Distance Running News, 5-9 September 2018

09 September 2018

Martin Ford enjoyed a successful first week of the World Masters Championships in Malaga as he won one gold and one silver medal. After placing second in the V75 6km cross country event, 75 year old Ford went one better and was crowned World Champion in the 10k road race as he posted a time of 44:44 to finish 41 seconds clear of his nearest rival.

At the Swindon Half Marathon Fee Maycock ran her fastest time for three years to finish as second lady in 84:28 as Tiverton’s Serane Stone (82:40) took the win. Maycock’s time also moved her up into sixth place in the 2018 LV50 UK rankings as she continued her build up to next month’s Chester Marathon. Just 31 seconds later, teammate Tara Grosvenor showed impressive form, despite a recent injury layoff, to finish third in a new personal best of 84:59. Up ahead Dan Thomas made an excellent debut over the distance as he finished as fourth man home in a time of 74:34 whilst Leah Hopton completed a successful event for the club by lowering her PB to 1:42:46. Mark James meanwhile finished eleventh at the Oldbury 10 mile road race in 62:23.

The final county championship events of the track season took place at the Prince of Wales stadium, with Alex Lindfield lining up in the 10,000m. During the first two laps Cirencester’s Bill Leggate took the lead and opened up a small gap, but the Cheltenham athlete gradually worked back to him by the mile mark. The duo were then joined by Peter Woodward (Forest of Dean) and the three runners remained locked together, with Leggate leading as they passed the 5km mark in 17:20. Whilst Lindfield led briefly, Leggate quickly retook the lead and looked content to be at the front as Woodward fell off the pace during the third quarter of the race. Lindfield remained on his rival’s shoulder until one kilometre to go, where he made his move and quickly established a race winning lead. Running 27 seconds faster than his road 10k PB, the Gloucestershire University student broke the 35 minute barrier for the first time with a very pleasing time of 34:42.5 as he claimed his first county title by 14 seconds. In the same race V60 athlete Mike Ede recorded a time of 41:31.8 whilst in the mile Nick Brown (5:07.4) and Martin Soakell (5:10.7) finished in fifth and sixth respectively. Having already set PBs over 1500m and 5000m this summer Rachel See headed to the Warwickshire Open in Coventry where she took 17 seconds off her 3000m PB with an impressive 10:58.85. Dan Owen meanwhile closed his season with third place in the 1500m A race at the Watford Open in 4:00.63.

Harriers runners again made good use of the weekend’s parkruns as they earned eight first place finishes at a wide range of locations. Luke Pollard (15:25) and Laura Smith (18:46) led the way at the Stretford event in Manchester whilst Beth Hawling (18:43) was the first lady home at the Ally Pally event in London where she placed fourth overall. Naomi Eaton (19:17) was third overall and first lady at Stonehouse whilst Alex Bampton (16:08) headed the field in Newbury. James Denne (16:09) and Dave Tomlin (16:48) finished first and third respectively at the Kingsway event in Gloucester and Marcus England (16:27) was first home at the Gloucester City parkrun. Harriers also filled the top three spots at the Cheltenham event with George Watson (16:36), Dave Aubrey (17:32) and Doug Wight (17:45) all enjoying a run out whilst Kaitlyn Sheppard (20:55) was the second lady home at the Tewkesbury parkrun.