Road relay teams excel
Tuesday 20 October 2009
Cardiff's teams can be pleased with their performances in the national road relays at Sutton Park, Birmingham last Saturday, 17th October.
The women's team (pictured) came in a brilliant 8th out of 88 teams, the highest ever placing by a Cardiff ladies' team.
The men achieved a highly creditable 17th out of 88 teams.
On a sunny cool day with little wind at Sutton Park, conditions for the relay races were perfect.
For the ladies, Amanda Moss brought the team home on the first leg in 10th place. Viki Barcello improved 3 places on leg 2, taking the team up to 7th. Leah Dixon (who had missed most of summer) slipped back 4 places to 11th but new member Ava Hutchinson picked up 3 places on the last leg, passing the Swansea runner, to clock the same time as Great Britain athlete Amanda Pitchard and bring the team home in 8th place.
Leg 1. Amanda Moss 10th 14.36
Leg 2. Viki Barcello 7th 15.00
Leg 3. Leah Dixon 11th 16.02
Leg 4. Ava Hutchinson 8th 14.36
The men's team was weakened due to unavailability of 6 front line runners but, nevertheless, 17th place out of 88 teams was an excellent performance.
Tom Marshall's current good form was evident on the first leg with a brilliant 17:17 time, a mere 6 secs behind the race leader, in 6th place; a sign that, with all front line runners available, the team is capable of challenging for medals. Chris Moss was not at his best (early season) and slipped back 8 places to 14th overall. Alex Haines, in his first race for 14 months due to injury problems, improved the team to 11th.
New member Adam Bitchell (only 18) fell back 2 places with a solid run and, after 4 legs, the team was 13th. Ed Takata came into the team only on Friday night as a late replacement and lost 6 places but last leg runner Andrew Friend pulled back 2 places and was rapidly closing on Swansea's last leg runner as the team finished in 17th place.
Leg 1. Tom Marshall 6th 17.17
Leg 2. Chris Moss 14th 18.06
Leg 3. Alex Haines 11th 17.47
Leg 4. Adam Bitchell 13th 18.14
Leg 5. Ed Takata 19th 19.51
Leg 6. Andrew Friend 17th 18.37
It is worth mentioning that Ed Takata, coming in as a last minute substitute, was really not prepared for a relay as he was due to take part in the Cardiff half marathon the following day where he came 18th.
Swansea was officially placed 16th, one place ahead of Cardiff. However their 2nd leg runner had been sent off by an official before the incoming runner had arrived. The 36secs advantage gained by this error was greater than the official margin between the two teams (27 secs) so we could claim a moral victory over our traditional rivals.
The middle distance section of club is getting stronger, in numbers and standard. The National 12/6 Stage Relays next April should now be a target and, if the men's and women's teams are at full strength, both are capable of at least top 10 placings and even potential medallists.
The women's team result is a real boost to confidence. The section is growing in numbers and therefore more than one team could be entered in future relay races