Vanguard Way Marathon & Half

Kara Boaks, from Striders of Croydon, ran very well to be the first woman to finish the Vanguard Way Marathon on Sunday, placing fifth overall and completing the undulating course in 4:11:06.  Marc Burrows was second in the accompanying half-marathon (1:41:35), with Stephen Harris fifth (1:47:39) and Martin Filer seventh (1:54:42). Emma Taylor was the second female finisher (2:16:33) with Grace Drewell fourth (2:28:32).

Striders produced some good performances in their final Southern Veterans League match of the season, at Sutton Arena on Monday. Niamh Vincent placed third in the W40 200 metres in a club age-group record of 32.1, third in the W40 800 metres (2:41.0), and fourth in the W40 1500 metres in a club age-group record of 5:33.7. Natalie Ballarin was third in the W50 shot in a club age-group record of 6.97, third in the W50 2000 metre walk (15:09.0), and sixth in the W50 javelin (11.38). Sandra Francis was third in the W60 2000 metre walk (15:39.5) and fifth in the W60 javelin (5.55). Sarah Allport was fifth in the W50 1500 metres (9:17.8), while Ruth Pearson was fifth in the W35 javelin (8.61). Striders’ women placed sixth, while their men were eighth of the nine clubs in the match.

For Striders’ men, Peter Johnson was second in the M60 800 metres (2:48.4) and third in the M60 1500 metres (5:36.0). Steve Corfield was second in the M50 1500 metres (4:55.9), and was fourth in the M50 200 metres in a club M55 record of 28.3. Stephen Allport was second in the M50 2000 metre walk (14:48.5). David Hoben was fourth in the M60 2000 metre walk (14:36.5), while Alan Dolton was fourth in the M35 2000 metre walk (16:58.2).