Birchfield Harrier Jason Bennett has just missed out on securing first position in the Great Birmingham Run on Sunday.
For the first time, both the 10k event and the half marathon were held on the same day, seeing more than 13,000 people took to the city’s streets to take part.
Birchfield athlete Jason Bennett competing at the Birmingham half marathon
Bennett, one of the Harriers top senior athletes recorded a new personal best in the time of 01:09:58. This was Jason’s second record of the year after he recently broke his marathon benchmark in Manchester last April.
Bennett, who was running for his hometown club, gained an overall finishing position of second.
It was a two-way battle for the men’s second and third spots, as the strong grit and determination of Swansea Harrier Dewi Griffiths proved to be too strong for both Bennett and Scarsbrook, winning by four minutes and 48 seconds.
Bennett shook off the challenge but patiently waited to up the pace to ensure him a well-deserved second place, beating Badgers Matt Scarsbrook by two seconds.
Bennett said: “I wanted to win, with Birmingham being my hometown it would have been extra special just to have got it next to my name.
“During the start of the 10k I didn’t think any of the guys going off in front of me were part of my race in the half marathon, it was only into four or five miles I went past someone who announced second and third coming through.
“That made me realise I wasn’t leading and there was someone in front of me.
“There is no shame losing to Griffiths because he is quite a world beater in honesty. Looking back, I was happy with my place, time and effort after recently coming back from injury.
“It was a hard course with unexpected hills and corners that nearly got the best of me.
“Again, the mandatory of the event and coming second is pleasing and I’m looking forward to my next race now.”
Bennett’s performance bodes well for next Saturdays 3000m at the Warwickshire Championships, which is being held at the Pingles Stadium, Nuneaton.
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