A rainy Thursday evening in Northern Ireland saw another exciting over distance breakthrough for Herne Hill Harriers’ international track star Katie Snowden to top the midweek performances from our club athletes
Snowden flew the HHH flag superbly at the Armagh International road races in what was her first ever attempt at the 3km race distance. Her excellent fifth placing in a strong field saw her beat two of the three selected England team members among some other good runners with experience at this sort of race. Snowden’s time of 9:16 is comfortably the fastest time ever recorded over this distance by a female club member on either road or track. In the men’s open 3km race locally domiciled Harrier Francis Marsh finished thirty-forth in 9:34 and was first man over the age of 50.
The Lee Valley Middle Distance Indoor Open on the Wednesday night also featured some top HHH runs. In the 800m races action under 17 runner Kayah Wilks clocked 2.22.86, Higher Competition club member Fiona de Mauny 2.16.33 and Mollie O’Sullivan, now under 20 for track racing 2.14.14. At the 1500m distance under 17 athlete Olivia Stillman recorded 4.48.18 and Charlotte Alexander (also under 17 for track and field) 4.41.13 which were all excellent mid winter and in most cases mid cross country season efforts off little or no speed work in their training. At the most senior end of the age spectrum, 75 year old John Garber ran 1500m in 6.44.47 having arrived too late to run the 800m after spending 3 and a half hours on the M25. Great efforts all round in preparation for the summer outdoor season.
Geoff Jerwood