THERE were a couple of welcome returns for Thames Valley Harriers on Sunday but the scoring machine on the day was undoubtedly Ashleigh Stephenson.
She threw and jumped to the extent that no one else in the team came close to a haul that helped the team carve out an equal fifth place in the second Youth Development U17-20 League at Guildford.
Stephenson won the U20 hammer (33.06m), came second in the discus (16.01), was third in the shot (6.80) and second in the high jump (1.45).
Had she driven the bus toting the small TVH band home to the Linford Christie Centre, it would hardly have been a surprise.
Back in the team after a break was Ugne Liuksaityte, who won the long jump (5.26) and claimed third in the triple (8.79).
Marissa John was also on the comeback trail to take B long jump (4.73), second, A 100m (12.7) and B 200m (29.0), before helping the team to second in the 4x100m relay.
For the first time, TVH had a competitor in the pole vault and Aeysha Robinson cleared 1.90m for a creditable second. Anicia Browne was first in the B string hammer (27.30).
Dechannelle Ajiboluwa (fourth, 100m, 13.1), Olivia Mundaim (fourth, 200m, 25.9), Grace Ogwell (third, 80m hurdles) and Olivia Mundabi (fifth, 200m, 28.2) kept the total ticking over.
For the men, Leroy Cain was third in the 100m (11.4), improving to second in the 200m (23.2). Joseph Ypsua (third, 100m, 11.7), Stephen Ubah (fourth, U17 100m, 11.8) and Kamal Dwight (second, 200m, 23.7) provided good support.
But the most spectacular TVH win of the day came from Joe Gilbert in the 800m.
Running the last 400m from the front, he stormed home in 2:07.9, while Alando Alfred made a welcome return to winning form in the triple jump (12.32).
Fast-improving Antonio McLeary (second, 100m hurdles, 16.0) is looking like a real hurdler, with Stephen Ubah (second, long jump, 5.02) setting up a winning 4x100m Valley quartet.
