Striders race well from 3,000m to 50 miles!

Matthew Stone, from Striders of Croydon, had an excellent run in the Blackheath & Bromley Open Meeting, at Norman Park on Saturday. In his first track race, he placed third in his heat of the 5000 metres, setting a new club over-55 record of 17 minutes 58.47 seconds. This was three seconds faster than the previous club record, set by Graham Hansen in 2016, and makes Matthew the oldest Strider ever to run 5000 metres in less than 18 minutes.

In the same meeting, James Rhodes ran very well to place fourth in the previous heat of the 5000 metres, recording a new personal best of 16 minutes 35.98 seconds. Andrew Aitken ran 17 minutes 12.60, while Peter Johnson ran a personal best of 19 minutes 43.64. Striders had six competitors in the 3000 metres. They were led home by Steve Massey, who finished strongly to record 11 minutes 16.49. He was followed by Darren Woods (11:26.86), Mike Sawh (11:35.09), Stephen Allport (11:58.28), Michael Smaldon (12:43.83) and Chris Green (12:51.55).

Also on Saturday, three Striders ran well to complete the North Downs Way 50-mile race from Farnham to Knockholt.  Nikki Javan, racing the distance for the first time, was the eighth woman to finish, placing 66th overall out of 292 runners, and recording 9 hours 34 minutes 04 seconds. Rachel Lindley was the ninth woman to finish, placing 71st overall in 9 hours 39 minutes 33. Michael Davis finished 73rd in 9 hours 40 minutes 51.

In the Hercules Wimbledon Distance Night at Wimbledon Park on Wednesday evening, James Rhodes placed fourth in his heat of the 3000 metres, recording a new personal best of 9 minutes 28.21 seconds. Andrew Aitken placed eleventh in the same race (10:03.91).