Ellie Baker, of Shaftsbruy Barnet Harriers, ran 17:05 at Cassiobury parkrun to top the women’s rankings these week. The U23 has had an excellent 2019, with the highlight of a silver medal at the European U23 Championships in the 800m. The Jon Bigg coached runner also won the 800m at the Loughborough International and is certainly one to watch for the future.

Much further north at the regularly featuring Albert Park event in Middlesbrough Cameron Ross Boyek, another fine middle distance athlete, ran 14:27 to rank as our quickest male of the week. It is great to see the 3:39 1500m runner back in action after a quiet couple of years according to thepowerof10.info.

Finn McNally ran 14:41 and is our first listed runner from Hove Promenade, but we hear that a runner without a barcode was one second ahead of Finn. Our Fast Running parkrun scouts tell us it was GB international Charlie Grice so come on Charlie, get your barcode sorted! The Brighton Phoenix boys must have had a good workout.

Birchfield Harrier Bryony Gunn-Haines is another parkrun top ten regular and her 17:26 at Cannon Hill was good enough for second this week. It took us a little while longer to find her on Powerof10 this week due to the name change so we guess congratulations are in order! Well done on the run and the marriage Bryony.

It was a repeat third place, but 15 seconds quicker for Gavin Hill of Sale Harriers. For the third week in a row Hill features in the top ten and a good sign of a strong winter ahead for the 14:39 5k runner. Hopefully we now see Hill tearing up the cross country in the weeks to come.

U17 Anna Hedley ran 17:29 at St. Andrews parkrun to finish third in the rankings this Saturday. The youngster has run PBs over a range of distances in 2019 including 4:30.57 for 1500m and 9:45.50 for 3000m. The cross country season is calling and we expect Anna to have a blinder. Already she has won the Scottish National Short Course Championships last weekend.

Courtesy of some good racing both Dulwich and Hove Prom parkrun saw three runners run quick enough times to feature in the top ten, but one without a barcode means that Dulwich is the quickest parkrun event of the week.

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: Albert Park, Middlesbrough
Cameron Ross Boyek, 14:27, Shildon Running & AC
2) parkrun: Hove Promenade 
Finn McNally, 14:41, Brighton Phoenix
3) parkrun: South Manchester
Gavin Hill, 15:01, Sale Harriers Manchester
4) parkrun: Hove Promenade
George Mills, 15:03, Harrogate Harriers & AC
5) parkrun: Southampton
George King, 15:10, Winchester & District AC
6) parkrun: Canon Hill, Birmingham
William Richardson, 15:11, Birchfield Harriers
7) parkrun: Dulwich
Ben Waterman, 15:21, Ealing, Southall & Middlesex AC
8) parkrun: Great Denham 
Harry Brodie, 15:27, Bedford & County AC
9) parkrun: Dulwich
Russell Bentley, 15:27, Kent AC
10) parkrun: Dulwich
James Cameron Hancock, 15:29, Sutton & District AC

Women’s top 10

1) parkrun: Cassiobury
Ellie Baker, 17:05, Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers
2) parkrun: Cannon Hill, Birmingham
Bryony Gunn-Haines, 17:26, Birchfield Harriers
3) parkrun: St Andrews 
Anna Hedley, 17:29, Fife AC
4) parkrun: Finsbury
Naomi Taschimowitz, 17:32, Taunton AC
5) parkrun: Oak Hill
Annabel Gummow, 17:34, Winchester and District AC
6) parkrun: Newbury
Georgia Hayes, 17:48, Reading AC
7) parkrun: Edinburgh
Isla Calvert, 17:49, Livingston AC
8) parkrun: Clevedon Salthouse Fields
Charlotte Emilly Taylor-Green, 17:56, Bristol & West AC
9) parkrun: Belfast Victoria 
Julia Cash, 17:56
10) parkrun: Poole
Charlotte Ragan, 18:00, Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC

If you would like to run faster at parkrun, top tips to help runners of all abilities can be found here.

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patron. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you

The post 10 fastest UK parkrun times on Saturday 16th November (2019) appeared first on Fast Running.

On a weekend that saw plenty of fast marks on the track, the Brighton Phoenix’s performance was missing from our weekly round up. Hands up, we tweeted about the run on Friday but simply missed it on Sunday night.

Our focus at Fast Running is primarily road and long distance but runs like those from Grice and Laura Wightman’s mile are wonderful acts of endurance we try to cover as well.

Truly world class

Brighton Phoenix vice chairman Josh Guilmant feels that the run “puts him firmly in the mix for the World Champs later in the season”.

