This latest report of Blackburn Harriers activities starts off at Trafford on Sunday July 13th at the Open medal meeting attended by a number of the clubs athletes. (RESULTS). U20 Daniel Nuttall ran a seasons best 11.45 in the 100m in 5th spot, followed in the next 100m Heat by Keir Michie clocking 11.76 in 2nd place, U23 Samuel Mutombo running a seasons best time of 12.08 (5th) in Heat 3, U17 Harvey Kinder (Heat 4) running 12.44 in 3rd, U17 Jack Thompson winning his Heat in 12.47, U17 Isabella Finn clocking 13.82 in 3rd (Heat 8), Alisha Lehner in Heat 9 taking 3rd spot in a seasons best time of 13.68 alongside team mate Evie Fort in the same Heat running 14.00 (4th), U17 Grace iLunga setting a new PB in winning Heat 10 in 13.83 and U17 Leonie Harris also running a new PB of 15.08 in Heat 11 (3rd).
Moving on to the 200m which saw U17 Leonie Harris run a second new PB of the day in Heat 10 clocking 31.76 in 3rd, followed by U17 Keir Michie also running a new PB of 23.48 in 2nd (Heat 2), U17’s Harvey Kinder and Jack Thompson placing 1st and 2nd in Heat 5 – Harvey winning in a new PB of 24.97 and Jack 2nd , also in a new PB of 25.32. In Heat 8 U17 Evie Fort ran a season best time of 28.49 in 2nd whilst Grace iLunga posted her second new PB of the day, clocking 28.88 in 3rd spot. In the 100m Hurdles, U20 Alisha Lehner goes from strength to strength in the event, clocking another new PB of 16.84, representing a massive improvment of 3 seconds since the start of the season.
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Moving on to Trafford again at the BMC Gold Standard Races on Tuesday 15th July where Blackburn Harriers trio Ben Stratton, Oliver Gill and Abigail McAndrew all took part on a night, quite different from recent weather, the evening switiching from dry, to drizzle to pouring down throughout. U20 Ben won his 800m E race in a time of 1.53.35 followed by U20 Oliver who clocked 1.57.20 in 6th (Heat F). Abigail was the final athlete to go in the Gold Standard Races – Women’s 800m A Race – in which she set herself a new PB of 2.05.68 – her second successive new personal best over the distance. (RESULTS).
Ben Stratton 36
Oliver Gill 49
Abigail McAndrew 54
The U15 1500m races took place at the start of the meeting Millie Jordan – who had run an 800m personal best at English Schools in getting to the Final – was the only female in the Heat 2 which saw her post another new PB for the distance of 4.44.53. The 1500m races then took a back seat until later in the evening and in Heat 4 U17 Henry Ward went for it, just missing out in 2nd spot, but finishing with a new PB time of 4.14.68, over three seconds better than his previous best. In deteriorating conditions U17 George Holman ran Heat 6 placing 6th in a time of 4.37.71 and in the next Heat U17 Tom Falencki – number 7 – ran a big new PB of 4.40.98 in 6th, his only other 1500m race back in 2024. U17 Isabelle Perry went in the final race of the evening, in really bad conditions coming home in 7th place with a time of 5.16.62.
Millie Jordan 470
Henry Ward 350
George Holman 330
Tom Falencki 548
Isabelle Perry 363
(RESULTS)
All Photos on Blackburn Harriers Facebook Page – HERE
In the Grand Prix races on the same night Blackburn Harriers athletes were racing throughout the evening. Ben Makin decided to double up in the 3000m and 800m – posting 8.47.25 (16th) in the first 3000m race – one of four Heats – and then clocked 1.58.03 in Heat 2 of the 800m placing 2nd. V45 Louisa Powell-Smith had a good night too in Heat 4 of the 3000m , setting herself a new PB of 10.40.21 which also places her third in the National Rankings. U17 Sam Aspey started the evening with a personal best of 2.00.1 for 800m posted at the UKYDL match on July 6th, but was determined from the off to go under 2 minutes which he did, clocking a new PB of 1.59.05 in 3rd place and in the same Heat U20 Jack Lamb starting off with a best 800m time of 2.01.61 was equally determined and like Sam, posted a new PB of 2.00.66, agonisingly close to breaking the 2 minute barrier. Next up in Heat 5 was U23 Hayden Mercer who gave it everything in attemtping to break 2 minutes, finishing in 4th place with a time of 2.01.20. U23 Dexta Thompson showed the field a clean pair of heels in Heat 6 of the 800m, making the break just after the bell to win comfortably in 1.57.45 and in Heat 9 U20 Ethan Cutler clocked 2.09.75 in 8th spot. Heat 13 of 15 Heats in the 800m saw V40 Rebecca Ward run a new PB of 2.29.32 in 3rd place – an improvement by over 2 seconds followed by U17 Lyra Krige in 4th place riunning 2.31.06.
Ben Makin 242
Sam Aspey 521
Jack Lamb 370
Hayden Mercer 349
Dexta Thompson 284
Ethan Cutler 311
Rebecca Ward 500 – Lyra Krige 444
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On to the road for the Padiham Greenway 5k run on Wednesday evening – July 16th – and a much better evening than the previous night at Trafford weather wise. No seniors in the main race, but a number of junior Harriers turned out in the age category races starting with the U11/U13 race which had Ryker Hanson prominent once again with a 4th placed finish in a time of 7.12 out of a field of 55 boys and girls. Harry Russell-Blackburn was next home in 13th in 7.45 followed by U11 Harry Holden in 17th place (8.07). U15 Liam Frith placed 17th overall and 6th M15 in the U15/U17 Race running 12.28. (RESULTS).
Ryker Hanson – Photo courtesey of David Belshaw
H Russell-Blackburn 121 – Photo courtesey of David Belshaw
Harry Holden 119 – Photo courtesey of David Belshaw
Liam Frith 37 – Photo courtesey of David Belshaw
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Still off Road and this time in the Scottish Trail Championships with Helen Leigh held in Crieff. (RESULTS). Helen had another very fine race – running for Inverness Harriers – placing 5th in the Women’s Race and 1st V40 again, adding to her list of victories this year. On top of this Helen was able to share with us the news that she has been selected to run for Scotland at the Snowdon International race being run on Saturday July 19th. Many congratulations to her from everyone at the Club for a richly deserved recognition.
Helen Leigh at the Scottish Trail Championships
Kitted out for Snowdon
