As previously announced on Fast Running, Emelia Gorecka and Kate Avery are among the British challengers, while Fionnoula McCormack leads the Irish hopes at the Northern Ireland International Cross Country on Saturday (January 19).

The cross country fixture will travel to a new venue at the Billy Neill Centre of Excellence in Dundonald this weekend following a 10 year period at the Greenmount Campus in Antrim.

It’s the 42nd staging of the event that hosts the only IAAF cross country permit race in the UK annually, providing a perfect opportunity for the top British and Irish athletes to test themselves against the world’s best.

As well as the incorporating the next British Cross Challenge fixture, the senior, U23, U20 and U17 races will include the Celtic International, and for the first time, the Home Countries International will be contested in the U20 and senior races following a move from the usual March date.

Previous winners in Northern Ireland include Paul Tergat, Paula Radcliffe and Steve Ovett. More recently, the 2018 senior races were won by 2018 Diamond League winner Timothy Cheruiyot and 2018 Commonwealth Games 5000m Silver medallist Margaret Chelimo Kipkemoi.

Top drawer women’s race

The women’s race win is likely to be contested by Kenyan’s Pauline Kamulu who was the fastest women in the world over 10,000m for 2018 with 30:41 and Sandrafelis Chebet Tuei who has a road best for the distance of 30:51.

Hawi Feysa is the African 5000m champion and along with the 2017 African U20 5000m Champion Mekerem Mamo will mount an Ethiopian challenge.

McCormack is the Irish favourite at this event and has won here on two occasions. The 34 year old from Wicklow has had a year long break from racing following childbirth, but was the 2011 and 2012 European Cross Country champion and has been acknowledged as one of Ireland’s top cross country runners of all time.

Gorecka is an interesting addition to the women’s field and could be a real threat despite only making one outing on the country in 2018 and not having raced since September.

The Aldershot Farnham & District AC Athlete has lots of good history on the mud however as a previous European U23 cross country champion, and a former multiple English and Inter-Counties champion.

Gemma Steel will also race and like McCormack is a former European Cross Country champion with her title coming in 2014, while Avery was the runner up in 2014 and currently leads the Cross Challenge standings. The Shildon AC Athlete will lead the England team here.

Emily Hosker Thornhill was eighth at the Great Stirling XCountry last weekend and is in the England team alongside Amy Griffiths who led the GB U23 team to bronze at the European championships.

Hampshire County Champion Louise Small is the final member of a strong England women’s team. Fionnuala Ross, who is sharing her journey this year on Fast Running, leads the Northern Ireland team after representing Ireland at the European Cross Country Championships at the end of 2018.

Mhairi MacLennan is the standout entry in the Scotland team and is another athlete who has performed solidly in the early season fixtures. The Edinburgh University athlete warmed up for this fixture by taking the Scottish Inter-District Title last weekend.

Fast racing expected in men’s race

The men’s race on Saturday will feature the Kenyan duo of Paul Tanui and Richard Yator along with Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew, Ethiopia’s Chalo Beyo and Ibrahim Ezzaydouny of Morocco.

Tanui was the Olympic silver medallist over 10,000m in Rio last August and Yator is a former world U18 champion over 3000m who has dipped under 13 minutes for 5000m in the past. He was also the second fastest man in the world over 10,000m in 2018 with a mark of 27:14 set in Yokohama.

Balew’s Cross Country pedigree was proved with a top 30 finish at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala back in 2017. Beyo was the African 3,000m steeplechase champion in 2016 and should also be on hand to force the pace.

The England team will feature 2017 BUCS Champion Alex Teuten, and current English National Champion Adam Hickey, while Sam Stabler is also set to make his comeback to racing.

Photo: Zach Bridgeland

Kris Jones, who was recently announced in the Fast 10: class of 2019, is a late withdrawal, leaving Charlie Hulson to lead the Welsh contingent a week after finishing 13th at the Great Stirling XCountry.

Sergiu Ciobanu and Irish marathon champion Mick Clohisey will lead Ireland in the men’s race, while Northern Ireland’s Mark McKinstry will lead the hosts on Saturday. The full Northern Ireland team can be found here.

U20 races

Matthew Willis will feature in the U20 men’s race and likely to move to the top of the series standings with a solid run in Dundonald. Southampton AC’s Zakariya Muhamed currently sits third overall behind Willis and absent series leader Jake Heyward.

