A busy week of racing action means this edition of the Weekend Round Up is a day later than usual. However, James Rhodes brings you the best of the competition on the track and roads.
Racing (not Pacing) in Pace
A team of six headed to the European 10000m Cup in Pace, France on Saturday to take on 25 laps against some of Europe’s best. In the men’s race Thomas George had the best run of the day, finishing seventh in 28:23.06. Making his Great Britain debut was Jack Gray; he finished twelfth in 28:38.25, nine seconds shy of his PB set earlier this year. The men’s team was completed by Matt Leach who finished 21st (28:48.01).
Finishing thirteenth, Abbie Donnelly was the leading British woman, crossing the line in 33:04.40. She was followed by Rebecca Murray (34:33.94) in 23rd. Sadly, Hannah Irwin did not finish.
The respective races were won by Yemane Crippa of Italy and Germany’s Alina Reh. Israel secured the men’s team title and Germany the women’s.
European Round Up
It would be remis to not start at the Florence Diamond League, where Faith Kipyegon broke the 1500m World Record. Her time of 3:49.11 saw her become the first woman to run inside 3:50 and took almost a second off Genzebe Dibaba’s 2015 mark. Behind her, Laura Muir finished second (3:57.09), an excellent season’s debut.
A handful of Brits headed to the Netherlands for the ever-popular FBK Games on Sunday. The women’s 1500m provided a World Championships qualifying standard for Melissa Courtney-Bryant (4:02.81), whilst Hannah Nuttall improved her PB by two seconds to 4:05.66. Having acted as pacemaker for race winner Sifan Hassan, Sarah McDonald finished in a commendable 4:06.73. That is Sarah’s fastest time since 2019.
Racing for the second time this week, Elliot Giles ran 3:38.00 in the 1500m, just pipped across the line by Irishman Andrew Coscoran. Matt Stonier finished seventh (3:38.71).
A day earlier Sam Harrison ran 31:37.90 in a largely solo race. Sifan Hassan won the race in 29:37.80, the seventh fastest time in history.
Continued
There were lifetime bests over 1500m for Ellie Baker (4:04.11) and Erin Wallace: (4:07.31) at the Meeting de Montreuil on Wednesday. Jemma Reekie (2:00.90) opened her season over 800m and Elliot Giles (1:45.74) improved on his opener from last week.
Staying in France, Ben Winfield (3:58.68) finished inside four minutes for 1500m at the Meeting National à thème de Grenoble.
In Norway, Tokyo Olympian Revee Walcott Nolan continued her fine start to the season with 4:09.14 for 1500m at the Trond Mohn Games in Norway.
On Monday, she ran her second fastest 800m (2:01.47) at the Newham & Essex Beagles Open in Newham. At the same meeting, Kieran O’Hara was the fastest male (2:01.97). James Stewart (4:19.42) and Alexa Parker (4:45.19) were quickest over 1500m.
Back to Norway, where Adam Fogg (7:46.87) and Jenny Selman (2:04.62) raced over 3000m and 800m respectively.
Track at Home
On Wednesday, Wimbledon Park’s newly re-laid track played host to the Hercules Wimbledon 1500m Festival Night. The well-sheltered track delivered some fast times in spite of windy conditions outside.
Niamh Bridson Hubbard (4:10.60) improved her PB by two seconds, and Luke Shaw (3:45.24 PB) edged out Charles Wheeler (3:45.43). U20 Alex Riley, finishing third, improved his PB by almost five seconds.
On the same day, Oscar Bell (3:53.60 PB) led 18 men under four minutes for 1500m at the Watford Harriers Open Meeting. Twelve of those set lifetime bests in the process.
U17 Phoebe Gill was the fastest female (4:18.52), four seconds shy of her British U17 Record. Marathoner Naomi Mitchell (9:23.41) and Harry Wells (8:44.41) both set PBs over 3000m.
Clara Evans (16:19.88) and Jonathan Butler (14:57.72) ran well to win the Welsh 5000m Championships in Newport. Sam Howel-Griffiths (9:36.36 PB) and Libby Hale (10:03.10) won the junior 3000m.
There is not often an event dedicated solely to the mile, yet Saturday saw two!
Tyler Billyard (4:02.98 PB) outsprinted James Heneghan (4:03.34) and Jeremy Dempsey (4:03.46) to win the Iffley Festival of Miles held in Oxford. Held on the track where Roger Bannister broke four minutes for the first time, Georgia Bell (4:39.71) was the fastest female.
Kate Axford (4:37.81 PB) and Jack Millar (4:12.23) took the honours at the Tracksmith Amateur Mile held in Tooting.
Busy BMC
It has been a busy week for British Milers Club competitions.
