Sussex endurance runners turned out in force in 15 mph winds to compete in the PB5K at the weekend.
Nearly 500 athletes took part in the event, which also included junior mile races, held at Ardingly Showground on Sunday morning.
The standard was very high with 70 athletes under 17 minutes and several others setting PBs.
The fastest time of the day came in Race 1 from Ian Crowe-Wright who ran 14.23. The Brighton and Hove AC winner was pushed all the way by Joe Wigfield (Liverpool Harriers) and Robbie Fitzgibbon (Brighton Phoenix) but managed to pull away on the last bend.
It was just as close in the women’s race with Brighton Phoenix’s Beth Kidger being pipped on the line by Under 23 Newbury AC’s Izzy Fry, both athletes in a time of 16.24.
Harriet Bloor, Lewes, was the first Under 20 woman in 17.00 with Eadie Yelling (Brighton and Hove AC) leading the Under 17 women in 18.33. Crawley’s U15 Stephanie Shaw had a great run in 19.08 but was second to Bracknell AC’s Kirsten Fraser in the age category.
The PB5K is part of a Winter Race Series. The first races were due to be held back in November but were cancelled due to the national Covid 19 lockdown.
Over the course of the morning there were four 5K races in total, with athletes being set off in waves of 12.
Team Bodyworks’ Hamish Reilly was second U20M overall but ran a highly impressive 14.46.
In the Under 13 boys’ category Thomas Matthews (Brighton and Hove) had a very strong run - his time of 18.05 puts him second in the UK rankings.
The day, where conditions were also wet as well as windy, had started with 49 youngsters taking part in the mile race. Reus Brown (Hastings AC) won overall in a time of 5.30 and Isabella Buchanan (HY Runners) was the first Sussex girl (8th overall) in 5.52.
The event was a huge success and a big well done to Gavin Stephens and his team for organising. The next race in the series will take place on Saturday, January 2. For more information go to www/pb5k.co.uk