ATHLETICS: Harris races to second at Wardown Park

Tim Harris from Ampthill and Flitwick Flyers went into an early lead followed by Luton AC juniors Rhys Lewis and Luke King.

While Harris extended his advantage to cross the line in 16.03mins from Lewis (17.12), King was run down by Lee Murphy of Dunstable Road Runners who finished in just under 18 minutes.

Gail Duckworth of Leighton Buzzard AC was a clear winner of the Ladies race finishing in 20.37mins.

Coached by former Olympian Tony Simmons, Duckworth has recently turned 60 and is in fine form leading up to the British Masters Championships later this month and the World Masters Championships in France next month.

In a repeat of the first race, Katie Gibbons was runner up in 21.24mins from Elizabeth Rollinson of Stopsley Striders in 21.42mins.

The first veterans prizes went to Paolo Basso and Julie Simmons (Fairlands Valley Spartans).

Other age group winners were Tony Barnes (V50) and Neil Lovesey (V60), John Reade (V70) and Stewart Mackay (V55, Dunstable), Martin Fallon (V45), Thomas Murphy (V75), James McIntosh (V80, Stopsley Striders) and David Smith (V65).

The ladies winners were Teresa Warren (V45, Dunstable), Annette Bell (V50), Lorraine Daglish (V55, Luton) and Elaine McCulloch (V60).

Murphy is the favourite to take the men’s Series title whereas the Ladies title will be closely contested by Gibbons and Rollinson next week when the final race in the Series, the Luton 10k, takes place.

The one lap course through the grounds of Luton Hoo starts on Sunday at 11am, with entries received on the day,