More success for local runners

Ealing Eagles very nearly swept the board in the relays at the second Summer League fixture, winning three of the four races.

The men’s A team, comprising Colin Clifford, Colin Overton, Richard West, Jose Manuel Pabon, Kieran Santry and Robin Hemmings, sped to victory. Eagles teams won both B relays, while the women’s A team came home third on a fine morning at Headstone Manor, in Harrow, home of Metros AC.

Highlight of the 10k for the Eagles had been two fine league debuts from Nichola Anderson (43.33) and Emma Curzon (44.33), who came in fourth and seventh respectively.

Jose Manuel Pabon (36.56) was first male finisher, coming in eighth. The team clocked off several personal bests, with Claire Morris, Katya Saville, Clara Burton, Wei Hei Kipling and Paul McGoey among those beating their previous top times.

The performances on June 16 meant the Eagles held on to fourth spot, extending their lead over fifth-placed Serpentine but still some way off neighbours Ealing, Southall and Middlesex.

And, as team captain Lisa Emerson explained, the league’s scoring system – which rewards competitors based on age – meant the club did not reap the benefit of their fine relay performance.

“We put in some great relay performances last year and it was great to see us carry that form forward at Harrow but because other clubs fielded older runners in the B relays, they actually gained more points.

“The important thing is we’re seeing improvement right through the squad, with people getting stronger with each passing week.

“We were missing a couple of our faster women, so needed someone to step up to the mark, and it was fantastic to see Nichola and Emma perform so well in their first league appearances for the club.”

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June 26, 2013