The Bournemouth University athletics team has got their winter season off to a flying start with athletes enjoying success as far afield as New York as well as closer to home.
The team’s home event, the AECC Dashback road race, was well supported and it was Carley Rose who led from the front to take the 10km women’s title.
The 19 year-old Chiropractor College student, cruised round the Boscombe based course, heading the 100 strong field in 43:31; seven seconds clear of her nearest rival.
Ally Hanks (46:53), SUBU clubs & societies co-ordinator, gained a top ten berth to place ninth, while Henny Olofsson debuted at the distance to clock 49:11 for 21st.
Paul Hindle also grabbed a podium placing in the men’s category, finishing third in the 5km race, despite being more accustomed to shorter sprinting disciplines.
The team also enjoyed success in their cross-country fixture of their winter programme in the Hampshire league at Goodwood.
Again it was Carley Rose who was first home for the Uni in the women’s race, with a solid run of 23:32 for 25th over the tricky 6km course.
Michelle Pank (36th, 24:11) provided good support and Sarah Bolton (44th, 24:32) completed the scoring trio to ensure the team finished an impressive sixth out of the 24 clubs competing.
In the men’s race, Laurent Kelly was 86th out of the 253 competitors.
Meanwhile, swapping continents, Max Lutostanski completed the New York marathon three minutes under the five-hour mark.
With such a solid start to the season, the club will now look to build on this early momentum ahead of the BUCS indoor athletics championships in March.
