Champions of the Road series goes North
This weekend sees the Champions of the Road series go North to the City of Preston with the England Athletics 5 miles Championships, a new addition to the road running championships and the fourth race in the Champions of the Road series. Two more endurance athletes will be crowned champions, and it will also be an opportunity for individuals and teams to further cement their standings in their overall series.
With the best of three from six races in the season Preston also provides an opportunity for anyone not yet entered in the series the chance to still get involved.
Lining up on the start line at Preston will be Aldershot and Farnham’s Joshua Grace who recently ran a quick 29:41:03 10,000 metres at Highgate, whilst Cambridge & Coleridge’s Holly Archer who has enjoyed a good year on all three surfaces track, cross-country and the roads will be one to watch in the women’s race.
Cambridge & Coleridge will also be looking to take charge of the team competition with a full men’s and full women’s team entered which could see them further cement their team standing in the overall Champions of the Road series.
Leeds City AC will be looking for another Men’s team win on the day, but they are likely to face some opposition from the local club Preston Harriers.
On-line entry will remain open until 7pm on Saturday 10 August and both elite and club runners looking to race can still do so. Click here to enter
Clubs are reminded that medals will be awarded on the day to both the top three men and top three female teams, however in order to count for the Champions of the Road series clubs must have fielded both a complete men’s and women’s team on the day.
The 5 miles race will take place alongside the popular 10 miles race with club and recreational runners of all abilities taking part. Whilst the weather forecasts for the weekend may be more typical of the cross-country season the day looks set to provide some good quality competition.
Going into Preston this weekend the athletes currently at the top of the tables in the Champions of the Road series include Adam Hickey, Nick Goolab, Jack Gray, Phil Seseman and amongst the women Claire Duck, Beth Kidger, Annabel Gummow, Hannah Viner.
The final two races in the series will take place in October, with The Great Birmingham Half on Sunday 13 October and The Great South Run and 10 mile Championships on Sunday 20 October.