George Duggan, from Tonbridge Athletic Club, ran 13.57.22 for 5000 metres, at the Stanford Invitational Track Meeting, in California, on Friday evening. The performance moves him to fifth on the club’s all-time list and shows that he is in good form, as he starts his outdoor track season. It was his debut at the distance on the track, since over the years he has been more known as a 1500 metres specialist, where he won English Schools titles in all three age groups. Duggan is finishing his studies at Portland University, from which he is due to graduate in a few weeks.
Also having his first race of the season, at the same meeting, Chris Olley, who works in San Francisco, ran 3.48.81 for 1500 metres. This was Olley’s first race since the British Championships, last June, after which he missed the late Summer and early Autumn due to injury.
Another Tonbridge runner on the comeback trail is Nathan Marsh, who ran 14.51 at the high-class Podium 5km road race, at Barrowford, Lancashire, on Saturday evening.
Some veteran members of Tonbridge AC completed their indoor seasons, at Lee Valley, on Saturday, at the Southern Counties Veterans Championships. Amongst the performances were two club age group records from Mark McAllister (over 50) with 25.93 for 200 metres and Grazia Manzotti (over 50) winning the women’s 3000 metres walk, with a time of 15.50.42. There were also wins for Diane Wright (W50 60m 9.03), Nina Ridge (W45 200m 29.71 and 400m 67.91) plus Ian Crawley (M55 Pole Vault 2.93m and Shot Put 9.91m).