Grace Brock took maximum Challenge points at the season opener in Cardiff and will lead the England U20 Team backed up by the pre-Christmas U17 second placer Maya Todd-McIntyre.

Scotland’s team will feature Anna Macfadyen who was the fourth British scorer in Tilburg and fifth at the trials in Liverpool.

Action in Dundonald will begin with the girls U13 race at 10.55 and culminates with the senior men taking their turn in the International race over 10km at 14.50.

All of the latest news on the Northern Ireland International Cross Country can be found here.

Timetable

10:55: Girls U13 race – 2km
11:10: Boys U13 race – 2km
11:30: Girls U15 race – 3km
11:55: Boys U15 race – 3km
12:20: Open mixed race – 4km
12:50: Girls U17 race and women’s U20 (IAAF junior women) – 4km
13:20: Primary school girls race – 1.2km
13:35: Boys U17 race and men’s U20 (IAAF junior men) – 6km
14:00: Primary school boys race – 1.2km
14:15: Senior international women – 8km
14:50: Senior international men – 10km

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Gemma Steel and Emelia Gorecka have been announced for the IAAF Northern Ireland International Cross Country at Dundonald on January 19.

One of only 12 IAAF permitted cross country meets the event will also host the Home Countries and the Celtic Cross Country Championships, as well as the next fixture of the British Athletics Cross Challenge series.

For Gorecka it will be her first cross country outing for the 2018/2019 season, while 2014 European champion Steel most recently finished 16th at the Liverpool Cross Challenge in November.

After making an impressive comeback from injury in late 2017, Gorecka went on to captain Great Britain at the European Cross Country Championships before a battling performance to finish second to 2017 European champion Yasemin Can at the Edinburgh XCountry.

Steel, who has had her own challenges over the last 12 months, will hope for a strong outing in Dundold. The top performing cross country athlete should take confidence from her third place finish on the roads at the Ribble Valley 10k on December 30.

The British pair will face a star field that features Kenya’s Pauline Kamulu, who was the fastest 10,000m female athlete in 2018, and World Junior Cross Country champion Hawi Feysa.

To date, athletes announced for the men’s international race include Olympics 10,000m silver medallist Paul Tanui and fellow Kenyan Richard Yator, the latter concluding 2018 as the second quickest ranked 10,000m athlete in the world.

The cross country fixture takes place at Dundonald’s Billy Neill Playing Fields after 10 years in Antrim, with Athletics NI stating that extensive preparations have been completed to ensure fast and competitive racing.

Meanwhile, Scotland and Northern Ireland have both announced their teams for the Home Countries and Celtic Cross Country Championships. The Scottish team can be found here, while Northern Ireland’s team can be found here.

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Over 1000 teams, including a record 170 senior women’s teams, have entered the Saucony English Cross Country Relays at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield on Saturday (November 3).

Defending senior champions Aldershot, Farnham and District and Tonbridge AC are among the leading clubs set to contest the 33rd edition of the relays.

In last year’s senior women’s race, Aldershot successfully retained their crown thanks to the efforts of Katie Bingle, Emelia Gorecka and Emily Hosker Thornhill over the three legs, while City of Stoke’s Kate Holt ran the fastest leg of the day.

Leeds City, Charnwood, Cambridge & Coleridge and Preston Harriers completed the top five teams and will be among those aiming to deny Aldershot three consecutive wins, who will be boosted after their recent win at the National Road Relays.

The Tonbridge quartet of George Duggan, Charlie Joslin-Allen, Ryan Driscoll and Chris Olley saw off the challenge of Aldershot, Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, Lincoln Wellington and Bristol and West to clinch the 2017 senior men’s title, while Preston’s Patrich Dever clocked the fastest leg.

Tonbridge Team Manager Mark Hookway said: “Fingers crossed we have a solid men’s and women’s team this year.

“We are missing a few with Chris Olley and James West in USA and Henry Pearce recovering from a recent marathon (Toronto Waterfront Marathon), so retaining the men’s title will be difficult as Leeds and Aldershot plus maybe others are likely to be very strong.”

Photo: Andy Peat | Chris Olley’s final leg for Tonbridge

In the junior races, 78 teams are expected to contest the men’s event, while 57 teams are entered for the women’s race which kicks off the 10 event programme at 10:45.

Loughborough won the men’s U20 race last year, although as a university team the gold medals were awarded to second placed Tonbridge.

Sam Crick of Tonbridge has analysed the men’s U20 event and shared predictions of how the race might unfold.

