Heat is on rival runners as Kiel prevails
Alex on road to red-hot victory at Aycliffe
SOARING temperatures did not deter around 400 athletes lining up in yesterday’s 3M-supported Aycliffe 10k road race.
Once the field settled Alex Kiel (Quakers) and three-time winner and defending champion James Askew (Durham City) were quickly at the head of affairs.
After the opening kilometre the pair had a 50-metre lead over Darlington’s Drew Inglis, who was 15 metres clear of the chasing bunch which included Elswick’s Jason Old, David Old (Gateshead) and Hartlepool Burn Road’s Simon Bennett.
Approaching halfway Keil, who has only been running for two years Athletics writer and has improved immensely in that time, started to pull away from his main rival and going into the final circuit only a mishap could stop him going on to win.
Keil’s advantage was eroded in the closing kilometre by Inglis who had not only hauled in Askew but also reduced the deficit immensely on the leader to finish just six seconds behind.
Askew, who finished a comfortable third, had been suffering from food poisoning all week but decided to run and try to defend his title.
Askew, who started off in athletics with the Aycliffe club, admitted it was not a smart move to turn out but felt he had to give it a go.
He said: “Newton Aycliffe, as it was then, was my first club and I have a soft spot for everyone there.
“Having won last year and in 2012 and 2011 I wanted to give it a go but once Alex upped the pace around midway I had nothing in the tank.
“He ran well and I am pleased for him.
“I gathered before the race he was just coming back after injury - so he has done really well.’’
Sunderland’s Alice Smith was a runaway winner of the women’s race, finishing in a time of 38min 32secs.
Darlington’s Bernadette Caygill was runner-up with Jade Hutchinson, also of Darlington, third.
DON’T miss Thursday night’s Grassroots Sport for the latest junior athletics action.