Last Sunday saw two meetings in the North West involving Wallasey Athletic Club: Merseyside Women's Relay Championships (with non-championship open events) at Kirkby and an 'open meeting' at Stretford, Manchester.
In the actual relays, which were held in almost perfect conditions, Wallasey won three sets of medals: one silver in the minor girls' 4 x 100 metres relay; one bronze, for the 3 x 800 metres in the same age group, and a bronze in the senior ladies' 3 x 800 metres.
The minor girls, who have a good record in team events, ran a good
4 x 800 metres relay and narrowly missed the silver medal after being 'pipped at the post', literally, by just over a second. They were also second in the 4 x 100 metres relay where they appeared to be well out of the placings until the stagger of the track unwound.
In the open races for men, the outstanding performances were by: Mark Cooper in the youths' 800 metres: He ran a very will judged race, as the early leader ran at too quick a pace. Marc held back and burst through at the finish line.
Neil Henfrey in the youths' 800 metres: He ran his first serious race at the distance with a decent time and completed the two-lap race with two identical lap times which, theoretically, is the best way to run an 800 metres race; Dave Pendleton in the youths' mile where he slashed seconds off his old personal best.
Pete Jones was the only Wallasey athlete who ran at Stretford. He ran a senior men's 800 metres in a quick time, close to his personal best. If the improvement continues he will probably, at the least, end up in the finals of the Northern Counties Championship. This Saturday sees the senior men's section, with some youths, travel to Blackpool to compete in division five of the Men's Northern League.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 07/05/1983
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