“Loughborough’s team is likely to be Joe Arthur, Freddie Carcas and Terry Fawden and the team could be well up from the start,” he said. “Tonbridge have a strong chance of retaining the gold medal and will want to go one place better than last year’s overall results.

“The strong trio of Ally Kinloch, James Puxty and Jamie Goodge have all been in good form recently, with Puxty running the anchor leg of the winning Leeds Beckett team at the Manchester relays last week.

“Last year’s third place finishers were newly formed Milton Keynes distance project and although they had a very strong team, I think it will be difficult for this club to retain a medal, as they will be without the trio on Saturday, while a move to Bedford for Alfred Yabsley could push Bedford and County further up the rankings.

“Other contenders for top five positions could also include; Cambridge and Coleridge, who have U18 European champion Tom keen among their team, Shaftesbury Barnet and Reading AC.

“My overall prediction is Tonbridge (27:25), Loughborough (27:30) and Bedford and County (27:35).”

Timetable

10:45 – Junior women (3×2.5K)
10:57 – Under-17 women (3×2.5K)
11:26 – Under-13 boys (3x2K)
11:50 – Under-13 girls (3x2K)
12:15 – Junior men (3x3k)
12:40 – Under-17 men (3x3K)
13:06 – Under-15 girls (3x2K)
13:30 – Under-15 boys (3x2K)
13.50 – Senior women (3x3K)
14:40 – Senior men (4x5K)

RELATED: Tonbridge AC and AFD win senior English Cross Country Relays

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Mo Farah won his fifth Great North Run title on Sunday (September 10) while Northern Ireland’s Emma Mitchell is the first UK female to cross the line. The full report covering the top British performances can be found here.

Meanwhile were some scintillating performances behind Farah, though, with the fourth to 10th men and the 6th to 10th women all proving that the state of the UK’s endurance running scene is in fine health. 

Here are the top British men’s results behind Mo Farah, Mohammud Aadan and Andy Vernon:

GNR – men
4th Matt Sharp, Enfield & Haringey, 66:44
5th Dominic Shaw, New Marske Harriers 67:11
6th Jonny Mellor, Liverpool Harriers
7th Nick Earl, City of Norwich 68:25
8th Ryan Burling, Guernsey AAC 68:29
9th Ross Skelton, Brighton Phoenix 69:53 (debut)
10th David Hudson, BRJ 71:09

Hayley Carruthers, who spoke to Fast Running recently about her incredible year, continued her astonishing rise up the elite rankings with a second place behind Mitchell in the UK results. 

Lily Partridge, Aly Dixon and Charlotte Purdue were slightly below par in third, fourth and fifth respectively. Here are the rest of the top UK women’s performances:

GNR – women
6th Hayley Munn, Northampton Road Runners 78:37
7th Julie Briscoe, Wakefield (V40) 78:59
8th Rebecca Robinson, Kendal AAC (V35) 79:43
9th Nicola Squires, Hallamshire Harriers 80:48
10th Susan Cummings 81:43
10th Tracy Millmore Birtley AC, (V35) 82:03

Eridge 10M Challenge Trail Race

Although the full results were still being compiled, the winner of this challenging off-road race was confirmed as Lucy Reid from Tonbridge AC! The Durham University talent not only beat off all her male rivals but scored a course record to boot, crossing the line in 67:04.

Not only that, but the second athlete to cross the line was also female, with Reid’s club mate Nicole Taylor taking the second prize in 68:47.

Tunbridge Wells Harriers’ Billy Hobbs was the first man across the line and third overall in 69:54.

Swindon Half Marathon

Matt Clowes blew his rivals away when he won by a massive four minutes and 19 seconds on the streets of Swindon (September 9th).

Matt Clowes in winning form once again

The Cardiff speed machine is in the form of his life, and would surely have challenged his 64:38 PB if he had had stiffer competition at the Wiltshire event.

The only blip on the sports therapist’s racing CV this year has been a below par performance at the London marathon. However, much credit must go to Clowes for finishing the race when many others of his standard would have pulled out for fear of having a time that does not reflect their ability on their Power of 10 profile.

The Cardiff man will now look to getting himself into even better shape for the forthcoming Commonwealth Half Marathon Championships in his adopted home town in October.

Trailing in Clowes’ wake were Swindon Harriers’ Ben Cole and Team Bath’s Dan Jones, whose times of 70:19 and 73:39 earned them the second and third spots respectively.

