OpenTrack News: National Athletics League Season Opener
Top tier league athletics returns to OpenTrack once again
Last week saw the return of the UK’s National Athletics League for its fifth season, and at OpenTrack we’re delighted to be providing our Competition Management System to the top of the UK’s athletics pyramid for the fourth successive season.
In this update:
Harrow edge out reigning champions TVH
Machin a world-beater again
City of York win on debut
With more than 1000 athletes competing over the five opening matches of the 2025 NAL, OpenTrack’s team scoring functionality kept athletes, coaches, and spectators up to date the length and breadth of the UK.
Harrow edge out reigning champions TVH
The opening Premiership match of the season delivered for any neutrals watching, as reigning champions Thames Valley Harriers had a closely-fought battle with eventual winners Harrow over the course of the competition.
Plenty of early scoring saw Harrow into an early lead, as they scored the maximum 22 points in six events over the course of the day, more than any other club.
Two of those maximums came in the men’s and women’s sprint hurdles, with Marli Jessop’s winning 13.33 good enough for fifth-fastest woman in the UK in a very strong year for British hurdling.
Machin a world-beater again
Crawley’s Julia Machin may have only placed fourth in the women’s high jump at the Championship South, but having only recently turned 55, the former British international made headlines in Poole, breaking the world record in the W55 category.
Machin equalled the previous mark of 1.55, which had stood for 17 years, on her first attempt, before clearing 1.60 at the second time of asking to make the record her own, and add to her W50 world best of 1.68 set in 2021.
For more information, you can read the National Athletics League’s full write up here.
City of York win on debut
Making their first foray into the National Athletics league were City of York AC, hosting their first ever match in the Championship West.
A closely-fought match with the Manchester-based duo of Sale Harriers Manchester and Trafford AC saw the host side come out on top, their lead extended by victories in the final two races of the day, the men’s and women’s 4x400 metres.
We’re looking forward to the next round of the NAL at the beginning of July, but there’s plenty more to come before then, including plenty of national championships this weekend!
As always, if you have any feedback, requests, or want help bringing your athletics into the 21st century, feel free to get in touch at info@opentrack.run.