centimetres shy of his own Croydon Harriers record.

Wilson's School student Quiney's first ever 5m pole vault clearance earned him the senior title. Trinity student Elliot Safo showed up well too with a silver medal-winning 7.20m effort in the U20 long jump. Trevor Okoroafor just missed senior triple jump honours with his fourth placing 14.92m effort which saw him a mere 9cm behind the winner.

Improving sprinter Oweka Wanogho took two good fourth sprint places. In the U20 100m he clocked 11.25 into a -3.2m/sec wind and in the 200m ran sub-22secs twice, his semi final run of 21.83 being the faster.

Trinity School student Andrew Jordon, competing for Blackheath Harriers dominated the South hammer event, winning with a huge 66.95m throw.

Competing for North and South Croydon at the Surrey Schools Championships, local youngsters showed how healthy athletics is in the borough coming up with 17 champions.

Apart from those mentioned elsewhere on this page, there were wins for Nathan Stone (senior boys 2,000m steeplechase), Trinity, 7 minutes 27.0 seconds; Rianna Alleyne (intermediate girls 100m), St Andrew's, 13.15; Nicky George (IG shot), Shirley High, 8.80m; Kamilla Morgan (IG javelin), Croydon High, 32.27m; Peter Chambers (intermediate boys 3,000m), Trinity, 9:09.30; Mark Plackett (IB 1,500m steeplechase), Trinity, 4:51.2.

Among many other fine schools performers, Croydon Harriers' Patrick Lucas (Sutton, John Fisher School) was a worthy U15 800m runner-up in 2:03.74, and Trinity U17 prospect Omari Carr-Miller fought hard for his 400m fourth place in 50.20.