Also impressing at the sharp end was Tiverton Harriers’ Serane Stone. The Devon athlete makes a habit of winning races and kept up that form by taking victory here in 82:39.

Cheltenham & County Harriers provided the final two places on the podium, with Fee Maycock and Tara Grosvenor’s times of 84:27 and 84:58 ensuring this event maintains its fast, competitive reputation. 

Stirling 10k – National Scottish 10k Championships

Photo: Bobby Gavin

Dundee Hawkhill Harriers’ Kristian Jones was a classy winner of this classic race (September 9th), taking the title in a sizzling 29:56, almost a minute ahead of his nearest rival. Cambusland Harriers’ Grant Sheldon and Kilbarchan AC’s Euan Gillham were just seconds apart in second and third with fast times of 30:46 and 30:48. 

The women’s race was also incredibly competitive, with Shettleston Harriers’ Fionnuala Ross just seconds off her PB with a scintillating 34:05 result.

Fife AC’s Steph Pennycook also shattered the 35 minute barrier with a 34:38 result in second, while Lothian’s Jo Williams wasn’t far off her best with a 35:43 result in third.

Leicester 10k

Charnwood’s ever green talent Anne Holyland showed her class in the Midlands city (September 9) when she took the win in her first 10k for two years in 37:34. The V35 ace owns a 35:49 PB over the distance along with a 2:49 marathon best. She beat off competition from Barrow Runners’ Amber Lester (38:01) and Derby’s Veleska Wills (38:35).

The home city provided the men’s winner when Leicester Coritanian’s James Short took the title in a PB 33:26.

James Short took the win in a PB at Leicester

Short was ahead of Bedford & County’s Stephen Headley’s 34:36, also a lifetime best. V40 athlete Matt Pyatt showed he has no intention of slowing down as he finished third in a strong 35:15.

Greater Cambridge 10k

Long-term friends and racing adversaries, Jonathan Escalante-Phillips and Chris Darling, both of Cambridge & Coleridge and coached by Mark Vile, fought it out for victory once again, with the former easing away to take the title in 33:16 from Darling’s 34:05 (September 9th). We spoke to another of Vile’s athletes recently, Charlie Christensen, about her impressive performances this year.

Escalante-Phillips is in sparkling form at the moment, recently winning the Hercules Wimbledon 5000n title in a PB 14:11.29. Darling is also in the shape of his life, scoring PBs at every distance he’s contest this year apart from 10k.

James Reed also ran well to take the third spot in 34:18.

Cambridge & Coleridge also claimed the first two women’s positions, with Katherine Hymers and Jess Cocker both running PBs of 41:41 and 42:07 respectively, while Saffron Striders’ Fiona Halls ran 42:27 for third.

Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon

This hidden gem of a race takes place around the stunning Lake Vyrnwy and consistently produces very fast times. This year’s event was no different.

Super veteran Stuart Hawkes from Tipton Harriers annihilated his PB when he ran a superb 66:44 to slice nearly two minutes of his previous best! The reigning Brighton marathon winner is proving age is just a number with PBs at 3000m, 5000m, 5k, 10k, the marathon and now the half to his name this year.

Photo: Brightton Marathon

Hawkes beat off Fast Running’s Class of 2018 star Ben Fish, who ran 67:03. That time would guarantee victory in most half marathons across the UK, and was still 90 seconds ahead of third placed Callum Rowlinson, who ran 68:36 to earn himself a big PB of more than a minute and a half.

The women’s race was a similarly speedy affair, with the first two ladies beating the 78 minute mark and separated by a mere second on gun time (their chip times were identical)!

Cardiff’s Clara Evans just pipped Stockport’s Kelly Crickmore to the title, while former winner and another Andrew Walling-coached athlete, Alison Lavender took third in 81:08.

Great Tees 10k (September 8)

New Marske’s V50 Kay Neesam stole the show at this pre-Great North Run event on Teeside when she beat off all her competition with a win and a superb age graded time of 39:10! The 50 year-old is unsurprisingly in the top 10 in her age category for almost every distance, and seems to be getting faster!

Her team mate and fellow veteran, V45 Ella Towers took the runner up spot in 40:23, ahead of Tyne Bridge’s V40 was third in a season’s best 40:37. Well done to these superb masters athletes!

Unattached runner Olgar Pederson was the Great Tees 10k’s overall winner in 33:46, way ahead of second placed Andy Chadfield from Billingham, who posted a 35:16 result. Fellow V40 Jason Cutler from Stockton Striders was third in 36:25.

