Harrison a big hit in Hungary
LAST week Natasha Harrison represented team GB in the 400m at the European Under 18 Women Championship in Hungary.
In the heats Natasha came in fourth place with 54.60. This has put her in a good position and ultimately enabled her to reach the final, where she came eighth, competing against international athletes and achieving a time of 55.21.
Natasha will be competing and representing Greater Manchester in the English Schools Athletics this upcoming week which will take place in Birmingham with various other athletes across the country.
So far Natasha has achieved a new PB of 54.60 and is now ranking third in the Under 20 Women for 400m in the UK.
The Lord Mayor’s 5K in Norwich last Saturday saw Stockport Harrier Adam Visokay storming through the line to achieve a time of 14.21 coming second overall, just 10 seconds behind the Olympian Paul Evans (14.11).
The first race in the Sale Sizzler 5K series has taken place and was dominated by Stockport Harriers as it proved to be an extraordinary turn out from the club’s athletes and the sweltering heat didn’t deter runners from achieving some tremendous times!
Jack Morris took first place overall with a time of 14.37. Patrick Martin followed close behind by only one second (14.38). The third Stockport Harrier, who came fourth overall, was Michael Sawrey and he produced a time of 15.31.
The first female Harrier speeding through the finish was Kelly Crickmore (17.47) who placed fourth overall lady and achieved her fastest 5K this year!
Shortly after, Elizabeth Apsley placed fifth lady with a time of 17.50. Jenny Knass took third spot for Stockport Harrier ladies with a time of 18.37.
Another race that took place over the weekend was the Kettleshulme 10K fell race. This traditional fell race has been resurrected after two years off the FRA calendar. The event took place prior to the carnival procession and is part of the Kettleshulme Rose Queen celebrations.
Although the race had a very low turnout in general, with only 58 athletes taking part across the north west, Stockport still made an appearance!
The first male Harrier to cross the line was Malcom Johnson, earning a second overall position and a time of 38.13.
The second Harrier to storm through the line was Karl Tavini (43.15), coming 11th overall. And Gary Richardson took third male Stockport Harrier with 47.21 coming 27th overall.
The ladies team ruled and dominated the race, taking first spot in the team prize with Faye Waterhouse (44.44) who also took first overall lady.
Snatching silver was Rachel Blight (45.24) and Fiona Johnson won bronze for the club (45.28).
The Wizard 5 (mile) took Stockport by storm, set close to the Edge. One could argue that the name is fairly ironic. Personally I wouldn’t call it magic after competing in it!
Nevertheless, the multiterrain course with more than enough hills did its job and runners faced the race head on.
The race was a short and dusty five miles with Stockport’s Jake Littlehales taking first place overall (26.57) closely followed by Iain Murdoch (29.12) taking ninth position overall and James Corden coming 14th overall with a time of (30.46).
Heather Corden took overall third lady for Stockport Harriers with a tremendous time of 33.47 also achieving first senior lady! Second Lady for Stockport Harriers was Rachel Blight (35.25) and Sofia Tavini was third Stockport lady (36.13).
The team prizes were in our favour as both women and men came second place doing the club proud.
The I Love Manchester 10K also saw many Stockport Harrier athletes racing. Starting on the sport city track close to the Etihad Stadium athletes take a six-mile tour around Manchester and even better, this course almost guarantees athletes a PB!
The first Stockport Harrier to come racing through line was Stephen Crook with an extraordinary time of 35.16 coming fifth overall shortly followed by Paul Brooks who came in at 37.17 leaving him in 16th place.
Close behind was Tony Potts achieving 17th place and a time of 37.21.