The 5000m Track Challenge

 

On Saturday August 21st two Grantham Running Club members took part in the 5000m Track Challenge held in Nottingham at the Harvey Hadden Athletics Stadium.

Racing in the same heat Dean Riggall and Sam Jepson-Rivers; Sam making his debut and Dean his first track event since he was 17.

The morning had loomed grey and overcast, however, with the commencement of the event and earlier heats rain had settled in, making the track a little slippy with standing water in places.

It at least made the racing conditions cooler.Hanging on to the pacer from the gun, Sam clicked off laps just off target pace in circa 86 seconds.

Dean also settled into his work as the laps racked up, his lap times coming in around 88 seconds.

Having taken the racers to 4k, the pacer dropped out; it was here that Sam lacking in experience let things slip with laps of 88-89 seconds – as the group he found himself had also collectively slowed. Saving his kick perhaps a little too late, he dropped a final 400m of 76 seconds to finish in 18:11.79 and finish 3rd in the heat (it proved to be no less effective as he moved from up from 5th at the start of the bell lap).

This time represented a 15 second improvement to his road 5k time for context.

Dean’s consistency and determination throughout paid dividends as he picked off runners not employing his metronomic pacing. It saw him cross the line in a fantastic: 18:22.11 and age grading in excess of 76%.

Again, for context, it showed a 19 second improvement over his best parkrun time – the only comparable distance for this long-distance specialist.

Elsewhere, GRC alumni Jonathan Palmer clocked 16:37.82 and Matthew Williamson chalking up a PB in 18:21.17 in their respective heats.

Chris Perry of Vale Royal/Liverpool Harriers ran the fastest of the meet in very credible 13:52.79.

Rebecca Murray of Bedford & County/Brunel Uni London being the fastest woman in 16:06.40.