Harriers finish off season

10:01am Saturday 16th August 2008

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GATESHEAD Harriers finish their first season in the First Division of the British Athletics League at Copthall Stadium, London, today missing out on their fourth consecutive promotion.

But the Tynesiders will be well pleased with a mid-table position at the second level of top athletics, having once headed the table by winning their opening home fixture at the International Stadium.

Since then, however, the club has been hit by injury and international calls and will be content to finish behind the leaders, City of Sheffield and Trafford, who bounce back into the Premiership after relegation last season.

The two top clubs have a six and five point cushion respectively over the chasing group, with Gateshead in third spot with 16 points.

Gateshead will once again be looking to Teessider Richard Kilty for inspiration in the sprint events. The Great Britain World Junior Championships international collected 28 points in the last fixture at Liverpool, finishing second in the 100m and 200m to help his club take fifth place and hang on to third position overall in front of Kent and City of Liverpool.

■ Elswick Harrier Ryan McLeod, son of former Olympic Games 10,000m silver medallist Mike McLeod, broke his own course record in the Exhibition Park 5K at Newcastle. He won by nearly a minute in 14 mins 34 secs, clipping seven second off his previous best time. Sunderland veteran Brian Rushworth was second in 15.30 and the first woman was Chesterle- Street’s Angela Hibbs (17.36).

■ New Marske Harriers provided a father-and-son double in the Darlington 10K, with 20- year-old Lewis Gamble- Thompson winning the men’s race and his father Mark (47) taking the over-45 title.