Metropolitan League 17th December 2011

NIELSON HALL was back to the good form he had in last season's Metropolitan League.
His recent patchy racing he can now put behind him as a bad memory and, looks like being a factor in the Southern and National again. Hall said " It was nice to get a hard run under my belt. I wanted to go off hard and just hold on. I got a bit worried when the shouts were getting louder for the boys behind me in the 2nd lap'
He added "I had a couple of  Chiltern Leagues which did not go well and, as I was a bit down I had to drop out at Liverpool but back again now."
    Glen Watts, who has had his best year in 2011, which includes an 8:43:08 steeplechase in September, took command in the early stages but after a mile Nielson Hall joined him at the front. Watts coach George Harrison feels he has improved and even thinks he can get down to a time that could qualify him for the Olympic steeplechase.
Regarding his 3:43.08 Watts said " I did not know about being selected to run aboard till 2 days before. I had already begun my Winter  training of long hills. It was a good experience that race in Nice."
   Aldershot 'Guest' Ben Moreau, who was third home in the race said he thought the Met League was good quality and gave him something interesting to do  away from training for the London and the possibility an Olympic place.
Going back to the race at Ruislip. At the half-way distance Hall had gone ahead by a valuable 40m and Watts was then running with Ben Moreau who had moved through to join him. There was another 50 meters to a large group of ' 'Quality runners' who had lost contact with the first three.    The leaf strewn course of muddy twists and turns in the Ruislip woods was not a problem for Hall but Watts never gave up trying to catch him and was a good second.
  Scotsman Murray Strain, the International orienteer who was second in the Snowdonia marathon and, hopes to run for Highgate in the 'National' was the fifth man home, one behind Frank Baddick who came in fourth. Baddick was helping Newham & Essex Beagles get promotion from Division 2.No doubt with Bob Smith's encouragement!.   
After three league matches of five, It was interesting to see Woodford Green were drawing clear in the league with 3561 points to Serpentine's 3264.but in the Women's league Highgate Harriers, who won six times in the last seven years have a good chance to win their league as they now lead Serpentine RC, who won last year by 773 to 728.
    Becky Penty led from the start in the women's race but again he nearest rival was Sylvie Lloyd who was a very clear second.
    Penty said " I am a great advocate of cross-country running on the way to building up for the London Marathon."
The Howard Williams Trophy for the combined seniors result should have an intriguing finish to it as Woodford, Highgate and Serpentine all are on 40 points and ahead of the rest. Herts Phoenix have a reasonable lead for the Junior Trophy at the present time.
    The Under 13 boys race Jamie Philpott won but only by one second. He had come 2nd in the last two Met Leagues and said " I just managed to beat Jamie Harper in the sprint to the line. " It was slippery but I love cross-country and will do the 1500 and 3000 in the Summer"
    However the second runner was Jamie Harper, who at only 11 years old, is an extraordinary talent. He came 8th then 3rd and now 2nd in the Met League 'Under 13' races.He is a North West London League winner and studies at  Haberdashers School
    The Under 13 girls race Rosie Poole, the Woodford Green girl, lead all the way and was a winner in the previous Met Leagues. She said of the three races " This one at Ruislip was the toughest.' Despite being only 12 she has been running for three years.
     The Under 17 Men James Gallegari ,who won the first Met League at Claybury led all the way. Unfortunately he collapsed in a race sometime ago and with Doctors orders had three weeks off rerunning altogether then, with only 11/2  weeks of running again he came fifth in the Southern Inter-Counties at Lloyd Park the previous week and, with only another week's training he won well at Ruislip with James Stockings a clear second.
   The Under 17 Women Hannah Novakovic (14 in March) went clear in the last part of the race and was delighted to win, having finished 3rd and 6th home in her previous two Met Leagues.She said " I prefer cross-country to track"