North Tyneside 10k - April 8th 2012The 2012 North Tyneside 10k produced excitement and drama, as well as a course record as the race was won in the most exciting finish the event has ever seen.
Almost 2000 runners, from all over the region and even some from overseas, made the race the 3rd largest in the region behind the Great North Run and Blaydon Race. At the head of affairs it was 2 International athletes - Ethiopian Tadele Geremew and Morpeth's Mongolian export Serod Batichir that took a very early lead. The pair went through halfway in about 15.07 and although the lead changed hands between the two over the course of the race they remained in deadlock and even at the line they could not be separated by the timekeepers. As the 2 approached the final 200 metres, where the race comes off the main Links road and into the finishing straight towards St Mary's lighthouse, Geremew missed the turn and by the time he had realised, Botachir had stolen a march and gained a 15 metre lead. As the two raced to the line the Ethiopian closed up on his rival but Botachir, the defending champion, refused to give up without a fight. At the line it was Geremew who just edged ahead with both athletes given the same time of 30.46. locked in battle
Behind the pair there was a good battle between 2 local lads as to who would get third place. Kevin Calvert from Sunderland built up a lead on North Shields Poly's Iain Twaddle in the early stages and try as he might, Twaddle could not get back on terms. Twaddle did finish as the first Veteran in a time of 32. 50.
In the ladies race, pre race favourite Justina Heslop lived up to her billing with a comfortable victory and course record of 33.56. Heslop represents Clapham Chasers in London (she had actually won a 5 mile race in the Capital the previous day!) but was born and bred in the North East and is a former member of Elswick Harriers. She is a big supporter of local races and is the 3 time winner of he Blaydon race. Winners Justina Heslop and Tadele Geremew
Her margin of victory was more than 2 minutes from Cardiff's Charlotte Arter who ran a massive PB of 36.11, taking more than 3 minutes off her previous best! Arter is currently at University at Cardiff and was back at her home in Carlisle for the Easter break when she was told by her coach to try a 10k and the North Tyneside 10k was the closest one! Third place went to Wallsend's British Armed Forces Champion Danielle Hodgkinson.
It was a great day in a great setting and huge congratulations must go to everyone that took part. Provisional results are now available. For men's results click here For men's team results click here For ladies results (individual AND team) click here Please see our Picture Gallery for some pictures from the day (thanks to North Shields Poly's Carla Maley and Natalie Querol for the contributions). Please see below for a short video clip of the start of the race, can you spot yourself??? |
Race ReportsCheck out our race reports section by clicking here.
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