Jackson warms up for Boston with a second place 5km finish
Sunderland Harrier Stephen Jackson warmed up for next Monday’s Boston Marathon in the States with a good performance in the Wallsend Harriers 5km Road Race.
He finished second (15.14) to the host club’s Sam Charlton (15.00), one of the brightest young prospects in the country.
Jackson said: “I was with him for about half way before he made a break.
"I was happy enough as it was just a sharpener before Boston.”
Jackson’s best 5km stands at 14.59 which was established in the Sunderland 5km and his fastest marathon was set in the Cheshire Elite Marathon, with a time of 2.26.37 in 2021,
The 38-old has had an impressive winter season, making the North Eastern Counties Cross Country team for the Inter Counties Championships for the first time this year.
Behind Jackson in third came club-mate Liam Taylor, who recorded 15.33 to continue his comeback following injury.
Alex Seed, 18, smashed his PB when recording 16.17 in 14th to beat his previous best by 15 seconds to finish third Sunderland Harrier on what was a quick course based around the Newcastle Silverlink.
Club-mate Sebastian Walton finished 33rd in 17.09, and Jimmy Johnson was 112th with 21.20, followed by Sunderland Strollers’ Steven Wilson, who finished 113th 21.27.
First woman in 13th was the hosts’ Danielle Hodgkinson with 16.17. There were 217 finishers in total.
In the Burn Road Hartlepool
Marina 5-mile Road Race, the course record was beaten by just one second.
New Marske Harrier Lewis Gamble Thompson was the athlete that smashed the record, winning the race by a street.
He recorded a time of 24.14 to win the £100 prize voucher.
In second place was Joseph Wilson, of North East Project, with 26.24 and third was the host club’s Simon Bennett (26.49).
Former Sunderland Harriers’ Graham Pullan, now competing unattached, was 18th with 29.29.
Paul O’Brian was 66th (34.28) and Shaun Bagley finished 70th 35.02.
The following athletes are among the prizes in the individual Grand Prix for the North East Harrier League.
Under-17 Men Adam Hughes, fourth (Sunderland), Senior Men Liam Taylor, fourth (Sunderland), Senior Men Chris Coulson, (Houghton) third, Under-17/20 Women Anna Pigford (Houghton) third.
In what is normally a busy weekend for road runners, the Elswick Harriers Good Friday Relays have been cancelled, due problems with the course.
However, the North Tyneside 10km goes ahead as usual on Easter Sunday at 10am from the Parks Sports Centre, North Shields going along to North Shields Fish Quay, Tynemouth Promenade, Tynemouth Priory and Castle, and it then follows the coastal route, finishing at the car park at St Mary’s Lighthouse.
There are 2500 entries. On Easter Monday, the Run Durham Dalton Park Easter 10km Run takes place. It starts and finishes near Dalton Park Shopping outlet. It is a flat and fast course with a hill at the finish. The race starts at 10am.