INSIDE TRACK 5k win perfect finish to nurse’s manic weekend
WINNER HAD TO RACE TO START LINE
NEWLY-CROWNED North East Counties 5k road race champion Danielle Hodgkinson was a relieved athlete after making a mad dash to be on the start line in Sunderland.
Twenty-four hours before the Silksworth race the former Wallsend athlete was competing for the Army in the Inter-Services Championships in Portsmouth, where she came out on top in both the 800 and 1,500 metres.
Hodgkinson showed no signs of tiredness after her near 400-mile sixhour train journey as she stormed to victory to lift the North East 5k gold medal.
Naturally, Hodgkinson, a mental health nurse stationed in Leeming, was delighted with her latest success and, after receiving her award, said: “I wasn’t sure I would make it in time but I am pleased I did.
“The previous night I represented the Army in the Inter-Services Track and Field Championships and managed to win both the 800m and 1,500m.
“In the past I have usually doubled up in the 1,500m and 3,000m but this time I was asked to do the 800m, which was a bit of a surprise for my last 800m was in 2014.
“Everything turned out okay so I was in a confident mood to run in Sunderland despite the long train journey ahead.
“I had heard the Silksworth course had a fast down-hill start and while that certainly was the case I took it steady and it was not until we had completed the first kilometre I managed to ease up on to Emma’s (Holt) shoulder.
“Though at one point I had to negotiate the swans on the course it did not hamper me in any way and in the end I was pleased to win though I missed out on a new personal best by 14 seconds.
“I was still happy to dip under 17 minutes, though, a time which has only been bettered on the course by Alyson (Dixon).’’
Despite being based in North Yorkshire, Hodgkinson travels back ‘home’ as often as possible and on her previous outing before Sunderland in the Blaydon Race finished in third behind Olympians Sonia Samuels and Dixon.
Her winning performance did not come as too much of a surprise despite having to face most of the region’s leading endurance runners.
Her good run of form had not gone unnoticed by Birchfield’s team leaders for the following day after her Silksworth success she was informed she was needed for the UK Women’s Premiership fixture in Kent on the Sunday.
The 32-year-old added: “Since I linked up with Birchfield after leaving Wallsend they have been very good to me, though most of my runs for them have been in the road relay championships rather on the track. “I am really looking forward to lining up over 3,000m and helping the club gain as many points as possible and stay in the Premier Division.” Despite picking up a foot injury during the cross-country season, Hodgkinson’s track outing will be the first time she has used her spikes this year and she is hopeful everything will be fine before her next big target, a 10k road race in Prague.
She said: “The Prague course is noted for fast times so hopefully I can dip under my best time of 34:38 set in 2012.
“I look to be gathering momentum so I would like to think that will continue for the rest of the year.”