Despite the disruption to their training and racing caused by the Covid pandemic, athletes from Shrewsbury Athletic Club have been producing strong performances now that some races and track meetings are resuming under strict Covid regulations.
Richard Mckenna was the first Club runner to compete in a normal race since the start of the pandemic, finishing 9th and 2nd Veteran Over 40 in the C Race at the Podium 5K at Barrowford, Lancashire.
Four runners from Shrewsbury Athletic Club competed in the Mid Cheshire 5K at Kingsley, Cheshire, where the fast course lived up to its reputation with personal best times for all four, Matthew Costello first home for the Club in 51st place in 15/15, Sam Western 67th in 15/29, Jake Milovsorov 99th in 15/58 and Luke Butler 134th in 16/33.
Personal best times were again the order of the day when four Club runners competed in the Cheshire Half Marathon at Capesthorne Hall, Cheshire on a tough hilly course with Charlie Rogers leading the squad home in 14th place and 2nd Under 23, beating his previous best time by over 12 minutes in 71/14, Pete Middleton 23rd knocking over a minute off his previous best time from 10 years ago in 73/10, 39th Ollie Parry in a personal best 75/07 and Colin Perry 169th in 88/58.
Simon Cole produced an outstanding run at the North Devon Marathon at Woolacombe on Sunday, finishing 4th and 1st Veteran Over 50 in 3/58/08 on the tough multi terrain course which involved roads, trails, beaches, fields, steps and the scenic South West Coastal Path.
On the Track scene, Under 17 athlete Iris Downes won an 800m race at a British Milers Club Gold Standard Meeting at Stretford, Manchester in a personal best time of 2/13.93 and then at the next meeting at the same venue reduced that time to 2/12.46 finishing 2nd in another 800m race. Under 20 athlete Sam Western made his track debut at a Charnwood AC Open Meeting at Loughborough finishing 6th in a 1500m race in 4/03.62 and a week later 2nd in a 3000m race in 8/52.11 at the same venue. Under 20 athlete Liam Rawlings finished 9th in a 3000m race in 8/33.19 in his debut race for the Club at a British Milers Club Gold Standard Meeting at Stretford Manchester.
There was a safe return to track and field competition in Shropshire on Sunday at the Telford Athletic Club Open Meeting with some excellent performances and personal bests by Club athletes:
100m: Ianto Closs U15 13.4, Madeleine Aiston U15 13.6, Madeleine Parsons U15 13.7, 200m: Ianto Closs U15 27.2(PB), Madeleine Parsons 27.6(PB),Laura Hulme U17 28.6, Madeleine Aiston U15 28.8, Bridget Williams U13 28.9, Lily Parkes U15 29.5, 400m: Gabe Morris 55.9, Ethan Stanway U17 59.0(PB), Olivia Clarke U15 66.9(PB), Lydia Thomas U20 67.6(PB), 800m: Zach Mckenna U13 2/41.8(PB), Ava Homer U13 2/48.3(PB), Maisie Bennett U13 3/18.6, 1500m: Joe Gilling U20 4/28.0, Katie Jones U15 5/46.7(PB), 3000m: Sam Western U20 9/04.8, Jude Lins U17 9/53.4(PB), Jess Gunner U20 12/04.2, 80 m Hurdles: Chloe Speake U17 12.4(PB), Olivia Clarke U15 13.5(PB), High Jump: Rebecca Walker U20 1.4m, Emily McBride 1.25m, Long Jump: Patrick McBride 4.92m, Laura Hulme U17 4.74m, Bridget Williams U13 3.83m.
Report compiled by Tony Scales
Pic. Cheshire Half Marathon. L to R. Charlie Rogers, Colin Perry, Olie Parry, Pete Middleton
