The big performance of the week came from Preston’s star male distance runner Patrick Dever, who on March 6th recorded the fifth fastest 10,000 metre time in British athletics history, breaking the club record in the process, as he finished in 6th place at the Sound Running TEN event in California, recording a time of 27:23.88. Elsewhere stateside, Jake Lonsdale took second place in 15:13.80 at the Tampa Distance Classic 5000 metre event in Florida.
Staying with the track, but moving slightly closer to home, several Harriers were in action at the Manchester Indoor Open meetings. Stand out performances include Corey Middleton winning the high jump event after clearing 1.65 metres and setting a new 60 metres PB of 8.27 to win his heat, Queenivette Nguta winning her 60 metre heat in 7.86 and Tom Booth setting a season’s best of 4.40 metres in the pole vault. London’s Lee Valley was the setting for the latest British Masters Indoor Championships meet with Carol Holt and Joanne Rowicki competing in the women’s vet-40 60 metre event, both making it through to the final were Holt took third place in 8.58 and Rowicki set a new PB of 8.89.
On the roads, Chris Miles, who has struggled with injuries these past few years, completed the Trafford 10k in 36:56, a great sign that the Chris could be getting back to his best. David Kerfoot also competed at Trafford, with the Vet-60 athlete finishing in 52:01. Steve Mort and Ian Palfrey travelled north for the ever-popular Haweswater half marathon, with Mort finishing just in 99:20 and Palfrey recording a season’s best of 1:40:52.
Up on the fells a large Harriers force of thirteen headed out to Barley for the Stan Bradshaw Pendle Round, which featured a mix of paths, boggy moorland, steep climbs, and tough descents. First home was Jon Green, who finished 45th overall. First female Harrier home was Katey Markland in 133rd place and John Rainford was first male vet-60 overall.