Great end to the year for Lydia as she scoops a win
RUNNER BACK ON WINNING FORM IN SPAIN
LYDIA TURNER ended 2017 on a high when she led the field home to win the under-23 contest at the Venta de Banos International CrossCountry fixture in Northern Spain.
After a couple of years in low spirits the Birtley athlete is gradually recovering the form which saw her finish in bronze medal position in the junior (under-20) race at the European Cross-Country Championships in Bulgaria in 2014.
That was the highlight of a promising career and, after being nursed back to fitness with coach Tommy Millmore, is back mixing it in senior competition.
And while she was headed by a number of African and British athlete, she was rewarded by being the first under-23 athlete home in the 7km contest in Spain.
It was Turner’s first representative vest taking on senior opposition and while there were three English athletes ahead of her at the finish they were all seniors.
Turner was part of the Northern Athletics squad and was selected after her run in Liverpool four weeks ago and while she just missed out on place in the GB team for the European XC Championships, it was no surprise that she was drafted into the NA team to take on international opposition.
On a typical continental course devoid of mud, Turner set off conservatively but gradually grew in confidence as the race progressed.
All the while she managed to reel in athletes representing England who had beaten her in Liverpool as it turned into a battle between Ruth Jebet (Ethiopia) and Kenya’s Alice Aprot Nawowuna at the head of affairs.
Victory eventually went to Jebet in 25min 45secs with Verity Ockenden first home for England in fifth place (27:25).
Turner crossed the line in ninth spot in 28:02 though her performance was another step forward regarding her fitness as she was much closer on this occasion to the athletes who had finished ahead of her in Liverpool. Despite a long, tiring journey to the Spanish venue, Turner felt she more than justified her selection by finishing first NA counter and first under-23 to finish in the race.
As usual, Turner was hoping to finish closer to the leaders but nonethe-less was happy with her run saying: “I felt pretty good throughout the race though the journey to Spain was very tiring.
“Naturally, I’m delighted to win the under-23 category but more importantly I’m really pleased how I ran against the other English girls.
“Most of them beat me in Liverpool; while I got the better of some of them I also finished much closer to the other ones, so that certainly shows that I’m getting there.’’ THE indoor season is in full swing and local athletes have been in action at Sheffield and Manchester, as well as at the Gateshead College venue.
At Sportcity in Manchester, 39 60m races were included in a packed programme which saw Tynedale’s Liam Collins among the winners after coming out on top in his 60m and 60m hurdles.
Athletes from a number of the region’s clubs headed to the North West, with many of the 20 travellers achieving lifetime bests.
Unfortunately, those who made it to Sheffield were denied electronic timing, which was a disappointment for the likes of Blaydon’s Tom Rutherford and Shildon duo Kyle Walton and Rachel Bennett, who all finished ahead of their rivals.
At Gateshead College, electronic timing was in use and, thanks to the dedicated photo finish officials, many of those who contested the sprints and the hurdles were rewarded with new personal bests.
Former Gateshead athlete Scott Hall, now competing for Birchfield Harriers, recorded a brisk 6.98secs for a 60m victory, which was faster than any athlete in Manchester.
One of the best performances of the night came in the shot, where Gateshead’s Jack Halpin produced a huge put of 14.78m, a new pb which consolidates his position at the top of the UK under-15 rankings.