Worthy winners at Worthing RUNFEST
RUNFEST facelift is an instant success as 1,500 runners dash to the Sussex coast
“Sea You There” is a pretty good strapline for RUNFEST's refresh of Worthing’s annual half marathon and 10K, which was an instant hit with 1,520 finishers across the two races held from Worthing Lido Family Entertainment Centre, right on the seafront at Worthing.
After two fallow years the reborn Worthing RUNFEST – now managed by the team behind the successful Richmond RUNFEST and the Kempton Park Running Festival – took over Marine Parade on Sunday (24 April).
The flagship event was the Worthing RUNFEST Half Marathon with a net elevation gain of just 37m, reaching the dizzying height of 7m at its summit! Fast times were to be expected and were delivered in buckets (and spades) incentivised by a free entry to next year’s race and £75 vouchers for the winners.
This year’s champion, with three minutes to spare, was M40 master Patrick Martin (Waverley Harriers, 1:10:45) from M40 Toby Meanwell (Lewes AC, 1:13:52) and Alex Cruttenden (Brighton Phoenix, 1:14:18).
Equally well rewarded were the top three women: Brighton Phoenix athletes Maisie Trafford (1:22:52) and Sibel Latchman (1:28:05 PB) plus unattached runner Elizabeth Dudin (1:29:45).
There were 955 finishers in 3:17:45. Just over 80 runners beat the 90-minute barrier and David Card marked the two-hour threshold in 550th position overall.
Worthing RUNFEST 10K attracted a further 565 finishers (in 1:50:11) with a PB victory for Paddock Wood's Charles George (33:56) from Jon Barnes (Enfield, 34:17 PB) and local favourite Martin Footman (M40 Worthing, 35:06).
The women's race saw the top three among the 30 athletes who were inside 40 minutes. W50 Linda Schofield (Brighton & Hove, 38:45) set the pace ahead of W40 Penny Scott-Andrews (Worthing, 39:40 PB) and W40 Amelia Brown (Crawley, 39:58) in an all-master podium.
All the results and previous reports are at runABC South race listing here
Race details and future RUNFEST events at Richmond, Kempton Park, and Worthing are on the RUNFEST website here
Image courtesy Worthing RUNFEST