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Grand Prix 2, Ferry Meadows. First home in the 5K was Matthew Blunden, Notts AC, in 15:25
Report
Blunden blasts to an easy 5k victory
Published Date: 20 June 2009
By Bob Frank, Peterborough Evening Telegraph
DEEPING athlete Matt Blunden abandoned his pre-race plans and went on to win by 34 seconds in the second race of the Peterborough 5k Series.
Blunden arrived at Ferry Meadows to find conditions windy, and he quickly announced he would adopt 'sit and kick' tactics – planning to sit-in behind his rivals and then kick away in the closing stages.
But as early as the opening minute it was clear no-one was in good enough shape to challenge the 29 year-old and it wasn't long before he was stamping his class on the event.
Blunden had been beaten into second in the series opener but the winner on that occasion, Hampton athlete Neil Addison, was reduced to spectating on this occasion after deciding to take a few weeks off from the sport.
The former Peterborough Athletic Club member doesn't plan to race in the series again this year after going down with a series of colds every time he gets into good shape.
No such problems for his occasional training partner Blunden who produced splits of 3.07, 3.02, 3.00, 3.08 and 3.08 to win with ease on a new course.
He will miss the third race of the series at Eye this Wednesday (the usual two-week gap between races being scrapped to avoid a clash with the Race for Life) as he is competing in the 800m, 1500m and 5000m at the Royal Air Force Championships at Cosford which could leave the door open for Notts Athletic Club team-mate Ashley Sabin – son of former Eye Community Runner Craig – to win after finishing second on this occasion.
Spalding athlete John Pike ran solidly for third, despite a sleepless night caused by hayfever, while Nene Valley Harrier Adam Binns was fourth even though he is doing little training due to an injury suffered 18 weeks ago while doing gym work at St Mary's College in London.
Peterborough Athletic Club's Matt Blunden has already improved his 800m and 3000m personal bests recently and his 5k should follow shortly after missing it by just seven seconds when finishing fifth on Wednesday.
Two Bushfield Joggers club records fell – Brian Corleys clocking 17.00 for the senior men's record, although it was still more than half-a-minute outside his personal best, and Philip Nicholson's 22.29 being recognised as a new Over 45 men's mark.
Jon Massingham shaved a further two seconds off the Eye club record he set two weeks ago in the opener while England veteran international Stan Owen proved he is still running strongly at the age of 56 as he finished 18th.
Stamford Strider Philippa Taylor ran 22 seconds faster than in the opener to win the women's race and she will look to clinch the title at Eye.
She was just three seconds outside her personal best as she won by 47 seconds from West Norfolk veteran Molly James.
Peterborough Athletic Club's Melissa Neal, making a rare racing appearance in the city, clocked her best time for two years in third followed by clubmate Sarah Caskey and Fenland Running Club's Rebecca Cousins.
Kieran Jack of Peterborough Athletic Club held off Nene Valley Harrier Ross Huskisson in the junior 3k, winning by four seconds.
Jack Moore, winner of the opener, had to settle for third on this occasion while 11 year-old Alex Hampson ran well in fourth.
Steph Burton again won the girls category with Paige Lambert and Jade Carvath-Smith making it a Nene Valley one-two-three.
British triathlon international Josh Daniels plans to run on Wednesday while talented Nene Valley Harrier Chris Wright is yet to turn out in the series this year.
PETERBOROUGH 5K GRAND PRIX
RACE SERIES 2009
&
3K Junior race for under 15 and under 13
Free T-shirt to all entrants competing in 3 out of 5 races.
Sponsored by Advance Performance
The series will be run over five events as follows, all on Wednesdays: -
- 3rd June 2009 - Ferry Meadows (Water Sports Centre), hosted by NVH
- 17th June 2009 -Ferry Meadows (Water Sport Centre), hosted by Thorney RC
- 24th June 2009- Lindisfarne Road Eye, hosted by Eye Community Runners
- 15th July 2009 - Danish Invader Pub Stamford, hosted by Stamford Striders (TBC)
- 29th July 2009 - Werrington Sports Centre hosted by Werrington Joggers
Entry Details:
- 5 K £4.00 attached £ 6.00 unattached
- 3 K £3.00
- Entries will taken on the night, therefore please allow plenty of time (30 minutes) to collect your number and get to the start
- All races are accurately measured, permitted and run under UK Athletics or ARC rules
- Start Time: - 3K 19:00 5K 19:30 at all events
Event Prizes:
5K - Each event will attract on the night a £10 voucher for the first Man and the first Woman
3K -Each event will attract on the night a £5 voucher for the first boy and the first girl
Series prizes will consist of Boots vouchers and will be awarded at the Nene Valley 5k in August, or sent in the post to those unable to attend. These will be based on the runner's best three results out of the five events, and will be as follows: -
Prizes:
Men - First £35, Second £25, Third £15.
First place in the following categories: U17 and U20, Vets 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 & 65 all £15. Second place in each category will receive £10.00, third place £5.
Women - First £35, Second £25, Third £15.
First place in the following categories: U17 and U20, Vets 35, 40, 45 all £15. Second place in each category will receive £10.00, third place £5.
Juniors - Boys under 13 and under 15 - First place £15, second place £10.00, third place £5
Girls under 13 and under 15 - First Place £15, second place £10.00, third place £5
'Coaches caught on camera' 17.06.09
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