COURIERS DOMINATE COUNTY TRACK CHAMPS

Three County track races, three different Courier winners and an excellent Courier vet contribution in each race.

What a start to Tom Grady’s Courier career as he stormed to the 10,000 m title in his very first race for the Club, notching 36.16.8 in what was a rather lonely run! Tom is an athlete of high calibre, formerly first claim for the Sussex club, Phoenix, and now setting his sights on the marathon, with Frankfurt his initial goal. Before then he will be racing the Cardiff Half so watch for his result there.

Couriers’ other new recruit, Charlie Jones, who superbly carried off the 5K Series crown earlier in the year, registered a sound 37.35.6 for second in the 10,000 with Rich racing to bronze in the Vets division in a highly creditable 38.05.2.

In the 5000, Eliot showed a decent turn of speed despite very limited running training, winning in 16.30.1, ahead of Charlie, taking his second County silver in 17.38.0 with Rich third again in the over 40’s, despite being a V50, in 18.15.9.

Over the classic mile distance, Charlie swapped silver for gold, coming home in 4.56.6 to take his first County title. Rich collected yet another bronze with a fine 5.23.3.

So, we have three different County track champs! Well done to them all and to Rich, performing far better than he should do at his advanced age. The question now is, can we harness this raw speed in our quest for a hat trick of male cross country titles? As Seb Coe once said, I believe, “My track prowess had its roots in the mud and hills of cross country.” I’m sure I’ve heard Rich say exactly the same thing!