West Norfolk distance runners out in force

A busy weekend of distance running for West Norfolk AC athletes started with a bang on Friday evening in the capital.Mitchell Bunn took part in the Friday Night Under the Lights 5k in London’s Battersea Park.This series of 5k races, athletes have to qualify for through previous 5k times due to the demand and quality of runners on shows.Bunn proved he was not out of his depth as he notched a significant new PB and club record by running 15:24 for 5k.This achievement is a huge milestone for Bunn and holds him in good standing for the GEAR 10k.As the weekend rolled in, the attention turned to the remainder of the club’s marathon runners.With a total 56,640 finishers this year, the capital’s marathon officially broke a Guinness world record as the marathon with the most finishers ever – and West Norfolk had three members among that number.The first home for the club was Callum Stanforth, who was starting in the club championship pen just behind the elite men. Stanforth was keen to beat his PB from last year, but halfway through the heat set in and goals had to change rapidly, finishing in 2:48:16. Neil Stapleton qualified for this year’s event through good for age after his legendary sub-three-hour marathon last year in London.Stapleton finished just a few minutes off his PB with a time of 3:02:14.Robert Gosnell earned a club spot for this year’s London marathon for his contributions to the club, both running and behind the scenes. Gosnell was also raising money for the Myeloma UK charity, in memory of his father-in-law and club legend John Bray.Gosnell finished with a time of 4:12:44 and a smile on his face. WNAC wheelchair athlete Susi Rogers-Hartley completed the marathon just 10 weeks after brain surgery.Assisted by a friend of the club and local runner John Plumb, Rogers-Hartley dug deep for a time of 5:24:29. The Manchester Marathon is growing in size and popularity.Oliver Foxwell was first home for the club as he culminated a year of massive improvement to finish with a PB and a sub-3-hour time despite the heat.Foxwell ran a sensational 2:59:11 to dip under the three-hour mark.Ryan Oakes ran whilst supporting a friend of the club, Beth Moden. He helped Moden to a massive PB, both coming home with a time of 3:08:31.Mitchell Bunn and Cassie Moden also ran together as they battled a hot and hilly course.Moden once again established herself as one of the clubs’ finest athletes as she and Mitchell Bunn crossed the line with a time of 3:21:50. Darren Easter once again showed pure grit and determination with a time of 3:36:32 and an impressive tan line to match.Joining Rogers-Hartley on the streets of London as a wheelchair athlete on Sunday, West Norfolk man Mark John Howard finished within his eight-hour target in 7.59.46, supporting four charities in the process.