Athletics: Strider claims 10km victory

11:20am Wednesday 10th April 2002

Perfect conditions greeted more than 350 competitors for the start of the Croydon 10k Run in Lloyd Park last weekend.

Several optimistic young runners went hard early but after about 10 minutes a group had established itself at the front, with 16-year-old Harrier Mathew Hall making the pace.

Teammate Julian Dillow and Striders' Tony Sheppard, with his colleague Ciaran Osborne, were in close attendance.

Hall raced ahead down Upper Shirley Road and was 50m clear at one point along the Addiscombe Road but inexperience over the distance began to take its toll as he ran into new territory after 7km.

Sheppard in particular, was relaxed and revelling in the conditions and, together with Dillow, steadily hauled Hall back until they went by him in Park Hill Road.

Forcing hard up Selborne Road, Sheppard made what was to prove his decisive bid for victory.

The determined Dillow kept up his challenge, but could not deny the Strider his club's first victory in the event.

Hall dug deep to hang on and take third place together with the junior men's title.

Strider Osborne, in his first ever Croydon 10km, finished fifth while teammate Neil Furze finished ninth.

South London Harriers' Gill O'Connor was the first woman home after finishing 13th while the women's runner-up was Katy McCandless who was 16th.

These two women were separated by the next Croydon male athletes home, Harrier Martin Rowe and Strider Joe Butler.

Many athletes were using the event as their final race before the London Marathon next weekend.

The Fun Run medals were kindly presented by Gina Regan, administrator for the Croydon Colorectal Charity, which, assisted by Croydon Harriers, will stage its 10k race on Sunday, June 9 from Addington Park.

See page 61 for the Croydon 10km top 100 finishers.

Meanwhile, several young Croydon Harriers were successful in the open meeting at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Their top performer was Emlyn Akoto who, in taking a good third in the under-15 100m, equalled his personal best of 11.7sec. Danny Doyley ran 12.5sec in his heat.

Fellow under-15 athlete Ashley Harris was very near his best when he took third in the long jump with a 5.16m effort.

Adebola Odusina clocked a pleasing personal best 13.6sec for sixth in the under-13 100m and Heaven Lee Roach looked promising at 14sec.

The Croydon Harriers' young athletes open their season on Sunday, May 5 at Norman Park Bromley in the Southern Premier League.

New members aged 11 and over are welcome to attend training at the Croydon Arena on Tuesday and Thursday from 6.30pm. For information telephone 020 8647 1341.

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