MORPETH Harriers’ Great Britain international Jonny Taylor, who tops the UK 5,000m track rankings, is the leading domestic hope as he makes his debut in tonight’s 5.7-mile Blaydon Race along the banks of the River Tyne.
The 27-year-old Teessider, who won the North-East cross country championship in December hit peak form clocking 13 mins 52.14 secs in the British Milers Club Grand Prix at SportCity on May 30, two weeks after winning the 3,000m in the Loughborough International and he takes on Kenya’s Jonah Chesum – winner of the Bristol 10K in a rapid 29 mins 18 secs - in a race which has attracted more than 4,000 entries.
He will be joined by clubmate and 2009 winner Ian Hudspith, 44, who has been the top veteran at Blaydon for the past four years, while another Morpeth Harrier, Nick Swinburn, third last year, is again expected to be a leading contender along with Tipton Harrier Ryan Mcleod, son of Olympic 10,000m silver-medallist Mike McLeod, who won the Blaydon crown seven times.
The women’s race has also attracted top African competitors, including last year’s silver-medallist, Kenyan Gladys Yator, who is joined by Ugandan cross country champion Juliet Chekwel and Kenya’s Teresia Omosa. Elswick’s Justina Heslop, who has won the race three times, is the leading local contender as a 36-year-old veteran and she is joined by Durham City cross country international Justina Heslop.
Tonight’s race starts at 7.15.
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