CITY of Plymouth athlete Poppy Tank is edging ever closer to the 10-minute barrier for the 3,000 metres.
Tank set a new personal best of 10:05.70 in the event this week at the British Milers’ Club regional competition at Exeter.
That knocked five seconds of her previous best time for the seven-and-a-half lap race.
Tank, who finished fifth in the 1,500m at the English Schools’ Championships, was just one of a host of athletes from the region to set new PBs at the Exeter event.
In the 800m, Tavistock’s Samuel Lane de Courtin, Plymouth’s David Weir and Erme Valley’s Nathan Brown all set new lifetime bests, while Tamar Trotters’ Mike Wilsmore ran a season’s best.
Wilsmore, who has struggled with injuries over the last few years, finished second in the two-lap race in a time of 1:53.86. North Devon’s Phil Norman just edged him out by two tenths of a second for victory.
Lane de Courtin came third and was first under-20 in 1:54.28. His Tavistock team-mate Josh Blake was second under-20 and sixth overall in 1:55.54, with fellow under-20 Weir just behind in 1:56.58.
Erme Valley’s Brown was first under-17 as he ran quicker than he’d ever done to finish in 1:58.78.
Plymouth’s Matthew Bradley also claimed a personal best of 9:15.86 in the 3,000m.
Meanwhile, Erme Valley Harriers Alison McEwing (pictured) finished as second female in the Exeter 10k. She clocked 38:27, with Bristol’s Jasmine Finney winning in 38.00.
Plymouth-based Derby runner Jonny Gilby was second man home in 32:13, while Plymouth Harriers’ Clive Ramsden sneaked a top 10 finish in 37.53.