Distance Running News, 27 August - 1 September

02 September 2019

Charlie Jones was in fine form as he lowered his personal best at the Cardiff 10k. Placing 22nd in a strong field, Jones took thirteen seconds off the time he set at the Speedway 10k in June as he stopped the clock at 32:31.

Eliot Taylor also ran well to record 33:16 before Jon Barnes crossed the line in 34:17. In the accompanying wheelchair race Gareth Picken placed third in 34:20 and Les Hampton claimed fifth with 38:47.

Having improved his personal bests over 1500m, 3000m and 5000m this summer, Chris Booth made his track 10,000m debut at the Ladywell track meeting in Lewisham hoiping to break his 10k road PB of 33:02. Placing sixth in the B race, Booth achieved his goal with time to spare as he stopped the clock at 32:43.95 for a significant PB. Also setting yet another PB was Jamie Harper who finished second in the 800m A race at the BMC regional event in Exeter where he posted a time of 1:57.70.

On the roads Fee Maycock represented the England Masters team in their match against the Celtic Nations held within the Maidenhead Half Marathon. Crossing the line in 88:07, the Cheltenham athlete finished third in her LV50 category.In her first race in a Harriers vest Marie Brush finished as first lady at the Alderton 5k road race where she posted a time of 20:07 whilst Jonathan Floyd and Paul Longford posted times of 19:39 and 20:54 respectively.

The Meteor Mile saw Andrew Kaighin closed to within a single second of race winner Alex Haines (Midland Masters) as he posted a time of 4:50 for second place. Teammate Dan Schofiled was just behind as broke the five minute barrier for the first time with 4:51 for third place, a position matched by Ellis Woolley who was third lady home in 5:52. Also in action on the runway of Gloucestershire Airport were veterans Nick Holliday (5:41), Caroline Cotterell (6:12), Kathryn Morton (6:34) and Christina See (10:29).

In the final county championship track events of the season in Gloucester, LV60 athlete Kathryn Morton’s 6:37 in the mile was the standout Harriers performance as she took eighth place in the ladies race. Dan Schofiled (5:09.3) and Nick Holliday (5:43.1) meanwhile placed fifth and tenth respectively in the men’s race. In the 10,000m Alex Lindfield took fifth with 35:57.5 and Michael Ede recorded 42:31.3 for ninth position.

The weekend’s parkruns saw Beth Hawling (17:17) posting her fastest ever parkrun time n Southwark as she finished third overall and as first lady home. Hawling’s run was also the third fastest parkrun time of the day by a lady anywhere in the UK. Naomi Eaton (19:31) finished second overall and as first lady at Wotton, whilst Sarah Sheppard (21:56) was also the first lady home in Tewkesbury. Amber Watson (20:07) made it four first places for the Harriers ladies in Cheltenham where Dave Rantell (19:04), Simon Critchley (19:11), Matt Wood (19:36) and Clark Lawson (19:47) all had a run out. James Bingham (16:20) set a new V40 course record as he finished first in Market Harborough and Luke Pennington (17:57) was first home in Cirencester. Dave Tomlin (18:49) placed second at the Kingsway event in Gloucester whilst the Gloucester North parkrun saw Alice Stalberg (22:00) finish as second lady. Matthew Dwerryhouse (18:10) was third across the line at the Gloucester City event and Gareth Edwards (18:32) carried out some parkrun tourism in Edinburgh.