| Runners return to share the spoils at Wheathampstead run
Two runners returned to Wheathampstead to retain their crowns in
the annual Wheathampstead 10K / 2K run this Sunday. Tom
Stead of Lincroft School won the 2K race for the 4th year
running with a time of 7 minutes 51 seconds, 20 seconds ahead of
his nearest rival Luke Barber of St George’s,
Harpenden. In the 10K event it was last year’s men’s
champion Mark Dickinson of Garden City Runners who
once again claimed first place ahead of team mate Alex
Macintosh in a time of 33.50. Despite slippery
conditions Mark managed to take 2 seconds off his previous best
time over the course and was delighted with his performance.
In the 2K run the West sisters dominated proceedings
amongst the girls. Abigail West of the Grove
School beat her older sister Sophie of Sir John Lawes by
8 seconds, taking the girls’ title in a time of 9.1 minutes.
In the 10K event Katherine Philip of Dame Alice
Owens School took the top spot in a time of 40.58, just over a
couple of minutes ahead of Caroline Hale from
Garden City Runners. Congratulations to Garden City
Runners for winning the team trophy.
The popularity of the race grows each year. For the
second year running it reached capacity with entries for this
year’s race running out 10 days before the event. In the
end, there were 680 finishers in the 10K,
and an additional 658 children and
parents completing the 2K run. Proceeds from
the run go each year to funding extensive projects at the local
primary school, Beech Hyde. This year it
looks as if the amount raised will reach around £12,500;
this will bring the total raised over the last 5 years to
£62,500. Many thanks must go to the race’s main
sponsor GHM Consultancy Group and Associate sponsors
Aro Sports and Tesco. Last but not
least, thanks must go to the runners who come from all over the
county - and the local schoolchildren who braved the rain with
such courage.
Press Release 2009 |
