Stein’s golden groove

BRITISH sprint champion Sylvester Stein continued his golden run on Sunday when he won the over-85s 100m title at the Veterans Athletic Club Championships in Battersea.
The 86-year-old Highgate Harrier raced to victory as he put in an energetic display to record a time of 21.9 seconds.
Club mate Allan Sowden, who was one of Highgate’s top 800/mile runners in the 1960’s, was also in action as he lined-up in the men’s over-65s category. The experienced 67-year-old, who was born in Islington, put in a series of commanding performances as he finished third in the 200m with a time of 32.6secs and fourth in the 100m in 15.8secs.
Meanwhile at the other end of the age spectrum, talented 12-year-old Michael Gallagher won the under-13s long jump in the Newham and Essex Beagles Open Meeting with a distance of 4.05 meters. The impressive youngster also hit personal best times of 14secs flat in the 100m and 30 seconds in the 200m.

HAVERSTOCK School pupil Hakkeam Aderbidgbe sprinted home with two winners medals at the weekend.
The Under-20 Highgate Harriers’ sprinter overcame a competitive field at Finsbury Park to win the London Heathside Open Track meet 100m in 11.7 seconds and the 200m race in 24.2secs.
Club colleague Jessy Mendes was fourth in the 200m in 24.6secs, while Eric Guei won his 200m event in 23.8secs and Francis Asante won race four in 24 seconds flat.
Senior Greg Smith hit a time of 51.6secs to take fourth in the 400m, with teammate Simon Child finishing third in 52.4.
Atak Diing’s winning time in the 800m was 2.00.3, while under-17s runner David Mobbs recorded a time of 2:22.6 and Alex Goodwin hit home in 2:.33.2.
On Sunday, Harrier Chris Beecham was 18th of 564 runners in the Matterhornlauf International race over 12k in Switzerland. The race rises up 1000 feet at Zermatt and Beecham’s time was 1:04:57 for the stiff ascent.
Beecham, who is amongst the top eight Highgate distance runners, won the Hampstead 10k last year and was fourth this summer behind winner Henry Dodwell.

Sunny run for Patten

RIVAL running club London Heathside also picked up a couple of good results at the weekend.
Simon Patten took advantage of the warm weather to hit a season’s best at the Herne Hill Open Track and Field meeting on Saturday. Competing in the 1500m, Patten finished as the highest placed over-50 veteran with a time of 4.59.27secs.
Meanwhile, at the Trent Park 5k Multi-terrain handicap race, teammates Tim Marlow and Chris Neophytou put in strong performances to finish in ninth and 12th place respectively.
Finally Anna Critchlow enjoyed an easy win in what was for her a rare track race when she won the 1500m at the Vets Track and Field Championships in Kingston with a time of just over five minutes.