Sam and Paul claim Striders’ records at Croydon Arena

Striders of Croydon produced some good performances at their final Southern Veterans League match of the season, at Croydon Arena on Monday. Their men did well to place third of the seven competing clubs, while their women were fifth. Sam O’Dongo had an excellent run to win the 400 metres in a new club M40 record of 56.9 seconds, and also set new club M40 records in both the 100 metres (12.6) and long jump (4.81). Paul Cripps also did well to win the M50 long jump with a new club age-group record of 4 metres 59, win the M50 high jump (1.50) and set a new club M50 record in the shot (8.07). For Striders’ women, Nadine Pryce made a successful debut by placing second in both the A 100 metres (16.3) and the javelin (9.53), while Rosie Gibbons was second in the A 1500 metres (5.50.0) and Lorraine Hunte was second in the W60 100 metres (17.8). Both Striders’ men and women finished fifth in the final league table.

Krzysztof Klidzia ran very well to be the first over-50 to finish at the Elmore seven-mile road race, organised by South London Harriers, on Saturday. He placed 20th overall in 42 minutes 56. Graeme Drysdale was 46th (46.49) and Steve Massey 64th (48.37). For Striders’ women, Selena Wong was 175th (58.44) with Linda Daniel 215th (63.10) and Jo Penny 277th (74.57). Meanwhile Peter Mills was ninth in the Standard Chartered City 5k road race, recording 15 minutes 55, while James Bennett won the Bromley parkrun in 16 minutes 09. Striders had a total of 43 finishers in the various weekly parkruns (19 at Lloyd Park and 24 at other venues).