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Incorporating the South West 3000m Championships

STEVE Mitchell is the new South West 3000m champion. The Bristol & West AC runner took the crown away from clubmate Jon Wills, who was missing, with a commanding performance and victory in 8miins 26.0secs at the Exeter Arena.
“I’m pleased with that,” said Mitchell, who unleashed a terrific last lap to leave Cardiff’s Nat Lane – who was not eligible for the championships – trailing in his wake.
“I didn’t have a very good performance at the BMC race in Belfast on Saturday (he dropped out) so it is nice to bounce back with a decent run tonight.”
Training partner Owain Jones was runner-up (8;34.6) with Tavistock’s Pete Freedman third (8:36.2). Top junior was Taunton AC’s Charlie Maclean (8:39.2) with clubmate Blair Brown winning the Under 17s age group.
Yate’s Hannah Alderson is the South West women’s champion although was clearly not happy with her time of 9:57.6. Teenager Imogen Wolsey, of Team Bath AC, was second (10:24.1) and Tavistock’s Jo Meek was third (10:26.5).
It was also good to see Jordon West back in action. The 21-year-old former English Schools’ champion has endured a few years in the wilderness as his faultless early career hit the buffers with injuries and growing up problems halting his progress but West powered to victory in the C race in a time of 1min 56.9secs and genuinely seemed to enjoy the experience.
“I’m giving it a go again and in the autumn I’m off to St Mary’s College in London,” said West. “But there is a long way to go.”
West boasts a PB of 1:53.09 set five years ago in the BMC meeting at Solihull. In 2005 he was also British and English Schools’ 800m champion and won the AAA Under 15s 1500m title.

Finally a word of praise to BMC regional organiser John Knowles for the success of the meetings this summer as on Tuesday there were 170 pre-entries and 155 athletes who turned up. “I’m not sure whether that is a record but it is definitely one of our best ever turn-outs,” said Knowles. “I’m delighted with the way the series has gone and while it is a lot of hard work it is worth it when this many athletes turn up.”