The club were kind enough to allow us to share the news report from their website where Paul Collicutt gives his thoughts on an incredible milestone by the Nike sponsored middle distance star.

Following in strong footsteps

A momentous event has occurred on Friday, as I’m sure you already know, as Charlie Grice has broken the Phoenix club record for 1500m. What that record was and who held it need to be given some context so that we may truly understand what Charlie has done.

Phoenix was formed in 1981. No one was allowed to carry over their previous PBs before the formation of the club to count as club records. Therefore, from day one, all the club records were set at zero and were up for grabs.

In May 1981 Steve Ovett travelled to Antrim Stadium for the UK closed championships, an event that ran from 1977 to 1997. It was the first appearance of the newly formed Phoenix club. Steve won the 1500m in 3:42.80 from Frank Clement (5th in the Olympic 1500m in Montreal) and Jack Buckner (who would become European 5000m Champion ) and established the first club record at 1500m.

Later on, in 1981, Steve moved the club record to 3:31.95 in Milan and then to 3:31.57 in Budapest. The following year in 1982 Steve was recovering from a severe injury when he hit scaffolding outside St.John’s Church in Hove whilst running and he barely raced.

The world record

In 1983, a year in which he was coming back to form after his injury he managed fourth in the World Championship 1500m final in Helsinki and feeling like there was more there he travelled to Rieti in Italy at the end of the season and broke the world record for 1500m with a 3:30.77 clocking.

Steve ran the last 450m of this race alone as the field dropped away. This was in fact Steve’s third World record at 1500m.

“”Great stuff well done Charlie. Good luck from now on in at Champs!!” were the kind words of praise sent on from Steve Ovett for the new club record holder over 1500m.

In high company

On Friday night in the prestigious Monaco Diamond League meeting Charlie Grice ran 3.30.62 when coming fourth in the race. This time is not only a Phoenix club record and three seconds improvement for him but places Charlie 4th on the UK all-time list behind Mo Farah, Steve Cram and Seb Coe.

To be blunt about it this time is truly World Class.

At Phoenix we celebrate our history. It does not weigh heavily on us but rather It makes us stronger. It bolsters us up as we push on into our new future.”

“This really is a big breakthrough. Give him my congratulations on achieving such a great club record. I’m sure Steve will be really pleased that one of his club records has finally been broken after about 35 years. Charlie seems to be in a different class this year.”” Matt Paterson, Club Founder

So from everyone at Fast Running, nice work Charlie.

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patron. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post The club record with a bit of pedigree appeared first on Fast Running.

British metric mile stars Chris O’Hare, Charlie Da’Vall Grice and Jake Wightman, along with two lap specialists Adelle Tracey, Shelayna Oskan-Clarke and Lynsey Sharp, all advanced to their respective middle-distance finals at the European Championships on Wednesday (Aug 8).

GB’s 800m women were led by Tracey who went sub-two minutes for the first time in her career, clocking a personal best 1:59.86 to finish second in her heat.

“I think just being in the second heat had the advantage of seeing the first race,” said Tracey after breaking the two-minute barrier. “But in my head it didn’t change too much, I had to go and make it quick – it was a case of following the pace and leaving it on the track really.

“To break two minutes, well it’s massive…It’s such a relief, I’ve been doing some good sessions which is an indication that you can do it, but actually doing it is a massive thing in the 800m – that’s a bit of a barrier so it feels amazing. It feels awesome to come to a championship and perform at the best of my ability.”

Oskan-Clarke followed her home in fourth in a season’s best 2:00.39, qualifying as a fastest loser for the final, while Lynsey Sharp, in her heat, secured automatic qualification in second place, clocking 2:02.73.

In the men’s 1500m O’Hare made sure of qualification by kicking strongly in the final 200m and pulling away from the chasing pack to win in 3:49.06, with Da’Vall Grice following him into the final in the following heat, coming home second in 3:40.80.

Wightman’s 3:40.73 was the fastest time in qualification, holding off Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen to secure victory and make it a clean sweep for the British trio.

“I knew that’s what it would come down to eventually [a fast finish] and I was making sure I had enough space to run and not get tripped up and spiked and what not,” said O’Hare. I am happy with that.”

Da’Vall Grice added: “It was a relief to make it through and get automatically qualified. I saw the first heat was really slow, so that was a good sign, but you never know how your heat is going to be taken out.

“It is so hot out there. I put myself in a good position, it was really smooth, and I felt back to my best.”

The finals take place later this week and on Thursday morning 800m athletes Elliot Giles, Guy Learmonth and Daniel Rowden will attempt to advance to the men’s semi-finals.

