Zak Tobias
ZAK Tobias delivered an excellent performance in the Highgate Night of 10,000m in North London on Saturday evening.
Running his first 25-laps challenge on the track the 21-year-old Bristol & West AC athlete finished runner-up in race 3 in an impressive time of 30mins 47.32secs.
Tobias, a former winner of the Easy Runner/Bristol Post athlete of the month competition, was only beaten by Bedford’s James Hoad (30:46.06) and claimed some notable scalps including former clubmate Oli Mott (31:21) and top Cornwall runner Dan Nash (31:19).
“We haven’t see Zak for a while but that is an excellent run,” said B&W team manager Mike Down.
WHAT AN EXCELLENT RACE FOR A MID-WEEK OUTING
YEOVIL Town Road Running Club will be staging the sixth annual Ash Town Tree Trail 7 miles multi terrain race from Ash Primary School, near Martock, on Wednesday May 25th (7.00pm). Entries will be taken on the night and fir further details see the website at: www.ashexcellenteight.com
INJURY WRECKS GB JUNIOR ACE MOLLY’S 2016 TRACK CAMPAIGN
BRISTOL & West junior international 800m runner Molly Long has admitted defeat in her bid to be fit to race this summer.
The 19-year-old has fought against a debilitating IT Band (knee) injury and a bout of glandular fever over the winter.
Couple that with the upheaval of leaving home to begin her studies in dentistry at Cardiff University and it means that Long, who was ranked No 1 in the UK last year in the under 20 age group, hasn’t raced since finishing fourth in the European Championships last July.
“The last eight months have been a real pain with the IT Band problem and glandular fever and it has been pretty tough not being able to run,” said Long.
“I have worked really hard on my rehab from the IT Band problem and have had to change my style of running by running on a treadmill in front of mirrors.
“It is not a massive change but just altering how I plant my foot and that together with a stronger core should really help me in the future.
“I am back running now and hopefully I can get on the track again but I won’t be racing seriously this summer and may just look at a few low-key races towards the end of the summer.
“But the main aim will be to get fit for a good winter in 2016/17.”
WHY MERSON HIT THE ‘WALL’ IN BRISTOL 10K
TOM Merson had victory in his sights in the inaugural Great Bristol 10k road race on Sunday when he hit the ‘wall’ on a red-hot day.
The Exmouth-based Bristol & West AC runner was running alongside eventual winner Toby Spencer of Coventry and Welshman Rob Samuel as the trio had broken well clear of the huge field and were steeling themselves for the finish.
“The three of us were together and as we reached 8k I was feeling absolutely fine,” said Merson.
“Then within a few strides I was in bits and it was all over as the other two went clear. I just had nothing left in my legs.
“I worked a 19-hour shift (in the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital where he works as a department practitioner) over Friday night not finishing until Saturday morning and that took its toll.
“Working night shifts is very hard and to be honest it has got on top of me. So bearing that in mind I cannot grumble too much about Sunday.”