Nene Valley Harrier athletes dominated the first race of this year’s Peterborough 5k series.
Alex Hampson took second place, just four seconds behind Notts AC’s Aaron Scott in 15.54, followed closely by Lloyd Kempson in third in 16.12.
Harriers’ Philippa Taylor was first lady in 18.54, producing a gritty display of determination to battle through the race despite carrying an Achilles injury. March AC’s Melissa Neal ran a decent season’s opener of 19.15, with Nene Valley’s Ruth Jones taking third place in 19.42.
Hampson’s time represented a huge personal best for the 16-year old Bourne Academy pupil, smashing his previous PB by 29 seconds, while Kempson’s time was an even bigger improvement, his former best 5k time being just 17.58.
The Harriers had successes in the 3k too, with 14-year old Mark Rayment heading his team-mates home to win in 10.10. Keilin Spurdens and Ben Roberts took second and third in 10.31 and 10.41 respectively, while NVH had the first two girls home too, with Amelia Monaghan and Megan Ellison finishing within six seconds of each other in times of 11.30 and 11.36.
* There was a minute’s applause before the June 4 race started in honour of long-standing member Keith Brookes, who died recently aged just 65.
He was a member for 34 years and an ever-present at the Great Eastern Run since it began 31 years ago in 1982.
