Veterans’ sprint double success for Highgate Harriers’ star

Published: September 1, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT

FORMER middle distance runner Allan Sowden proved that he is still going strong on Sunday, even at the tender age of 71.

The Highgate Harrier, who was a top 880-yards and mile runner in the 1960s, was in good form at the Veterans Athletic Club Championships at the Millennium Stadium in Battersea.

Islington-born Sowden, who used to work in the X-ray department of the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, won the over-70s 100m and 200m races in respective times of 16.45 and 34.3 seconds.

Sowden trains just once a week but competing is clearly in his blood as his father Arthur was a champion road runner.

Elsewhere Highgate team-mate Justin Duru sprinted into second place in the 100m 'A' race in the Herne Hill Open Meting on Sunday at Tooting Bec.

Duru clocked a time of 11.1 secs, finishing just one tenth of a second behind Jevone Robinson of Hillingdon.

Jon Oviasu was second in race seven of his 100m event with a time of 12.2 secs, while Peter Edmunds, running in race two of the 100m, finished fifth with a time of 11.5 secs.

Meanwhile the Highgate Harriers have a new name to look out for in their distance events.

James Parker finished fifth out of a field of more than 180 runners in the Month Serpentine 5k race with a time of 16:31.