Starting in Scotland and the BMC Regional Races incorporating GAA Miler Meeting. The 3000m provided lifetime bests for the fastest athletes, Sarah Calvert (9:17.06) and Duncan Robinson (8:03.83). Duncan was followed closely by Conan Harper (8:04.78 PB), with Sarah six seconds ahead of Sarah Tait (9:23.01). Hannah Cameron (2:04.71) and Kane Elliot (1:49.13) were quickest over 800m.
Saturday played host to two BMC PB Classic meetings. In Oxford, Quinn Miell-Ingram (8:45.26) and Zoe Gilbody (9:36.43) ran well to win their 3000m races. Micky Ayling (1:52.64 PB) and Grace Tuesday (2:10.35) recorded the fast times over 800m, Sophie Jacobs (4:39.9) and George Christmas (3:59.13 PB) doing the same over 1500m.
In Street, Sophie Nicholls (9:50.63) and Callum Jones (8:29.17) went fastest over 3000m. Matthew Houchell (1:56.08) and Lottie Quinn (2:12.70 PB) were the same over 800m, with Ellie Wallace (4:21.13) and Ben Harrison (3:57.01 PB) quickest in the 1500m.
Ending with the BMC Regional Races in Exeter. Oliver Capps (3:58.42) and Alice Murray-Gourlay (4:33.80) went quickest over 1500m. Lois Codling (2:13.31 PB) and Adam Peacock (1:54.75) won their respective 800m races.
On the Roads
There may be extensive opportunities for track racing now, but that doesn’t stop plenty of athletes taking to the roads.
Some of the fastest times were recorded in Scotland. Lachlan Oates (30:52) won by over a minute at the Metro Aberdeen Beach 10k. Local athlete Jennifer Donaldson (37:04) had an equally commanding victory of 46 seconds.
Alexander Miell-Ingram (31:27) and Julie Emmerson (34:47) ran well at the Green Park Reading 10k. Another G, the Grimsby 10k went to Tamsin Boynton (35:56) and Tom Straw (30:35). The Cockerel 10k provided victories to Euan Willis (35:46) and Susannah Evans (42:02). Wins at the associated Dorking 10 went to Lisa Rooney (63:22) and Gary Laybourne (52:58).
John Eves (32:01) and Katy Woodward (36:28) won the Hatfield Broak Oak 10k, whilst Natalie Whitty (38:34) and Steve Dawes (34:25) took the Chertsey House Dental 10k.
Elsewhere, there were wins for Andrew Humphries (35:02) and Alice Leake (40:40) at the Apperley Bridge 10k, Josie Robertson (37:56) and Callum O’Neill (34:23) at the Newbury 10k, and Henry Brocklehurst (33:31) and Venika Moverley (39:01) at the Humber Bridge 10k.
Keep on Running
RunThrough racing continues as ever. It was the turn of Mariela Alvarez (35:06) and Jonathan Collier (30:10) to cross the line first at the midweek Chase the Sun Battersea Park 10k. Saturday’s Regents Park 10k went to Benn Thomas (37:02) and Tracy Thomas (40:06).
Sunday was a double victory day for Ollie Garrod; he crossed the finish line first at both the Weybridge Half Marathon (71:34) and the associated 5k (16:04). Hannah Hawken (87:22) and Farran Leach (19:23) were quickest in the respective female fields.
Victory at the Brian Goodwin Memorial 10k went to Colin Reilly (32:14) and Rhian Dawes (36:26). Chelsea Baker (36:33) and Adam Stokes (34:10) took the honours at the Island Run 10k in Sheerness, whilst Nikki Kelly (36:28) and Oliver Oldfield (35:36) won the Burrator 10k.
Cameron Hannon (34:15) and Lindsay Fisher (36:40) crossed the line first at the Jubilee Bridge 10k on Sunday. Ellie Dominey (41:10) and Jamie Price (33:01) did the same at the Uplowman 10k, as did Wayne Loveridge (34:53) and Sarah Trim (43:19) at the Crewkerne 10k.
Finally, the Rattray Blair Half Marathon provided wins to Cally Urquart (1:40:31) and Michael McConnell (1:22:57).
Shorter Distances
There were a number of 5k races this weekend also. The second Upton Summer Series 5k was won by Emily Hilliar (21:19) and Rob McTaggart (18:51). The Rob McHarry Memorial Birchwood Park 5k provided the winning feeling to Arun Dight (15:28) and Louisa Thompson (19:29).
In Chesterfield, there were wins for Hannah Walker (18:25) and Charles Bell (16:24) at the No Walk in the Park 5k. Oliver Aldred (19:34) and Emma Brooks (23:26) won the MsN Town Park 5k organised by Welton Church Runners.