Steel runs away with Great Yorkshire title

Gemma Steel (Charnwood) made a successful return to Sheffield yesterday to win the women’s race in the BUPA Great Yorkshire 10K for the fourth successive year.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Sep 2014, 07:00 BST
Great Yorkshire Run ladies' race winner Gemma Steel crosses the line in Sheffield on Sunday.Great Yorkshire Run ladies' race winner Gemma Steel crosses the line in Sheffield on Sunday.
Great Yorkshire Run ladies' race winner Gemma Steel crosses the line in Sheffield on Sunday.

Three weeks on from her breakthrough world-class half marathon run for second behind Mary Keitany in the Bupa Great North Run, 28-year-old Steel led the elite women’s field from start to finish, winning by almost three minutes in 33:19 from Julie Briscoe of Wakefield Harriers and Jo Maddick (Kingston upon Hull).

“It was good to win it again but I wasn’t going to break any records,” she said. “Unfortunately Jess Coulson (Stockport) pulled out just before the start and I was on my own pretty much from the start.” Coulson had been expected to provide Steel with some tough opposition.

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Only five men ran faster than Steel in a race which was a much closer affair, with Stockport’s Ross Millington, Tipton’s Ryan McLeod and Matt Hynes of Gateshead Harriers all in contention until the closing stages. Millington attempted to break clear with two kilometres to go but was caught and passed by McLeod and Hynes.

The New Mexico University graduate managed to dig deep and regained the lead on a climb near the finish and hung on to win by two seconds in 30:20 from last year’s winner McLeod with Hynes close behind.

Philip Hoole (Rotherham) finished fifth to lead home a group of local runners.

Related topics:CharnwoodSheffield