24 November 2008

Charlotte Purdue (AFD) helped the Norwich Union GB & NI team to seventh place in the team standings at this year’s International Chiba Ekiden Relay in Japan, clocking 15.32 for her 5k leg of the race.

On her senior GB&NI debut Purdue, who currently sits in tenth place on the McCain Power of Ten UK Rankings for 5k, showed great form ahead of the European Cross Country Championships to be held in Brussels, Belgium on Sunday 14 December.

Her time is faster than the U20 5k record of 15.42 held by Sian Edwards however due to the downhill gradient it may not be ratified.  

Purdue’s coach Mick Woods said: "Charlie had an outstanding run. Training has been going well which was a good indication that she was in great shape.

"Although the downhill course makes it hard to know how good it actually was, it was the third fastest run of the day so I’m over the moon. I told her to run as she normally does in relays and run positively. Despite being young she shows a lot of maturity, especially being able to cope with a senior debut."

The Norwich Union GB & NI team finished with an overall time of 2:10:12, helped particularly by Scott Overall (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC) who clocked the fastest lap of the team with 13.44.

Team members Ian Boneham (Notts AC), who completed his 10k in 29:44, Freya Murray (Chester le Street & District), who finished the fourth leg with 16:08, Ian Hudspith (Morpeth Harriers), clocking 30:29 as he crossed the line and anchor leg Caroline Hoyte (Arena 80 AC) who finished the 7.195k distance in 24:55, returning to the international fold after last representing GB & NI at this event in 2001 made the trip a successful individual and team affair.

For the second year running Ethiopian men’s and women’s teams took both victories, once again confirming their international dominance of endurance running.

Team results were:

1st – ETH 2:05.27
2nd – JPN 2:06:39
3rd – RUS 2:08:04
4th – JUT 2:08:47
5th – AUS 2:09:6
6th – CHIBA 2:10:00
7th – GBR 2:10:12
8th – USA 2:11:54
9th – CAN 2:11:56
10th – CHN 2:12:11
11th – SWE 2:12:16
12th – BRA 2:14:15
13th – ROU 2:15:37

For full results visit the Chiba Ekiden Event website :