KATHERINE Turner smashed her personal best with a course record time of 18mins 21secs in the latest Southwick Park Run 5k, writes Kevin Fahey.

Saturday’s sizzling run earned the 20-year-old, from Bradford on Avon, top prize in the women’s race and placed her third overall in a field of 183 as she carved 28 seconds off her previous time.

It confirmed Turner’s excellent form since the turn of the year and suggests that if she can manage the foot problem that has held her back in recent years then she could re-write her personal bests on the track this summer.

“The Southwick Park Run is a nice event to do on a Saturday morning and with the weather so good I really enjoyed it,” said Turner.

“I was really pleased with my time and it comes after my 10th place in the English National Championships.

“That was a real surprise as I don’t like cross country that much and only did the race because it was my last year in the under 20s age group.

“That was definitely my best ever run on the country and perhaps I should do more in the future.”

A creditable 12th in the South of England Championships helped secure her a call up to represent the South at the British Championships in Nottingham last week.

“Unfortunately I couldn’t go as I had already booked and paid for a holiday in Spain which was a real shame as I have never been selected for anything like that before,” added Turner.

“But hopefully I will get more opportunities like that in the future.”

Turner is back home for the Easter holidays, the former St Laurence School student being in her second year as a geography student at Cambridge University.

“It is nice being back home and training with my old group and I’ll be looking to open my track season at the local Avon League for Team Bath and then prepare for the British Students’ Championships,” she added.

“I only managed 4mins 32secs for 1500m last summer (her best of 4:29.99 was set in 2012) so it would be nice to get that down to well under 4mins 30secs and towards 4:25 because that would make me competitive in major championship races.

“I’ll also look at running the odd 3000m and see how we get on with that. Hopefully it will be a good summer.”

The parkrun was won by David Coales, chairman of Team Bath AC, closely followed by Mark Harris, of Enfield and Harringay AC (17.32). Dominic Beddis was third in 18.22.

Leanne Hier, of Avon Valley Runners, was second woman home in 20.55, followed by Kate Hails, of Run 4 Fitness, in 22.17.

  • MICHAEL Towler, of Avon Valley Runners, finished fourth in the Yeovil half-marathon on Sunday in 75: 01, outside his personal best of 74:11 set two years ago.

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