24 September 2012

It was a quiet weekend internationally and the biggest domestic events were the Area road relay championships. The Midland Road relays were cancelled because of an oubreak of e-coli disease in Sutton Park.

South of England Road Relay Championships, Aldershot, September 22/23

Kent AC won the South of England men’s championships for the first time at Aldershot, run in very wet conditions on Sunday. Kent’s Paul Pollock (Andrew Hobdell) was easily the fastest man with a time of 17:39 for the 6km course.

The previous day’s women’s event was held in sunny conditions and Aldershot won by almost two minutes with their B team second. Emelia Gorecka (Mick Woods) ran a solo final leg for them and the European junior cross-country champion timed 12:26 for the 4km leg, 22 seconds better than her time of the year before. Shaftesbury’s Beth Potter (Woods) was second fastest with 12:31 and third fastest was World junior silver medallist Jessica Judd (Jeremy Freeman), who won the first leg in 12:44.

Results: http://www.afd.org.uk/2012-results/

North of England Championships, Leigh Sports Village, September 22

Rotherham won the women’s race and it was Lauren Howarth (self-coached) who was easily the fastest with a tiime of 12:00, that closed a 60 second gap to 10 on the final leg as her team Leigh took silver medals.

The men’s race was won by Altrincham and  in-form Liverpool Harrier Jonny Mellor (David Evans)  was easily fastest with a time of 17:08.

Results: http://www.noeaa-athletics.org.uk/Pages/Article.aspx?id=262

New York Fifth Avenue Mile, September 22

Four British athletes ran in the women’s race. World 1500m silver medallist Hannah England (Bud Baldaro) was third in 4:26.0. Julia Bleasdale (Nic Bideau) was seventh in 4:28.9, Eilish McColgan (Liz McColgan) ninth in 4:29.7 and British steeplechase record holder Barbara Parker (Sean Burris) was 12th in 4:34.9.

Results: http://www.nyrr.org/