04 June 2009

An incredible 66 personal bests were set at the St Marys Classic in Twickenham on Wednesday evening. The annual event, which was the latest in the McCain UK Challenge Series, saw a range of closely-matched and competitive middle and long distance races in held in benign conditions.

World 1500m junior champion Stephanie Twell (Aldershot, Farnham & District) set her second PB in six days by taking nearly two seconds off her previous best over 800m in winning the women’s two lap event in 2:04.38. Last Friday in Belgrade, she slashed nearly 30 seconds off her 5000m best when winning in 15:18.46.

There was also a very impressive victory by 19 year old Simon Horsfield (East Cheshire) in the men’s 3000m in 8:06.56, which was expertly paced by Andy Vernon (Aldershot, Farnham & District). Horsfield’s winning time was the fastest by a British junior for nine years.

Looking towards the summer’s age group championships, there were European junior qualifying standards attained by Stacey Smith (Gateshead) – women’s 800m, 2:05.91; Beth Potter (Victoria Park City of Glasgow) – 3000m, 9:16.21 and Charlotte Purdue (Aldershot, Farnham & District) – 3000m, 9:18.69.

There was also World Youth qualifying marks gained by Rikkie Letch (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow) – men’s 800m, 1:51.06; Annabel Gummow (Bristol & West) – women’s 3000m, 9:30.06; Sarah Kelly (Dundee Hawkhill) – women’s 800m, 2:07.93 and Adelle Tracey (Guildford & Godalming) – women’s 800m, 2:08.93.

Other winners on the night were Colin McCourt men’s 800m in 1:48.13, Dave Forrester (St Helens Sutton), men’s 1500m in 3:45.34, Samater Farah (Newham & Essex) men’s 2000m steeplechase in 5:48.23, Rachael Ogden (Worthing), women’s 1500m in 4:21.56, Justina Heslop (Clapham Chasers) women’s 3000m in 9:07.62 and Laura Parker (Wells City), women’s 2000m steeplechase in 6:47.28.