Hercules Wimbledon AC round-up: Nick Ghoolab posts fastest time in 5k race

BY TOM POLLAK

Belgrave international Nick Goolab posted the fastest time in Hercules Wimbledon Athletic Club’s 5km team road race last Saturday.

The two races were staged over the same course that would have been used for the Perserverance 5km road race at the beginning of August had it not been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Goolab, competing in his first race since finishing 27th in the Vitality Big Half Marathon at Greenwich on March 1, headed home the first of 10 waves of 12 runners, crossing the finishing line at the Wimbledon Park track in 14:34.

Highgate’s Roger Poolman took runners-up spot (14:50) with Clapham Chasers’ Johnny Van Deventer third six seconds later.

Top Hercules Wimbledon finisher Andy Greenleaf, representing Serpentine Running Club, was seventh in the first wave of runners in 15:09, with Charlie Eastaugh ninth in 15:34.

Veteran Richard McDowell finished second in the third wave of runners in 15:13 – the quickest of Hercules’ runners.

Ed Mallett, sixth in the second wave, clocked 15:45.

A total of 75 runners took part in the six women’s races with Lisa Thomas the fastest of the six Hercules Wimbledon runners clocking 20:16. Former international walker Estle Viljoen was second best in 21:16.