Hussein and Male storm to victories in road race
DEFENDING CHAMPION NEARLY MATCHES HIS LAST YEAR’S TIME AFTER BEATING CLOSE RIVALS
DEFENDING champion Mo Hussein and Joanna Male were in dominant form as they won their respective titles at the Stilton Striders RC 7-mile road race in Melton Mowbary, writes Geshom Nyathi.
The race, which counted as the second leg of the Leicestershire Road Running League spring series, attracted 489 competitors, with a host of other runners taking part in the Leicester Big 10k road race at Abbey Park.
On a sunny day, Hussein of Roadhoggs Leicester AC and his usual closest rivals, Matt Scarsbrook of Badgers in Warwickshire and Simon Allen of Owls Leicester AC, quickly took charge upfront with a punishing pace.
But after the one-mile mark, Hussein upped the pace on the first curve and held pole position to win in 35:33, just a bit slower than last year’s winning time of 35:31.
“It was a good race for me. Last year, Matt was challenging, and it was close,” said Hussein, who is hoping to retain his men’s Leicestershire Road Running League championship title.
Scarsbrook, always a fine competitor, finished second in 36:12.
He is now preparing for next month’s West End Runners 8-mile road race and the Bosworth half marathon which he won last year.
Allen was untroubled to finish a comfortable third in 36:44.
Ben Darlow of West End Runners finished fourth in 37:58, trailed by
Scarsbrook clubmate Dave Hill in 38:08 and Luke Ingram of Owls Leicester AC in 38:14.
Dan Kelly, the Stilton Striders RC top runner, who is down for the London marathon on Sunday, took it easy and finished ninth in 39:46.
In the women’s race, Male of West End Runners capped one of her finest performances by storming to victory in 42:28, much faster than her last finishing time when she was placed third in 43:44.
Male was impressed she won the race but felt the competition could have been tougher with the presence of her clubmate Claire Frankland, who opted instead to race in the Manchester marathon.
However, Frankland has promised not to miss out in the next West End 8-mile road race, which would be the third leg of the league series.
Grace Tongue of Charnwood AC, who missed out in Leicestershire’s cross-country team for the UK Inter-Counties championships held at Wollaton Park in Nottingham last month, had a splendid race, finishing second in 42:49.
She was also much faster than her finishing time of 45:18 when she came sixth in the same race.
Rachel Nealon of Huncote Harriers finished a creditable third in 43:21.
Ysabel Drewett of Owls Leicester AC followed her home in 44:14, ahead of the promising junior Olivia Bailey of Hinckley RC in 45:46.