Stephen Wenk of host club Maidstone Harriers wins the Maidstone Half-Marathon
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Runners at the start of the Maidstone
Half-Marathon Picture: John Westhrop
By Alan Newman
Stephen Wenk of the host club Maidstone Harriers was an
impressive winner of the Maidstone Half-Marathon on Sunday
morning.
The 2004 World Duathlon champion and Swiss international
mountain runner had no trouble with the slopes onto the Pilgrims
Way on the physically demanding course. The winning time was 69
minutes 42 seconds, a personal best for the osteopathy student.
Tom Collins (71.27) of Medway & Maidstone AC used the
experience of his previous victories in 2008 and 2009 to restrict
the margin to 1min 45sec, after being nearly a minute down at the
highest point of the course at Thurnham.
Antony Pinol (74.14) of Medway & Maidstone was a surprise
late entrant and used his track speed to deny Anthony Jackson
(74.15) of Sittingbourne Striders a place on the rostrum.
Gareth Davies (75.29) of the League of Prague 100 club, who was
second in 2005, 2006 and 2009, was the first M40 master athlete in
fifth overall.
The higher age group winners were Steve Russell (M50, 1:26.59)
and Peter Worsley (M60, 1:38.30). Maidstone Harriers won the team
prize with Wenk, Ian Forrest (87.23) and Richard Ellison (1:32.37).
Sittingbourne Striders and Larkfield AC were the club
runners-up.
Tina Oldershaw (W40, 1:21.44) of Paddock Wood took her tally of
victories in the race to five. The win was in doubt until the tough
climb through Hollingbourne where Oldershaw finally passed her team
mate, Maria Heslop (W40, 1:22.22), who had led from the gun.
Third place went to the fast finishing Clare Mullenger (1:29.34)
of Wimbledon Windmilers, who finished just ahead of Sarah Gruber
(W35, 1:29.53) and Nicola Morris (1:30.18) of Larkfield AC in the
later stages.
Alison Jelly (2:02.16) of Folkestone Running Club took the W55
master’s award. Paddock Wood AC won the team event from Maidstone
Harriers and New Eltham Joggers.
Tuesday, October 18 2011
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