RIYADH — The Riyadh Road Runners (RRR) had a busy New Year period, with two races taking place in a short period. On Dec. 18, Ishbiliyah Compound played host to the annual Red and Green 5-mile run. Then on Jan. 8, RRR kick-started the new year with a brisk 5-km race at Kingdom City Compound. The 5-mile race saw the return of Gareth Gallagher, who has proved unbeatable over short distances this season. He took an early lead and passed the halfway mark with a comfortable cushion over his rivals. He extended this gradually throughout the rest of the race, and though Bengt Lofgren pushed him close, Gallagher departed with the victory he came for. Lofgren took a comfortable second place, running as ever with a smile on his face. Behind him was a collection of gifted runners, but on this occasion Spaniard Juan Aragones held off the challenge of Saudi Abdulmajeed Al-Muayquil for the final podium place. The ladies' race witnessed a dominant performance by current club champion Claudine Roghi, who returned from her Half Ironman Triathlon in Bahrain fitter and faster than ever. In second place for the second race in succession was Nikki Layne, who was swiftly followed by Marie-Pierre Arminjon, who also achieved her personal goal of appearing on the first page of the official club results! Then on Jan. 8, all the runners had an excellent morning following the twists and turns of the 5-km course at the Kingdom Compound, where 100 meters is the furthest you run in a straight line throughout the entire race. The men's race was won by Al-Muayquil, who not only looked like a superhero in his all black 2XU lycra cat suit, but also ran like one too, holding off his triathlon training partners Sylvain Girardeau and Sergio de Luca for a hard-fought victory. Al-Muayquil led from the outset, but Girardeau and de Luca refused to let him out of their sights, and all three recorded impressive sub-20-minute times. Club stalwarts Russ McArthur and Padraig Cusack also started the New Year in style, chasing the youthful trio throughout and finishing in 4th and 5th places, respectively. The speed of the leading men over the short distance, combined with the tough training schedules that they are all following, bodes well for some exciting races when the distances crank up in February. In the ladies' race, Laura Blazek maintained her unbeaten record since her arrival in Riyadh, on this occasion taking a comfortable victory over her perennial rival Claudine Roghi. In third place was Clare Scott, who looks to have made considerable strides in recent weeks to narrow the gap to the top two steps of the podium. Results 5-mile race Male race: 1. Gareth Gallagher (IRE) 29:39, 2. Bengt Lofgren (SWE) 30:09, 3. Juan Aragones (ESP) 30:36. Ladies race: 1. Claudine Roghi (FRA/NZ) 36:22, 2. Nikki Layne (UK) 37:31, 3. Marie-pierre Arminjon (FRA) 37:42. 5-km race Male race: 1. Abdulmajeed Al-Muayquil (KSA) 19:25, 2. Sylvain Girardeau (FRA) 19:39, 3. Sergio de Luca (ITA) 19:43. Ladies race: 1. Laura Blazek (USA) 21:39, 2. Claudine Roghi (FRA/NZ) 22:10, 3. Clare Scott (UK) 22:15.
