Adam Bowden led Harrow Athletic Club to a commanding victory in the Wolverton Five Miles road race at Willen Lake, Milton Keynes, on Saturday, writes Tony Bush.
The 26-year-old road, cross-country and track international took the lead in the first mile and swiftly moved clear of an international field to win by 60 seconds exactly. Polish runner Marcin Fumiez came second, and Frenchman Rich Hobby was a further three seconds behind him. Bowden's time of 23.40 shaved 40 seconds of his personal best and propelled him up to second in the UK rankings for 2008. Damian Nevins, meanwhile, ran superbly to improve his best by almost a minute, taking eighth spot in 25.38.
Jersey half-marathon champion Peter Norris alse set a personal best of 25.47 to finish ninth, while Dave Branfoot was just six seconds adrift in 10th. Under-20 prospect Matt Judson clocked 29.21 and Mike Lepps, who turns 50 next month, ran well and achieved a time of 30.38.
Harrow won the team event, more than two minutes ahead of nearest rivals Coventry Godiva.
Elsewhere, Richard Franzese missed out on qualifying for the British U23 cross-country team for next month's European Championships by 35 seconds over a 9,000 metres course at Liverpool. He finished 46th in the combined senior and U23 trial and was in a qualifying position until the last mile.
Harrow continues the defence of its Chiltern League title this Saturday at Slough's Upton Court Park.
Franzese will miss the match to lead Oxford University in its annual prestige event against Cambridge, the cross-country equivalent of the Boat Race.
