ASHFORD AC’S Janine Brown was hit by a calf injury representing the UK Police squad in the 5th USPE Marathon championships in the Czech Republic but battled on to help the squad take a creditable fourth.
As expected the Russian and Ukraine women dominated with the Ukraine taking gold from Russia but the battle was on for the bronze medal.
It eventually went to Germany but the UK women could move up after an appeal against the Germans who were seen getting support from spectators.
Kent policewoman Janine struggled as the fourth UK runner home in 3:44:55 having picked up a calf strain but she was determined not to let her teammates down and made it through the finish.
Said Janine: “It wasn’t the greatest moment in my running career, I was gutted that my calf was tight from 2km onwards, but I just didn’t want to let the team down. I went through so many emotions and it certainly was the hardest mental battle I have ever had just to finish the race.”
The police championship was held as part of the Prague marathon which was won by Kenya’s Eluid Kiptanui in a course record 2:05:39 with the women’s title going to fellow Kenyan Kirop Helena Loshanyang in 2:25:29.
Ashford AC had a good start to the 2010 East Kent Road Relays at Folkestone.
The senior ladies team of Grace Nicholls, Christine King and Kate Austen finished an excellent second behind winners Folkestone. Nicholls was the fastest woman over the 4.4 km course in a time of 14:13.
The senior mens A team of Piers Stockwell, Warren Uden, Kevin Williams and Matt Hogben finished a respectable fourth.
The Lady’s Vet 35 age group team of Candy Hawkins, Yuko O’Donoghue and Lesley Hall finished an credible second.
The club also fielded a senior men’s B and C team. The B squad of Phillip Heathfield, Matt Iles, Ian King and Andy Robertson were the second B team home. The C team of John Norman, Stephen Ross, Polo Ross and Paul Wheeler ran well to finish as the second C team.
Any athletes interested in competing for Ashford Athletics Club road running team should contact team manager Matt Hogben by e-mail on matthewhogben@yahoo.co.uk
