BMC Regional Races

​The third and penultimate meeting in the 2017 series
of BMC Regional Races, was held at the Riverside Track,
Chester Le Street, on the evening of Monday 19th June 2017.

Eight athletes from Morpeth Harriers were amongst the many in action, and three managed new personal bests over the 800m distance.

Having her first outing over the two - lap distance this year,
Laura Weightman clocked 2m02.67s, which was only
a fraction outside her lifetime best,
​which was achieved on 9th June 2012 at Watford, in her pre-London Olympics build up,
when she had finished fourth in a tough and talented event,
that included fellow Internationals Jessica Judd, and Lynsey Sharp.

On this occasion, however Weightman finished second in a
talent filled fifth fastest mixed gender event,
just outsprinted into first place by promising Under 17 local talent
Jonathan Langley, of Chester Le Street.

Four seconds and six places adrift of Weightman was an old adversary Stacey Smith,
formerly with Tynedale, currently making a competitive comeback wearing the colours of Gateshead Harriers.

No doubt Weightman will be well pleased with this outing,
as she continues her build up towards the World trials,
and hopefully a place in the World Championships, in London in August.

In the third fastest race of the night, Morpeth’s Under 17 Man Joe Ramshaw,
clocked new figures of 1m59.60s, getting under the two-minute barrier for the first time,
as he finished a very close fourth behind fellow Under 17’s James Martin (Jarrow & Hebburn),
Sam Tyers (Middlesbrough Mandale), and Josh Fiddaman (Blyth RC).
Fellow Morpeth Harrier Jordan Scott finished seventh in 2m04.26s.

Two further personal best performances by athletes from Morpeth Harriers
were achieved on the night, courtesy of Ross Charlton and Holly Peck.

Under 17 Man Charlton, had an excellent victory in the seventh
fastest mixed race, posting new figures of 2m09.65s.
In the twelfth fastest event, Under 15 Girl Peck posted new figures of 2m20.60s,
when finishing a close second to fellow Under 15 William Fowler of Jarrow and Hebburn.
She did however finish ahead of fellow Under 15 Girls Nicole Phillips
and Anna Piggford of Houghton, and Darlington’s Under 17 Ellie Phillips.

In the eleventh fastest mixed race, Morpeth’s Rhiannon Hedley
was just adrift of her personal best performance,
as she finished very closely behind fellow Under 15 Girls Lydia James of Houghton,
and Emily Chong of Chester Le Street, as she posted a time of 2m23.07s.

Older brother Kieran posted 2m01.06s in the second fastest event of the night,
and rounding up the Morpeth Harriers performances in the fastest race of the night
was Under 23 athlete Joe Armstrong, who posted a time of 2m00.74s.

The fourth and final meeting of North East Regional BMC events,
​will take place at Chester Le Street on Monday 3rd July 2017, with races over 1500m.  

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