Jake Wightman grabbed his first victory at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile on Sunday (September 9), while USA’s Jenny Simpson raced to her record-extending seventh win.

Wightman, won the men’s race in 3:53.5, well exceeding his seventh and 16th-place finishes at the event in the last two years.

The 24 year-old’s win in New York brings the curtain down on a fantastic season that included bronze in the 1500m at the Commonwealth Games representing Scotland, followed by another bronze in the same event in a British vest at the European Championships.

Photo: NYRR

New Zealand’s Nick Willis, 35, who was aiming for his record-breaking fifth event title, was the runner-up in 3:54.2, while Great Britain’s Neil Gourley was third in 3:55.3 in his road mile debut.

Chris O’Hare, who was second in 2017, crossed the line in sixth and Charlie Da’Vall Grice finished seventh, with both runners posting an official time of 3:57.

In the world’s oldest road mile race, 32-year-old Simpson won for the sixth time consecutively – and seventh in total – holding off her competition in the final steps by four tenths of a second to clock in at 4:18.8. It was the 10th fastest women’s time in the event’s 38-year history.

“I love that this race is American-made right down 5th Avenue, and I love that where I’m best known is here at home,” Simpson said. “Being a seven-time winner is very special to me.”

The USA’s Colleen Quigley, 25, finished second in a personal-best time of 4:19.2, recording her second podium appearance in the 2018 NYRR Pro Racing Series after winning the NYRR Wanamaker Mile in February. Great Britain’s

Great Britain’s Melissa Courtney was third in a personal-best time of 4:20.2. Laura Weightman, who set the British record of 4:17.6 in last year’s race, crossed the line in seventh in a time of 4:22.

Photo: NYRR

Sarah McDonald secured a top 10 place in 4:25, followed by Adelle Tracey in 12th and Steph Twell completed the British athletes in action in 14th.

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The post Jake Wightman and Jenny Simpson win 5th Avenue Mile appeared first on Fast Running.

With second place behind Jenny Simpson in the prestigious New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, the Morpeth Harrier, who was sixth at the World Championships, sent another message to British Athletics after the federation surprisingly removed her from the World Class Performance Programme.

She finished one second adrift of the former world champion, who took her sixth win in the event. Her 4:17.6 dipped below Laura Muir’s UK best from last year’s edition of the same race, which is run straight down the Big Apple’s famous thoroughfare.

The Leeds-based athlete said: “I knew it was going to be a fast race when they said it was a tailwind. With it being a fast course anyway, I just thought, ‘let’s get out hard, let’s make the most of this and see what I can do.’ I knew I was in good shape because Jenny and I both ran 4-flat in Brussels last week.

“Jenny’s a fantastic road runner, she’s won many times and she knows how to run this race and I’ve only been here once. I knew we were both in good shape and I knew it was going to be a tough, fast race so I’m really pleased to come away with second and a British mile record.

“I think Jess Judd had a similar idea to me – just go hard from the start and hope for the best and we both went out really hard. We didn’t really slow down after that and we made it a fast, true-run race and that led a really deep set of times behind us.”

It ended what has been a great year for the Steve Cram-coached athlete. Although overshadowed somewhat by Scottish rival Laura Muir, who was fourth in London 2017, Weightman followed up her career-best global championships performance with her second quickest ever 1500m. In the Diamond League final in Brussels, she clocked 4:00.71 to come within a second of her 2014 personal best.

“It’s been a pretty cool year,” she said. “I think I’ve achieved above and beyond what I expected to. Sixth place at the World Champs, running 4-flat and I’m really happy to end it on such a high note here in New York.”

It has all come within 12 months of that decision to withdraw funding, which clearly still rankles.

“Getting removed from funding was obviously pretty frustrating and a bit upsetting to be told I was no longer good enough on the back of making an Olympic final,” said Weightman, who was 11th in the Rio Olympics to follow seventh in London 2012.

“I think this year I’ve really shown what I’m capable of and that I’m not someone to forget about. In the back of your mind, all year you kind of want to get out there and race even harder to prove those wrong that doubted you, but I think it’s testament to the team that works with me.”

She ran 4:02.66 last year to rank 16th in the world and believes it was a season that warranted more faith from the federation.

“It depends if you class 11th place at the Olympic Games, not a good year,” said the 26-year-old. “It’s so cut-throat and people sit around a table and decide 11th place is not good enough and you’re not going to medal one day. It’s unfortunate, but it doesn’t define me and my career. I’ve got such a fantastic team in Leeds and with my coach Steve Cram that want to support me that it makes no difference.”

Indeed she says she has been able to remain as a full-time athlete, thanks to the support from her sponsor Nike and the London Marathon, who back training camps.

“I’m a sensible person and I look after myself and you’ve got to be careful what you do,” she admitted. “But it’s not changed a huge amount of what I do on a day-to-day basis in Leeds.”

She is now looking forward optimistically to her future prospects. Although the women’s 1500m has been among the events most affected by drug cheats in the recent past – five athletes in her London 2012 final were subsequently disqualified for doping offences – there is hope in the sport that measures to combat the scourge are finally paying off. Several events in London 2017 saw a distinct reduction in standards versus previous championships.

