Kreckeler still tops

Ryan Burling, the exciting new recruit from Luton AC, yesterday gave the event his best and, like locally-based Olympian Lee Merrien, got nowhere near the 34min. 39sec. clocking set by the old distance maestro 52 years ago.

Lee Merrien never got near it, his 35-27 of four years back being his best winning performance in an event he seldom contested and when he did was either focusing on training or thwarted by bad conditions.

Burling, who has already taken a few records since arriving on island six months or so ago, must have looked at Kreckeler’s old mark, checked the wind directions and, given his recent form, may have considered it was a test worth challenging.

His pace and facial grimace at Bordeaux, close to halfway, suggested he was having a go and at that point had already pulled out 95sec. on Cheltenham’s Andrew Van Kints, who in turn enjoyed a 22sec. buffer on Jim de Garis and Pete Amy running shoulder to shoulder vying for third.

James Priest was a further 15sec. back in fifth with Sarah Mercier and Louise Perrio looking for solid top-10 finishes and separated by just a stride at that point.

Further down the field Ulrike Maisch was third woman on the road and clearly out for mileage, while just behind her was Jenny James.

By the finish at North Beach, Burling’s pace had slowed and although more than four minutes clear of Van Kints, his 35-55 meant he must settle for fourth on the all-time list behind the record-holder, Merrien and Jamie Marsh, the latter who reached Commonwealth Games level.

The women’s record remains intact, too, although record-holder Louise Perrio ran it close with Commonwealth 5,000m runner Mercier pushing her all the way until dropping off the pace at Longstore.

Perrio was seventh across the line in 40-45, 21sec. off the race best.