At 8.05pm on the evening of Thursday 18th May, Morpeth Harrier Laura Weightman
faced the Starter in her maiden track 5000m event, at the Bill Henry Track, Jack Kemp Stadium, Eagle Rock,
in the City of Angels in California, which she superbly won by a fraction of a second,
posting an excellent 15m08.24s, which ranks currently as No 2 in the UK, behind arch rival Laura Muir,
​who ran 14m49.12s, albeit Indoor, in the Glasgow Emirates Arena, in the BMC Championships on 4th January.

Second place went to Colorado born Natosha Rogers,
who clocked 15m08.29s, which for her also represented a personal best.

This win will certainly prove to be a much welcome confidence booster for Weightman, who becomes 26 in July, and will strengthen her chances of a possible chances of an appearance at the World Athletics Championships, being held in London in August, despite her being stripped of funding following last year’s Olympics in Rio.

Weightman has for a long time been a little sceptical of stepping up to the longer distance,
however, this her first attempt at the twelve and a half laps, has paid rich dividends for her,
and she can now sit down with her Coach Steve Cram, to possibly re-navigate her future in the sport,
and seek new targets, in what is still very much a young athletics career.

Morpeth Harriers had four Women’s teams in action at the annual
Gordon Smith Memorial Road Relays, held at Wallsend on Wednesday 10th May 2017.

Their A team finished fourth behind North Shields Poly, Jarrow and Hebburn, and Tyne Bridge Harriers,
in a total time of 36m18s, over the three legs, courtesy of Helen King (12m56s),
Gemma Floyd (11m59s), and Jane Hodgson (11m23s).

Morpeth’s Women’s B team finished 38th in 44m47s, with legs being performed by
Helen Bruce (14m25s), Jenny Glossop (15m46s), and Jane Kirby (14m36s).

Their C team were 50th in 46m59s,  courtesy of Carol Parry (15m23s),
Jane Blackett (16m17s), and Claire Hiscock (15m19s).

Finally their D team finished 61st in 49m44s, with performances coming from
​Shuna Rank (15m43s), Frances Naylor (17m21s), and Susan Smith (16m40s).

Morpeths Lorna MacDonald finished as eighth Woman in the
Sunderland City Half Marathon,on Sunday 7th May 2017,
 posting a finishing time of 89m40s, which was a seasons best.

Photo courtesy of Events of the North / DS Media & Events Ltd

At the annual Les Allcorn Memorial 10k, held in the grounds
of leafy Hulne Park in Alnwick, on the evening of Tuesday 2nd May 2017.

Morpeth Harriers Women were the big winners on the night,
taking their team title, being led home by Veteran Woman Jane Hodgson,
who finished ninth overall, posting a winning time of 38m02s,
which saw her finish eighty-three seconds clear of
second placed Woman Rachel Falloon, of Alnwick Harriers,
who finished thirteenth overall.

Supporting Hodgson for Morpeth in third place in the
Women’s race was Helen King, who was also second
Veteran behind Hodgson, finishing 33rd overall,
and posting a time of 43m33s.

Completing the Morpeth Women’s winning tally was Jane Briggs,
who finished 56th overall, and was 12th Woman
and was also 2nd O/45 Woman finisher in 45m38s.

Other Morpeth Harriers finishers in the 10k event were
​Carol Parry (101st) (5th O/45 Woman) 52m41s,
Susan Smith (122nd) (10th O/45 Woman) 57m15s,
and Claire Hiscock (123rd) (15th O/35 Woman) 57m15s.

A total of 140 finishers competed in the 10k event.