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MASTERS ATHLETICS ROAD RACING
April 13
LONDON MARATHON
Report by Martin Duff of Chris Greenwood 1st Male 40.
Athletics Weekly.
Pictures: Jeremy Ben Reynolds took the M50 race from Nigel Rackham by
Hemming. 100 seconds in 2h:33:53, the Thames runner also heading
all of the M45’s. The four time National Vets cross-country
Ist W40 Emma Stepto, champion was more than two minutes clear at 13.1 miles,
behind 1st British but lost a bit in the second half as Rackham ran splits of
Female Amy 77:47 and 77:46. “I have to be happy with that as I wasn’t
Whitehead at all confident about going sub-2h: 35 so I’m pleased to
squeeze under 2h:34. As usual I slowed 15 seconds per
mile in the last six miles but it felt as if I was finishing fast
but the times show I wasn’t.” His splits were 75:29 and
77.24.
By far and away the best veteran performance in the Ben Reynolds 1st M50
race was that of Emma Stepto but she was running
in the Elite women’s section in an effort to get a Nearly thirty years ago Reynolds said he ran 2h: 31:42 for
Commonwealth Games place in the England team. 333rd. This year he was 87th quickest overall, the figures
However a return of 2h:36:05 was just outside the required telling their own sad story.
mark. Had the Cornwall runner been in the mass start it is David Butler dominated the M60 age group, winning by 18
likely that she would have improved her pb. from its minutes in 2h: 48:46. He said: “My race went very well. My
current. 2h:35:02, just two seconds shy of the required twin targets were to achieve a pb. Time of 2h: 48 and win
time. Stepto had to run the second half of the race by the age group. I achieved both so I am very happy. I
herself. started slightly too fast but eased back slightly to reach half
way as planned and loved the run down through the
England Cross-Country International Chris Greenwood crowds and narrower roads near in Docklands. I then
pulled back a half-way deficit of nearly three minutes to win worked hard to keep the pace going back to Tower Bridge.
in the men’s vests’ title in 2:27:59. This was after Gareth The next two miles were very hard but I found a second
Lowe ran 71:21 for the half-marathon but Greenwood, back wind to complete the last 2km strongly to achieve my target
in fifth after 13 miles, ran a negative split to win by just 35 time.”
seconds. “I paced myself really well so I feel OK as it all Treena Johnson not only ran nine minutes quicker this year
went perfectly, I tried to stay calm and hit my splits. but also moved up from second in 2013 to take the W50
Everyone said 20 miles is half-way but I lasted until 25 and medal, in 2h:57:49. The Dewsbury runner was 86:27 at the
then my last mile was my fastest, so I was fine,” said half-distance and going away but despite losing ground in
Greenwood. the latter stages held on to win by 51 seconds.
Jane Davies took the W65 section in 3h:22:12 and was on
schedule to break Angela Copson’s British best time of
2:19:05 at 13.1M (98:00) but lost time in the second half.
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