Distance Running News, 18-23 June 2019

23 June 2019

George Watson produced a huge personal best as he won the 5000m at the British Milers Club regional event in Tipton. Lining up with a PB of 15:25 set at last month’s Midland Championship, the Loughborough student was keen to chase a sub 15 minute time and was the only athlete to closely track the pacemaker through the opening three laps. With a twenty metre gap over the chasing group, Watson then decided to ease off and settle for the safety of the pack. Once the pacemaker had stepped off the track after taking the group through 3000m in just under nine minutes, Watson then picked up the pace and ran a solo last two kilometres to take the win in an excellent 14:53.43.

Also racing over 5000m was Rachel See who ran well in the B race to trim her personal best by 0.18 seconds with 19:18.42 for twentieth place. At the same meeting Richard de-Camps contested the 1500m A race where he was only a second outside his PB as he took fifth place in 3:56.91 whilst Bristol’s Callum Jones took the win in 3:52.46. Further track acton saw three of the club’s veterans race over 1500m at the Worcester Open meeting with Roger Mullins (V40) recording 4:43.4, Nick Holliday (V60) posting 5:17.4 and Kathryn Morton (LV60) stopping the clock at 6:05.9.

Midweek action on the roads saw Dan Thomas in fine form at the Avon Valley Runners Westbury 5k as he broke the sixteen minute barrier for the first time with a 15:57 clocking for fourth place.

Competing over the same distance at the following evening’s Cardiff SSAFA 5k, Dan Schofield crossed the line in 17:42 for 31st place. The weekend then brought a multi-terrain win for Andrew Kaighin at the Bromyard Round the Downs 4.3 mile event. Les Hampton finished as second  wheelchair racer in a new PB of 85:26 at the Swansea Half Marathon where Marcus England finished seventh runner home in 71:45 after passing through 10k in a time of 33:33 which would have won the same day’s county championship.

Six Harriers lined up for the Beyond the Limitations organised Dave McNamee 10k that incorporated the Gloucestershire Championship at Boddington. Naomi Eaton and Kate Krzywiec (North Cotswold) were together as the leading ladies for the first two thirds of the race before the Cheltenham athlete pulled clear to take the win and county title by ten seconds in 40:30.

Martin Soakell finished as second veteran and seventh overall in 39:02 as he finished one place and 24 seconds clear of teammate Chris Hayes. Paul Longford (44:13) crossed the line in 27th position before V75 athlete Martin Ford (46:40) finished as first over 70 runner and and Sam Pickering (50:02) took the LV50 silver medal.

There was a much stronger lineup at the previous day’s Cheltenham parkrun as several Harriers used the event as part of their training for upcoming races. Alex Lee led the way home in 16:14, with Dom James next to cross the line. Parkrun regular James Bingham (16:51) then posted his fastest time since 2014 before Doug Wight (16:58) completed an all Harriers top four. Beth Hawling (17:38) continued her return to fitness by finishing as first lady in seventh overall, with her time a course PB and the sixth fastest time of the day by a woman at any UK parkrun. Josh Playle (18:27) also ran well before Matt Lambourne (18:48) completed his 200th parkrun whilst Matt Wood (19:42), Jacob Howes (19:50) and Oliver Dammone (19:53) also enjoyed an early morning run out in Pittville Park.

The Sheppard sisters were again the first two ladies home at the Tewkesbury parkrun with Kaitlyn (18:59) second overall and Chloe (20:29) posting a PB in sixth place. Elsewhere Chris Cleary (17:34) finished second at the Hereford parkrun whilst Caroline Cotterell (21:52) was third lady at the Cirencester parkrun.