“It’s exciting that you can’t say these three are going to get the medals on the day,” she said. “It comes down to who can race the race and I think that’s what’s so exciting. It’s run in so many different ways now that you don’t have to be the quickest to come away with a medal. The event is in a better place than it has been in previous years and it gives me hope that my best is good enough and I can perform with the world’s best so I’m really excited.”

Her next target is the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast next spring, for which she hopes to gain selection in the 5000m.

“I just fancy a new challenge. I ran my first 5000m this year in Oxy. I thought 15:08 was a pretty cool debut. It’s something different, to refresh yourself,” said Weightman, who said she may consider stepping up for good in the longer term. But she added: “I think I’ve got unfinished business right now at 1500m.”

The post Laura Weightman Reflects on Her Excellent Season appeared first on Fast Running.

In the world’s largest road mile race, 26-year-old Mageean took 23rd with an official time of 04:40.00, in a race won by American Jenny Simpson.

Mageean, who clinched a top ten spot last week (September 7) at the Hoka One One Long Island Mile with 4:35.61, finished just behind the midweek winner, American Emily Lipari.

Jenny Simpson, the world 1500m silver medalist, won with a record-extending sixth win, matching the event-record time of 4:16.6 in the process. New Zealand’s Nick Willis took the tape in 3:51.3, tying the men’s record with his fourth event title.

“2017 you’ve been a tough year! Final race of the season done. Now time to rest, recuperate and start anew. Thanks for all the support,” said Mageean on Twitter.

2017 you've been a tough year!Final race of the season done .Now time to rest, recuperate and start anew. Thanks for all the support pic.twitter.com/OTTWB27WiQ

— Ciara Mageean (@ciaramageean) September 10, 2017

Earlier this year, the European 1500m Bronze medalist ran her seconds fastest 1500m at the Diamond League in Rome and followed that up with a mile lifetime best at the Anniversary Games in London, posting 4:22.40.

The time in London was also a Northern Irish record over the historic distance and placed Mageean second on the Irish all-time list behind Sonia O’Sullivan.

Mageean then headed into the World Championships in London on the back of some great performances, but struggled to find her best form and finished 13th in her 1500m heat.

After a demanding year, the Irish star will now take a well-earned break before turning her attention to preparations for next season.

A full round up of the 5th Avenue Mile and Jenny Simpson’s win can be found here.

The post Ciara Mageean Ends Season at 5th Avenue Mile in New York appeared first on Fast Running.

Simpson lived up to the favourite’s tag, but it wasn’t all straightforward for the world 1500m silver medalist, with Britain’s Weightman and Judd running outstanding races to push her all the way, before Simpson nudged ahead to clinch the win in 4:16.60, matching the official course record set by PattiSue Plumer (4:16.68) in 1990.

“I thought the course record would have been out of reach for my whole career, so I’m really proud to have equalled it,” Simpson said.

“I’ve had all the range of emotions before on 5th Avenue. I’ve finished this race before and cried because the season felt so long. I’ve finished this race before and hoped there was another race the next week. I feel so appropriately in the middle of those two emotions right now.”

Weightman took second in 4:17.62 ahead of Judd to break the British mile record on the road. The previous record of 4:18.4 belonged to Laura Muir and was set last year racing down the same New York Avenue.

Olympian Weightman, who earlier this year ran a 4:20.88 mile on the track behind Simpson at the Anniversary Games in London, rounds off an impressive season following her sixth place finish in the 1500m at the World Championships.

Simpson’s 5th Avenue Mile record win and Weightman’s British record may not have been possible if it was not for the early front running by the impressive 22-year-old Judd.

Judd, who won 5000m bronze at World University Games last month, led early on in the world’s largest and longest road mile race and was still in front with 400m to go before the strength of Simpson and Weightman told as they pulled away over the final 200m. Judd crossed the line for third in 4:18.27, posting a huge personal best.

Judd moves up to the second on the British all time list, ahead of Laura Muir by one hundredth of a second.

Brenda Marinez, second at the Hoka One One Mile earlier this week finished fourth, after a late surge to move ahead of Britain’s Eilish McColgan.

McColgan completed the top five in 4:19.18, concluded her tremendous season with another personal best, following lifetime bests over 1500m, the mile, 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m.

Sarah McDonald completed the clean sweep of personal bests for British athletes, finishing 15th in 04:29.00, while Ireland’s Ciara Mageean finished 23rd in 04:40.00.

Nick Willis got the better off Britain’s Chris O’Hare in the men’s race to win a fourth 5th Avenue Mile title. Willis who always saves his best for this race was pipped by O’Hare to the David Torrence cup at the Long Island Mile midweek.

New Zealander Willis, a  two-time Olympic 1500m medalist took the win in 3:51.30, with 26-year-old O’Hare posting 3:52:00 for second. It’s a lifetime best for the Scot, improving on his 3:53:00 set in New York last year.

In third was American Ben Blankenship with 3:52.30, while Britain’s Jake Wightman, the Emsley Carr mile champion, was eighth in 3:52.90.

O’Hare’s time sees him hold onto second on the British all time list for the road mile, with Wightman now third.

Michael Rimmer, who won European 800m silver in 2010 finished 21st in 04:05.

Your top 3 #NB5thAveMile finishers for the men: @nickwillis, @chrisohare1500 & @benfblankenship pic.twitter.com/hAz0iEY9mG

— NewYorkRoadRunners (@nyrr) September 10, 2017

*Please note – times are unofficial and will be updated if necessary following official results

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