BURY look destined to face relegation into the Third Division of the North of England Track and Field League despite some excellent individual performances in the third of the four league fixtures on Sunday.

The hot temperature clearly suited some athletes at the East Cheshire Harriers track at Ashton-under-Lyne but the team finished in fifth place – a frustrating 3½ points behind nearest rivals Spenborough.

One of the highlights of the day came in the women’s 800m A race where Christie Cook took maximum points in winning and setting a new personal best of 2mins 19secs – the first time she has gone under 2:20 in seven years. Emmanuel Mufakazi was another athlete to set a new best.

Representing the club on his 18th birthday, he took second in the A 100m in 11.1. He also took second in the A 200m in 22.6, while Hashim Shah competed in the B races.

Luke Harreld made a welcome return to track racing for the club, running in the A 800m (fifth in 2:01.2) and B 400m (third in 54.2) alternating with team-mate Kamili Bell (third in the B 800m in 2:03.9 and fifth in the A 400m in 52.8).

Another athlete making a welcome return to the club was Katrina Conroy who competed in the B 800m and 400m hurdles events.

It was again excellent to see several of Bury’s junior athletes representing the senior team and scoring vital points. Daisy Worthington competed in the A 100m, 200m and 400m events, setting new personal bests of 13.0 and 61.0 in the 100m and 400m respectively.

Charlotte Larkin ran in the B 100m and 200m races and Jenna Allen-Cartwright in the B 400m.

Brandon Quinton was 0.3secs outside his best in the 1500m, taking fifth in a quality field in 4:11.3.

Joshua Birmingham displayed great club loyalty, running in the 1500m and 400m hurdles, while Hattie Vaughan won the A pole vault with a best vault of 2.40m.

In the sweltering conditions, Jim Ardin set a new best of 16:22.8 to win the B 5,000m with Ben Coop taking third in the A event in 16:12 on his track debut for the distance.

Sophie Whittaker and Katie Geelan ran well in the 3,000m with Whittaker third in the A (11:18.3) and Geelan first in the B (11:30.8).

The throwing team of Paul Horrocks, Matt Alcock, Alison Dale, Ruth Worthington and Nicola Quick all performed well, notching up vital points.

Lizzi Cheshire put in a captain's performance, competing in the 400m hurdles, 100m hurdles, long jump, triple jump, high jump and both relay races.

The women finished fourth in the 4x100m and third in the 4x400m.

Jack Griffith had a busy afternoon for the men’s team, running in the gruelling 3,000m steeplechase with team-mate Patrick Babb before scoring vital points in the long jump, high jump and triple jump.

In the later event he leapt further than future father-in-law Roger Morley.

The men’s relay teams ran well, taking fifth in the 4x100m and an excellent second in the 4x400m.

The previous Tuesday, three Bury athletes competed in the Rochdale 10k road race.

Ben Coop ran superbly to win in an impressive 34:19.

Katie Geelan was third women finisher, but won the V45 category in a time of 44:22 with Nicola Harland finishing sixth woman in 48:44.

Running in the Trafford Grand Prix meeting on the same night, Kamili Bell set an excellent new personal best of 51.09 in the 400m.