The big event of week was the England National Cross country championships, one of the biggest fixtures in world cross country and possibly the biggest even the majority of amateur runners will ever compete at. Harriers had representatives in the senior women’s and men’s events as well as the U15 boys event. Katie Lakeland was first harrier home in the women’s event finishing inside the top 400, Whilst Wes Wilkinson was first senior male home, finishing just outside the top 400 representing two good performances against a high-quality field in tough conditions. Both runners can now proudly call themselves the 2022 Preston harriers senior national cross country champions. Paul Jeffries, Will Metcalf , Julie Tyrer, and Sue Wickham also competed in the senior events, whilst Ben Tyrer competed in the U15 event finishing 409th.
In road running, Jason Parker, Emma McColm and Chloe Lam – Moores were all in action at the Pilling 10k. With McColm (36:09) and Lam-Moores (37:34) taking 1st and 2nd in the women’s event and Parker finishing 6th overall in a time of 35:48. Elsewhere Chris Williams set a new 10k PB at the Stanley Park 10K, finishing 7th in a time of 37:23, with Dougie Potter finishing 15th in 39:50 and vet-60 Jacquie Bonworth finishing in 62:54.
On the track the evergreen Sharon Wilkinson was in scintillating form as she won gold at the European Masters Indoor Championships, in Braga Portugal, winning the vet-50 women’s 400 metres race, in a new world record time of 60.11 seconds. Carol Holt was also in action, taking fifth place in the women’s vet-40 200 metres event, in a seasons best of 27.59
Byron Sowerby took second place at the OVC mile in 4:11, a time most runners can only dream of. Matthew Wigelsworth took fifth place in the 800 metres, at the Big East Championships in Chicago, in a new PB time of 1:49.68.
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