Croydon Schools athletes took the soaring heat in their stride and produced a succession of outstanding performances in the Surrey schools athletics championships on Saturday.

Divided into two teams Croydon North and Croydon South the talented youngsters enjoyed in the local rivalry and that of 15 other Surrey districts featuring at the Kingsmeadow Stadium, Norbiton.

Between them the borough teams produced 20 winners, 10 runners-up and a third place. Four more athletes, members of Croydon Harriers, were also victorious.

Pride of place ahead of a wealth of talent must go to U17 triple jump winner Trevor Okoroafor (CN). His astonishing 14.50m fourth round effort took him to the top of the national rankings. The powerful Archbishop Lanfranc School student not surprisingly established a Surrey schools championship best performance.

Taking advantage of the hot, sprinter-friendly conditions and a strong but legitimate wind, senior paceman James Dassaolo (CN) raced to a championship best of 10.79sec in the 100m. Idowu Akindele (NC), John Ruskin College, 100m maintained the borough's good senior form with a first class winning 200m in 22.11sec Fellow Croydon Harrier Laurence Dight (Sutton) took the senior 400m comfortably in 51.18sec, and George Thatcher completed the local domination of the lower order track events in the 800m.

The Coulsdon College student raised his game dramatically, leading throughout to take his title with a new personal best of 1:56.90. High jumper Michael Asamoah, John Ruskin College, won with 1.73m, with Whitgiftian Alex Parry (SC) sharing the same height in second place.

The senior girls had their share of glory with two champions. Technically smooth hurdler Kayleigh Ferguson stretchedaway to win 100m hurdles final in 15.14sec and triple jumper Jade Castell-Thomas (SC) sailed to victory with a 11.12m best.

Seven intermediate Croydon athletes and Croydon club members took titles. Croydon High School 800m starlet Daisy Collingridge managed the timed heat and final to perfection in the energy sapping temperatures.

With two to qualify, she made sure with a 2:19.22 second place, before a perfectly controlled win in the final, in a personal best and English schools entry standard time of 2:17.86.

Riddlesdown's Daniel Altendorf (SC) always looked in control in the 1,500m and clinched an impressive victory in 4:07.43.

Croydon Harrier Richmond Baah (Merton) took the javelin title with a 50.16m throw. Erasmus Ntim Dwemo (NC) of Shirley High won the shot with a strong 13.54m put, and Royal Russell student Tsidi Dagadu took the high jump title at 1.95m, just 3cm shy of his best.

The intermediate long jump produced an exciting North Croydon one-two in which Gavin Roye (Archbishop Lanfranc) headed the field with a 6.68m leap. Trinity's Omar Dickson came second with 6.49m. Claudius Ricketts (Central Surrey), a Croydon Harrier, paced himself well in the searing heat, to win the 1,500m steeplechase in 5:06.00.

Borough athletes took eight second places too. Despite the debilitating 30 degree temperature, tenacious Woodcote High first year intermediate runner Ben Robson (SC) obliged to run an 800 heat twice and ran within a second of his best to finish second with 2:04.19.

North Croydon 100m hurdler Jemel Beckford, (Archbishop Lanfranc), continued his run of good form as runner-up in 14.08sec (+2.6ms), and St Mary's School student Odette Campbell looked strong and impressive as runner-up in the 300m in 40.93sec. Montana Marshall (NC), Sankofa School, came second in the shot at 9.51m.

Junior 100m champion Ehi Obiote (CN) of Shirley High displayed fine pace, and although aided by a +2.3 ms wind, will be pleased with his 11.17sec clocking.

Archbishop Tenison's talented Twinelle Hopeson comfortably dominated the junior girls 200m field in 25.09sec. Runner-up was fellow Croydon Harrier, Waringham School sprinter Amber Stobbs (South Surrey) in 27.09sec.

St Joseph's young shot put prodigy Michael Wheeler (NC) won the junior event with a huge heave of 18.09m for a new championship best performance.

Kariym Irving's, (SS) Warlingham School, discus prospect improved to 37.05m for his win.

Whitgift hurdler Matthew Walcott (SC) headed the 80m final in 11.86sec and school teammate, high jumper Ned Quiney cleared 1.60m for his runners-up spot.

Stephanie Braithwaite (NC) ran strongly for 100m second in 13.14sec (13.10sec +2.9ms wind in heat). Takara Ovietabore cleared 1.51m for second in the high jump and the fourth junior Croydon runner-up Chanti Simpson (NC), a Virgo Fidelis pupil put her shot at 8.56m.

Now the top Croydon Schools athletes will be nervously awaiting news of selection for the English Schools Championships in Gateshead next month.