Fiona de Mauny is European Masters Champion

 

 

In her first year of Masters Athletics competition having turned 35 in February, Fiona de Mauny became the European Masters Indoor W35 800m champion on Thursday, racing in Madrid in grand style. A perfectly executed run, leading from gun to tape saw her to a clear victory with a huge indoor PB of 2.12.28.

The plan to peak for the biggest event of de Mauny’s running career to date worked perfectly, as although the silver medalist pretty much equalled de Mauny’s previous indoor best, but she in turn finished four seconds behind the winner. 

De Mauny followed up her fabulous 800m win the following day with an understandably tired sixtth place in the 1500m final running 4.48.15 for a season’s best to cap a marvellous three days of racing after the 800m heat and final.

Also in Madrid, Allan Long claimed a European silver medal in the M75 60m final, clocking 8.96 seconds after winning his heat in a season’s best 8.90, while Giuseppe Minetti brought home a silver medal as part of the second placed Great Britain M45 4 x 200m relay team.

Sunday’s Frank Harmer Memorial 10k race in Brockwell Park was enjoyed by all participants with 85 finishers and the usual friendly Herne Hill Harriers organisation.

Nick Bester placed second in 34.10, just seven seconds behind the race winner and with Jeff Cunningham third in 34.27, Gary Ironmonger fifth in 35.40, Sam Knight sixth in 37.40, Jonathan Ratcliffe seventh in 38.07, Gavern Newsum ninth in 38.55 and James Ward twelfth in 39.54 all in the top dozen it was a comfortable home team win.

The Harriers women emulated this feat as they occupied the first three female places courtesy of Karen Ellison first in 41.40, Monika Gajek second in 42.52 and Helen Hadjam third in 42.54, with Abby Pennington sixth in 46.06.

On Saturday in Valencia four Herne Hill runners raced in the Mass Race at the World Half Marathon Championship. Jack Brotchie was 200th in a PB 75.26, Simon Messenger (visible on BBC red button TV wearing red and black shortly after the start) 828th in 83.11, Eriç Dol 2285th in 92.44 and a good PB for Pippa Messenger with her 1.45.31. 

 

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