Lawler sets pace in Ranelagh event
10:20am Wednesday 14th May 2008
Almost 900 runners took part in Sunday's annual Ranelagh half-marathon.
Pre-race favourite James Lawler, always in a challenging position from the start in Petersham, upped the pace as the temperatures soared, crossing the finishing line in Roverside Drive, Ham, to win in one hour 12 minutes 43 seconds.
He was 80 seconds ahead of runner-up Graham Brook from Stragglers.
South London Harriers' Francis Staunton, with Lawler for much of the course, faded to finish third, but had the consolation of taking the Surrey title.
First veteran was Tadworth's David Freeman, who triumphed in a close battle with Ranelagh's Paul Doyle.
Ranelagh clubmate Howard Gleave repeated his 2007 performance to win over-50 gold in 1:22:28, with Tadworth's Geoff Newton (1:29:58) top over-60 and Ranelagh's Martin Clark (1:40:10) first of the over-70s.
The Stragglers trio of Brook, Chris Walmsley and Paul Graham took the men's team prize, ahead of South London Harriers and Ranelagh.
American Melissa Lyne, in her first race for more than a year, took the women's event in 1:25:25, from Barnet's Jane Laws (1:26:48) and Serpentine's Holly Wilkinson (1:26:54).
With the top three not eligible for the Surrey championship, it went to fourth-placed Marie Synnott-Wells of Ranelagh, who also claimed over-35 gold and led Ranelagh to team honours.
Over-45 Surrey winner was Sutton Runners' Therese Pan-etta in 1:44:24.