Athletics Club enjoys multiple successes at Avon Track and Field Championships

PRINTERS Sarah Long, Felix Gross and Lily Walenciejczyk Panada all scorched to double gold victories at the 2025 Avon Track & Field Championships held at Yate.

- Kevin FAHEY

The trio not only dominated the 100m and 200m sprints in their respective age groups but also took advantage of the benign conditions - warm conditions and largely a helpful following wind - to post lifetime bests as well.

Long was not deterred by a slight headwind in the senior women's 100m to win in a time of 12.44secs to finally beat her previous electronic PB of 12.80secs set eight years ago.

She then added the 200m title in 25.52secs, dipping inside 26 seconds for the first time in her career, to complete a remarkable day that puts her ninth and 13th respectively in the South West Rankings.

The successes of Gross and Panada both came in the U15s age group. Gross ran inside 12 seconds for the first time with a terrific PB of 11.76secs in the heats, despite a minus 1.2m headwind and then followed up that with 11.83secs to win the 100m final.