This event is one several held around the country during the summer to encourage personal best performances for both young and senior middle-distance athletes. At this meeting there were 35 races with about 350 athletes producing 200 Pb's. Each race has a pacemaker and a fine evening attracted many leading athletes from all age groups for the races.
For Chiltern Harriers Dan Loach (first year U17) recorded a new Pb of 2mins 10.65 for the 800m when finishing in a creditable 4th place in his heat.
Michael Goddard (U13) was running in a 1500m heat and looking for a fast time. He enjoys having a pace-maker lead him round and took full advantage as he settled into the race with two U15's and they went through 800m in 2mins 23secs. As the pacemaker moved aside Michael picked up the pace with one of the U15's tracking him. He maintained good pace and kicked away in the final 200m to win his heat by 2 seconds in 4mins 29.73secs, a new meeting record for U13's. More importantly it put him at 7th place on the all-time list for 1500m in his age group (See Power of 10 ranking list) and top of the UK rankings for this season. As reported previously this follows his outstanding 800m in 2mins10.4secs at the Bucks County champs recently which also ranks him at No.1 in the UK as well as 4th place on the all-time list.