24th September 2018

WEEKEND UPDATE

Midland Counties Road Relays, Sutton Park, 22 September

Birchfield Harriers enjoyed a successful day at home in Birmingham as they took the spoils in both the women’s four stage and men’s six stage road relays. First up were the women, who led virtually all the way to win by some 90 seconds. Jordan’s Tamara Armoush posted the quickest leg of the day on leg one, with her teammate Julia Cooke (coach: Bud Baldaro) second fastest.

In the men’s race it was a similar story, Birchfield never headed as they romped to victory by almost two minutes. Will Richardson (Peter Stewart) was fastest Brit on the day, his 17.42 run just one second shy of his teammate Kadar Abdullahi who was quickest overall.

Results

Northern Athletics Road Relays, Sportcity, 23 September

Leeds City AC enjoyed a strong weekend on the roads around Sportcity and the Etihad Stadium, as they won the women’s four stage event and were runners-up in the men’s race. Stevie Stockton (Phil Townsend) led her team off in fine style with the third fastest leg of the day, with Georgia Malir, Emma Clayton (both Andrew Henderson) and Claire Duck (Mike Baxter) doing the rest. Blackburn Harriers’ Jess Judd (Mick Judd) ran a 19.52 time for quickest female of the day, getting the better of Lauren Howarth (Steve Vernon) by 30 seconds.

In the men’s race Lincoln Wellington continued their rise, a strong team performance ensuring they took gold by over a minute from Leeds and Liverpool Harriers. New recruit Charlie Hulson put Liverpool in the lead on leg one with the fastest leg of the day, but Leeds City’s Philip Sesemann (Henderson) was just one second slower on leg four.

Results

Simplyhealth Great Bristol Half Marathon, Bristol, 23 September

Matt Clowes continued his strong road form, winning the Great Bristol Half Marathon by a proverbial country mile. Running solo all the way, the Cardiff man clocked 65.10, just 30 seconds shy of his personal best, backing up the 29.19 and 29.47 clockings he has produced over 10km this month.

Results

Bill Dellinger Invitational, Oregon, USA, 21 September

At the first major pre-season cross country meeting over in America, Oregon University students James West (George Gandy) and Philippa Bowden (Mick Woods) produced a pair of top ten finishes, a good start to their autumn season. In a strong field, West was second Oregon man home in ninth place. In the women’s race Bowden went even better in sixth place, as Oregon athletes swept the first seven places to take the team title. There was also a notable run for Portland’s Rebecca Howard, an Aldershot, Farnham and District teammate of Bowden’s, as she finished 12th.

Results

Mountain Dew Gator Invitational, Florida, USA, 22 September

Jodie Judd (Mick Judd) was the first British finisher in Gainsville, the Florida State University student seventh, Ellie Wallace 25th and Charlotte Crook (Peter Crook) 28th.

Results

Self Transcendence 24 Track Race, London 22-23 September

At the annual race at Tooting Bec in London at the weekend, Mike Stocks ran 249.110 km/154.790 miles for first place and Paul Maskell clocked 247.050km/153.510 miles for second.

Both athletes bettered the 245km distance that has been used by British Athletics as a benchmark to be considered for individual selection for GB teams. Sarah Moorwood was the first female with a very creditable 213.080 km /132.410 miles.

Meanwhile the remarkable Geoff Oliver set no less than eight world age group records. The 85-year-old recorded new marks at all distances from 30 miles to 100km.