Perdy pud records go; Sheffield school wins national cross country title; Chesterfield international's Northern Indoor double

Abu-Rezeq completely destroyed the opposition leading all the way to come home in isolation nearly two minutes clear of veteran Gareth Lowe of Clowne Running Club.

He, in turn, was well clear of City of Sheffield junior Jonathan Shield whose time of 32:07 was nearly half a minute faster than last year when he finished second.

Abu-Rezeq’s time beat the record, which had stood for 11 years, by seven seconds, although Barnsley international Jon Mayock had run faster on the old course.

After Shields, two local runners ran well, Joe Sweetman-Powell (Sheffield RC) smashing his previous best by a minute with 32:12 and Kyle Craib (Rotherham) improving from 23rd last year to fifth.

Conditions could hardly have been better. As well as Abu-Rezeq, McColgan too full advantage to beat the previous course record 1 minute 23 seconds, and it was hardly a soft record having stood for 12 years. Her time was 32:30, a personal best by 22 seconds putting her at the head of the UK women’s rankings.

The Olympic 5000 metres finalist said, “My mum (and coach Liz McColgan) wanted me to do two 10K races a month apart. I did the Leeds Abbey Dash in November and this race fitted perfectly as I am now living not far away in Manchester. This was hard but it’s a good way to end the year”.

McColgan, who is considering some indoor events, was an incredible sixth overall in the field of over 2000.

Runner up among the women was Julie Briscoe (Wakefield) with Hallamshire’s Nicola Squires third. It says a lot about the standard this year that Squires was 37 seconds faster than last year when she was first woman. Next two women were Sarah Lowery (Sheffield Running Club) and Fiona Davies (Rotherham).

Results: 1 M Abu-Rezeq (Altrincham) 29:57 (Rec); 2 G Lowe (Clowne, veteran) 31:46; 3 J Shields (City of Sheffield, junior); 4 J Sweetman-Powell (Sheffield RC) 32:12; 5 K Craib (Rotherham) 32:14; 6 E McColgan (Dundee, first woman) 32:30; 7 C Henderson (City of Sheffield) 32:36; 8 W Beauchamp (Sheffield RC) 32:43; 9 C Law (Holmfirth) 32:45 32:45; 10 G Sampson (Rotherham) 33:14

Women: 1 McColgan 32:30 (Rec); 2 J Briscoe (Wakefield, veteran) 34:39; 3 N Squires (Hallamshire) 35:49; 4 S Lowery (Sheffield RC) 36:39; 5 F Davies (Rotherham) 36:50

A superb performance by Notre Dame School, Sheffield, gave them the junior girls team title at the English Schools Cross Country cup final at Formby on Saturday. They were splendidly led by Zena Hartley who finished 14th and she was followed just one place behind by her team mate Isabel Causer. With Maggie Naylor 29th and Emma Braithwaite 31st Notre Dame were comfortably clear of runners up Sevenoaks. Twenty four teams from all over the country had won through to the final. Showing impressive depth, Notre Dame also had Anni Naylor and Polly Platts giving creditable performances.

Chesterfield junior international Alicia Barrett was in good form at the second Northern Indoor Open meeting at Sheffield on Saturday. She won her main event, the 60 metres hurdles in 8.75 and completed a double with the 60 metres flat in 7.69. Under 17 Kaya Walker cleared 1.90, the same height as the senior winner, in the under 17 high jump.

Other winners: Gabriel Gisborne (Hallamshire), under 15 boys high jump (1.78); Cyane Robinson (Rotherham), under 17 women 600 metres (1:35.67); Alicia Willimas-Hewitt (Hallamshire), under 15 girls 150 metres (18.79); Nicole Lannie (Doncaster), under 15 girls 60 hurdles (9.41).