Verity marks parkrun century in great style

Verity and her friends celebrate her 100th parkrun. Picture: David Brawn

The 13-year-old, who attends Portsmouth Grammar School, was all smiles as she ran the 5k on Saturday, November 19, sharing the fantastic achievement with many of her friends and family.

It was a surprise party organised for her by her mum Davina and Verity thanked everyone for their support.

She said: ‘A huge thank you for the big surprise.

‘It was awesome to see so many people to support me.’

Her impressive tally shows great dedication to parkrun and to running at such a young age.

Verity’s century includes 32 runs at Queen Elizabeth, 30 Havant parkruns, 28 at Southsea, three at Kingston, two at Portsmouth Lakeside, one trip to Guildford and one at Lee-on-the-Solent.

She has also completed three different parkruns in South Africa.

This includes the Nkomazi parkrun where the family took running clothes and trainers to give to the locals there.

The other events were Rietvlei parkrun, JHB South and Victoria Lake parkrun.

Verity has run for her own interest and enjoyment as well as helping others get personal bests and pacing the new runners coming through the Couch to 5k courses (C25k) hosted by Portsmouth Joggers.

She is in year nine at Portsmouth Grammar School and the director of sport Christopher Dossett gave her full sports colours as recognition for her achievements.

Her favourite course is Southsea because the out-and-back promenade run allows plenty of opportunity to cheer on other runners and show support when they are heading in the other direction.

Meanwhile, Southsea parkrun held their 165th event on Saturday.

First-timer Jason Cooke led the way as he recorded a time of 18.02.

Southsea regular Mindaugas Sasnauskas crossed the line second with a time of 18.18.

Nick Barber set a new personal best of 18.26 to finish third.

Emma Jolley finished first lady in 19.25, in eighth place overall, as she warmed up for the Victory 5 race a day later.

Her brilliant recent form continued there with a time of 29.48 to finish fourth lady in the 70th edition of the popular City of Portsmouth five-mile race.

Leia Bateman, of University of Portsmouth, set a new personal best of 21.14 as she finished second lady at Southsea parkun on Saturday.

Congratulations to David Brookes and Anthony McVeagh who completed their 100th parkruns.

Amy Dugdale, Arthur Marshman and Elliot Webber finished their 50th parkruns.