The BMC PB classic which was held at it's normal location in Milton Keynes saw 10 of the KTH Middle Distance Squad in action and 50% of them set new PB’s on a hot and sunny day which favoured the shorter distance events.
Alice Bennett well and truly erased the memory of her opening 1500m of the season with a superb run to set another English Schools National Standard time and slice over 3 seconds from her 2019 PB with 4:34.73, to move to 13th place in the UK rankings. Bennett ran cautiously in the race and her performance, especially over the final 200m where she powered her way through the field suggests there will be much more to come in this event later in the season. Bennett now switches focus to her favoured 800m event in search of her first sub 2:10 clocking.
Alice Bennett (236) ran a great 1500m with a new 3 sec PB & National Standard time
Lara Turner sliced a second from her best with a very strong run in the 1500m to set another ES quali time of 4:46.66 which currently ranks her 14th in the UK. Turner now faces an agonising wait to see if this time will rank her in the top 16 English athletes on the deadline of 21st June to allow her to compete at English schools. Meanwhile she looks to set an ES quali time in the 800m in her next two races where she need to find just under 1 second.
U13 Jemima Davey also ran a terrific race in the 1500m to edge ever closer to the U13G club record of 4:49, with a brilliant time of 4:52.02 which sliced a second from her best and enough to move her back to the UK number 2 position. Davey has only had three competitive races this season so has plenty of time to improve both her 1500m & 800m times.
Jemima Davey moves to 2nd place in the UK in the 1500m
U17 Ben Brooker had another strong run in the 800m and came agonisingly close to dipping below the magical 2:00 barrier to join team mate Josh Geddess. Brooker ran 2:00.01 in another fine run and a sub 2 performance must surly come soon. Also setting a PB in the 800m was Evie Brooker who sliced a second from her best in 2:38.70 treading water over the final 100m Brooker will benefit from the fast first lap split of 73 over her remaining races.
Josh Geddess ran another fine 800m, and another sub 2:00 clocking of 1:59.40, with Maggie Gancheva & Amelia McMurtrie unable to improves on their recent PB’s both running well in their 800’s.
In the 3,000m both athletes struggled a little with the hot conditions with Alice Bates retiring after the 2km mark, and Lucas Mansell in a fast race just managing to rally in the final 600m to take two places for a respectable 9:40.97
Some fantastic performances as the Harriers middle distance squad as they move into the final 3 weeks before qualification times/ selections are decided for the upcoming championships in July.
Well done to everyone who ran.