EXMOUTH’S Tom Merson retained the Plymouth Half Marathon title on Sunday with another strong run.
Merson had also won the event last year and in 2019, but this time around he was pushed hard by Newbury’s Callum O’Neill.
The Exmouth man triumphed in 1:08.08, which was quicker than his winning time last year, with O’Neill taking second in 1:08.19. Third place went to United States Marine Corps’ Kyle King, who finished in 1:10.52.
Newquay Road Runners’ Megan Davis was first woman home in the half marathon in 1:18.33, with Aylesbury’s Chelsea Baker second in 1:20.17 and Tavistock AC’s Nikki Kelly third in 1:22.44.
East Cornwall Harriers’ F55 veterans Sharon Daw and Diane Roy, who had both run the Dartmoor Discovery 32-mile ultra marathon last weekend, finished with exactly the same gun time – 1:40.45, but Daw took the F55 title with a chip time of 1:40.40, which was a few seconds quicker than her club colleague Roy.
Alison Engledew was first F60 and Steve Hill was first M45.
For the second year running, the half marathon was held alongside the Plymouth 10k and Plymouth 5k races.
RAF runner Rich Bond won the 10k in 34.31, with Joshua Benford second in 34.45 and Plymstock Road Runners’ Rich Shelley third and first M50 in 34.57 minutes.
Erme Valley Harriers’ F45 masters athlete Cleo Perry was eighth overall and first woman home in 38.40 minutes, with Looe Pioneers’ F45 runner Joanne Robinson second (39.55) and Jennifer Warner third (41.43).
Team H’s Pete Waumsley was seventh overall and first M45 in 38.07, while Erme Valley’s Nick Bristow (39.44) was second to Shelley in the M50 age group and East Cornwall Harriers’ Armin Palmer was first M60.
Erme Valley’s Rebecca Lee was first F40, with Tamar Trotters’ Judith Wilkinson first F60 and Storm’s Lorraine Giles won the F65 category.
The 5k race was won by Gabriel Dennison in 16.40 minutes, but there was a great run by Basildon’s Gemma Kersey to take second overall and first female in 16.52. Raymond Tew was third and first M45 in 17.00, with City of Plymouth’s Dan Newman fourth overall and first junior.
Second female and first junior woman home was City of Plymouth’s Phoebe Timson in 20.56 minutes, with Plymouth Harriers’ Nicola Noble third female and first F35 in 22.24 minutes. Madeline Elliott and Isabella Trowell were second and third female juniors, while Finley Squires and Benjamin Marriott were second and third male juniors.
Full results can be found HERE.
Swipe to see full gallery. All pictures are low resolution and are protected by copyright.