Paris Olympics hopeful Ferguson to start season with sprint races in Cudworth and Tenerife
■ ■ Penistone Footpath Runners trio represent England Masters Barnsley AC runners dominate latest South Yorkshire League race
SPRINTER Joe Ferguson is set to begin an outdoor season which he hopes will include trips to the European Championships and Olympics to represent Team GB.
The Darton man, who turned 24 last week, is due to compete in the Yorkshire Championships over 100m at the
Dorothy Hyman Stadium in Cudworth on Saturday then fly out to Tenerife to race over his specialist distance of 200m on Wednesday.
Ferguson, who reached the World Championship semi-final in 2022 before an injury-plagued season last year, is hoping to compete in the European Championships in Rome in a month’s time then the Paris Olympics later in the summer.
He said: “I have put some good hard training in, and the last six weeks especially have been really good.
“Now I am just spending a few weeks fine tuning things and getting nice and fresh.
“I am trying to peak in June but I will race three or four times in May and hopefully put some good times down.
“It normally takes me two or three races to get a feel for the season.
“It’s a big year, with a lot on the line. “I have already set the qualifying time for the Europeans, last year, but a few of us have so I have to prove my form and then it’s up to the selectors.
“The ultimate goal is Paris but the Europeans would be a massive event as well.
“It’s really motivating and something to aim at. I want to put on a GB kit again which is always an honour.”
Meanwhile, Penistone Footpath Runners Andrew Pearson, Rachael Mayston and Dawn Broom all wore their England Athletics Masters vests at the Great Birmingham 10k.
Dawn took third in the women’s over60 category in a time of 44-13.
Andrew finished 96th in a time of 37-20 and 13th in his category. Rachael came home in 43-15 to earn 13th-placed position in her category.
The latest fixture of the South Yorkshire Road League took place in Worsbrough.
The route contained some tough inclines as it gradually climbed up to Birdwell, before dropping down the main road to the finish.
Barnsley AC’s Kai Sunman won the race with 26-33, 21 seconds ahead of team-mate Gareth Cooke in second.
Ruby Sykes and Naomi Drakeford were the first two women in times of 29-32 and 30-34 respectively.
Chris McNicholas ran 31-55 to finish as first over60 man while Kerry Storrar was third over50 woman in 37-11.
First back for Penistone was George Parr in a time of 29-14, while first Penistone woman home was Suzanne McGill in 32-41.
Kingstone Runner Linda Walton was second over55 woman.
Barnsley Harrier Alan Ford was second in his age category and tenth overall, with Katie Roberts first back for the club’s women in 144th.
Vikki Skipper was once again first woman over65, and Steve Frith was second over70 man.
At the Dukeries 40-mile race, which starts in Sherwood Forest, Barnsley Harrier Kelly Ford finished in 32nd place in 7-56-48.
Two Barnsley AC members made their marathon debuts.
Tayla Brons finished the Prague Marathon in 3-56-41 while Chris McNicholas headed to the Milton
Keynes Marathon in order to get a good for age time for London Marathon next year. He was comfortably under the 3-37-00 requirement, finishing in a time of 3-17-54 as fifth over60 man. In the half marathon, Barnsley Harrier David Hanks came 31st in 86-54.
At the seven-mile RunGreno Trail Race, Penistone’s Jemma Williams finished in a time of 62-58, earning sixth position in the women’s race and second in the over40 category. Also taking part was Kirsty Rogers who finished in 83-09.
Kingstone Runner John Downing was first over70 man. Shaun Clarkson was the first Harrier back and also second over65 man in 38th overall. Julie Riding was second over60 woman.
At the Legging it for the Library 5k,
Barnsley Harrier Jessica Holt was fifth overall and second woman in 27-20.
Barnsley AC’s Chris Gillott was first finisher at Barnsley ParkRun with a time of 18-07.
Gareth Cooke and Naomi Drakeford were both first finishers at Hull ParkRun. Naomi’s time of 17-48 was also her overall ParkRun PB.
There were ParkRun first places for Penistone’s Lee Storey at Ashbourne, Emma Moore at Nostell and George Parr and Suzanne McGill at Penistone.
Flynn Rogers was first at Hillsborough Junior ParkRun while Kate Rushforth completed her 50th ParkRun at Penistone and Ruth Melhuish did her 250th at Chevin Forest.
Suzanne McGill topped the age-graded rankings with 80.2 per cent.
Barnsley AC results from the South Yorkshire Road League:
Kingstone Runners results from the South Yorkshire Road League:
Barnsley Harriers results from the South Yorkshire Road League:
Kingstone Runners results from the RunGreno Trail Race:
Penistone results from the Great Birmingham 10k:
Penistone results from the South Yorkshire Road League: