Eltham Grand Prix – 20 July 2019 – Results

Races:18
Finishers: 180
PBs 53 (29%)
Power of Ten results: Here

Report

MEN’S 800M

Archie Davis used his 1500m strength to finish strongly after a steady first lap and notch up a season’s best of 1:49.81 to win the men’s 800m A race.
Christian Von Eitzen, who was the fastest man in the field, forced the pace up the back straight without ever looking like he could shake off the bunch gathering at his heels.
“I am just coming off a mid-season break so that was a good way to start the second half of my summer,” said Davis.
“I knew it was windy so opted to sit in for the start. I knew from last year that I always finish strongly and this track has been good to me.”
Daniel Howells also finished well to overhaul Von Eitzen in the final straight.
St Mary’s University student Ricky Lutakome earned himself a season’s best of 1:51.14 to win the B race after pushing hard from 500 metres.
“I have been injured so this is only my second race and I would have liked to have gone faster,” said Lutakome.
Stockport’s Grant Anderson chased hard and was rewarded with a PB of 1:51.95 in second.
Clipped on the heels at 600m almost cost Shaftesbury Barnet’s Mukhtar Musa the chance of victory in the C race but the teenager recovered well to claim top spot and a PB of 1:52.29.
“I stumbled at 600m but managed to recover and it is great to get a PB in what is really my first season on the track,” said Musa.
“I only started around this time last year and my first 800m was 2mins 06secs!”
Runner-up Andrew Wright also broke 1mins 53secs with a season’s best of 1:52.52.
Charlie Wyllie celebrated a PB in the D race as the 21-year-old Dorking & Mole Valley athlete finished strongly in 1:53.22.
“That’s nearly a whole second so I am delighted,” said Wyllie.
“I ran 1:54 here during the week so was desperate to get 1:53 something so it is great to do that at last and also get back-to-back wins. Hopefully there is more to come.”
There were also PBs for Harry Tullett in second plus Adam Day and George Peters in fourth and fifth respectively.

MEN’S 1500M

There was further success for Brighton Phoenix in the men’s 1500m with 20-year-old George Mills powering clear on the final lap for an emphatic win in 3:43.70, over two seconds clear of Morpeth’s Chris Parr.
“I am really happy with that especially as it is my first win this summer apart from the heats of the England U23s,” said Mills.
“After two years of injuries it is great to be back racing and training injury-free. I am in a good place now with a good coach (Jon Bigg) and looking forward to racing more.”
Parr’s time of 3:45.78 was a season’s best as was John Sanderson’s 3:49.11 in third.
AFD’s Ben Bradley played a patient game before sweeping past Irishman Mitchell Byrne to win the B race in a PB of 3:48.76 – the first time he has been under 3mins 50secs.
“That has given me a lot of confidence,” said Bradley.
A brave front-running display by Daniel Mees earned him a notable win in the C race with a PB of 3:50.84, having previously run 3:52.05.
“I have been concentrating upon the 800m this summer so it was nice to come out and win over the 1500m,” said Mees.
Basildon’s Max Jones never got on terms but was rewarded for his effort with a PB of 3:52.99 in second.
In the D and E races there were also PBs for winners Mohamud Aadan (3:55.47) and Cameron Macrae (3:56.62) respectively.

MEN’S 5000M

Former junior international Tom Mortimer showed great spirit in going for sub 14 minutes clocking in the 5000m and was on course until 3k when pacemaker Alexander Teuten stepped off the track.
“I am really chuffed with and Alex was brilliant,” said Mortimer.
“I felt so much stronger this evening than when I ran at SportCity when I was just coming back from an injury in April.
“I am in much better shape now and feel there is a PB there this season if I can get into the right race.

WOMEN’S 800M

Mari Smith had to dig as deep as she has ever done to hold on for victory in this excellent A race.
The women’s 800m race have served up some tremendous races in the Grand Prix series this summer and this one can rightly sit alongside them.
Smith was the only woman in the field to follow the pacemaker as she set a sub 60 seconds pace. At a touch over 58 at the bell Smith held a good 10 metres lead over Revee Walcott-Nolan, who was at the head of a strung-out field.
Having decided to commit Smith got he head down and drove down the back straight where the wind, while not overly strong, was a factor.
At 600m she still held at 10-12metres lead but coming into the home straight it all began to change as the immense effort of a solo run began to take its toll.
Suddenly Walcott-Nolan began to eat into that lead and for a moment it event seemed like she might snatch victory in the closing strides only for the gutsy Smith to lunge across the line in a PB of 2mins 01.46secs.
“That was tough but I went out hard because I have been frustrated at running 2mins 02secs something this season and was determined to run a 2:01,” said Smith.
“I had a great pacemaker (who went to 600m) so that really helped and I appreciate it. I held on and I think that is my first Grand Prix A victory which is nice.”
As well as a PB Smith, whose outdoor best was 2:02.64 at the Watford Grand Prix last year before improving to 2:02.34 during an excellent indoor season, also earned a £250 bonus from the BMC.
“As I came around the top bend I thought I had no chance but then down the home straight I was really closing down Mari and another five metres and I would have had her,” said Walcott-Nolan, who was rewarded with a PB of 2:01.74, shaving 0.04secs off her best.
That would have been harsh on Smith, who believes she can go quicker still this summer before launching a new chapter in her career.
“It was only my fifth 800m this summer after a late start but I am off to America to study at Oregon University soon and hopefully that will be the step I need to help me qualify for the major championships,” added Smith, who picked up a £250 bonus from the BMC for her victory.
Gemma Kersey got her tactics spot-on to win the B race with a season’s best of 2:09.01. Mhairi Hendry hit the front at 600m but Kersey bided her time before taking the lead down the home straight.
“I am not running as rapid as I want but I am happy with my consistency and winning and I definitely feel there is more to come,” said Kersey.
London-based Canadian teacher Rosa Serafini finished like a train to win the C race in a PB of 2:11.56.
“I went for it this evening to see what I have and it is great to go home with a PB,” said Serafini.
“That’s my fastest 800m for around six years so I am delighted.”
Teenager Ella Fryer ran a PB of 2:13.48 in fourth.

WOMEN’S 1500

Ireland’s Amy O’Donoghue retained the title she won last year with the bonus of a PB of 4:16.58 to give a boost ahead of the Ireland Championships next weekend.
“It was a crazy in and out race but I didn’t panic and finished strongly,” said O’Donoghue, who is based in Limerick.
Brighton Phoenix runner Beth Kidger never gave up the chase and was rewarded with a PB of 4:16.96 in second with Hannah England third.
Emily Ruane celebrated her first GP victory in the B race as she timed her kick perfectly to cross the line in 4:23.3.
“When we went through the bell I knew a PB was on so I kicked hard in the last 200 metres and I am really pleased with the time,” said the 23-year-old Cambridge University student.
“It is also nice to win a race occasionally!”
Alexandra Millard’s reward for following the pacemaker and leaving the bunch well adrift was a PB of 4:29.58 but she suffered for her victory in the C race.
“That last lap was horrible and I never thought I would make that final 150 metres!” said Millard.
“I am just so tired – but also happy. I was determined to stuck with the pacemaker and give it a go.”