Croydon Harriers round-up: Twelve runners clock up serious mileage at London Marathon

Twelve determined Croydon Harriers mile-covering runners successfully tackled the tortuous challenge of the London Marathon on Sunday, notching up over 48 hours of road pounding and almost 260 miles of shoe wear between them.

Second finisher of the Harriers contingent, Madeleine Armstrong-Plieth, produced the best run comparatively, with a near personal best of 3:12.40 while debutant Zekeriya Alem V40 was the first of the 12 worthies home, frustratingly one minute and 27 seconds outside three hours and not far outside his best marathon time.

Four other colleagues cracked the four-hour barrier – headed by debutant Mike Smalley 3:12.18, with Marcos Palomares-Conde in hot pursuit. Katerina Warren clocked a very promising 3:32.53 with Anne Masters completing that quartet in 3:53.30

Three more broke the four-hour barrier, headed by Hassan Hassan in 4:14.35. Marathon collector Rush Yadave adding to his 300-plus total with a 4:33.20 finish, while first timer Miriam De Souza beat five hours by 48 seconds

The clubs other three finishers, applauded for their steadfastness of purpose, were Rosa Brooke 5:35.8, Carol Johnson 6:50.55 and Darcey Keegan, who valiantly completed the club’s largest contingent in 7:10.38.

Oozing enthusiasm and with plenty of emerging talent to excite, Croydon Harriers’ youngest team – the U13 and U15 boys and girls – successfully opened their National Development League campaign with a third place of six with 506.5 points at Sutcliffe Park on Saturday. They amassed 228.5 points over the next club and won the track and relay sections. Brighton won with 561 and Dartford were runners-up with 542.

Sprint doubles went to Trey Lindsay, Ebony Rosse-Donker, Shivelle Marshall and Kalvin Mills. Lindsay clocked a first class 18.40 for his U13 150m, which sees him top of the UK rankings. He also won the U13 boys shot. Shivell dominated the U15 200m in 25.75. Joachim Okugbe won the U15 boys discus with an exciting near 30m throw.

The team came up with outstanding runs in both the U15 relay squads. The U13 boys finished in splendid isolation – four seconds ahead of their closest challengers in 52.57, while the U13 girls placed a gutsy second with two bravely running with injuries. The U15 boys came home almost three seconds clear in 47.74, while their girl counterparts did likewise with their 50.2 clocking.

There were excitingly tight second places in the 4×300 relays.

The 800m races proved a happy hunting ground for the Croydon middle distance boys and girls who scored five top-two finishes.

Arabella Howard notched valuable seconds in the U15 high jump (1.30m) and javelin (24.20m)

Harriers’ U17s and U20 will open their season at Tooting Bec on Sunday.

PICTURES: MIKE FLEET/CROYDON HARRIERS