Vale of York Half Marathon

This year’s event saw a hard fought win for Sunderland Harriers’ Kev Jeffress, who snatched victory from New Marske Harriers’ Lewis Gamble-Thompson by just seven seconds! The title was won in 71:49 to 71:56, while Elvet Striders’ Stephen Jackson was just four second behind in 72 minutes – what a race!

Rotherham’s consistently excellent Sarah Lowery continued her fine form over the half marathon distance with another win in York in 79:56.

Sarah Lowery was in winning form again at York

She was streets ahead of her nearest rival, with Lavender Coaching’s Lucy Biddlestone second in 82:01, while Julie Warner was third in 83:49.

City of Salford 10k

Altrincham & District’s Mo Aburezeq was a runaway winner of this Salford event, taking the win in 32:18. Some way behind were Chris Gidlow and Matthew Hallam, who enjoyed a close fought race, crossing the line in 33:43 and 33:46 respectively.

Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton’s impressive V40 ace, Kirsty Longley, ran another superb race to win by almost a literal country mile in 35:30.

Finishing a distant second was Sarah Saxton in 40:36, while Laura Brown’s 41:29 was good enough for third.

Birell Prague Grand Prix

On Saturday in Prague, Emelia Gorecka clocked 33:41 to finish 10th on her road 10k debut. Meanwhile, in the men’s race, Ross Millington finished 16th in a personal best 28:40, which is the third fastest time by a British athlete this year.

Luke Traynor, the second fastest GB athlete in 2018, crossed the line in 18th running 29:22. The full report from Prague can be found here.

parkrun

Jonathan Poole and Amy Clements ran the fastest times at parkrun events across the UK this weekend. Poole ran 14:52 at Gunnersbury parkrun, while Clements posted a time of 16:57 at the Dulwich parkrun.

The top 10 parkrun times can be found here.

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Kenyan runner Kipruto Rhonex triumphed with a time of 26:46 at the Birell Prague Grand Prix on Saturday (September 8).

The 18 year-old’s winning time is only two seconds off the world record of 26:44 set by compatriot Leonard Komom in 2010.

Running alone with the other elite rapidly dropping back, Kipruto went through 5km in 13:31 and rarely looking back ran a negative split of 13:15 to slash his personal best by 22 seconds.

Second placer Geoffrey Koech came in 32 seconds behind Kipruto with 27:18 and Mathew Kimeli third with 27:26. In all, eleven runners crossed the finish line in under 28 minutes.

Earlier this year, Rhonex clocked 27:08 at the UAE Healthy Kidney 10k in Central Park, New York, which was the fastest 10k ever on a record-eligible course on American soil.

The Kenyan youngster followed that performance up winning gold in the 10,000m at the World Under-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland in August.

The fastest woman at the Birell Prague Grand Prix was fellow Kenyan Caroline Kipkirui, who clocked 30:19 as the first three finishers completed the course with just four seconds between them.

It is the third fastest women’s time in history, behind world record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei, who clocked 29:43 at the Prague race last year, while Fancy Chemutai holds the number two spot with 30:06.

After running side by side throughout the race, the leading trio of Kipkirui, Chemutai, and Diana Chemtai Kipyokei broke into the final sprint just a few hundred metres out, with Kipkirui winning the dash only metres ahead of her rivals. Chemutai clocked 30:22, while Kipyokei completed the podium in 30:23.

Meanwhile, in the men’s race, Ross Millington finished 16th in a personal best 28:40, which is the third fastest time by a British athlete this year. Luke Traynor, the second fastest GB athlete in 2018, crossed the line in 18th running 29:22.

In the women’s race, fellow British runner Emelia Gorecka ran 33:41 to finish 10th on her road 10k debut.

Men
1. Kipruto Rhonex | KEN | 00:26:46
2. Koech Geoffrey | KEN | 00:27:18
3. Kimeli Mathew | KEN | 00:27:26
4. Kipyatich Abraham | KEN | 00:27:38
5. Lagat Benard Kibet | KEN | 00:27:40
6. Kwemoi Peter | KEN | 00:27:44
7. Amghar Hicham | MAR | 00:27:46
8. Kimeli Benard | KEN | 00:27:50
9. Belihu Berta | ETH | 00:27:54
10. Kipkoech Vedic | KEN | 00:27:57

Women
1. C. Kipkirui Caroline | KEN | 00:30:19
2. Chemutai Fancy | KEN | 00:30:22
3. Kipyokei Diana Chemtai | KEN | 00:30:23
4. Tuitoek Dorcas Jepchirchir | KEN | 00:31:17
5. Nenkampi Perine | KEN | 00:31:25
6. Wanjiru Rosemary M. | KEN | 00:31:34
7. Chemnung Loice | KEN | 00:31:50
8. Van Der Wielen-Lahti Sarah | SWE | 00:32:23
9. Takashima Yuka | JAP | 00:32:26
10. Gorecka Emelia | GBR | 00:33:41

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Luke Traynor and Emelia Gorecka have been named in the elite fields for the Birell Prague Grand Prix on Saturday, September 8.

