Title race, relegation dogfight and a crowded Championship as NAL round three looms
Thames Valley Harriers and Harrow AC go head-to-head for the Premiership title in Eton on Saturday, while WGEL and Glasgow Jaguars scrap for third and four clubs try to avoid the drop — plus all the action from three closely-fought Championship groups.
The third round of the National Athletics League season takes place on Saturday (Aug 22), with the Premiership title race, a battle for third and a four-way fight to avoid relegation all still to be settled — while in the Championship, eight clubs are chasing the eight promotion match spots on offer for September 12.
Premiership – the title race
Thames Valley Harriers and Harrow AC head to Eton with the title at stake. A top-two finish would guarantee Thames Valley Harriers the title, as Harrow would need to finish at least two places above them to close the two-point gap.
Thames Valley Harriers go into the match with strength across the sprints: Bianca Williams in the 4x100m, Annie Tagoe in the 100m, and Commonwealth relay runners Kaya Slater (100m, 200m and 4x100m) and Louise Evans (200m and 4x100m), alongside European semi-finalist Emma Nwofor in the 100m and 100m hurdles. In the field, European long jump finalist Archie Yeo is joined by 2024 UK indoor triple jump champion Lily Hulland and 2025 UK indoor pole vault gold medallist Nemiah Munir. Charlotte Buckley, fresh from an 800m and 1500m double win in Derby and a 3000m win and second place over 800m in Woodford, is down for the 400m and 800m.
Harrow's leading name is Commonwealth Games pole vault bronze medallist Owen Heard, who has cleared 5.71m this year — 10cm higher than the league record of 5.61m, set by Luke Cutts in 2013. Poppy Malik, part of the squad that won silver in the mixed 4x400m in Glasgow, competes in the 4x400m for Harrow. Nick Percy, a regular winner, is entered for the discus and shot put, Charlotte Payne takes on the hammer and Divine Duruaku goes in the high jump. Commonwealth Youth Games champion Stephanie Okoro will look for maximum points in the 400m hurdles before doubling up in the 400m flat, while former European under-20 champion Joy Eze has a busy day ahead in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m.
Premiership – battle for third
WGEL and Glasgow Jaguars meet in a separate fight for third place. WGEL's team includes veteran discus thrower Kirsty Law, former GB under-20 international Olivia Dobson in the shot put and 2022 UK indoor champion Sam Khogali in the long jump. Rising talent Noa Chodokufa, a recent world under-20 4x400m bronze medallist, competes in the 200m and 4x400m after running a strong relay leg to help WGEL to top spot in Derby.
Glasgow Jaguars have Alyson Bell and Lucy Fraser back from Commonwealth duty for the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, with 2024 world under-20 silver medallist Dean Patterson down for the same three events. Glasgow won the 4x100m in Woodford after finishing second in Derby, and look a threat again with hurdler Erin Campbell, Kathryn Christie and Sarah Malone among the likely relay picks.
Premiership – fight to beat the drop
Swansea Harriers sit four league points behind their three nearest rivals and face an uphill task to stay clear of the bottom two. Joe Brier, part of the squad that won European 4x400m gold in 2022, runs the 200m for Swansea. His sister Hannah was a late entrant in Woodford, though the team look set to be without experienced UK shot put medallist Patrick Swan in the throws.
Above Swansea, Tonbridge AC, Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow and Birchfield Harriers are level on six league points, meaning it comes down to points collected in individual matches. Tonbridge, promoted from the Championship last year, are only eight match points clear of Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow, with Birchfield a further 27.50 behind. A third-place finish in Birmingham in last year's final round helped hosts Birchfield avoid relegation, but this time WSEH have home advantage.
WSEH's team includes regular winner Jake Norris in the hammer alongside Tara Simpson-Sullivan. Three of Norris's top seven throws this year have come in the NAL, though the league record has stood at 77.54m to Martin Girvan since 1984. Alex Haydock-Wilson runs the 100m and 4x400m, and 2023 European under-20 bronze medallist Michael Allison is among the leading javelin contenders.
Birchfield's team includes Commonwealth silver medallist Jake Minshull, joined by 48.89-second runner Efe Okoro in the 400m hurdles — Okoro is also down for the 400m and shot put. 2022 Commonwealth Games eighth-placer Craig Murch competes in the hammer, sprinter Amy Hillyard runs the women's 400m and 4x400m, and 2025 UK silver medallist Tilly Hooper takes on the pole vault.
As usual, Tonbridge will lean heavily on Commonwealth Games decathlete Lewis Church, who may end up in the hammer, javelin, pole vault, shot put and 110m hurdles, while fellow decathlete Harry Kendall concentrates on the discus, long jump, 400m and 4x100m. The Higgins brothers, Jack and Ted, could combine for an 800m and 1500m double, while Asha Root may feature across the 100m, 200m, 400m and both relays.
Championship
In the South group, Blackheath and Bromley have all-but secured a promotion match place after last year's disappointment of finishing third behind Daniel Goriola and Zara Obamakinwa's Championship East opposition. Blackheath and Bromley are five league points clear of third-placed Herne Hill, with Crawley — three points clear of third — the likely second qualifier from the South.
In the North, City of Sheffield have a strong chance of an immediate return to the Premiership following relegation last year, while the second promotion spot is tightly contested between York and Notts.
In the East, Chelmsford and Shaftesbury Barnet hold leads of four and three league points respectively. Shaftesbury Barnet were relegated last year after winning the East group in 2024.
The West group is the closest of all, with three teams separated by two league points — Yeovil lead by one point and have home advantage.
Fixtures
Tables and league records are available at nationalathleticsleague.org.uk.
