Athletics: Victory for Fletcher-Merryweather in Northamptonshire

Neil Wade secures podium finish in 10,000m event

Young Isle of Man athlete Lilee Fletcher-Merryweather secured an impressive win whilst competing in a UK race-walking competition at the weekend.

Taking part in the 1,000m race walk at the annual Molly Barnett Open Track Walks event on Saturday in Northamptonshire (9 March), she took victory in a time of five minutes, 5.97 seconds.

It marks a new personal best over that distance for Fletcher-Merryweather with that time only around five seconds off Lauren Whelan's Under-13 girls Manx record set 20 years ago.

Elsewhere, there was a positive display from Neil Wade who bagged a podium spot and a new personal best in the 10,000m contest, coming home third in a time of 49 minutes, 9.16 seconds despite a one-minute timebox penalty.

Fellow race walker Erika Kelly was disqualified from the race.