The British pair feature among a strong international field set to race in the 10k race on the streets of the Czech capital. In last year’s race, Joyciline Jepkosgei memorably ran 29:43 to break the women’s world record.

Traynor has impressed throughout 2018, including a 10k personal best performance of 28:32 in June, a time that ranks him as the third fastest Scot of all time over the distance.

The 24 year-old is no stranger in the Czech Republic and earlier this year won the Mattoni České Budějovice Half Marathon.

A total of ten men on the start line have broken 28:00 for 10km, and names to watch out for include the defending champion Benard Kimeli of Kenya as well as the two fastest men on this year’s 10k rankings, compatriots Rhonex Kipruto and Mathew Kimeli.

In the women’s race, GB’s Gorecka will race for the first time over the distance on the road. The British international recently raced over 5000m on the track in Milton Keynes and earlier this year was the impressive winner at the Carlsbad 5000 in the U.S.

Photo: Andy Peat

World record holder Jepkosgei doesn’t return to the Czech city, however the second fastest half marathon runner of all time Fancy Chemutai is set to start. She will face a challenge from her compatriot Caroline Kipkirui and others.

Jana Moberly who coordinates the elite athletes said: “The competition, especially among women, is going to be fierce. Kenyan representatives Fancy Chemutai and Caroline Kipkirui both have a decent chance of breaking the thirty-minute threshold.”

RELATED: Emelia Gorecka: Laying foundations with Chris Thompson for long term success

Men’s Elite Field

Bernard Kimeli | Ken | 27:10
Rhonex Kipruto | Ken | 27:08
Mathew Kimeli | Ken | 27:11
Berta Belihu | Eth | 27:08.94
Soufiane Bouchiki | Bel | 27:41.20
Luke Traynor | GBR | 29:08.52
Jakub Zemaník | Cze | 29:10
Jiří Homoláč | Cze | 29:52
Vít Pavlišta | Cze | 29:57

Women’s Elite Field

Fancy Chemutai | Ken | 30:06
Caroline Kipkirui | Ken | 30:45
Dorcas Jepchirchir | Ken | 31:00
Mary Waitira Munanu | Ken | 31:20
Sarah Van Der Wielen-lahti | Swe | 31:28.43
Yuka Takashima | Jpn | 31:33.33
Eva Vrabcová-nývltová | Cze | 33:01
Emelia Gorecka | GBR | 32:39.37
Moira Stewartová | Cze | 33:41
Petra Kamínková | Cze | 33:38

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Along with British titles to be contested, this year’s Highgate Harriers’ Night of the 10,000m PBs acts as the GB trials for the European Championships and also incorporates the European Cup.

Leading British men entered include 2017 winner Andy Vernon and club mate Chris Thompson, while 20 year-old Alex Yee makes his hotly anticipated debut over the distance. A detailed preview of the men in action can be found here.

The British women’s team for the European Cup includes Jenny Nesbitt, Charlotte Arter, Claire Duck, Faye Fullerton and Louise Small, while Emelia Gorecka is among the other top British athletes competing.

AFD’s Emelia Gorecka will debut over the distance on Saturday but her 15:07.45 5000m PB makes her the fastest in the field for 5k and she is a world-class athlete.

Gorecka has enjoyed working with coach and club mate Chris Thompson to build foundations back to full fitness over the last two years, and her two outings over 5k on the road and track this year (16:04 to win the Carlsbad 5000m and 15:30.59 at the Payton Jordan Invitational) point towards the 24 year-old being one of the hot favourites at Highgate.

Havering’s Faye Fullerton will also be running 10,000m for the first time, but, like Gorecka, she is a proven performer on an elite stage, and has been in the form of her life so far this year. A 15:53.69 5000m athlete, she has already represented GB three times this year on the country and over the 13.1m distance at The Big Half and the World Half Marathon Championships, the latter at which she ran a 73:56 PB.

