Killilea takes bronze at Helskinki worlds

This was a big week for Heathsiders. Marathon season kicked in with four fine 42.2 performances, while Andrew Brooker picked up second place in the Thames Towpath 10 miler. But the biggest shout-out goes to our Tony Killilea who put in a magnificent showing at the Tetradecathlon World Champs in Helsinki, coming home with a bronze medal in the V50-55 class.

Tetradecathlon World Championships, Helsinki, April 8 – 10

For those of you who don’t know (I didn’t), a tetradecathlon involves no less than 14 events, in this case all indoor. Tony’s times and distances are listed below, but among the highlights were his 2:17 800 meters, his 11.23 in the 60m hurdles (a PB), his 27.53 in the 200m (another PB) – all of these were Heathside V50 indoor records. And he rounded it up, exhausted but still defiant, with an 18:55 in the 5,000 (a fine time on that little indoor track after 13 other events). So, well-done Tony – couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.

Thames Towpath 10 mile, Sunday April 17

Twelve of our runners were among the 561 finishers in this competitive event, with Andrew Brooker putting in a strong showing to bag second place in a time of 56:26 (just 18 seconds off his PB) while Carl Heap was the first V50 in 1:13.14. Here’s Gavin Parish’s report:

“Sunny weather for this race, though temperature just right for some fast times. Ranelagh Harriers bagged a lot of the prizes this year but Andrew and Carl both managed to pick up age group prizes – some handy crates of beer to help improve their running performance; the customary pint glass memento for the rest of us, a reminder to try harder next time.”

Enschede Marathon, Sunday Holland, April 17

Dan and Joe McKeown both put in solid performances in this flat, fast Dutch marathon (they’re all flat and fast there). Dan beat his 2015 London time by more than five minutes, with a time of 2:49.46 (32nd out of 624 finishers), while Joe equalled his with a time of 2:59.36 (66th). Here’s Dan’s report:

“Joe was the winner of this year's McKeown marathon handicap in scenic Enschede - we agreed a mark of 10 minutes beforehand and I could only manage to beat him by 9 minutes 50 seconds. Joe also got the exact same time he ran at London last year so you *could* say he ran a PB. Just not a new one.”

Boston Marathon, Sunday April 17

New Heathside member and New River track regular, Audi Andruskeviciute ran her first marathon in Boston and finished in a very impressive 3:12.26, having gone through the first half in 1:33.31. How long before she breaks the three hour mark?

Vienna Marathon, Sunday April 10

Another Heathside debutant Bethany Scott put in a fine performance in Vienna with a time of 3:16.18. Another year of 9am Sunday runs and Bethany will be another edging in on three hours.

European Duathlon Championships, Kalkar, Germany, April 17

John Driscoll represented Britain in the V45 -49 age group category in an event that involves a 10km run, followed by a 40km cycle, followed by a 5km run. Despite a crash along the way, he picked up eighth place in a time of 2:05.54. Here’s his report:

“This weekend I had my first experience of representing GB as an Age Grouper in the European Duathlon Championships in Kalkar, Germany. The landscape was pancake flat (70m of climbing over 40km) and the organisers made it supporter friendly by having the competitors loop back around the transition area throughout the race creating a great atmosphere from all the families and friends who'd trekked out there to support.

“The race started off warm and very blustery with a huge cross wind hitting the runners as we ran along the side of the Rhine, I came in after 10km in 4th place and the 4 loop bike leg started off with the weather becoming progressively darker and windier and then at the start of the third lap the rain and hail hit. 

“Course conditions changed so quickly and almost on the next corner my bike skidded out from underneath me and I went down like a sack of spuds. Fortunately the impact was just road rash and was able to continue and finish in a PBish average speed of just under 34kmph.  A good speed for me but was now down in 12th place with some of the top guys averaging over 36kmph despite the conditions. 

“I'd been worried about cramp on the final run and had stuffed myself with electrolyte drink pre/during the race. This worked out and reeled in a few on the last 5km to finish in 8th feeling I'd done as well as I could have and the crash although painful hadn't cost me any places or even taken me out of the race. Next stop Spain in June for the World Champs.”

Parkruns, Saturday April 16

A total of 31 of our runners took part in 12 Parkruns on Saturday – all of them still-free. Pride of place goes to Stuart Meiklejohn who came first out of 151 in Oak Hill – a good warm-up for Sunday’s London Marathon. Here’s the link: http://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=2017&eventdate=2016-04-16

Results

Tetradecathlon World Championships, 9th-10th April 2016, Helsinki

Tony Killilea (M50-55) 3rd.

Total Points:  7753.

60m: 8.45 secs (Heathside M50 indoor record)

Long jump: 4.12m

800m: 2:17.83 (Heathside M50 indoor record)

Shot put: 7.29m

400m: 62.41 secs

High jump: 1.32m (PB)

3000m: 10:34.42

60m hurdles: 11.23 secs (Heathside M50 indoor record)(PB)

Pole vault: 2.00m

1500m: 4:57.94

Weight throw: 8.32m

200m: 27.53 secs (Heathside M50 indoor record)(PB)

Triple jump: 8.97m

5000m: 18:55.30

Thames Towpath 10 mile, Sunday April 17 (561 finishers)

2 Andrew Brooker  56:26  (2nd SM)

31 Jonathan Litchfield  1:03:54  (3rd V40)

50 Mark George  1:08:12  (5th V45)

69 Gavin Parish  1:09:24 (PB)

85 Leo Pemberton  1:11:22

102 Laurence Arnold  1:12:10

116 Carl Heap  1:13:14  (1st V60)

122 Hannah Stanforth  1:13:32

123 Andrew Hudson  1:13:43

300 Sue Eedle  1:25:05  (5th V55)

321 Barbara Tomaszczyk  1:26:53

416 Steve Woolf  1:32:25

(561 finishers)

Enschede Marathon, Holland, Sunday April 17 (624 finishers)

32 Daniel McKeown 2:49:46

66 Joseph McKeown 2:59:36

Boston Marathon, Sunday April 17

Audinga Andruskeviciute - 3:12.26

Vienna Marathon, Sunday April 10

Bethany Scott - 3:16.18

European Duathlon Championships, Kalkar, Germany, April 17

John Driscoll – 8th (out of 19) in 45-49 age group.

Time 2:05:54 (10km 37.08, T1 1.12, 40km bike 1.07.18; T2 1.12. 5km run 19.06)