Road runner Pike chalks up another 10k victory

IN-FORM: Spalding’s John Pike

IN-FORM: Spalding’s John Pike

In-form Spalding athlete John Pike secured another win on the road as he stormed to victory at the Deepings Rotary 10k.

Pike, who emerged victorious from the Eye 10k a week earlier, finished more than a minute ahead of his nearest competitor.

Representing his club Newham and Essex Beagles, Pike clocked 34.39mins to ease Stamford Striders’ Simon Fell (35.40mins) into second place.

Heatwaves burned away any chances of fast times at on the fast and flat course, but a couple of other Harriers fared pretty well.

Rob Prady was third man across the line in 35.47mins, leading in his club to the second placed team prize, together with Lance Hemmings, Mike Chapman and James.

Nene Valley only had one female finisher, but Louise Blake made sure she didn’t leave empty-handed. Her time of 46.48mins earned her the second veteran’s prize.

  •  A host of Nene Valley Harriers were crowned county champions at the Lincolnshire Track Championships at Grantham.

One of the highlights of the day was under-17 athlete Alex Hampson beating all of the under-20 men in his 1,500m race and recording a new PB of 4.01.6mins to secure selection for the prestigious English Schools Championships.

That time was a championship best and a new under-17 club record, smashing former club mate Chris Wright’s 4.04.3mins set back in 2008.

  • Under-15 Jasmine Allen impressed yet again when she won both the 100m and 200m by large margins.

In the same age group, Megan Ellison won a hard-fought 1,500m in 5.05.0mins with a PB and a photo finish.

Talented under-17 ace Bradley Spurdens also won his 400m race by the skin of his teeth after recording exactly the same time as the second placed athlete (52.3mins), while Lucas Fidler was victorious in the triple jump with a fine 10.03m effort.

Shot put star Rob Shaw will have to wait until the second half of the championships next month to follow up his English Schools qualifying throw of 13.60m at a recent Eastern Young Athletes’ League, but he still impressed by winning both the discus and hammer throw.

Another athlete to secure an English Schools qualifying mark was under-20 multi-eventer Emma Hornsby, whose long jump mark of 5.51m virtually assured her place at the championships.

She was also a convincing winner in the 200m in 27.3secs.

Under-20 James McCrae ran well to win the 800m in a swift 1.59.1mins, having just run the 400m race.

Elsewhere, Jake Richardson annihilated his opposition in the 5,000m with a huge 27second PB of 16.33.2mins.

  •  Nene Valley’s Cat Foley and Darrellon Holding were both invited to compete at the illustrious Loughborough International track meeting.

Foley was in fine form, recording a PB time of 10.11.33mins to place tenth in her 3,000m race. Holding, meanwhile, completed the 400m ‘C’ race in 50.09mins.

  • Harriers Barry Warne (second V50) and Ruth Jones (third lady) finished the Soham half marathon in times of 1.34.06hrs and 1.35.16hrs respectively.

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