Pleasing performances for Goodman and Kastor

Deena Kastor improved the American Masters Marathon record by almost a minute, recording 2:27:47 at the Chicago Marathon. Kastor, 42, finished seventh woman overall and top American. It was Kastor’s first sub 2:30 clocking since 2006, the year that she won the London Marathon. California-based Kastor said, “I was struggling by mile 23, but still kept up the sub 5:40 miles I needed. Now I’ll take a two week break, and then decide whether to aim for the Olympic Trials”.

Richard Goodman took a 26-second victory in the first Metropolitan Cross Country League race at Claybury Park, Woodford Green. The St Mary’s University student recorded 24:36 for the 8000m course.

Goodman, 22, reflected, “I hadn’t been sure of entering because of a slight injury worry, and then I had a further concern when I put my foot in a pothole half-way round. But I managed to pull away to run the last lap on my own, and it was pleasing start of the season for me”.

World 5K Masters record for Deena Kastor

Deena Kastor, 42, tied the US and World 5K Masters record of 15:48, winning the women’s Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose 5K and placing third overall.

“I felt really good about the race,” said Kastor, “I came out here and gave it my best. There was not one point on the course I could have pushed harder to get a faster time.”

Kastor set the World Masters half marathon record of 1: 09:37 in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia event last year. One of the world’s greatest Jewish athletes, she won the Olympic marathon bronze medal in 2004 and the London Marathon in 2006.