GLORIOUS conditions greeted the athletes as the Oxfordshire track & field season got under way in earnest at the Radley Open at Tilsley Park.

Hundreds of competitors from across the county and beyond took part in the traditional curtain-raiser to the season, and with the favourable weather, some notable performances were achieved.

Arguably the finest effort of the day came from Radley’s Christian Von Eitzen.

He clocked an age group club record time of 2 mins 01.08 secs to win the under 15 boys’ 800m.

The time qualified Von Eitzen for the English Schools Championships.

Teammate Georgina Sunderland clocked a qualifying time of 11.8 secs in the under 15 girls’ 75m hurdles, lowering her personal best by 0.2 secs in the process.

She also ran an impressive 300m to win a mixed under 15/17 girls’ race in 42.6 against tough opposition.

Lois Waknell, who has already qualified for the English Schools in the 100m, added the 200m to her list of events with an impressive win in 26.3.

She also won the 100m in 12.8, with Abingdon’s Briony Dawson taking bronze in 13.4.

In the under 13 boys’ competition, White Horse Harrier Ryan Craze took a sprint double, winning the 100m in 13.7 and the 200m in 28.4.

Ted Pullin (Radley) was second (29.3) and Thomas Butcher (Abingdon) third in 31.00.

Witney’s Oliver Stacey clocked a personal best of 15.0 to win silver in the under 13 boys’ 75m hurdles, with Abingdon’s Jack Traynor taking bronze in 15.1 – also a personal best.

Radley’s Gina Sunderland won the under 15 girls’ 300m in 42.6, with White Horse Harrier Chloe Craze second (42.9) and Abingdon’s Georgia Harvey third (44.1).

Owen Stepney claimed silver in the under 17 boys’ 1500m in a personal best of 4.40.4.