BRETT RUSHMAN, The Hertfordshire cross-country Champion, who last won a Metropolitan League race, as an Under 18 runner, on the 10th of November 2018, lead at the start, down the pathway into the woods with Luca Minale and, a huge phalanx of runners just behind them Alastair Aitken reports,
It was on the 2nd lap of 3 that Rushman went clear, while running down a hill. and running well behind him t was the first Under 20 runner Abdirahim Hamud and Woodford’s local man Joel Doyle. Rushman, who has run 1500 in 3:51,68/5000 in 14:05.07 said “ I hope to do 1500 & 5k in the Summer. I usually run most of the BMC races” Out of the 393 finishers the two oldest were 362nd Richard Bloom (79) and Stuart Mann {M80) 386th.
Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets topped both the Men’s and Women’s leagues. It was interesting to see that the club that won the Men’s Premier league, for the lst 12 years, Highgate Harriers, will have to dig deep to overtake Victoria Park in the next 4 fixtures. Their points, after the first of five matches-Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets 1925 & Highgate on 1721.Woodford Green & Essex Ladies are dominant in the younger age groups except for Shaftesbury Barnet and London Heathside in a section each.
In the Women’s race Khahisa Mhlanga was in a group of three till the final lap when she drew well clear . “ In the Summer I hope to do 800’s & 1500’s “(In 2023 she ran 1:59.35 for 800). At the moment I am training with a group at Cambridge under Mark Vile. I was working part time and only started last year training, as a full time athlete.”
Luke Dunham, an Under 17 runner, had some clear victories in the Met league’ last season and caried on winning at Claybury. Going ahead quite early. He has had a successful Summer with 2nd and 3d places over 30000m. He was 3rd in the English School 3000 in 8:37.3 and was 2nd in the School Games National Final in 8:37.6. Following Luke at Claybury, in second place was a new name with potential called Arjuna Pflug (U15} a new ‘Star’ for Highgate Harriers.
Barnet’s Georjia March had another easy Met league win. and has had many good runs including coming 2nd in the International CC at Parliament Hill, and 3rd in the Southern. She had a comfortable win at Claybury looks like coming back to form with a clear win at Claybury . As a 14 year old she beat all the U17 & 15 girls race.