Liam Redmond first Strider home at Croydon Half
Striders of Croydon promoted the seventh Croydon Half-Marathon from their headquarters at Sandilands on Sunday. The race was won by Chis Wright of Nene Valley, who covered the undulating course in 72 minutes 19 seconds. Striders were led by Liam Redmond who placed ninth in 83 minutes 11 seconds. Rob Lines was 11th (83.42) and first in the M45 age-group, while Andy Perks was 14th (85.47). Matt Stone was 19th (86.57) and second in the M50 age-group. Striders won the team event.
The first woman to finish was Carole Penlington of Blackheath & Bromley, who finished 20th overall in 87 minutes 08 seconds. Striders’ women were led by Serena Stracey who was the fourth woman to finish, placing 46thoverall in 96 minutes 16. Natalie Clerke was 116th (1.53.16), Yasmin Anderson 133rd (1.57.13), Louise Grech 153rd (2.02.47), Joanne Fidock 157th (2.03.17) and Chloe Forster-Coleman 161st (2.04.34).
In the Manchester Marathon on the same day, Darren Woods ran a personal best 3 hours 21 minutes 34, and was followed by James Burree (3.46.45) and Michael Smaldon (3.58.35). For Striders’ women, Jane Hughes ran 4.58.00.
On the previous day, Phil Coales placed 12th in a high-quality 5000 metres in the Herne Hill Open Meeting at Tooting Bec, recording a personal best 15 minutes 45.97 seconds. Mick Turner was the first over-50 in the Sri Chinmoy 10-kilometre road race at Battersea Park, placing 29th overall in 40 minutes 04. Simon Ambrosi was the first runner home in the weekly parkrun in Lloyd Park, covering the undulating five-kilometre course in 18 minutes 53 seconds. Striders had an impressive total of 62 finishers at the various weekly parkruns (32 at Lloyd Park and 30 at other venues).
