Harriers thrive in YDL to light up Sportcity
TO kick start the Youth Development League at Sportcity, Manchester, with a brilliant race, the U15 boys 300m sprint saw Sean Collins take third place (40.10) only two seconds behind the leader, Luka Sidebotham (38.7) of Liverpool Harriers.
This was Sean’s second attempt at a 300m run where he also gained a PB.
Stockport’s Ellena Walker competed in the U13s 800 metre race where she ran an astonishing time of 2.39.6 allowing her to also place second. Ellena was only one second off her PB of 2.38.61.
Meanwhile, in the girls U13 800m, Rosie Philbin took first place with a time of 2.56.5 and Niamh Mackintosh took second finishing with 2.50.7.
Sophie Ellwood challenged herself to the U13 girls 1200m run, just short of the 1500m event, Sophie was able to snatch herself first place, storming through the line with a sub four minute run (3.58.4), also achieving a huge five second PB.
Meanwhile, in the B race another Harrier, Daniela Graham Marti placed second (4.24.2).
In the 1500m race, Finley Mayoh took gold for Stockport in the U15 boys A race, crossing the line with a lead of two seconds, leaving him with a brilliant time of 4.33.0.
Shortly after, the B race boys stepped up to the start line where Stockport’s Jack Catterall finished in second place (4.48.9).
In the field events, Luca Sheppard stepped up to take on the U13 boys High Jump and won first place
reaching the height of 1.35 metres.
Saffron Meade challenged the High Jump too and placed second (1.25) in the U13 girls event.
Jessica Lord proved her Long jumping ability in the U13 event by placing first overall with a distance of 4.13.
Finally, in the U15 shotput event, Stockport Harrier’s, Cameron Unsworth placed first and achieved a new PB of 11.34 which was previously 10.52.
Cameron also participated in the discus event where he again achieved another PB (30.29) whilst also taking second spot.
With one of the most famous annual events in the UK, the London Marathon took place over the weekend.
There were more than 40,000 people taking part in the 26.2-mile run, whether that would be walking, jogging, running or ultimately sprinting the race like Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge (02.02.38) and Brigid Kosgei, who beat defending champion Vivian Cheruiyot and became the youngest female London Marathon winner (02.18.20).
To put Kipchoge’s brilliant win into a simpler perspective, he ran 10 kilometres in 29.01 and a half marathon in 1.01.37.
In fact, Kipchoge’s pace for his record breaking run at the Berlin Marathon would see him achieving 68 seconds per 400 meters for 105 ½ laps!
From Stockport, James Barnett was the first to reach the finish, placing 730th overall with a time of 02.45.08.
While running his half marathon at 01.20.14, it’s safe to say James ran outstandingly.
This was closely followed by Paul Brooks (02.49.42) and Stephen Crook (02.49.46) who only placed four seconds apart, I wonder if there was a bit of “friendly” competition for the last 100 metres?
Ultimately, we all need that last push to get ourselves across the finish and it’s even better to see our Stockport athletes working together. Finally, the last Sub 03.00-hour marathon time was ran by who else but Stockport’s Charlie Batho (02.57.30). Another brilliant run by Steve Shaughnessy who managed to get around in a speedy time of 03.20.42 whilst also positioning 40th in his age category of 60-64. Furthermore, Stockport’s Jayne Lawton was the first of women of our club to speed through the finish line in an incredible time of 03.13.35 ultimately putting herself in 14th place out of her age category.
The London Marathon also hold a mini marathon consisting of 3 flat miles for up and coming athletes, Freya Murdoch ran the U13 girls race and achieved a fast time of 18.08 putting her in 11th place. Also, Stockport’s Anya Waugh, placed third in the U15 Juniors Wheelchair race. They have both had a taste of racing in front of a tremendously overwhelming and supportive crowds and both continued to show extreme power and determination for themselves and their club.