THE organiser of the Eastleigh 10k has revealed that Sunday's race was the biggest in the event’s 32-year history.
A field of more than 2,300 runners finished the race with many achieving personal best times on a course reputed to be one of the fastest around.
Laura Whittle, from Sutton Coldfield in Warwickshire, finished in 32: 36 - the fastest 10k time by a woman in the UK this year, while Southend AC’s Adam Hickey (29:24) won overall.
Race winner Adam Hickey
Race director Steve Collins, of Running Mania, said: “We’re very pleased with how it went and had our largest number of actual finishers - 2,309.
“It was nice to get through the 2,300 barrier for the first time and the woman’s time was the quickest in the country this year.
“I know it’s only March but there have already been a lot of 10ks, including the very fast Trafford 10k.
“For Laura to come down and run 32:36 was excellent. That’s a blistering time, even at Eastleigh where the first woman usually finishes in 33:30 to 34 mins.”
Laura Whittle
Collins, who has been organising the Eastleigh 10k for 20 years, continued: “It was our first event sponsored by Hendy Ford, after 24 years of B & Q and before that Draper Tools, and it’s also the first year we’ve had pacers.
“They were pacers with personality who made sure people ran with a smile on their face.
"And, as always, the people of Eastleigh came out in their droves to clap the runners all around the course, which makes such a difference.”
Lordshill Road Runners’ Ant Gritton (31:42), who was sixth, and Southampton AC’s Richard Waldron (31:55), 11th, were the first locals home.
“There were hundreds of PBs, including 14 from Lordshill running club alone, which is always one of the attractions to running the Eastleigh 10k,” continued Collins.
“It’s almost seen as the first race of the running season but it’s for all abilities.
"For every runner who goes round in 35 minutes, there are hundreds more, including some in their seventies who put to shame many people several decades younger.
“We also had a runner with prostate cancer and lots of parents ran with their children.
“And then of course were the two fun runs at Fleming Park for 4-8 and 9-12 year-olds, an event Dani King competed in many years ago.”
Running Mania also organises Perform 5, a new five-mile race from the Ageas Bowl, which takes place for the second time on September 25.
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