Open graded meeting Tuesday 31st August
Still and reasonably warm conditions probably encouraged the bumper turnout
at the final open graded meeting of the season. A proportionately sizeable
crowd of relatives and friends lined the perimeters of the track to cheer on
athletes of all ages chasing late-season improvements on their high summer
performances.
Ben Carne (Harrow) showed continuing good form in recording 47.91 in the
400m, although this swift time did not better the 47.36 that currently
places him 30th in the national rankings. Likewise, Basildon's Max Jones'
(U13) impressive 4.57.46 in the 1500m was only slightly outside a time that
he had run earlier in the season. The women's invitation 800m yielded
personal bests for Katie Brown (Enfield and Haringey, U17), Stacey Wheat
(Colchester, U23) and Woodford's Alicia McArdell (U13). Martin Shore (Thames
Hare & Hounds), who was 75th in this year's London Marathon, however,
automatically set a season's best of 9.15.19 in the 3000m by tackling this
very much shorter distance for the first time this year.
Finally, the organisers and officials would like to thank all those who
attended open graded meetings this year and to wish them a healthy winter
season in the hope of seeing them in competition again next year.