4.3.13

University of Leeds student Susan Partridge has come second in the Bath Half Marathon in a time of 1:10:32. The rather impressive personal best is the fastest time run by a UK woman this year for a half marathon. This also puts Partridge as ninth fastest on the all time list for UK women and means her name joins the likes of Paula Radcliffe and Jo Pavey. The event was won by Kenyan Pauline Wanjiru who was just four seconds in front of Partridge.

Partridge has been on the international scene for a few years having competed in events such as the European Marathon Championships as well as both the IAAF World Half Marathon and Marathon Championships. In 2006 she competed at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Her most recent international performance was at the IAAF world half marathon championships last October where she finished in 22nd place in a much slower time of 1:13:55.

Earlier this year Partridge was a key figure in the Cross Country Team’s win over Leeds Met in the annual Varsity match up, with Partridge finishing first in the Women’s race. Partridge then missed out on a medal at the BUCS Cross Country Competition finishing in fourth place. She then went back to her home country of Scotland to compete in their National Cross Country Championships where she picked up a bronze.

Since the end of the cross country season Partridge has been putting in the miles ahead of her participation in the London Marathon in April. Partridge is one of only four women in the UK who has been given elite entry to this prestigious event and will be lining up alongside fellow compatriots Freya Murray, Helen Clitheroe and Amy Whitehead, as well as international stars that include Edna Kiplagat and Priscah Jeptoo the Olympic silver and bronze medallists from London 2012. Her result in Bath is an impressive one and is hopefully just the start to what could be an impressive season.

Matthew Evans