Herne Hill Harriers round-up: Phoebe Anderson smashes 5,000m PB to become second fastest woman over the distance in club’s history

BY GEOFF JERWOOD

Phoebe Anderson produced the second fastest track 5,000m run by a Herne Hill Harriers’ woman as she set a PB of 16:18.75 at the Manchester International meeting at Sport City.

It also smashed Anderson’s own club U20 women’s record set earlier this season.

She was racing for the England U20 team, having represented Great Britain Juniors at the European U20 Championship in Tallinn last month.

Placing fifth overall in the race and second U20, her time puts her second on the UK rankings for U20 women in 2021 and 22nd on the UK all-time list for her age group.

Ignatius Abebrese was also competing in the Manchester meeting last week, making his international debut representing a Great Britain U18 team. He produced 13.79m in the triple jump, placing seventh in the event and fourth among the U20M.

Herne Hill turned out in force for the Vitality Big Half on Sunday.

The club’s fastest quartet packed well as a team, led home by Brandon Dewar (43rd in 72:06), closely chased by Jack Brotchie (54th in 72:42), Marc Geraghty (60th in 73:02) and Carl Delaney (75th in 73:33). Ryan Willmott was 96th (74:42), while a standout performance came from Jonathan Ratcliffe, 205th overall in 78:18, as he placed second in the M50 category.

A handful of Herne Hill masters athletes travelled to Derby for the British BMAF Track & Field Championship and brought home a clutch of national age group medals. Allan Long claimed gold in the M75 triple jump (7.76m) and long jump (3.63m), plus silver in the 100m (15.08) and 200m (31.96). Giuseppe Minetti won the gold in the M50 100m (12.23) and silver for 200m (25.03).

Mike Cummings took gold in the M35 1,500m (4:04.51) and silver in the 800m (2:06.12). Nikki Sturzaker was the winner of the W45 1,500m in 5:08.51.

There were also a good number of Herne Hill athletes in action at parkruns on Saturday.

Sophie Harris was again the fastest female in Northampton and although her rapid time of 16:33 was quicker than she ran last week to top the national list, this week she found herself third overall among the women’s times around the country.

The Harriers’ turnout on their local at Tooting Common saw seven from the club in the first 20 finishers. The first female was Suzanne Swaine, placing 18th overall in 19:59, with Jeff Cunningham and Matt Cartwright at the front in second and third respectively in 17:08 and 17:12. Adam Westbury was fourth in 18:19, Steven Pugh ninth in 19:12, James Stocker tenth in 19:15 and Craig Barney 14th in 19:46.

Herne Hill first finishers at other events were M45 Raj Paranandi 17:14 at Roundhay in Leeds and Bryn Reynolds in 19:08 at the Ford parkrun in the Lake District.

Half marathon international Stacey Ormerod made her first tentative steps back towards racing in St Albans after giving birth last year and subsequent injuries, clocking 20:20 as the second female and finishing 17th overall, while in Dulwich Park U20 Sam Camenzuli finished 16th in 18:12 and second female Katie Balme ran a good PB of 18:53, placing 25th overall.

PHOTO: ANDY WEIR