Impressive senior debut in 10,000m

Alice Wright battled through a strong field to finish sixth in the final of the women’s 10,000m in 32:36.45. Wright put in a controlled 25 laps that saw her in touch with the leaders for long spells in the race and missed out on taking fifth position by just two seconds.

She said: “I wasn’t here for the experience, I really did want a medal but I knew it was going to be tough looking at the times going in. It’s gaining on those last two in the last lap. It wasn’t bad for my first senior vest, hopefully I can medal next time.

“I’ve had great consistency, we’ve been working on my strength and power really and those last couple of kilometres and few laps so hopefully I can be there next time. I’m greedy I want a medal. I’m not satisfied with sixth, it’s a good start.”

Elsewhere, Matthew Hudson-Smith, the fastest man in Europe this year, will be the only British 400m representative in the final later this week, while Eilidh Doyle continued her comeback from injury by qualifying for the final of the women’s 400m hurdles along with Meghan Beesley. In the sprints Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and Adam Gemili advanced to the 200m final.

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patreon. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post Six GB athletes advance to middle-distance finals in Berlin appeared first on Fast Running.

Chris O’Hare, Jake Wightman and Charlie Grice lead the men’s entries, while the women’s race boasts five Commonwealth Games finalists including Sarah McDonald and Melissa Courtney.

The cream of Britain’s male middle-distance runners will attempt to break the historic four-minute barrier at the Vitality Westminster Mile to pay their respects to the legendary Sir Roger Bannister – the first man to run under the magical mark.

Bannister – who famously broke the four-minute mile barrier in 1954 – died in March, aged 88, and the latest generation of British middle-distance stars want to commemorate his passing by emulating his landmark achievement at the Vitality Westminster Mile on Sunday (May 27).

Commonwealth Games 1500m bronze medallist Jake Wightman (Edinburgh AC) and his fellow finalists Charlie Grice (Brighton Phoenix) and Chris O’Hare (Edinburgh AC) are the leading contenders to run sub-four in a star-studded field.

The women’s race promises to be equally as entertaining with five Commonwealth Games finalists in the field including Melissa Courtney who won a bronze medal in the 1500m on the Gold Coast. Up against her will be fellow 1500m finalists Sarah McDonald and Jess Judd plus 3000m steeplechase fourth placer Rosie Clarke.

No athlete has run under four minutes over the course since the event was first held in 2013, with two-time winner Nick Goolab going closest when he clocked 4:01 to win in 2016. Goolab is set to return fresh from clocking a personal best 13:50 to win Ipswich 5k on Saturday night (May 12).

Wightman, who is currently training at altitude in Flagstaff, Arizona, said: “After a month at altitude I hope to be in the sort of shape to run under four minutes at the Vitality Westminster Mile and I think, with the passing of Sir Roger Bannister, this year it would be nice for that to happen. It will be added motivation.

“You always want to test yourself against the best and I think the quality of the field as a whole will mean a sub-four clocking is definitely possible so we need to get after it.”

Wightman, Grice and O’Hare have all run well inside four minutes on the road with Wightman’s personal best (PB) of 3:52.9, set at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile last year, the quickest. O’Hare has a road best of 3:53 and Grice a PB of 3:57. But both Grice and O’Hare have pedigree on the Westminster Mile course with Grice winning in 2013 and O’Hare in 2014.

Grice, who was fourth, one place behind Wightman, in the Commonwealth Games 1500m final, said: “I’m really excited to race the Westminster Mile this year. I got the win there in 2013 and I remember it was a really big deal for me because it was one of the first senior races I won.

“I am sure this year will be a great race, domestically we are very strong right now, so hopefully we can get a sub-four clocking.”

As well as the trio of the country’s leading milers, the Vitality Westminster Mile field will also include the reigning indoor and outdoor British 800m champion Elliot Giles.

The race starts on The Mall and does a lap of St James’s Park, turning right down Horse Guard’s Road and then Birdcage Walk before finishing in front of Buckingham Palace.

Wightman, who described his bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games as a ‘huge milestone in my career’, added: “It’s important for me to start the (summer) season well and the Vitality Westminster Mile seems like a great place to do it. It’s always nice opening up in the UK and I’m looking forward to soaking up what looks like a great atmosphere.”

As well as the senior races, there will be British Athletics One Mile Road Race championships in the under-13 to under-20 age groups. There will also be, for the first time this year, a Vitality Masters Mile open to runners aged 35 and over.

Sir Mo Farah will also be at the event to run with families in the Family Waves, with people getting the chance to #RunWithMo

The programme also includes family races, school races and The Olympians Mile which brings together athletes who have competed for Great Britain in any sport in an Olympic Games.

