Ramadan Osman powered to victory, so retaining his title for a third year, as Colchester Harriers dominated the annual Fiducia Dedham Run, a 10K challenge last Sunday.
The talented Osman first won the Dedham title, while a member of Colchester & Tendring AC, back in 2015 with a time of 34:06, and he stepped up the pace to win again last year in 33:32.
Teenager Osman completed a hat-trick of Dedham wins last weekend, going one second faster than last year with a triumphant time of 33:31, leading home a bumper field of 439 runners in the main 10K race – there was also a supporting 3K fun run.
Osman again relished the hilly route, finishing well clear of runner-up Robert Chenery, of Ipswich JAFFA, who clocked 34:31 in second spot.
Osman’s team-mate Joe Alexander, fourth last year in 36:16, went more than a minute quicker with 35:24 for third spot. Alexander has recently signed for the Harriers – this was his debut run for the club.
Fellow Harriers Richard Heath, fourth overall and the leading veteran in 35:24, and Nathan Filer (fifth in 25:26) ensured a comfortable team victory.
JAFFA were second team, with Gavin Davies (seventh), Wilfred Campbell (first over-50 veteran) and Terry Back (first over-60 veteran) also running well.
International race walker Daniel King, the twin brother of double Olympian Dominic King, showed his credentials as a runner with a 35:57 clocking in seventh position.
Eleanor Johnson won the ladies’ race in 41:55, finishing ahead of Anna Sherring (44:04) and Harwich Runners’ Claudine Benstead (44:11), who was also the leading veteran (over-50).
Kat Bullock was fourth and first over-40 veteran with 44:32, while Claire Tweed completed the top five with 45:11.
In the supporting 3K event, there was a win for James Quinn, who was competing in the 13-14 year-old age group. His winning time was 13:34.
Over-40 veteran Malcolm Statham, of Colchester Harriers, was second in 13:45, followed by Kaela Swain, who was the first female finisher competing in the 11-12 year-old category with 14:00. Harrison Leek was first home in the 9-10 year-old age group with 14:01.
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