Most recently she ran 16:01 to win the Ipswich 5k on the roads.

Tonbridge’s Ashley Gibson holds a 16:20.65 5000m PB and a 33:30 10k best on the road from last November’s Leeds Abbey Dash, where she placed third in a high class field. Her most recent performance over the distance was at a 10k in Holland, where she ran 34:17 in March.

Shildon’s Kate Avery ran her 31:41.44 10,000m PB in 2015 and it makes her the fastest Brit in the field. And although she only competed once in 2017 at the European Cross Country championship trials in Liverpool, she was back to winning ways at the recent Derby 10k, which she won in 34:38.

Avery also holds a 15:25.63 5000m PB, and has pulled on the GB vest on the track and country at senior level since 2014.

Katrina Wootton can boast a 31:45.63 PB and has been a truly classy athlete and consistent performer over 10k for more than a decade, despite still residing in the senior ranks.

Coventry’s Wootton has already raced three times over the distance this year at Chichester, Brighton and Birmingham, posting a 33:22 result at the former. Her 72:49 clocking at February’s Barcelona half marathon was a big PB and proves her strength of endurance.

Cardiff’s Charlotte Arter clocked a 32:37.52 PB last August at the Stretford BMC meeting, but she also competed at last year’s Highgate race, where she ran 32:51.72 to finish 6th in a high class field. Holding bests of 15:40.15 and 15:39 for 5k on the track and road respectively secured in the last 12 months, the latter at the Cardiff 5k to take the win, prove she is one of the strongest favourites in form.

Leeds’ Claire Duck with a 32:51.38 PB from last year’s Night of the 10,000m PBs shows she is also a big contender, with the Leeds athlete having proved her form nine times already this year on the country, track and road. Her 15:39.68 5000m PB came just last week at Sportcity’s BMC meet, and, proving her versatility over every track distance, she ran 9:17.41 last month for 3000m, just 10 seconds shy of her best and very early in the season.

RELATED: Why I run: Claire Duck

AFD’s Louise Small’s 32:56.11 PB was also secured at last year’s event, proving the quality of Ben Pochee’s creation. Small has been a consistent top performer for some years now, having spent her whole athletics life with the Aldershot club, and her recent 33:20 10k PB in Poland highlights the fact the young teacher is another one to watch at the sharp end of the race.

Jenny Nesbitt is the youngest of the British elite crop, but her 32:58.14 10,000m PB proves she is just as much a threat for the title as her older rivals. Like Duck, the Worcester athlete has also raced prolifically this year already, most notably at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, where she recorded her lifetime best in the biggest race of her career so far.

The talented youngster also ran her fastest ever 10k road time at February’s Bourton 10k, where she posted a 33:24 PB to win.

Philippa Bowden’s 33:44.24 PB was another lifetime best to be earned at last year’s Highgate event, but Bowden is a strong athlete on all surfaces, having made impressive progress over the country and on the track in the last 12-18 months.

The AFD athlete finished in the top three at both BUCS championships on country and track, and put in a fine performance at January’s Great Edinburgh cross country international to underline her elite credentials.

Leeds’ Stevie Stockton’s 34:03.88 PB does not highlight just how fast the long time GB athlete has been running this year since returning to top form, with her lifetime best coming back in 2013.

Stockton ran a 15.38 PB to win the recent Mid-Cheshire and England Championships 5k, before posting another PB at last week’s Sportcity BMC 5000m, where she posted a 15:41.11 best to finish second behind Claire Duck.

Edinburgh Uni Hare & Hounds’ Mhairi Maclennan’s 34:39.87 PB came back in 2016 in Portugal, but she has since run faster on the road, her 33:41 best coming in a top class 10k race at Brighton, where she finished 5th. Maclennan also ran a 56:30 10M PB last month to finish runner up at the Scottish Championships.

Bristol & West’s Elsey Davis has been in storming form since taking a more relaxed attitude to training and ditching the marathon (albeit only for now), and her 35:38.48 10,000m PB does not give an accurate indication of her abilities over the distance.

This year she has run a 33:40 road PB to win the Cardiff 10k, along with four further sub-35 minute clockings over 6.2m. Her 16:29 5k PB came when she dominated the Guernsey Easter running festival, and she has also run a 5m lifetime PB this year, her 27:39 best coming at Alsager.

