Metropolitan League titles for Hannah Viner and Richard Goodman

Hannah Viner and Richard Goodman prevailed against cold winds, driving rain and a hilly and muddy Trent Park course to become the 2017/2018 Metropolitan League Champions. Viner took her second successive win, while Goodman placed second in the men's event, in the final League race of the season. Both runners were clear winners of the overall title, based on the best four placings in the five races of the series.

 “The conditions were really tough”, said Viner. “My plan was to just see how the race played out and go for the win. It started comparatively slowly so I hit the front almost immediately and a gap grew without my really trying to pick up the pace. I worked hard up the next few hills and the race was won.” Viner had built up a 42 second lead by the end of the 6 km race.

“I was more relieved than happy to cross the line", Viner commented, "and I was absolutely chuffed to win the League. It's always been something I'd wanted to do but I never thought I'd win it so soon!" 

Goodman's second place brought an end to a 14-race Metropolitan League winning streak going back to 2008. Nonetheless, Goodman achieved his main objective. "It was a must-run race for me in order to win the title, since I had missed one fixture earlier in the series," he explained. "Coming at the end of a hard training week, I ran it for the points, and trying to avoid injury. Peter Huck, of Newham, took the race out really hard. I tried to close the gap but the mud was a bit too heavy, and so were my legs. I'm looking forward to the final race of the cross country season, the National Championships this weekend."

Their title victories each earn Goodman and Viner a cash prize of £375 plus an additional £200 in sports vouchers.

Roger Bruck, 78, took high jump and long jump gold and 200m bronze in the Southern Counties Indoor Veterans Championships at Lee Valley. Bruck’s high jump clearance of 1.21m at his second attempt set a new championship record. "I was delighted with this season opener by an old man nearing the end of his age group", Bruck commented wryly.

Viner makes light of grim conditions at BUCS Cross Country Championships

Hannah Viner placed 14th in the British Universities' Cross Country Championships at Hillingdon, competing against possibly the finest field ever to contest the event. More than 700 runners completed the race, and nine of the top ten finishers have represented Great Britain this winter. Continuous rain had transformed the 6.9 km, two lap course into a mud bath, including one particularly treacherous, steeply banked river crossing.

"I was in the front group at the start, but lost a bit of ground on the first downhill and then found myself in a small chasing group", Viner reported. "The river crossings were fun, though not for the girl who took a dive as she was trying to overtake me on the final crossing! Overall, I am happy and I am looking forward to the National Championships at Parliament Hill later this month".

Pole vaulter Lucie Wolfenden, 16, placed fourth in the Sale Harriers Open Meeting at Sportcity with a clearance of 2.80m.

Tough conditions for Viner at Southern Cross Country; Gal-Shohet and Davis on rostrum at London Indoor Games

Hannah Viner placed 10th in difficult conditions in the South of England cross-country Championships at Brighton.

"It started pouring as soon as the gun went off and the rain seemed to only get heavier", Viner reported. "The course consisted of one small and two long laps, and included steep inclines both uphill and downhill. It was very soft in some parts, gravelly in others, so it was altogether challenging and uncomfortable. I felt strong on the first lap, tucked in the leading group. I struggled a bit on the long hill on the second lap and dropped to 13th place before rallying towards the finish”. 

Also taking part in the Championships, Adam Firsht and Jack Davis-Black performed well in the U15 and U13 races respectively.

Idan Gal-Shohet, 17, placed third in the U20 long jump at the London Indoor Games at Lee Valley, setting an indoor PB of 6.60m. Eden Davis, 18, took bronze in the U20 60m in 6.87, just 0.01s outside his best, while Gal-Shohet improved to 7.57 in the same event. Lia Radus recorded 2:20.85 for 6th place in the U17 800m.

David Stone, 16, took silver in the Middlesex Schools cross country Championships at Harrow, content to do just enough to qualify for the England Schools Championships.

Lucie Wolfenden, 16, made a clearance of 2.78m at the Vault Manchester event at Sportcity in her first pole vault competition of the year.