ATHLETICS: Super Naylor is a happy man (From Witney Gazette)

ATHLETICS: Super Naylor is a happy man

10:37am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Athletics

Steve Naylor passed another personal milestone with an impressive run in the Armagh International 5K.

The 32-year-old Woodstock-based athlete broke the 15-minute barrier for the first time in a road race, clocking 14mins 48secs.

Such was the high standard in the Northern Ireland event that Naylor’s time saw him finish joint 27th, with the top three runners all breaking 14 minutes.

Jonny Mellor, who finished third in 13.57, won the Aviva Indoor UK Trials and Championships 3,000m title in Sheffield two days later.

Naylor, who ran for a North of England team, was delighted with his “exhausting, but very worthwhile” 24-hour round trip.

“In a very fast field of 68 runners, there were a multitude of international athletes from the USA, Poland, France and quite a few British Olympic contenders,” said Naylor.

“Over 40 people ran under 15 minutes and my time was a new 5km personal best by 23 seconds.

“It was just a flat out race and running at night time added an extra dimension to it.

“It was 4.5 laps of the village green in Armagh, and with crowds of spectators, the race literally flew by.”

Naylor added: “In 2010 I was ranked 215th for 5km (on road) in the country.

“In 2011 I progressed to 112th and as it stands in 2012, I’m placed 19th.

“That shows I have kept up a good rate of improvement.”

OTHER RESULTS (senior men unless stated) Abingdon Parkrun Witney Roadrunners: N Gomm (LV45) 20.10, J Ashton (LV50) 24.44.

BRAMLEY 10 MILE Witney Roadrunners: K Hennessy 1.06.40, J Gamage (LV45) 1.28.50, H West (LV55)1.31.58, M Peterson (SL) 1.52.31.

BRAMLEY 20 MILE Witney Roadrunners: J Young 2.09.39, A Giles 2.23.52, C Whitehead (V45) 2.24.39, K Lainsbury (SL) 2.30.53.

THE WILTSHIRE TEN MILE Witney Roadrunners: A Church 1.18.54, H Smith (SL) 1.21.16.

DURSLEY DOZEN Witney Roadrunners: B Ellis (SL) 2.03.00.