Elite men’s field

Jake Wightman (Edinburgh AC)
Charlie Grice (Brighton Phoenix)
Chris O’Hare (Edinburgh AC)
Tom Marshall (Cardiff AC)
Ieuan Thomas (Cardiff AC)
Steve Mitchell (Bristol West)
Nick Goolab (Belgrave Harriers)
Michael Wilsmore (Bristol)
Rowan Axe (Cardiff AC)
Tom Hook (City of Norwich AC)
Shaun Wyllie (Bracknell AC)
Robbie Fitzgibbon (Brighton Phoenix)
Zak Seddon (Bracknell AC)
Phil Sesemann (Blackheath & Bromley AC)
John Ashcroft (Liverpool Harriers)
Sean Molloy (Tonbridge AC)
Jack Hallas (Birchfield Harriers)
Rob Umeokafor (Birchfield Harriers)
Jonathan Davies (Reading AC)
Jake Heyward (Cardiff AC)
Elliot Giles (Birchfield Harriers)
Will Fuller (Blackheath & Bromley AC)
Jamie Webb (Liverpool Harriers)
Dale Clutterbuck (Newham & Essex Beagles)
Harvey Dixon (Aldershot Farnham & District AC)
Anthony Wightman (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers)
Tom Horton (Hallamshire Harriers)

Elite women’s field

Jade Williams (Amman Valley)
Charlotte Taylor Green (Bristol & West)
Jenna Hill (Sale Harriers)
Sarah McDonald (Birchfield Harriers)
Rosie Clarke (Epsom & Ewell)
Amy Griffiths (Aldershot & Farnham District AC)
Harrier Knowles-Jones (Warrington AC)
Jess Judd (Chelmsford AC)
Hannah England (Oxford City)
Lily Coward (Invicta)
Sophie Connor (Shaftesbury Barnet)
Tamara Armoush (Birchfield Harriers)
Revee Walcott-Nolan (Luton)
Hannah Viner (Highgate)
Sarah Astin (City of Norwich)
Melissa Courtney (Poole AC)
Georgie Hartigan (Birchfield Harriers)
Holly Archer (Cambridge & Coleridge)
Claire Tarplee (Solihull)
Beth Kidger (Brighton Phoenix)

The post Britain’s best to commemorate Bannister at Vitality Westminster Mile appeared first on Fast Running.

In a field that included defending champion Eric Jenkins of the USA and New Zealand’s two-time Olympic medalist Nick Willis, O’Hare quickly made a statement of intent as took the lead sprinting around the 200m track at the Armory.

The 27-year-old Scot built up a huge gap between himself and the rest of the field going into the final lap. His challengers were not throwing in the towel though and fellow Scot Josh Kerr and USA’s Ben Blankenship gave it their all to draw O’Hare back in.

But despite clearly tiring after his earlier efforts, O’Hare held on impressively to win a first Wanamaker Mile title and becomes only the second ever British winner after John Whetton in 1965.

O’Hare crossed the line in 3:54.14, with NCAA indoor and outdoor 800m and 1500m champion Kerr second in a PB 3:54.72. Kerr now moves to fifth on the UK all-time rankings.

Blankenship finished third in 3:54.77, with Charlie Grice sealing three of the top four spots for British athletes in 3:56.47.

USA’s Collen Quigley won the women’s Wanamaker Mile with Ireland’s Ciara Mageean third. A recap of the action can be found here.

After leading from the front early in the men’s 3000m race Britain’s Andy Butchart finished fifth in 7:47.21. Shadrack Kipchirchir took the win in 7:45.49.

Kyle Langford opened his indoor season with a world indoor championships qualifying time of 1:46.43 in the men’s 800m race. The 22-year-old, who narrowly missed out on a medal at the outdoor World Championships in London last year, finished fourth.

The race was won by Kenyan Emmanuel Korir with an African indoor record of 1:44.21. Korir’s impressive time also moves him to third on the indoor world all-time list.

Lynsey Sharp, along with Kendra Chambers, Ce’aira Brown, Cecilia Barowski made up the New York All-Stars quartet that finished second in the women’s 4x800m relay race.

Elsewhere, Olympic 400m gold medalist Shaunae Miller-Uibo posted 35.45 for 300m to equal the world indoor record.

The women’s 3000m was won by Jamaica’s Aisha Praught-Leer in 8:41.10, with USA’s world steeplechase champion Emma Corburn second.

The post Chris O’Hare storms to Wanamaker Mile win at Millrose Games appeared first on Fast Running.