Rachel leads Striders team to relay win at Beckenham

Striders of Croydon fielded eleven teams in the annual Beckenham Relays on Wednesday. Their A team did very well to place sixth out of 118 teams, and were the first mixed-sex team to finish. Phil Coales ran the first leg in 14 minutes 12 seconds and handed over to Rachel Lindley who did very well to record 15 minutes 29, which was the fastest women’s time of the day. Lee Flanagan ran the final leg in 14 minutes 38. Striders’ B team of Steve Starvis (15.19), Ali Falconer (15.54) and Graeme Drysdale (15.47) placed 13th. For Striders’ women, Steph Upton ran 18.49, Katie Chadd 19.33, Becky Laurence 19.41 and Charlotte Letchford 20.26.

Lee Flanagan again ran well to place second in the weekly parkrun in Lloyd Park on Saturday, covering the five-kilometre course in 18 minutes 46 seconds. New signing Graham Hansen was fifth (19.55), while Selena Wong was the fourth woman to finish, placing 56th overall (24.33). Striders had a total of 49 finishers in the various weekly parkruns (21 at Lloyd Park and 28 at other venues).

Meanwhile 61-year-old Nick Kyritsis ran well to place ninth out of 77 finishers in the Orpington Marathon, recording 3 hours 47 minutes 56 seconds.