Team Isle of Man have been crowned champions of Western Division One South of the Northern Track and Field League, having already secured promotion to the Western Premier Division.

The Manx team went into Sunday’s fourth and final match at Edge Hill University, Ormskirk having won the opening three fixtures and holding a commanding lead at the top of the league.

They completed an outstanding campaign with a very close second place in the finale, finishing only 11 points behind hosts Liverpool Pembroke and Sefton.

Promotion to the Western Premier Division for 2027 will give island athletes the opportunity to compete regularly against stronger opposition and at a higher standard.

It is important that the team now establishes itself in the higher division, providing a valuable platform for developing athletes, strengthening the squad and raising the overall standard.

Frankie Kennedy recorded third-place finishes in both the 100m in 13.7 seconds, the 200m in 28.9 and the high jump with 1.35m.

It was good to see Kirsty Barber making her track debut. She produced a strong performance in the 3,000m, finishing close behind Dawn Atherton whose third-place time was 11:07.5. Barber also contested the 800m, where she finished third.

The field events produced some of the best performances. Jess Schreuder won the women’s triple jump with 10.24m, while Fiona Whitehead finished second in the discus with 24.98m, third in the hammer with 34.74m and second in the B string of the javelin with 19.90m.

Lucy Cartwright won the javelin with 27.16m and the B string of the pole vault with 2.30m.

Laura Bradley was another outstanding all-round contributor, winning the pole vault with 2.40m and recording 4.23m to finish fourth in the long jump.

Ashleigh Schreuder was second in the B string of the long jump with 4.01m and added valuable points in the 2km steeplechase and 400m hurdles.

The men’s team was depleted but still produced several excellent individual performances.

Zac Woodward won the pole vault with 3.80m and was second in the B string of the triple jump with 9.71m. Corbyn Schade finished second in the 5,000m A race in 16:22.8, while Max Hammal was fourth in the 800m A in 2:06.0.

Harry Kinley cleared 1.70m for third in the high jump, while Rory Turner was second in the 400m hurdles in 67.2 seconds. Kyle Martin achieved a distance of 10.40m in the triple jump to finish third.

With most of the regular sprinters having already finished their seasons, the relays proved more challenging.

The team finished fifth in both the men’s and women’s 4x100m and fifth in the mixed 4x400m, which did little to detract from what was an excellent overall team performance.

A huge amount of credit goes to team manager Petra Atchison, whose organisational skills, dedication and commitment throughout the season have been central to their success.

Coordinating athletes, entries, travel and all the practical demands of four league matches is a considerable undertaking. It was therefore particularly fitting that Petra received the league championship shield at the conclusion.

A huge thanks is also due to all officials who travelled with Team IoM throughout and officiated at the matches. Their commitment and willingness to travel are an essential part of the team’s participation and are greatly appreciated.

The team can now look forward to a new and more demanding challenge in the Western Premier Division.

With the added significance of 2027 being an Island Games year, the experience gained from competing at a higher level should provide valuable preparation as the team continues to develop and build for the future.