Athletics: Relegated Cardiff vow to return at first attempt

Aug 11 2007 by Bob Cypher, South Wales Echo

“WE are down but we are not out,” pledged Cardiff AAC’s men’s team manager Dave Hawthorn after seeing them relegated to National Division Two in the British Athletics League.

Despite a spirited effort by those athletes who turned up to contest the final round of the league programme, the bald fact was that their fifth place finish – out of eight clubs – was just not enough to save them from the drop, after a disastrous third round a month ago left them floundering.

And it was a double blow as Hawthorn has already announced his intention to quit as manager after 11 years in charge.

Losing quality athletes who had been offered an opportunity to race in meetings abroad as part of a Wales squad did not help him and then the Welsh Schools championships clashing with the third round match meant he lost athletes who could be relied upon to produce results.

This was proved on Saturday when Brett Morse, who missed the last round because of the Welsh Schools championships, produced a stunning performance in the discus, breaking the 35-year-old club record held by John Walters, with a throw of 55.65m.

“In addition to losing three senior athletes with long-term injuries, in the week before the third match the men’s team lost eight GB International athletes , and five Welsh internationals,” Hawthorn explained.

“That result left just too much to do in the last match. We are down, but not out – never!”

TO complete a sad day for the club, the women’s team was also relegated from Division One of the UK Women’s League Premier League.

Despite some individual heroics, the long trek to Edinburgh and the sheer quality of the opposition proved too great to be overcome.

Team manager John Penny breathed a sigh of relief that he was able to fill the required 50 per cent of the events, thus sparing the club the ignominy of having to contest the qualifying competition next month.

“Most of the girls did three events,” said Penny. “A number, like Debbie Jones, were injured but pulled together to make sure we didn’t have to go to the qualifying round next month.”

Lianne Clarke was the club’s highest-placed athlete when she finished second in the javelin with a throw of 48.61m.