In the Maxol Marathon, Wallasey Athletic Club's Mike Whiteside took 28th place in a field of 84 runners. Over a comparatively flat course with good competition Mike, in his first marathon, was hoping to gain a British Road Runners standard which required a time of 2 hours 40 minutes.
He did this finishing the 26 miles 365 yards in 2 hours 38 minutes, despite the hot conditions not helped by the car exhaust fumes from the spectators' cars. A fine debut to marathon running such a young athlete in event which requires immense dedication and stamina.
On the track seven Wallasey athletes were helping the Liverpool & District League team to victory in an interleague match at Kirkby, three producing winning performances. In the Women's 800 metres Barbara Banks proved she is at her best for the coming cross-country season, running a personal best of 2 mins 15.6 secs., winning comfortably from the second Merseyside representative Jill Simmond.
Margaret Ashcroft running as a guest also ran a best of 2 mins. 26.8 to take fourth place, a staggering improvement on her previous best, just reward for her hard training of late.
Susan Carter, although still only an intermediate girl was selected for the senior team but could not quite produce her best in the extreme heat, coming in sixth in 64.9 secs.
In the men's events Dave Lockley and Pete Lewis did all that was asked of them in winning their events. Dave ran a personal best, making 'mincemeat' of the opposition in the 2,000 metres Steeplechase, his favourite event, winning in 5 mins. 48.8 secs.
Pete Lewis not sure of the competition that awaited him in the 800 metres took no chances, taking an early lead to scorch away from the field in 1 min. 54 secs.
Alan Cheers gave his usual display of high class triple jumping only being beaten by his ever-present rival George Owens of Wirral AC., while Mike Teahan, who has been forced by injury to leave his first love the 800 metres, did well to throw the javelin into fourth place with 123 feet 5 inches.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 29/08/1970
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