The Aldershot National Womens 4 Stage Champions 2010
Aldershot Farnham & District were comfortable winners of the Women's National Six Stage at Sutton Park, on the 17th of April and, Steph Twell was only one second outside her course record of last year reports Alastair Aitken .
This year Beth Andrew was 26th of the 71 starters on Lap One in 18:07. Alice Lethbridge moved Aldershot into 12th on Leg 2 (19:20) then, Lilly Partridge took the team up to 4th (16:26) on Leg 3. Emily Adams did the vital damage to the other teams when, she whisked Aldershot into the lead on Leg 4 (16:50) and they were not headed again with the next two runners taking them clear.Emma Pallant (16:25), and then Steph Twell (15:22). Their total time was 1:40:30 ahead of Swansea (1:44:27) and Coventry Godiva Harriers ( 1:45:40). The next three were Hallamshire Harriers, Bedford & County AC and Charnwood AC.
Emily Adams remarked " It was just at the top of the hill on Leg 4 when I went ahead'
Was her season a good one?
' Not bad! I was 27th in the World Trial (32nd in the National). Not quite as good as I would have liked. I am going to try and get my times down on the track this year over 5 and 3k.' She continued ' I felt today Emma ran really well and Steph was amazing on the last leg which was great'
Emily Adams Father is Peter Adams, who ran 29:13 for 10k on the track in his day ' Not bad bad that but I liked cross country and the road relays.' He added 'My other daughter Clementine has run 2:8 for 800m."
Steph Twell:- How did she feel about her run when coming 23rd in the Women's World cross in Poland?
" I had a solid run. I raced tentatively and came through the field the whole way. It was quite encouraging as it was a four lap course. I gradually got a bit more momentum really.'
She was beaton by Freya Murray in the World Trials in Birmingham, after winning the 'National' at Leeds!
" Some people forget the bigger picture. As I am, hopefully, trying to progress as an athlete, I feel like, my training volume is part of the progression.(The three races were part of the progression). I am getting a block of uninterrupted training in really, which leads to consistency to run well over longer distances and stuff'
She ran the Sutton Park Women's record of 15:15 last year and 15:16 this year, as the second fastest ever for the course.
" It was a different situation for me (She maintained 2nd place on leg 5 last year when Charnwood won ).
' This year I was running on my own . Last year there was a race on and the support gave me that extra lift.'
She added ' I am just finishing Uni. Not thinking about that, I will be able put all my energies back into training'
'I will do the 1500 and 5k but you always need to do the 800 and 3k, as they compliment my events and I am looking forward to that."