THE ARMADA 5k made its long-awaited return on Wednesday night – at a brand new venue.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the event had been a popular monthly run during the summer months at the Saltram Estate.
But it was not able to be held in 2020 and now it has returned it has a new home in Plymouth’s Central Park.
Two newcomers to the Armada 5k – Tamar Trotters’ Jacob Landers and Plymouth Musketeers Ross Macdonald – made their mark on Wednesday.
The pair broke away early on and ran together for a spell before Landers, a former medallist at the Plymouth Half Marathon, pulled away to take victory in 16.54 minutes, which will be the time to beat from now on.
Former Aberdeen athlete Macdonald, who recently finished second in the Burrator Horseshoe Race, came home in second in a time of 17.44 minutes.
Storm Plymouth’s Daniel Westlake was third in 20.05, with Scott Mansfield fourth in 20.25 and Martin French fifth in 20.38.
Kirsty Prowse (DSFRS) was first woman and 10th overall in 21.32 minutes. There was then a good battle between Erme Valley youngster Isabella Trowell, Vicky Jowett and Plymouth Harriers’ Bella Doxey for the next female placings.
They all finished next to each other, with Trowell taking second in 22.27, Jowett third in 22.33 and Doxey fourth in 22.49.
The next Armada 5k will be held on Wednesday, August 11. Full results from July’s event can be found HERE (picture gallery below).
Meanwhile, athletes from City of Plymouth, Erme Valley and Tavistock braved horrendous weather to represent a joint team in round two of the Southern Athletics League in Par.
The combined side had comfortably won the first round at Exeter but due to the English Schools’ Championships they were missing some of their talented under-20 and under-17 athletes and had to settle for second place behind host club Newquay & Par on Sunday.
City of Plymouth’s Dan Pearce, who combines his athletics with playing rugby for Launceston and who previously competed for Newquay, was once again a points machine.
He won the 400m (53.83), 110m hurdles (17.77), 400m hurdles (61.68) and the high jump (1.70). He also came second in the shot, third in the long jump and won the B discus event.
Plymouth did dominant the sprint events again. Brook Adnitt won the senior men’s 100m and 200m. He ran a season’s best 11.30 seconds in the 100m and a wind-assisted 22.93 in the 200m.
Under-17 sprinter Jacob Michaelides ran a new PB of 11.75 to win the men’s B 100m as a non-scoring athlete, while Jake Weir, also under-17, took victory in the B 200m in 23.86.
Lili Fern won the women’s A 100m in a wind-assisted 12.47 and came second in the 200m in 26.33.
Kinga Kudzia won both the B 100m and 200m in 12.64 and 26.72 respectively, while Lin Lognon ran 13.27 and 27.70 over the same distances.
Emily Bee took victory in the women’s high jump and long jump and also came second in the javelin – all events that were tricky with the conditions.
The Plymouth/Erme Valley/Tavistock side claimed full points in the women’s hammer with Lois Fileman winning the A event with 46.68m and Hannah Gellatly, who had competed at the English Schools’ Championships two days before, claiming victory in the B event with 45.69.
Ben Upfold triumphed in the men’s javelin in 42.53 and also came second in the discus, while Toby Clayden won the triple jump in 12.16m, having clocked a wind-assisted PB of 15.60 seconds in the under-20 110m hurdles.
There was also full points for Martha Wilson in the women’s 1,500m, while Sam Lake came second in the 5,000m and under-17 athlete Gregory Norster ran 56.24 and 2:06.91 to take third places in the 400m and 800m.
Swipe to see full gallery. All pictures are low resolution and are protected by copyright.