Cornwall Athletic Club’s top two endurance runners, Emma Stepto and Colin Snook, won their respective 2017 Cornwall 10,000 metre Ladies and Men’s titles in breezy conditions at the Par track last Wednesday evening.

The race was a part of the Duchy Athletic Network (DAN) Summer Track Series.

Stepto retained her county title saying after the race: “I was very, very pleased with my run this evening, especially after a fast 5000 metre track race at Yate, near Bristol last Saturday evening. Not surprisingly I felt a little tired, so I was delighted to be only 20 seconds slower than last year, in quite testing conditions.”

Stepto’s time of 35.46.5 propels her to top spot in the UK 45-49 age group, over three and a half minutes ahead of her closest rival.

In the men’s Championship race, Paul Smith (Cornwall AC) was the early leader, soon to be joined by Snook and those two ticked off the first three miles in 16 minutes 3 seconds, before Smith began to fade. Snook then accelerated, building his lead and dipping under 33 minutes, clocking 32.55.6, 21 seconds slower than last year, when he finished in second place.

There was an intriguing battle for the third podium place, with Paul Whear (Cornwall AC) leading the chasing pack in the early stages, ahead of a group containing team mate Justin Thomas.

Once clear of any challengers, these two could not be separated until the last lap, when Whear moved edged ahead of his rival opening a five second gap to the finish line.

Sixteen year old Sam Goodchild, who lives in Falmouth and runs for Cornwall AC, tackled this gruelling distance for the first time on the track, finishing tenth and putting up a gutsy performance in the respectable time of 37.06.9.

In the ‘B’ race Andy Trudgian (St Austell Running Club) and John Sole (Cornwall AC) shared the pace over the opening laps but it was not long before Trudgian moved ahead, sensibly running an even pace and building a commanding lead all the way to the finish crossing the line in his debut over this distance in a creditable 37.55.9.

A delighted Sole clocked 38.42.0 in second place, a new personal best by over two minutes.

KEY FOR CLUBS

B&W Bristol & West AC, CAC Cornwall AC, HR Hayle Runners, NP Newquay & Par AC, NRR Newquay Road Runners, STA St Austell Running Club.

RESULTS

Cornwall 10,000 metre Championship: 1 Colin Snook CAC 32.55.6, 2 Paul Smith CAC 33.46.6, 3 Paul Whear CAC 34.47.0, 4 Justin Thomas CAC 34.51.8, 5 Simon Williams STA 35.08.3, 6 Mark Webster CAC 35.39.8, 7 Emma Stepto (1st Lady) CAC 35.46.5, 8 Alex Daniels NRR 35.55.7, 9 Steve Wherry HR 37.00.7, 10 Sam Goodchild CAC 37.06.9, 11 Gary Standinger B&W 37.15.9, 12 Jason Axe NRR 39.11.6, 13 Barrie Prowse CAC 39.21.6, 14 Rich Shirley STA 39.46.8, 15 Martin Davis NRR 40.53.5.

B Race: 1 Andy Trudgian STA 37.55.9, 2 John Sole CAC 38.42.0, 3 Iain Walker STA 41.47.8, 4 Peter Allen NRR 44.00.0, 5 Ian Leedham NRR 45.54.2, 6 Sue Floyd-Norris (1st Lady) STA 52.45.8, 7 Gennara Iaconianni (2nd Lady) STA 53.24.3, 8 Debbie Marshall (3rd Lady) STA 54.25.6, 9 Andrew Budge STA 54.34.7.

10,000 metre Wheelchair T33: 1 Ben Oliver NP 37.49.7.