Shaw wins 1500m as she gears up for Euro challenge

COUNTY athlete Maria Shaw used the two-day Northamptonshire AA County Track and Field Championships at Rockingham Stadium in Corby as part of her intense preparations for the European Masters in Pescara in Italy later this year, writes Geshom Nyathi.

The Harborough Athletics Club athlete, who represented Leicestershire & Rutland County, performed beyond expectations to win the women’s Masters Over 35 age group 1500m in a personal best and club record time of 4:55:02.

Shaw’s winning time put her third in the UK rankings in the Over 40 category, making her a strong medal contender at the Italian international masters competition.

On the opening day of the County championships, Shaw won the 800m title in 2:25:05, but outside her season’s best mark of 2:24.01 recorded at the British Masters championships in Sheffield where she picked up a silver medal.

“My victory was down to hard preparations. I have been consistent with my training schedule,” said Shaw.

“Although I tend to specialise in the 800m, I was surprised and impressed with my huge PB in the 1500m.”

Before the European Masters championships in September, she has targeted other events which include next month’s Midland Masters championships.

Her compatriot and multiple track and field competitor Jill Roginski competed in the women’s masters shot put, which she won with a throw of 9.49m, while another Leicestershire County member, Sue Frisby, threw 8.70m to finish second.

Frisby also cleared the bar at 1.26m to win the high jump in the Masters Over 35 age category.

The County Championships were loaded with many track and field events, ranging from Under 11, 13, 15, 17, 20 and seniors in different age groups.

Daniel Greaves, of Charnwood Athletics Cub, easily won the men’s senior discus with a throw of 54.92m, beating Forrest Francis of Leicester Coritanian AC and his compatriot Tom Pearson.

In the men’s senior 200m, Mauro Foncesco of Leicester Coritanian beat club-mate Emmanuel Ememe and Dominic Friend of Charnwood AC to win in 23:24 secs.

Foncesco also raced in the 400m, finishing second in 51:64 behind David Aryeetey of Harrow AC who triumphed in 49:85secs.