Benji benefits from Belfast trip with a ‘huge’ personal best

Davies (18) flew around two laps in a huge lifetime best of 1:56.98 to finish second of eight runners, clocking a national standard time.

“I just let the eventual winner get too far in front,” said Davies, who closed to within a couple of strides at the finish after being next to last with just 300m to run.

“We’ve been using the Embankment while the track has been shut,” said coach Paul Larkins, “And we knew Benji was in pretty good shape, but obviously we didn’t know quite what that meant.

“Hopefully this will show other members of the club that despite these unusual times, they are probably in great shape. They just don’t know it! And more importantly, to get in great shape you don’t necessarily need to use the track. Go old-fashioned and run on the grass in the summer.

“My wife Elaine finished third in the English Championships when at school and they didn’t have a track.”

Many club members are innovating with Russ Prosser and Ken Maggs using Snowden Field in Crowland with over 25 athletes regularly attending, while Andy Barber’s distance runners have used Nene Park and Stamford.

Even hurdlers under Ron Crosby have made-do, using a cricket pitch in Whittlesey, while high jump coach Karl Eve has been training at the Deeping Rugby Club arena.

“But let’s hope the track opens soon, that would make this better and much easier – especially for the technical events,” added Larkins.