Rutger Berger wins 5K in Uithoorn
The Z en Z Circuit is one of the staples of the Leiden/South Holland running calendar. This was the fourth race of the 2023-24 series and as usual Leiden Atletiek had athletes in all distances. After a wild week of stormy weather, the temperature was nudging double digits and the wind was more of a breeze than the usual gale.
Rutger Berger won the men’s 5km in a tightly fought race, with the top five athletes being separated by less than 30 seconds. Izabela Derda finished 12th overall and third in her age group in the women’s 5km. Leila van der Pal, fourth, and Nicoline Heemskerk, 18th, were the top two in the women’s 10km. In the men’s, 10km, Martijn Nagtegaal continued to establish some consistency with a time a touch over 35mins. Kevin Kloos, tenth, and Andy Fuller, third, competing in the 16km, were the highest placed Leiden Atletiek-ers in the long race. One of the best performances of the day was that of Bob Nederpel, who with a time of 17:08 earned an almost 30 second personal best in the 5km. In place of a medal, all participants took home a pot of ‘spring bouquet’ bulbs, as a memento for their efforts.
Report: Andy Fuller
