National Junior League begins

National Junior League
The National Junior League kicked off at Sutcliffe Park on Sunday. Despite the unavailability of a couple of key team members, the team pulled together to finish 2nd
 
Thirza Fleming got the girls team off to a good start with a win in the pole vault and Gabriella Ade–Onojobi got the track events off to a good start with a win in the 400mH, she followed this up with a win in the 100mH with Hatshepsut James winning the B string.
 
Key performance came from Melissa Owusu–Ansah who won both the 100 and 200m and recorded a PB of 26.1 in the 200m. New addition to the junior squad Deborah Kabahidna won both the Javelin and the Discus, including a PB in the Discus and also finished 2nd in the Shot putt.
 
The 4 x 400m relay team (Caroline Ford, Millie Harualt, Hatshepsut James and Gabriella Ade–Onojobi) had a good battle over all four legs of the race to finish 2nd with a time of 4:18.0.

The performance of the day for the boys came in the 800m where Andrew Sheridan and Rob McDonald triumphed in the A and B races, respectively. Andrew’s time was 2:04.12 while Rob finished in 2:06.33. Rob topped off a successful day by also winning the 2000m steeple chase in 6:46.7.

100m Omari Markland gained third in the A string in 11.3 seconds, while Tobi Odusanya won the B string race in 11.56 seconds.

Donomar Smith gained 4th in the 200m 23.7 seconds and third in the 400m in 52.38 seconds. Banjamin gained 4th in the B race in 25.0 seconds. While Ashley George finished in the same position in the 400m B race in 55.85.

Elsewhere in the sprints, Charlie Perry was third in the 110m hurdles in 18.7 seconds while Erife Williams run 20.0 seconds in the B race. Eriefe went on to win the 400m hurdles B race in a time of 66.41 seconds.

There were no representatives from the club running in the 1500m and 3000m a situation that will hopefully change in the next fixture on 23rd May.

Craig Lacy and Denis Hasanaj enjoyed a day of successful throwing. Craig won the javelin by 18 meters with a throw of 57.82m. He also won the discuss with a throw of 39.42m in windy conditions and went on to second place in the hammer in 37.36m and fourth in the shot put 12.72m. Denis Hasanaj won both the B discuss event in 21.06 and hammer in 24.17. He was also second in the Shot with 7.94m.

In the jumps, Nigel Munjoma was equal fourth in the high jump with a jump of 1.70m, while. Nigel was also third in the pole vault with a jump of 2.30m and jumped 9.33m for second in the B triple jump.

Ashley George did well to gain second in the A triple jump with 11.99m and jumped 1.60m in the B long jump.

Full results can be found here.

Assembly League Race 1
The first race of the Assembly League season is always popular and 193 finishers crossed the finish line on a warm a pleasant spring evening in Beckenham.

Mark Penny has clearly benefited from his winter training and produced one of his best performances over the 2.9 mile undulating course.

The team competition is as fierce as ever and the men’s team could only achieve eleventh place.

12 Mark Penny 15.02
47 Graham Maynard 16.36
52 Mick Ellesmore 16.47
101 Paul Cullern 18.32
143 Steve Brown 20.12
146 John Corcoran 20.20

Brighton Marathon
Chris Rogers enjoyed his marathon debut at the weekend, running in the inaugural Brighton Marathon.

He crossed the finishing line in 1,897th place of the 7,500 starters in a time of 4:00:23.

After the race, Chris said, "I loved the atmosphere and I'm glad I've done one. However, I'm not convinced I want to do any more though as they're just too painful!! I can't get down stairs very easily as my quads are trashed, and I got quite sunburnt on my shoulders too !"

Time is a healer, so we'll see if Chris sticks to his words!

Rome Marathon
"Bored with London? Try Rome!" Those are the words of Steve Brown who tackled the Rome Marathon two weeks ago in a time of 3:44:25.

Steve reports on race: "If you fancy a different venue for your spring marathon then Rome might just be for you. There’s a lot going for it, providing you can get past the frustrating IT!

As with many European races, foreign participants need to have a licence or a doctor certified fitness certificate – either way you have to upload it onto your ‘registration area’. This took months and several e-mails to the organising committee but I got there in the end.

The actual registration immediately prior to the race was very well organised – and the luggage bag was a pukka, emblazoned Addidas rucksack. Very nice.

Next day and the course was pretty much as you’d expect from Rome, as much antiquity as you could shake a stick at.

Starting at the Coloseum it went past all of the most iconic sights that the city could offer. Suddenly, after a fairly ordinary section we turned left and bang! There was St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican.

It really was a ‘wow’ moment and instantly put some life back in old legs. The water stations were frequent and well-stocked with Gatorade, fruit and cake.

Onward and back into the city, down through fashionable shopping areas and past gushing marble fountains, Woolwich Road it was not!

A blast past the Roman chariot racing track that was Circus Maximus then back to the Coloseum for the finish. Nice one Centurion!

Back home and flushed with achievement I went back onto the website for my certificate. What? Not credited as a Cambridge Harrier? Can’t download anything?.. Oh yes, I forgot. Ancient Roman IT!"

Virgin London Marathon
Once again, the Virgin London Marathon is upon us and this year, there are nearly 30 Cambridge Harriers in the race and 20 young Cambridge Harriers in the Mini Marathon.

The current suspension of flights due to the Icelandic volcano may mean that two of our club members may not make the start line.

Simon Jones looks almost certain not to start as he is currently stranded in Australia, while Clem Dixon is hoping to return from Greece later this week.

For those that do make the start, may the road treat you kindly and the the historic course flow by for you.

If you still have energy at the finish, Gerard McCann will once again be opening the doors of his Mintleaf restaurant, Haymarket, for a post race party.

As well as a buffet, massage and showers for runners, guests are welcome to enjoy the DJ's and subsidised drinks. £15 for runners, £17.50 for guests. Click to view website.

If you wish to go, please email Graham Maynard in order for the restaurant to get an idea of numbers.