The 24th Series of the Street 5k races drew to a close this past Wednesday when good racing conditions for the 144th running saw the final positions confirmed: Kieran Young (for the men) and Charlotte Baker (for the girls/women) were duly crowned the King & Queen of the Series. There was a host of pbs for the 5k race and also a course record for the 2k race when Alex Williams broke the record (6.52) and also claimed the overall shield for the 2k series; Connie Little winning the Series for the girls over the same distance. In the 1k series, Rachel Packard & William Carr take top honours for great consistent running, and William will be young enough to go again over the same distance next year. For full results see box to the right. For the report, read on....
First home on the night, relatively fresh from his recent training in Ethiopia, was the Harrier's Jack Bancroft with an excellent 15.41, with last year's and this year's 'King' , Kieran Young (Bristol & West), 2nd in 16.18 and Mike Griffiths (Team Bath) 3rd in 16.39. First for the women on the night was last year's 'Queen' Emily Smith (Wells) in 18.42, just outside her pb.In 2nd place was Yeovil's Deb Glover also just outside of her pb with 20.04, and then in 3rd was the Harrier's Cordelia Sheridan with 22.00.
1st junior male was the Harrier's Felix Rusby who smashed his pb with his17.00 clocking. That time takes him to 10th on the current power of ten rankings for the distance in the u15 age group. 1st v40 just behind was Mike Pearce (Crewkerne) in 17.09 whilst 1st v50 was Martin Lascelles (Maiden Newton) in 18.52 and 'new' v60 was Nick Brooke (YTRR) in 19.24. 1st V70 was the ever consistent Brian Clark of Langport in 25.05 (that's currently good enough to be 15th on the national rankings for 5k).
1st F45 home on the night was Charlie Spencer (Maiden Newton) with a little bit of a help from her friends (good pace-making I reckon) and 1st F55 was Lesley Nesbitt (YTRR) in 23.50, just 3 seconds slower than last month's mark of 23.47 (which currently ranks her at 7th on the national rankings for F60 at 5k).
Others to achieve personal bests on the night include the Harrier's James Williams with his 17.57, some 20 seconds quicker than ever before (and 15th on the current rankings for the u15 age group); Paul Maskell (Harriers) whose London Marathon training is paying awesome dividends - here he went 16.39 (and that's the night after a tough Tuesday eve training session); Double decathlete Nathan Baker (Harriers) in 19.16; and the Harrier's Mike Rusca who finally got one over the Chairman with his excellent 20.10.
Series thanks as ever for the Uniited Reform Church, the many marshals led by Ian Eddy, the First Aid cover provided by Kay Fanklin, the refreshments team led by the Whitcombes and the finish line recorders led by Helen Rutter. A great team all ably managed and directed by Race Direrctor supremo Ed Tickner.(fastest V60 at the Southern XC Championships!)
We wish all the juniors using the Street 5k as a final sharpener before the English Schools XC Championships on Saturday all the best at that race. Meanwhile, everyone else should think about the next Harrier supported event on Sunday (11.30am start) at Butleigh for the 7-mile multi-terrain. (see Calendar for entry form).
Harriers should remember to send in their membership forms and payments for the new competition year by April 1st. See Join Wells City Harriers to the left.