Ross races in for new record
THE statistics did Stockport Harriers proud in the Morrisons Great Manchester run with no less than 43 registered club athletes taking part in the fast and flat course out to Salford Quays and back.
Leading Harrier was international sub 4 minute miler Ross Millington who let his legs do the talking and who continues to be a member of the sub 30 minute club over 10 kilometres posting a 29:11 finishing time.
His just reward was a new club record and thus eliminating Bashir Hussein’s long standing mark (29:14) which has stood the test of time since 1991 and with the added bonus of an eighth position in the elite men`s race just 2 seconds behind Andrew Butchart of Central A.C. – Stirling.
A total of 16 athletes from the local club broke the 40 minute barrier demonstrating the strength and depth of the available talent with Paul Corner being the 16th and just achieving the required time in the narrowest of margins in 39:59.
The club ladies were equally ambitious with Jessica Coulson making the top ten in the elite race to finish 9th (33:15) and finishing one place and 6 seconds in front of inter- national 10,000 metre European gold medal champion Jo Pavey of Exeter Harriers A.C.
Jenny Knass and Mollie Williams assisted the Harriers ladies to high up finishes with just two seconds separating them albeit in different waves in 38:01 and 38:03 respectively together with support from Ruth Sinclair (37:54) and Faye Jasmine Waterhouse (39:44) completed the sub forty minute quartet.
Another Stockport Harriers club record fell but this time although over the same distance it was indoors and starred Elle Vernon at the Stanford indoor track meet, California who produced a scintillating finish in 33:13:32 for the 10,000 metre event.
At the youngest age group possible, success was forthcoming at the Stockport mini athletics meet at Woodbank Park stadium.
In the under 9`s boys 75 metre events, wins were recorded in two separate time trials for Ollie Cox (11:5 – race 1) and Arthur Kennedy (11:3 – race 2).
Versatility was the watchword by distance with Lola Unsworth recording a win in 12:3 in the equivalent girls event and the aspiring athlete wrapped it up with a 2:16:7 winning finish over the longer distance of 600 metres.
Individual talent will be put to the test at Longford park, Stretford over the forthcoming weekend in the Greater Manchester track and field championships (Saturday and Sun- day) whilst those road runners who like it tough, will be making their way to the pavilion gardens in Buxton for the annual half marathon starting at 10am (Sunday) which features over 1,500 feet of climb through the North Derbyshire hills.