THERE was more success for Rugby & Northampton Athletics Club (R&N) after the senior men’s team moved level with Corby at the top of the East Midlands Grand Prix standings.
Victory in the fourth round of the East Midlands Grand Prix last Wednesday gives R&N a share of the lead with Corby after four rounds of the competition.
For the second race in a row, Daniel Mould led the way for R&N, setting a new personal best over five miles – negotiating the steep hill towards the end of the course to finish in seventh place, with a time of 28 minutes and eight seconds.
Over-45 athlete John Gercs was the next across the finishing line, taking 15th in 29:11, which was the fourth best in his age group.
The men’s team triumph was secured with strong runs by Jonathan Burke and Daniel Williams, who finished 21st and 34th with respective times of 29.49 and 30.31, giving the team a near-five minute cushion over second-placed Kettering Town Harriers.
The success moved them alongside Wootton Road Runners after four rounds of the competition, ahead of this week’s five-mile contest at Banbury, with both clubs holding a commanding lead over third-placed Marshall Milton Keynes AC.
The veteran team finished second around the East Carlton Country Park course, aided by the strong run of the aforementioned Gercs.
Following him over the line were Terry Egan (30.49), Alan Mould (33.04) and Laurence Scott (33.59).
However, Egan was the fourth fastest in the over-50 category, while Mould and Scott were fourth and 10th among the over-55s.
There were strong runs elsewhere from Richard Latimer (37th – 30.39), Alistair McDonnell (44th – 30.56) and Jonathan Taylor (64th – 30.22), with Neil Martin finishing as the 12th quickest over-55 with a time of 38.27 and Richard Franklin completing the course in 39.54, making him the eighth fastest over-60 athlete.
Rounding off another strong performance from R&N was Valerie Cross, who was the second-quickest over-65 female, taking on the course in 52.06.
