Amber & Tom win February Street 5k; New 1k course record by Ruby; and latest Indoor & XC round up from the Harriers
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The 202nd running of the Street 5k saw one of the Harrier Hon Life Members, Amber Gascoigne, back to win the women’s race whilst the Club’s current top athlete on Power of 10, u17 Tom Webb, won for the men.
Many runners from far and near achieved excellent times, some personal bests, in the relatively good conditions. There was a new course record for the girls in the accompanying 1k junior’s race when Ruby Shaw from our Monday Harrier training group swept home in 3.30. (Junior race start above under the watchful eye of Race Director Stephen Nicholls)
This web report also touches on some excellent performances this past weekend over all the usual surfaces – indoors, where we had Harriers contesting the English Track Championships; Cross-Country, with a number of juniors & senior men making their way to Port Talbot for Race 4 in the tough Gwent XC League, which turned out to be a bit of a mud-fest by all accounts; and multi-terrain as one of our real endurance athletes had a go at a 50 mile race along the SW Coastal Path down in Cornwall.
Excellent performances at Indoors & Cross-Country; Get ready for new 'Couch to 5k' course
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- Written by: Paul Chadwick
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This week’s round up has a report on some of the Harriers who are over in the USA on athletic scholarships. In particular, the Thorner twins (Elise in photo above & Ollie below) who are excelling at their athletics in their final year in the US College system.
We also summarise how some of the Harrier trained juniors faired at the South West Schools Cross Country Championships last Saturday, and have a round-up of any athletes I could spot at the regional XC Championships for Clubs, and the British Universities XC Championships.
For those looking to get back into running and maybe wanting to run at the Wells Festival of Running at the end of May, but are unsure of their fitness, there’s news too of a new Harrier ‘Couch to 5k’ programme about to start in April – sign ups now welcome.
Lastly, a reminder to all that we have the 202nd edition of the Street 5k races to look forward to next Wednesday, 14th February, and on the same night the accompanying 1k & 2k races for juniors. Sign up online in advance for the 5k and entry on the night for the junior races and the 5k is available. The Harrier supported Babcary road race on Sunday 25th February, 11am, is also coming up soon – don’t leave it too late to enter as sometimes this races is full by mid-Feb!
Read more: Excellent performances at Indoors & Cross-Country; Get ready for new 'Couch to 5k' course
2024 Somerset Schools XC Championships, Indoors latest and update on Yeovil track
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Well over 20 from the Harrier & Yeovil training squads were in competition for their Area Schools teams at the 2024 edition of the Somerset Schools Athletics Cross Country Championships held this past Saturday. Those who competed at RNAS Merryfield in early January at the SW Clubs Championships would have had an advantage from knowing the course and likely terrain, but all that ran tried their best.
There were four outright winners from the Harrier training squads, with some being at least a year younger than others in their age-group races. Well done Bea Soper, Oskar Beck, Daisy Davies & Tom Webb. All will now be selected along with others who have finished top ten to represent Somerset Schools at the SW Schools Cross Country Championships, on Saturday 3rd February, and the stepping stone from there is on to the presitigious English Schools XC Championships to be held in early March.
U17 Tom Webb actually went on to lower his 1500m track time the following day (Sunday) at the Indoor meet in Cardiff, whilst u13 Oskar Beck gave his local Junior Parkrun over 2km another blast and lowered the course record, again. Tom seen above at the British Athletics Cross Challenge at Renfrew the previous weekend on Saturday 13th.
This report also includes some other news from indoor action, another Meet The Harriers interview, and links to try to keep you up to date about the campaign to save the Yeovil track from closure. Well done to Geoff Cole, Chairman of our sister Club Yeovil Olympiads, and others for raising the profile of this issue so effectively.
Read more: 2024 Somerset Schools XC Championships, Indoors latest and update on Yeovil track
Chilly January Street races - great running once again by all
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There was some good running in the cold conditions at the 201st edition of the Street races. Numbers were down slightly, no doubt because of the weather, but there were some intrepid newcomers to the race, or returnees from long ago – from Avon Valley Runners and Weston AC in particular. 57 finished the 5k, and 16 were in the junior races.
The junior races saw the usual enthusiastic group of the next generation of runners giving it a go and plaudits go to Oskar Beck & Elspeth Perkins, 1st boy & girl in the 2k race; and to Rowan Kelly & Florence Perkins in the 1k race.
In the 5k race u17 Tom Webb is really making a habit of winning. For the women, u20 Mai Davies (Swansea Harriers) had a long journey back home to Carnarvon with her dad straight after her race – so well done to her for making the long trip, and winning! Read on for results link.
Read more: Chilly January Street races - great running once again by all
Carol Buckland
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Carol started running 21 years ago after being encouraged to join the Glastonbury Fun Run, which ignited her passion for the sport, and she joined Wells City Harriers shortly after. Her greatest running achievement was completing the London Marathon three years in a row, improving her time. Click to read more.
Carol Buckland
(First FV55 in the 200th edition of the Street 5K, December 2023)
Interview - November 2024
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