Two of the City of Norwich Athletic Club's long serving members are hitting top form in the United States.

Barbara Parker and Mitch Goose – competing at Stanford University, California, over the weekend – produced performances right out of the top drawer.

Parker, who has aspirations of competing in the 3,000m at the London Olympics, on this occasion contested the flat 5,000m.

Coached by husband Sean Burris she produced a lifetime best performance when recording 15:14.26 – a time that is well inside the Olympic A qualifying standard set at 15:20.

An added bonus for Parker was that she was able to pip home-based star Stephanie Twell in the run for the line.

Goose, based at Iona University, found himself in the toughest 5,000m race of his track career.

With his personal best standing at 14:02.44, achieved in 2010, he was looking to post new figures – and he did it with aplomb when maintaining concentration and good form throughout the race to record a massive personal best time of 13:34.41.

Selection for the European Track & Field Championships, being held in Finland, takes place in early June and with the A standard for the 5,000m posted at 15:20, Goose must be in with a strong shout for selection for the Great Britain team.

In the same meeting, Hollie Rowland produced a personal best performance over 10,000m when recording 34:28.25, while Ruth Senior, making a comeback from injury, posted a time of 16:38.55 for the 5,000m.

Meanwhile, the African athletes competing in the Virgin London Marathon last weekend were making the headlines with their superb running, but at the other end of the scale six youngsters from the City of Norwich Athletic Club were putting their best foot forward when they ran in the Mini Marathon.

The races, held over the final three miles of the main event, as always, proved to be very competitive and a tough test for the six athletes who were representing the East of England.

Tom Hook, in the U17 boys race, certainly made a great impression when finishing a close second to Hobie Martin (South West). So close was the finish both boys were credited with same time of 14:39. GB international Will Smith, contesting the U17 boys' wheelchair race, was delighted to take second in another close finish.

Catherine Longe looks to have a bright future after finishing fifth in the U13 girls' race in a creditable time of 18:18.

Alfie Linstead gave his all to finish a pleasing 15th in the U13 boys' competition, in 17:22.

Tasha Potgeiter, as always, worked extremely hard to finish in a time of 19:17 when placed 54th while in the U15 boys' race Ashley Waterson's time of 16:57 put him in 67th position.

For all six athletes it was a tremendous occasion to compete on such a stage with huge crowds encouraging them throughout their race over the three-mile course.