ELEVENTH PLACE FINISH FOR MANTHORPE AT EUROPEAN 10,000M CUP

An eleventh-place finish in the European Cup 10,000m B Race for Alfie Manthorpe (Hallamshire), who made his track debut representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Pace, France.

The Hassaqus (ESP) and Ouida (ITA) took the lead behind the pacer for the opening laps, while Manthorpe settled behind the two Belgians in ninth. The group gradually caught up with the front two and spread evenly in the race’s early stages.

Around 12 minutes, the front seven stretched away, picking up the pace, and Alfie found himself behind the front seven running alongside the Norwegian. Marques (PRT) pushed ahead with eight laps left, leaving Alfie racing solo in eighth.

With five laps left, he battled with O’Gailin (IRE) for the eighth position. He took a stumble and dropped back a few places. He finished with a track personal best time of 29:19.52 and 11th position in a fast race, with four personal bests in the top ten.

Team Leader Dean Miller said, ‘Running 10,000m on the track is a unique skill to get right, and Alfie has taken the opportunity to come and test himself in what’s only his second time running the distance.

‘Not the perfect day he wanted but a gritty performance against high calibre athletes with much learning. I’ve no doubt this will serve him well as he progresses.’

photo credit European Athletics