A very successful 10-strong, Croydon contingent, inspiringly led by international sprinter Joscelyn Hopeson, who was joint Surrey girls team captain, made a key contribution to the county's outstanding overall second place in the English Schools Athletics Championships, writes Mike Fleet.

Five of the Croydon Schools athletes in action, scored coveted individual top six podium places and four featured in relay gold.

Hopeson (Archbishop Tenison's School) comfortably eased her way through to the senior girls 100m final, winning her heat into a -1.4sec wind 12.10sec. She was clearly in a class of her own in the final, when she took the title in 11.73sec.

Later she took the 4x100m team to another gold, anchoring them in their heat to win in 46.90sec and on to the final which Surrey won in 46.75sec.

Thomas More pupil Danny Doyley, was in electrifying form when he repeated the performance at intermediate boys level.

He blasted from his blocks en route to an eye-catching 100m win in 10.79sec, having impressed in the semi-final with a winning time of 10.88sec (+2.3sec wind). He rounded off a very successful championship in the 4x100m final, scorching through down the home straight, from third to win by the vital whisker, with the team timed at 42.92sec.

Laurence Dight, Shirley High also contributed to this triumph with a dynamic leg two dash having earlier competed in the 400m heats.

Junior Trinity sprinter Jermaine Alexander headed their points thrust with a well-earned silver in the 100m, in a time of 11.30sec.

In the relay, long jump bronze medallist Omar Dixon 6.04m, anchored through to the final in 44.29sec before Alexander returned, reassured after his individual success, to contribute to a winning championship best of 43.51sec. Hammer thrower Andrew Jordan did well to clinch a fifth place finish and pole vaulter Ryszard Buk, near his best, finished an encouraging sixth having cleared 3.80m The boys shot was especially rewarding for Croydon schoolboys, with two on the podium. Michael Wheeler (St Josephs) took a close second with his mighty heave of 15.11m, only 13cm behind the winner.Erasmus Ntim-Dwewo improved to 13.84 for fifth.

National Young Athletics League Sunday Croydon Harriers young athletes, boys and girls, will be holding their second "home match" away at Sutton Arena since the recent refurbishment has failed to resolve several safety problem.