Crawley stormed to another team victory at Braintree in the Southern Women's League to maintain their record this season of topping the 200 points mark.

They lead the division two table with one match to go and look sure to follow the example of the men and secure promotion.

Elaine Wells, a rock for the Crawley team for nearly a decade, chalked up another sprint double, winning the 100m in 12.9sec and the 400m in 57.6sec. She also played a major role in their relay successes.

Wells is a talented athlete, who has just missed out on the big time, but is invaluable to the team. Many times in the past during less successful Crawley seasons, Wells has willingly turned her hand to filling in at jumping events and has run 1,500m and 3,000m races in Southern Women's League matches.

She is only 23 and has time to develop and make a impact at national level.

The return to racing of Fiona Clark after a year away from the sport has played a large part in the Crawley club's improved distance running and she notched up another 1,500m-3,000m double.

Worthing produced a good third placing at Ealing, despite the absence of Debbie Woolgar.

Team manager Caroline Garratt stepped into Woolgar's shoes in the shot and discus events but her best performance came in the javelin throw.

Now a veteran and one of only three Sussex throwers ever to throw more than 50m in the javelin 12 years ago, she won with her best throw since the birth of her son, five years ago, when she reached 36.46m.

Garratt's effort has only been bettered by up-and-coming Sussex stars Sam Redd (Brighton & Hove) and Candace Schofield (Horsham) in Sussex this season.

Sarah Davey produced another good 3,000m victory, clocking 10min.19.8sec, a time no other Sussex runner has bettered this season. But Davey will miss the final match next month as she leaves to return to her American College to-morrow.

After missing the early part of the season through work commitments it was good to see Lucy Newman in action for the Horsham team at Bromley.

Newman's early season absence from training as well as competing robbed her of her final opportunity to go to the All England Schools championships but since returning to competition she has made good progress.

A pole vault clearance of 2.40m earned her second place at Bromley, while Mum Siobhan, who was making her season's debut following injury, took the "B" vault with 2.10m.

Lucy also won the "B" javelin throw with 33.14m, but that is far below her best, and she took second place in the shot putt with 10.43m.

August is a tough month for Southern Women's League team managers.

Holidays, particularly with the Under 15 age group, play havoc with most teams.

Pam Broadbent, the Horsham Blue Star team manager, said: "We were unable to even fill all the events in the under-15 group and this also spilt over into the senior events.

"All teams were suffering and many events did not have a full compliment."