Three of the Harriers Middle Distance squad who were in action in the opening BMC Grand Prix at Trafford on 08th May, were all in action again 4 days later with the BMC Gold Standard at Birmingham University which saw all three athletes set impressive new PB’s on an evening perfect for middle distance running with little or no wind and warm evening sunshine.
16 year old Indie King and 15 year old Alice Bennett, who both won their respective women’s 'C' & 'D' races at Trafford, are continuing to show impressive early season form and both were lined up for the first time in the same race, which featured a high quality field of International athletes including a GB’s Mari Smith and 2 times English schools winner Annie Testar. Both girls got great starts and settled in behind the pacemaker to split in a fast 62/63 seconds lying in 4/5th place. King put in a tremendous effort on the back straight to move into 2nd place with 200m to go, which was the ideal time to inject some pace with all athletes looking for fast times. King managed to hold second place despite challenges from the athletes to finish in an impressive new PB of 2:09.15 and move into UK number 3 as a bottom year U20. Bennett managed to hang onto the main pack and put in a brilliant final 100m to finish in a magnificent 5th place to slice a further 2 seconds of her 4 day old PB with 2:10.42 to move to UK number 3 as a bottom year U17. Both girls were delighted with their performances in only their 2/3rd race of the season.
Indienne King & Alice Bennett Both set fantastic new 800m PB's to move to No 3 in the UK rankings
U17 Alice Bates who had not enjoyed her best open 1500m race at Trafford, due in the main to over keen pace making in the first two laps. This time Bates run a magnificent race against much older competitors not making the same mistake, she sensibly sat in right at the back of the pack to ensure her opening two laps were on pace (72/ 2:26). Building from this she look tremendously strong over the final 700m and was taking places over the final lap to smash per PB by over 5 seconds with 4:36.8 and set another National Standard English Schools time to join her 3000m National Standard time from her opening race. Bates has been in electric form in training so the performance was well deserved by the 16 year old who surges to 7th in the U17 UK rankings.
Alice Bates brilliant run in the 1500m to smash her PB by over 5 seconds
Fantastic running from the squad!