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AAA
of England under 17/under 15 Championships
16/8/03
Bridget
Kaneen reports
Racewalkers, Robert Moore and Ciara Kaneen of Manx
Harriers were competing in the AAA of England championships
at Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield on Sunday.
Robert was first to toe the line in his 5000m event
and started at a sensible pace. It was Nick Ball of Steyning who dominated the race
from start to finish, showing a flowing and smooth style he
showed why he has held his own in senior competition this year
and picking up a gold medal to go with the bronze medal he
collected at the Senior AAA 's in Birmingham last
month. He was chased hard initially, by Joseph Durcan of
Ireland and Robert Bain but they soon started to feel the
effects of the fast start and started to drop away.
Robert was a further half lap down on these and so
it continued until the finish. On a better day Robert would
have been able to stick closer to this pair but found himself
isolated and unable to make up the ground, however finishing in fourth
position and looking technically much tidier, he will be
able to build on this performance in the future as he has another year in
this age group.
Later, in the heat of the afternoon sun, which
decided to make an appearance after a dull start, it was the turn
of fellow harrier Ciara Kaneen to make her debut at this level on the
track, in the under 15 girls 3000m event.
City of Sheffield's Rebecca Mersh dominated, as she
has done all season, beating her own championship best time
of last year and recording a
new mark of 15.09.10.
Behind her there were some close battles going on
for the minor placings. Ciara started well and settled behind Kathryn
Granger of Sheffield and Lauren Gimson of Leicester, who won the mile
race held at the Steam Packet meeting in March at the N.S.C. Walking powerfully throughout Ciara came home in
6th position finishing over a minute quicker than her personal
best for the distance, but then disaster struck.
On returning to the warm up area to collect her kit
she was informed of her disqualification, after receiving two cards
for contact on the final lap of the race. Obviously very disappointed, Ciara handled herself
with great dignity and took the bad news with good grace.
All in all an up and down sort of day for them both
but valuable experience for the future.
Robert would like to thank the Sports Aid
foundation for their support in his travel to this event.
Results.
Under 17 Men 5000m
1. Nick Ball (Steyning A.C) 22.59.03, 2. Joseph
Durcan (Ballina A.C) 25.47.25
3. Robert Bain (Blackheath & Bromley H.)
25.56.42. 4. Robert Moore (Manx Harriers)
27.12.63. 5. Richard Harris (Dartford Harriers)
29.03.41
Under 15 girls 3000m
1. Rebecca Mersh (City of Sheffield A.C.) 15.09.10
Championship Best Performance
2. Sarah Foster (Bexley Harriers) 15.25.85. 3.
Fiona McGorum (Leicester WC) 15.29.90
4. Kathryn Granger (City of Sheffield) 16.32.99. 5.
Lauren Gimson (Leicester WC) 16.38.06
6. Claire Yeoman (Coventry Godiva)
18.03.24
Ciara Kaneen (Manx Harriers) D.Q |
