ALYSON CONTINUES TO SHINE

Sunderland Stroller Alyson Dixon continued her dominance of the Saltwell 10k Road Race at Gateshead on Saturday.

The 41-year-old claimed her seventh Saltwell women’s victory after her first in 2011 -   winning the race by the mammoth margin of two minutes and 20 seconds.

The double Olympian finished 21st overall (36.38), in the popular event which attracted nearly 500 runners to England’s oldest road race.

Alyson Continues To Shine.

She gradually moved through the field after going through the first lap in 10.40 and the second circuit in 21.25 to lengthen her lead over her closest rival, Elswick Harrier Amy Fuller who finished in 38.56.

The 50k world record holders fastest Saltwell time of 35.08 came in 2013 when she finished just outside Durham City Harrier Rosie Smith’s course record of 35.05.

Dixon will now spend time at altitude before contesting the Tokyo Marathon on
March 1.

In third place was Judith Nutt (39.53) and fourth was Over-45 Katherine Stevenson of Tyne Bridge Harriers (40.45).

Gateshead Harrier race winner Calum Johnson made a valiant attempt in trying to beat Ryun McLeod’s course record of 30.57 from 2011, with the carrot of £100 bonus for doing so. He dominated the race but finished just outside the mark with his run of 31.05 showing on the clock and taking the race by 70 seconds.

The emerging Houghton Harrier, 19-year-old Cameron Allan, finished runner-up (32.15) after out gunning his closest rivals, Gateshead Harrier Conrad Franks and Sunderland Harrier Liam Taylor, for second place close to the finish. Franks filled third (32.23) and Taylor finished fourth (32.54), just five seconds ahead of Elvet Strider Stephen Jackson (32.59).

Allan’s performance came just a week after his strong run in the North East Championship at Alnwick.

While Gateshead took the team title, being led by Johnson and Franks, Sunderland Harriers filled second spot with Steve Rankin in 10th (34.39) and Sam Thurlbeck  29th (38.06), backing Taylor.

Sunderland Stroller Mark Anderson finished 15th (35.10) and Houghton Harrier Lee Dover was 17th (35.33).

 Stroller Derek Wright won the Over-65 category (47.56) and Dawn Elliott won the Over-60 women’s title recording 48.55.

Sunderland Harriers did the double in the rearranged Dalton Park 10k yesterday with Liam Taylor winning the race and Amy Callaghan (41.28) taking the women’s title.

Taylor was competing in his second race in two days and recorded 33.31 to win by over 70 seconds from Michael Elgie (34.43) and Wearside triathlete Paul Robson in third (35.08).

Taylor said:  “I had my entry left over from the race when it was postponed through ice and decided to use it today. I just wanted to do enough to win after yesterday’s Saltwell race.’’

Sunderland Harrier Kris Cantle was fifth (37.47).