Eight members of ‘On Camp with Kelly’, supported by Norwich Union, benefited from the fantastic opportunity of competing in an 800m exhibition race during the prestigious Norwich Union London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace on Friday 3 August.
Hannah England (Oxford City AC) won a competitive race after taking the lead at the beginning of the home straight. She crossed the line in 2:05.98, half a second ahead of a fast finishing Linzi Snow (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies) who clocked 2:06.44. Rachael Thompson (Liverpool Harriers) also came through strongly on the home straight to take third in 2:06.72, ahead of World Youth silver medallist Alison Leonard (Blackburn Harriers), who clocked 2:06.84 for fourth. In fifth place Tara Bird (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies) was very close to the personal best she set at the previous weekend’s Norwich Union UK Championships with 2:07.47. Dani Christmas (Crawley AC) finished sixth in 2:09.03, Carolyn Plateau (Radley AC) seventh in 2:09.15 and Lucy Dowsett (Cambridge & Coleridge) eighth in 2:09.23.
Alison was leading when pacemaker Elaine Wells (Crawley AC) dropped out after taking the field through the bell in 62 and a half seconds, with Hannah in second place. Tara moved into third down the back straight but was overtaken by Linzi around the final bend. As Hannah sprinted away down the home straight, fast finishing Linzi managed to find a space on the inside to move through into second place, with Rachael coming down the outside to take third.
Hannah said: “I was a bit boxed in for the first 200 metres but I got into a good position at the bell. Then the race seemed to slow down a bit as we all started to focus on winning. I am pleased to win and with my turn of speed at the end. I was hoping for a faster time but my main aim was to win the race.”
Linzi said: “I am pleased with that. It was much better than my recent races. The pace actually felt faster than it was but I found a lucky gap on the inside down the home straight. I really enjoyed it because of the crowd though in a way you don’t really hear them.”
Rachael said: “I am happy with the race as I attacked all the way. I wanted to run quicker because I know I can but I was a bit bumped and barged in the race.”
Two other OCWK athletes competed in the Under 20 3000m at the meeting and finished in the top two places. Emma Pallant (Aldershot Farnham & District) passed leader Jess Coulson (Stockport Harriers) on the back straight of the final lap and pulled away to win in 9:22.65, a personal best by 24 seconds and the third quickest time by a British junior this year. Jess finished just under three seconds behind in 9:25.43.
Click here for race report and official results
