Athlete takes rare double

5:04am Wednesday 3rd October 2001

The Croydon Harriers' track and field season of 2001 entered the home straight at the Arena last Tuesday evening when they staged the first of their three traditional handicap competitions for the coveted Lisney Memorial Sprint Cup and the Ashby Mile Cup.

The relaxed nature of the events traditionally attracts a wide range of challengers and last week's launch proved no exception, with aspiring teenagers mixing it with established athletes and �super vet�, 73-year-old Ken Crooke.

Seven hopefuls faced the starter for the 100m.

Senior Russell Burgess put former schoolboy glory as a slow bicycling specialist behind him to win with an impressive turn of speed.

He capitalised on a more than generous 20m advantage, heading 16-year-old James Harrison.

Other seemingly harshly treated young middle distance runners, �scratch men� Martin Nelson and Jack Appleton, were close up with the sprightly septuagenarian Crooke giving them no chance to relax.

The sealed handicap mile event attracted a field of a dozen, which accordingly set off from the home-straight start.

Handicaps apart, it soon became clear the race would be between under 17 middle-distance prospect Jack Appleton and fast-improving senior Martin Rowe.

Appleton showed dogged determination in finishing first by five seconds in 5:04.8 but could do no better than eighth on handicap, with Rowe just one place behind.

The versatile Burgess, aware doubtless of the handicappers' generosity, trotted around purposefully and despite closing in near the rear of the field, achieved a rare double, snatching his second win of the evening in 6:38.0.

Ashley Green, a minute slower, benefited similarly to snatch secnd, while 16-year-old Nelson's promising mile debut of 5:20 earned him third.

Veteran Keith Brown was fourth and newcomer Nathnel Atnafu placed an encouraging fifth.

The second round of the series will be held at the Arena this Thursday evening, when the �sprinters� will face the tougher test of 150m or less (depending on their perceived speed and the handicappers judgement).

The Harriers handicaps will then miss a week to accommodate athletes competing in the Croydon schools Cross-country Championships and will reach their climax on Tuesday, October 16.

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