The Team Bath runner who shared the stage with Mo Farah in Chicago -
Team Bath AC runner Tom Hutchison joined Sir Mo Farah on the winners’ podium at the Chicago Marathon. While Farah attracted the global headlines for his victory in a European record time of 2hrs 05mins 11secs in what was only his third start at the distance, Hutchison delivered a notable performance of his own further down the field. In his first race since celebrating his 65th birthday, Hutchison fulfilled his pre-event ambition of completing the 26.2 miles in a time of 3:15:33, which earned him top prize in the Masters 65-69 age category. “I am really pleased with this result,” said Hutchison. “I am in Chicago with a group of running friends and family from Queens Park Harriers in London. “We have learned a lot about the history and food in the city. I am especially pleased to prove that athletes can train and get quality results into their older years – but also pleased that travelling to races and being part of a sport community is so rewarding.” To further underline the quality of the performance the time puts Hutchison, who had been working hard with club coach Paul King, second in the UK M65 rankings behind Poole Runners’ Dave Cartwright (3:13:25). It was certainly more like Hutchison’s true form after the torment of the Boston Marathon in the spring, when terrible weather conditions saw him run his worst time ever of 3:50. It will certainly put him in a strong position to fulfil his ambition of earning an England Masters vest at the Vale of York marathon in October 2019, with his next outing at the distance pencilled in for Manchester marathon next spring, which will incorporate the trials event. Also in Chicago, Team Bath clubmate Kim Brace just missed her fouryear-old PB by two minutes with a time of 3:34:36. Back home, Team Bath AC’S youthful squad rose to the challenge to produce the club’s best result for 20 years at the National Road Six Stage Road Relays on Saturday. In one of the strongest fields for many years the team, in which all but Dan Jones were aged 23 or under, finished a creditable 58th as they broke two hours – improving their time from the Midlands two weeks earlier by 1min 12secs. Indeed, five of the six runners improved their individual times, with Howorth brothers John and Robert and Aaron Pritchard in particular making significant progress. “Alex Carter again was our fastest man opening up with 19:09 on leg one,” said team manager Dave Coales. “Next it was the ever reliable Dan Jones, who recorded a time of 19:30. Aaron Pritchard took 23 seconds off his time from two weeks on leg three. “Aaron was followed by Robert Howorth, who took 30 seconds of his Sutton Park PB. On a thankfully dry afternoon following a very wet morning Themis Bower battled bravery on leg five, leaving John Howorth to bring the team home on leg six, which he did in some style. “John like his twin Rob took half a minute off his PB and in doing so brought the team home under the magic two-hour barrier.” It won’t go down as one of his biggest wins but Alec Woods’ triumph in the Marshfield Mudlark 11k multiterrain race was still a job well done. “I have been trying to win this race for so many years now,” said the Larkhall-based athlete. “I have been second and third too many times to mention so to finally win it was great. I am very pleased.” Woods was happy to sit in with Team Bath junior Sean Barry and Cheltenham’s Nick Brown in the early stages before hitting the front at the 7k point. “I felt the pace slow at that point so I decided if I was going to win it then now was the time to put in an effort and I got away from the others,” added Woods. “It is a good little race and it feels good to have won it.” Brown held on for second place, with Barry showing up well for third ahead of fellow Team Bath runners Alberto Lapedriza and Barry Awan in fourth and fifth respectively, while Nick Parry, David Vaudin and Malcolm Treby also made the top 20 to ensure the club claimed the team prize. There was further local success in the women’s race, with Team Bath’s Lizzie Wraith racing to an emphatic victory – finishing more than three minutes clear of Frances Bromley. Monkton Prep School’s 12-year-old Thomas Courtier won the Mudlite 4.5k event from Felix Vaudin, with 14-year-old Megan Wright third overall and first female. The Chronicle’s athletics coverage is sponsored by Running Bath