Harriers out in force at the Olympic Trials

Report: Dave Turnbull -

The eyes of the athletics world were on the Olympic Trials at Alexandra Stadium, Birmingham over the weekend and in a first for the club at this year's UKA Closed Championships the club had an unprecedented 5 athletes competing for Stockport Harriers.

In the men's 5,000 metres the golden vests of Stockport were prominent with European Under-23 silver medallist Ross Millington and England cross international Patrick Martin representing the club in the stacked field.

Pride of place went to Ross Millington who won the club's first ever senior men's national track title in the tactical race as the race built to an exciting finish. Ross injected a 1-59 last 800 meters to break Olympic bound Nick McCormick who had already run the A standard qualifying time, Patrick Martin was outstanding battling hard into the top six taking some notable scalps.

Following on from that and showing the clubs strength in the 5,000 metres UK Indoor 3,000 metre bronze medallist Elle Baker and England 5,000 metre Champion Jess Coulson toed the line in the women's event which had one of the strongest fields in recent years. Both athletes fought hard for places in the race won by Jo Pavey with Jess finishing bravely for a top ten finish and Elle in 14th position.

In the sprints Rory Evans who is in the middle of a transitional period moving up to the 400 meters from the 100/200 meters ran in the 400 meters finishing in 48-21 and 5th in his heat on the Saturday before setting a new personal best and new club record in the 200 meters to finish 4th in 21.27.

Over in Stoke at the Mason Trophy meeting Lucy Donaghy confirmed her place in the Greater Manchester team at the English Schools Championships by finishing third in the Inter Counties event with 4-50, Lucy will join English Schools bronze medallist Chelsea Jarvis who goes in the 800 metres.


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