Sat / Sun, 8/9 May 2021
Crorken sets new club record at British Milers Grand Prix The first BMC Grand Prix of the year was staged at Trafford on May 8th, bringing together some of the top middle distance runners from across the country with Preston Harriers represented by five athletes. First up was Tiarnan Crorken who ran a new 800 metre PB of 1:47.22 to place 4th in the men’s 800 metres A race and place him first on the Harriers all-time records. Next, it was the turn of the 1,500 metre runners with Daniel Bebbington finishing 10th in the A race in the time of 3:47.86, Andy Benson running 3:54.85 to place 7th in the C race and Joe Monk running 4:05.05 to place 8th in the F race. Then it was the turn of Mhairi Maclennan who took third place in the women’s 5,000 metres A race in a time of 15:55, which places her second in the Harriers all-time records.
Moving to the field, two Harriers competed at the Hull open with Alex Bernstein winning his age group at the 6kg Hammer, throwing 63.66m. Bernstein competes again on Sunday with one eye on a GB top, whilst Scott Sinclair comfortably won the men’s triple jump, recording a jump of 13.59m placing him third in the Harriers all-time records.
On the Sunday it was the turn of the Trafford Open track meeting (9th May) with 14 Harriers in attendances. Highlights include Jack McLoughlin setting new PBs in the 100 and 200 metres, Kacie Calvert setting new discus and javelin PBs and PBs for Evie Noblett (100m), Emily Ranking (200m), Edward Coles (110m hurdles), Millie Walton (800m), Emma Tunstall (Javelin) and Tamalyn Dickinson (Hammer). James Ince also took second in his 100m heat.
Fell Up on the fells Preston’s Elsey Davis was in action on May 5th running the tough Loughrigg Fell Race in a time of 30:55 which saw her finish 26th overall and second female athlete on the day, whilst on the Saturday Alistair Palmer took part in “The Lap” a gruelling ultra marathon loop of Lake Windermere, finishing in 7th place in a time of 7hr:44mins.
Road On Sunday 9th May three Harriers lined up in the Run Aintree events with Steve Hallas going in the 10k and Dougie Potter and Alex Venables going in the 5k. Hallas who has been focusing more on track work recently broke the 40 minute barrier to finish in a respectable time of 39:01 and 38th place in the 10k. In the 5k Venables made up for the disappointment of pulling up in his last race to finish 15th in a time of 18:41. Sadly for Potter there was disappointment as a respiratory issue forced him to retire early. Young Anna Berry made her club debut at the Bounce Back 10k along a windy Blackpool front finishing in a time of 57:24.
Stateside Harriers Over in America Byron Sowerby was once again in action, this time racing the 800 metres at the Pacesetter Sports Invitational in Indiana, recording a new PB time of 1:57.23 to finish 4th.