Photo – Ben Cole
Ben Cole, from Tonbridge Athletic Club, continued his terrific Autumn season form, at the Leeds Abbey Dash 10k road race on Sunday, setting a stunning personal best of 29.21 and placing 5th overall. At 38 years old, Cole is classified in the over 35 masters age group, with the time breaking his Tonbridge AC club record for that category by 18 seconds. Incredibly, this was achieved just two weeks after running the Chicago Marathon.
Cole’s time puts him 3rd on the UK rankings this year, for those aged over 35 years old, with a certain Mo Farah, just one place and ten seconds ahead. Cole hopes to have recovered in time to join his Tonbridge AC teammates at the Kent Cross Country League fixture, to be held at The Schools at Somerhill, Tonbridge, on Saturday. Also hoping to be there is Verity Hopkins, who finished 7th in the women’s race at Leeds, in 33.39, just two seconds outside her personal best.
Locally, on Sunday morning, the Tonbridge 10k took place from Hildenborough and had 160 finishers, including some from Tonbridge AC. Sarah Cronin won the women’s race in 41.43, not far ahead of Lizzie Owen, who ran 41.57. Penny Pilbeam was 4th overall and first home in the over 45 age-category in 43.46.
In London, Jay Smith had a fine run at the Battersea Half Marathon, placing 5th overall and first in the over 40 age group, with 73.22.
Above – Lizzie Owen, Sarah Cronin and Penny Pilbeam at Tonbridge 10k