2015
Here's Barry Warne's report from the latest Grand Prix, as well as some updates from other races.
Grand Prix III and general round-up
08/07/2015
Here's Barry Warne's report from the latest Grand Prix, as well as some updates from other races.
Seventeen year old Nene Valley Harrier, Alex Hampson, displayed maturity beyond his years, when striding to victory in the 3rd Round of The Peterborough 5k Grand Prix at Ferry Meadows last Wednesday. The talented teenager won in a time of 15:32, refusing to panic when Christopher Wright of Bedford and County AC set a searing pace early on. Having defeated the 20 year old in the country 3,000 metres championship earlier this season Hampson felt that he had the beating of his rival, and so it proved. Biding his time the young harrier pounced as his rival began to slow in the final 2 kilometres.
Anthony Johnson of Werrington Joggers also passed Wright to finish 2nd, just 6 seconds down on the winning time Johnson, who is a second claim member of Nene Valley, and represents the club in track and field competitions has established himself as one of the top distance runners in the region, on both road and track.
Newham and Essex Beagle John Pike finished 4th, and first veteran being followed home by Rhys Goddard of Nene Valley.
Grace Mullins had a fine run, and was 1st lady home in 18:47. In an unfortunate racing accident Mullins's main rival, Mellisa Neal, fell at the start, and though uninjured was not able to complete the race.
Casey Hilliam has regularly caught the eye with her performances for Nene Valley Harriers track and field team. The 15 year old has excelled in distances ranging from the 200 metres to 800 metres, and has also acquitted herself well in the triple jump. The youngster added a further string to her bow finishing 2nd lady in an impressive time of 19:33, an incredible 50 seconds quicker than her debut over the distance just 4 weeks ago. Michelle Brett of Ramsey Road Runners was another athlete to set a PB, finishing third just 1 second behind Hilliam
Nicky Morgan was 4th lady and 1st veteran home in 19:43, her fastest time over the distance for some 10 years. Morgan's Nene Valley clubmate, Ruth Jones finished 5th.
With two rounds of the five race series to go, the battle for men's title is hotting up. Each athlete is judged on their best three finishers, and Alex Hampson, has two first places to his name, whilst his Nene Valley teammate Lloyd Kempson has placed first and second in his two outings.
Grace Mullins has been first lady home in the two races which she has competed in, and one more win should see her become the ladies champion. Though Mellisa Neal could challenge her, should she complete the last two races.
The junior 3k had an international flavour as Canadian youngster Joshua Tillman, of the Track North club was first over the line in 10:14. Tillman is on a two week visit to the area from Ontario and finished fourteen seconds ahead of Nene Valley's Ethan Ellison, who held of third placed Riverside Runner, Daniel Ridley.
Danni McCann- Gaskell of Kettering was 1st lady and Amber Park and Josephine Fortune of NVH were 2nd and 3rd.
The penultimate races in the series take place at Stamford Rugby Club on 22 July. The Juniors will be first off with a 7:00pm start.
Nene Valley Harrier Rhys Goddard achieved a stunning result in Sunday's mass participation British 10k in Central London, finishing 6th in a field of thousands. The race was won by an Ethiopian athlete in under 30 minutes and, although Goddard's time of 34:09 was nearly a minute down on his PB, set earlier this summer, this was a fantastic run in humid conditions on an undulating and twisty course.
Two local runners were amongst the prizes in the Leeds 10k at the weekend. Nene Valley's 49 year old 'king of The Road' Sean Beard finished 13th out of 11,0000 runners, picking up the prize for being 1st MV50, in a time of 35.01. Bourne Town Harriers GB duathlete, Claire Steels ran a PB of 37.55 finishing third lady, and 72nd overall.
Barry Warne
Seventeen year old Nene Valley Harrier, Alex Hampson, displayed maturity beyond his years, when striding to victory in the 3rd Round of The Peterborough 5k Grand Prix at Ferry Meadows last Wednesday. The talented teenager won in a time of 15:32, refusing to panic when Christopher Wright of Bedford and County AC set a searing pace early on. Having defeated the 20 year old in the country 3,000 metres championship earlier this season Hampson felt that he had the beating of his rival, and so it proved. Biding his time the young harrier pounced as his rival began to slow in the final 2 kilometres.
Anthony Johnson of Werrington Joggers also passed Wright to finish 2nd, just 6 seconds down on the winning time Johnson, who is a second claim member of Nene Valley, and represents the club in track and field competitions has established himself as one of the top distance runners in the region, on both road and track.
Newham and Essex Beagle John Pike finished 4th, and first veteran being followed home by Rhys Goddard of Nene Valley.
Grace Mullins had a fine run, and was 1st lady home in 18:47. In an unfortunate racing accident Mullins's main rival, Mellisa Neal, fell at the start, and though uninjured was not able to complete the race.
Casey Hilliam has regularly caught the eye with her performances for Nene Valley Harriers track and field team. The 15 year old has excelled in distances ranging from the 200 metres to 800 metres, and has also acquitted herself well in the triple jump. The youngster added a further string to her bow finishing 2nd lady in an impressive time of 19:33, an incredible 50 seconds quicker than her debut over the distance just 4 weeks ago. Michelle Brett of Ramsey Road Runners was another athlete to set a PB, finishing third just 1 second behind Hilliam
Nicky Morgan was 4th lady and 1st veteran home in 19:43, her fastest time over the distance for some 10 years. Morgan's Nene Valley clubmate, Ruth Jones finished 5th.
With two rounds of the five race series to go, the battle for men's title is hotting up. Each athlete is judged on their best three finishers, and Alex Hampson, has two first places to his name, whilst his Nene Valley teammate Lloyd Kempson has placed first and second in his two outings.
Grace Mullins has been first lady home in the two races which she has competed in, and one more win should see her become the ladies champion. Though Mellisa Neal could challenge her, should she complete the last two races.
The junior 3k had an international flavour as Canadian youngster Joshua Tillman, of the Track North club was first over the line in 10:14. Tillman is on a two week visit to the area from Ontario and finished fourteen seconds ahead of Nene Valley's Ethan Ellison, who held of third placed Riverside Runner, Daniel Ridley.
Danni McCann- Gaskell of Kettering was 1st lady and Amber Park and Josephine Fortune of NVH were 2nd and 3rd.
The penultimate races in the series take place at Stamford Rugby Club on 22 July. The Juniors will be first off with a 7:00pm start.
Nene Valley Harrier Rhys Goddard achieved a stunning result in Sunday's mass participation British 10k in Central London, finishing 6th in a field of thousands. The race was won by an Ethiopian athlete in under 30 minutes and, although Goddard's time of 34:09 was nearly a minute down on his PB, set earlier this summer, this was a fantastic run in humid conditions on an undulating and twisty course.
Two local runners were amongst the prizes in the Leeds 10k at the weekend. Nene Valley's 49 year old 'king of The Road' Sean Beard finished 13th out of 11,0000 runners, picking up the prize for being 1st MV50, in a time of 35.01. Bourne Town Harriers GB duathlete, Claire Steels ran a PB of 37.55 finishing third lady, and 72nd overall.
Barry Warne