Metropolitan League 2023
14/10/2023 – Claybury – Hosted by WGEL
ROGER POOLMAN, a Physics teacher, who last won a Met League race, at Wormwood Scrubs in 2019 and, ran his fastest 5000 in 14:49 in 2020, led Highgate Harriers to victory, finishing their 12 scores in 41 of 391 finishers, showing their intent to win the league for the 11th year.
In the cool but often sunny weather, after the race on the undulating, Claybury course, Roger Poolman said “I was hoping to stay in group for the first mile but put an effort in on the 2nd lap and dropped one of the runners. I thought the end came quicker than I expected.” In 2nd place was Terry Fawden, who was just strong enough to get ahead of his clubmate Alex Lepretre on the last hill. Chris Thomsas, who much preferred road racing but ran a good race in 4th.
Liz Janes went well clear of the women’s field early on and, never looked like giving any ground away; had her whole family supporting her. Her husband runner Matt Janes & children 10, 9 & 6. In 2nd place was Rebecca Piggott, who led London Heathside to top the table, (Favorites for the title again) and 3rd Yasmin Goater, in her best Met League position.
In the Under 17’s Luke Dunham, wearing a white cap. like his hero Dave Wottle, went clear in the last 200. Surprisingly 113 ran in that race or 15/17 combined. Dunham is an 8:49 3000 runner and coached by Andy Hobdale.
Jonjie March, the National cross-country Champion in February in the Under 13’s, won the 15/17 women’s race. She also has an impressive record on the track as an 800 runner doing 2min 8sec-. She is in year 9 at Latymer school.
John Stowe, who is coach to Abigail Reid, who was 2nd to finish remarked “Jonjie March is a ‘class runner’ but I thought Abigail Reid had a better run than she has had for some time“
In the Under 13 girls, Ellina Ponkratieva who is at Surbiton school was a good winner She runs for winning team St Mary’s and her parents came from Siberia.
Aidan Wolpert who pushed it in the 2nd of his two laps and came home well.
Janice Bowman, the Administrator for the Metropolitan League told me
“ This year we have a new sponsor Victoria Park Sports Medicine. A newly upgraded and fantastic website a better and more easier declaration system which is all due to the hard work of James Joy who looks after the website and results and social media. James over the last 6 months has completely overhauled the results system and made the website more easier and user friendly. We have live results which are currently updating throughout the day and we are constantly making changes to make everyone’s experience at a Met League fixture an enjoyable one. All the clubs have benefited over the last year. Overall turnout in the junior races has increased this season so far. We are looking at venues for the next year, somewhere new.
We have a lot more support as we try to bring in new faces to help on the day. The first fixture was a great success.”
Regards Alastair