Capital gains for many local runners at the London Marathon, plus Manchester Marathon times

The last thing most marathon runners want is to wake up to a hot race-day, but that was precisely what the 50,000 plus entrants were confronted with. Fortunately the Helpston pair were unaffected by the heat and Gelsthorpe crossed the line in 2:33.17 with Jones finishing in 3:08.07.

Gelsthorpe knocked over four minutes off his previous fastest marathon time finishing 297th. Jones was 14 minutes outside her best time, but pronounced herself very happy with her run after an injury plagued build up to the big day.

Jones finished as the 462nd lady, coming in just 11 seconds ahead of Yaxley’s Kayleigh Longfoot who shattered her previous best time of 3:41.

Other Yaxley ladies ran well with Vanessa Gunn clocking 3:35.40, and Ros Loutit finishing as 25th over 60 with a time of 3:47.37. Claire Piercey, also of Yaxley, finished in 3:49.56.

In addition to Gelsthorpe two other local men completed the energy-sapping race in under three hours. Werrington’s Paul Halford went round in 2:49.53, his fastest marathon in eight years.

Halford went through halfway in a shade under 1:22 but still recorded a pleasing time despite slowing slightly in the second half of the race. Helpston’s Martin Gichuhi crossed the line in 2:54.53 having kept an even pace throughout the race.

Peterborough & Nene Valley AC had two men in action. Oliver Mason crossed the line in 3:14.44 with Tim Andrews finishing in 3:38.22.

Imogen Woodard of PANVAC ran a time of 3:13.52, taking 10 minutes off the time she ran on her marathon debut in Manchester last year.

Yaxley men Min Migliorini and Sam Pettitt ran 3:13.44 &: 3:19.34 respectively while Marin Stevens of Werrington went round in 3:21.22.

Eye’s Samantha Cullen had a good run finishing in 3:24.46 while Laura Fountain of Bushfield clocked 3:50.37.

Thorney runner Murray Richards completed the course in 3:52.11.

Other Yaxley times were Jason Kwan (2:54.45), Ben Morris (3:04.54), George Dove (3:05.07), Ellie Piccaver (3:29.16), Andrew Whytock (3:59.58), Sue Harlow (4:02.58), Sue Ball (4:24.54).

LONDON MINI MARATHON

A trio of PANVAC youngsters competed for Kings School in Saturday's London Mini Marathon.

The mini marathon is run in several waves, and the PANVAC trio were the first three home in their wave and finished within 13 seconds of one another.

Monty Wood Davis led them in, completing the 2.6 km course in 8:42. Charlie Linnell was next home with a time of 8:53 beating 3rd placed Harry Collister by two seconds.

MANCHESTER MARATHON

In an unusual break with tradition the Manchester Marathon was run on the same day as the London race.

Darren Hillier of Yaxley ran an impressive 2:49.28 finishing 239th overall, while Harry Ledger of PANVAC placed 579th in 2:57.03.

Helpston’s Matt Green finished 953rd in a time of 3:01.29. Over 30,000 runners completed the race.

Carl Baron of Yaxley ran a time of 3:12.49 while PANVAC’s Simon Northcott clocked 3:40.2.

There were good performances from a number of local ladies and Chloe Bedford of Thorney was the 376th lady home in a time of 3:37.14. Bushfield’s Becky Witton clocked 3:54.23, while Lindsey Rosella, also of Bushfield, finished in 4:01.59.

Three Eye men broke four hours with Jack Johnson leading them with a time of 3:44.58. Roy Young crossed the line in 3:50.29 with Andy Ellis finishing in 3:56.27. Steve Wilson of Thorney clocked 3:38.43.