Big field contests series finale

Nick Duggan and Max Thomas vie for the lead in the final Bexhill 5K Seafront Series race. Picture by Simon Newstead (SUS-140108-103809002)

Some 370 runners, including nearly 200 on the day, entered a race which was part of the Sussex Grand Prix Series and also included the Sussex Road Race Challenge.

Runners from all over the county featured in the top 10, but it was local man Max Thomas (Hastings AC) who claimed victory by just four seconds after pulling away from runner-up Nick Duggan (Crawley AC) over the final few hundred metres. Kevin Rojas (Brighton & Hove AC) was third.

Rebecca Moore (Worthing & District AC) was the leading lady in 17:20, with Sarah Boff (Hastings AC) second in 17:38 and Helena Tobin (Brighton & Hove) third in 18:11.

Starting and finishing opposite Coast Bar & Grill (which opened its function room and bar to all the runners), the event took place over the usual two-lap course and was watched by a good turnout of spectators on a sunny evening with a moderate breeze.

It was preceded by children’s races over 500m, 1k and 2k which attracted almost 100 young runners. Joseph Jeater took the 500m race in 1:46, Dylan Bolton won the 1k event in 3:31 and Travis Hutchinson clinched the 2k in 7:05.

Organised by TL Sports Events and supported by Bexhill Runners & Triathletes, the 2014 Bexhill 5K Seafront Series also included two previous races on the final Wednesday evening of May and June.

There are two more distance running events in the town over the coming months, the Big 10K on Sunday September 28 and Poppy Half Marathon on Saturday November 8.

See tomorrow’s Bexhill Observer for more pictures and a list of the leading finishers.