Women proved the stronger sex at the UK Challenge meetings on Saturday 16 June – the Northern Ireland and Ulster Senior Championships at Antrim and the Northern Championships at Liverpool. Here are some of the highlights…

100m: Emily Freeman (Wakefield District H&AC), who is in the Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland 4x100m squad at next weekend’s European Cup First league in Vaasa, Finland, won the Northern title in 11.48 seconds (wind: +2.0) to go equal third in the Power of 10 rankings alongside her international team mate Anyika Onuora (Liverpool Harriers). It is the fastest time in the UK so far this season.

1500m: Junior Jess Coulson (Stockport Harriers) won the Northern senior title in 4:24.59 ahead of Claire Entwistle (Trafford AC), second in 4:28.19, and Scotland’s Freya Murray (Chester-le-Street AC), third in 4:28.83.

High jump: Current UK Challenge leader Susan Moncrieff (Trafford AC) increased the Northern Championships Best to 1.86m, the second-best clearance of her season so far.

Shot: Eva Massey (North Down AC) prepared for next week’s Cup appearance by winning the Northern Ireland title with 16.02m, with UK Challenge leader Becky Peake (Sale Harriers Manchester) second on 15.17m.

Hammer: Carys Parry (Rhondda Harriers) moved up to second in the UK Challenge rankings with an ‘Athlete of the Match’ performance at the Northern Ireland Champs. She threw 63.72m to earn 203 points in the Challenge. Scotland’s Shirley Webb (Trafford AC) won the Northern title with 61.88m.

For full results of the Northern Championships please click here

Welsh athletes have set up a ‘get well soon’ hotline for Steve Shalders, their triple jump record holder who suffered a severe leg injury at a meeting in Stavanger in midweek. Friends can send their messages to Steve at steve.shalders@cardiffaac.org