COUNTING down the weeks to lining up at the illustrious Boston Marathon on Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts later this month is City of Salisbury’s Clive Smith.

The runner, who will follow in the footsteps of clubmate Aaron Wilson’s impressive time at the event last year, continued his return to form when he competed in the Bournemouth Bay race over half the distance. On a warm spring day by the sea he did well to clock 1hour 29min 30sec for the 13.1mile distance.

Rithy Hy was not far behind with 1.31.58.

In the 10k event at the same venue, Simon Hunt clocked a speedy 41.23, closely followed by Nicky Yevko with 41.28 and Kate Mansfield 46.18.

Over longer distances, Ian Shelley was placed 13th with 1.55.07 in the 16-mile cross country race from Combe Gibbet to Overton and Phil Smith clocked 6.25.36 for the 25-mile off-road event based on the Wylye Valley.

On the running track at the first open athletics meeting of the new season, also at Bournemouth, Hamish Mundell collected a good personal best of 63.3sec in the under 20s’ 400m hurdles.

Keeping it in the family, his sister Alex ran her second fastest 1500m with 4min 46.1sec to win the women’s race in the same age group.

Jay Domoney also started his track season well, clocking 4.27.5 and 2.14.1 in the under 17s’ 1500m and 800m.