The line, the line was calling in Danny Shaw’s desperate lung busting dip for a sub 9 minute performance. It was clocked at 9.00.19!
Sunday 9th May at Trafford saw a much reduced squad from Bolton Harriers on the previous meetings this year. It did include however some of the senior members this time.
One of those was the very likeable Accountant from Bolton in Danny Shaw who had entered the 3000 metres. He had been crunching the numbers and his aim was a sub 9 minute PB. Danny was previously a hockey player and had never really committed to running until Covid hit. Running was the only thing he could then dedicate his spare time to and having discovered a real talent for it he is now going to hang the hockey sticks up in the loft.
He commented “It was my second race of the year having already done Podium 5 weeks before which had blown away the cobwebs (not raced since June 19 before that). After Podium it was back to training with the group again, every session I’ve done in that month between Podium and Trafford I did faster than I’d ever done before so I felt confident going into the race. My aim was sub 9 which I knew was going to be tough. I just treated it like a time trial and ignored everyone else and ran at my pace until last couple laps when I started to focus on each person as I went past them. The race went out really fast – I was second last (16th/17) after 200m but I agreed with my coach Dave Shaw I was to run my own race. I ended up in 5th so I’d gone past a lot of athletes on the way which it could be argued slowed me down a touch and cost me the 0.2 seconds iI needed for a sub 9. Overall really pleased though as I have very little experience on the track. Hopefully it sets me up well for my Northern League debut on Saturday 22nd May.”
Still a PB for young Danny and 0.2 of a second does not detract from a fantastic effort.
Young Ruby Erzan Essien continued her fine progress through the junior ranks also in the Under 17s 3000 metres and came home with a new PB of 11.32.39.
Another young man on the PB trail in the Under 20s was Ben To with a turbo charged effort of 22.85secs in the 200m. He backed that up with a strong run of 11.23 secs in the 100m. Coach Les Hall has high hopes for Ben of finishing this season in the UK top 50 and setting a new 100m PB of 10.8 secs.
Folarera Fasehun won her 200 metres heat in a time of 28.05 secs.
Jake Harwood in the under 17s 100 metres weighed in with 12.57 secs and Jack Dickinson 53.19 secs in the Senior 400 metres.