Striders finish second in the Southern Vet’s League match

Striders of Croydon did very well to finish second in their Southern Veterans League match at Croydon Arena on Wednesday. They did particularly well in the 5000 metres, where Jay Lidbetter was second in the A race in a club M40 record of 16 minutes 33.5, while Tatsuya Okamoto won the B race in 16:40.7. Steve Corfield won the M60 race (18:30.4), while Graeme Drysdale was second in the M50 race (19:02.8). Michael Bassett was second in the M70 category, setting a club age-group record of 27:07.8. In the 200 metres, Paul Cripps was second in the M50 race (29.6), while Steve Corfield was second in the M60 race in a club age-group record of 29.8. Paul Cripps was third in the javelin (21.56), while Jon Dean was third in the M60 event (17.71).

For Striders’ women, Lorraine Hunte set a club W65 200-metre record of 36.5, while Sandra Francis set a club W65 javelin record of 6 metres 56. Nikki Javan was third in the A 5000 metres (21:34.8).

Striders produced some good performances in the Elmbridge 10K on Sunday, which was the final race in this year’s Surrey Road League. They were led by Phil Coales who ran well to place 19th out of 311 finishers (35:31). Tatsuya Okamoto was 24th (36:06), Andrew Aitken 27th (36:24) and Erik Schrijnemaekers 42nd (38:19). Steve Corfield again ran well to win the over-60 category, placing 51st overall (39:32). Steve Massey was 63rd (40:22) and John O’Mahony 141st (46:36).

On Saturday morning, Justin Macenhill placed first in the Depot Hill parkrun, at Gainesville in Florida (19:36). Kara Boaks was the first woman to finish the South Norwood parkrun, placing seventh overall (22:13). Striders had 92 finishers in the various weekly parkruns.