CLITHEROE, STEEL READY TO CONTINUE BRITISH TRADITION AT OAKLEY NEW YORK MINI 10K
By Chris Lotsbom
(c) 2013 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - Used with permission.

NEW YORK (07-June) -- Great Britain's Helen Clitheroe and Gemma Steel find themselves in similar positions entering Saturday's 42nd Oakley New York Mini 10K here. Both athletes are coached by John Nuttall and are racing for the first time in New York City, and both hope to continue the storied British tradition of running well on the roads here.

"It's really exciting," said Clitheroe, 39, speaking with Race Results Weekly this morning. "This one especially, with it being the women's only race and having such a good history of lots of [British] women winning, it's great to be a part of that."

Clitheroe, the 2011 European Indoor champion at 3000m, has the second fastest 10 km (road) personal best of the field (31:45), with only two-time winner Linet Masai ahead at 30:48. Steel's lifetime best is 32:06.

On the roads of New York City --from the 10K through marathon distances-- British athletes have always seemed to finish towards the top of the results. Two Britons have won the Oakley New York Mini 10K before, Liz McColgan in 1992 and Paula Radcliffe in 2001. Radcliffe returned here in 2010 to be part of race weekend.

"We've had some Brits do very well here, so hopefully myself or Gemma can get up there and be competitive," said Clitheroe. "A great field has been assembled so it's going to be difficult, but perhaps we can be in the mix and keep the British tradition going."

In addition to McColgan and Radcliffe --both of whom have won the ING New York City Marathon (McColgan once, Radcliffe three times)-- Mara Yamauchi was NYC Half champion in 2010 and four-time Olympian Jo Pavey placed in the top ten three times at New York Road Runner events in 2011.  Radcliffe also won the NYC Half and Fifth Avenue Mile, the only athlete to win all four of the NYRR Professional Racing Series events for women.

Once the gun sounds, though, history won't be on the minds of either Clitheroe or Steel. Both are eager to take to Central Park and see if they can make a run at history of their own.

Less than two weeks ago on May 26, both Clitheroe and Steel raced one another at the Bupa Great Manchester Run 10-K in England, finishing within twelve seconds of each other. Steel came out on top, 33:02 to 33:14.

Sharing the same coach and having run similar times recently, it was only natural that the two were drawn to sit together this morning in the New York Road Runners offices.

Both athletes are in New York for the first time, with the Oakley New York Mini 10K being the first race Steel has ever run in the United States. Yesterday, the 27-year-old Steel ventured around Central Park, snapping many photographs while getting a glimpse of the course.

"I was just taking it all in," said the shy Steel. "I went off for a run [in Central Park] this morning and can take some inspiration from that.

"Bring on the hills," she added with a chuckle.

Though both athletes are coached by Nuttall, they do not train together; Steel is based in Loughborough while Clitheroe is in Preston, near Manchester.

From talking with both, it is clear that both have a genuine respect for one another. When asked if there will be any friendly rivalry out on the course, both laugh again and smile.

"You always want to be the best Brit, it's just human nature that you want to come out on top. We'll wish each other luck I'm sure," said the smiling Clitheroe, looking at Steel across the table.

"She's been there, done that, got the t-shirt," said Steel quietly, paying homage to the veteran Clitheroe. "I'm just a club runner who's come through."

PHOTO: Gemma Steel (l) and Helen Clitheroe model their commemorative Oakley New York 10-K charm necklaces yesterday (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

ENDS