City of Norwich’s Dani Nimmock will be making her debut over 10,000m at Parliament Hill, but she has hit a rich vein of form this year already, winning the Manchester marathon in a 10 minute PB of 2:38:22 just last month. Nimmock ran for England at the recent Lillebaelt half marathon, where she came second, but her 74:13 PB from the earlier Big Half shows her true endurance abilities.

Leading the Irish charge

Emma Mitchell and Ann Marie McGlynn both return to Highgate and compete in the A race, while Fionnuala Ross and Shona Heaslip are down to start in the B race.

Mitchell will look to further reduce the 32:49.91 personal best and Northern Ireland record she set in finishing 15th at last month’s Commonwealth Games, while McGlynn who ran a top 3 time at the English National Road Relays earlier this year, will aim to improve on her 33:16.73 personal best set in Highgate last year.

Heaslip, has impressed this year, picking up both the Irish cross country and 10k titles and will make debut over the distance on the track. After a recent 34:19 PB on the road to finish second at the Birmingham 10k she will be full of confidence.

Scotland based Ross made a return to the track in April and ran a personal best 34:05.59 in a mixed race at the Scottish 10,000m Championships. The Armagh AC/Shettleston Harriers’ athlete will be full of confidence having made the Irish teams at the European Cross Country Championships and the World Half Marathon Championships in the last few months.

International competition

Among the international challenge in London on Saturday night is Germany’s Sabrina Mockenhaupt. The 37 year-old, who is a two-time winner of the European Cup has a PB of 31:14.21 from 2008 and last season her best over the distance was 32:46.37.

The Spanish team includes Nuria Lugueros and Ana Lozano, while Kenyan born Lonah Chemtai Salpeter is Israel’s sole representative in the women’s A race and clocked a personal best 31:39.63 last month in Tel Aviv.

France’s Sophie Duarte returns to Highgate after clocking her PB of 32:36.32 at the event in 2014 finishing second to Jo Pavey.

The Netherland’s Jip Vastenburg will also be one to watch. Vastenburg ran a personal of 31:35.48 in 2015 and the 24 year-old ran impressively over the road last year clocking 10 mile and half marathon PBs of 54:02 and 71:04.

The elite men’s and women’s races will follow an afternoon and evening of back to back racing and entertainment. All of the action can be watched on Vinco from 1pm, with the footage also being streamed on the BBC website from 8.15pm.

A detailed preview of the men racing at the Night of 10,000m PBs can be found here.

The post Night of 10,000m PBs: women ready to shine in Highgate appeared first on Fast Running.

A full report on the Northern 12 & 6 stage road relays championships can be found here and you can read all about the British team at the World Half Marathon Championships here.

On Saturday (March 26) Nottingham’s Wollaton Park played host to the final major cross country fixtures of the year for the SIAB championships and Home Countries International.

The last cross country international on the domestic calendar was a highly competitive affair, with wins from established GB athletes giving the event a distinctive touch of class.

England swept the senior team awards, with Stockport’s Elle Vernon clinching victory from teammates Cheltenham’s Beth Hawling and Cambridge & Coleridge’s Charlotte Christensen to make up the top three overall finishers.

Scotland were a distant second, ahead of the North, the Midlands and Wales.

National cross country winner Adam Hickey of Southend AC held off his England counterpart, Morpeth’s Carl Avery, to take the spoils in the senior men’s race, with Scotland and Inverclyde’s Andy Douglas just three seconds shy of silver in third.

Another emerging star from Cambridge & Coleridge’s growing stable of elite athletes is Julia Paternain, and the Mark Vile-coached youngster took top honours in the Junior Women’s race on the hilly Nottingham course.

She led England to team victory over Scotland and Wales, while Ipswich’s John Millar was a convincing winner of the Junior Men’s race, with England again beating Scotland to the team title.

SIAB championships, Wollaton Park

The Junior Girls race was won emphatically by City of Salisbury’s fast improving Bea Wood, taking individual victory for England by a huge 23-second margin and leading her country to top honours over Scotland. Ireland and Wales took third and fourth in the team standings.

It was a far closer affair in the Junior Boys event, with England’s Joe Ponter just being given the win over teammate Fraser Sproul despite both boys recording the same time. England took team victory ahead of Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

England were again winners in the Inter Girls race, with Ella McNiven leading her team in ahead of Scotland’s Cera Gemmell, while her male counterparts dominated the Inter Boys race, taking the top eight positions headed by David Stone.

Scottish National Road Relays

On Sunday, the Scottish National Road Relays took place in Livingston with Corstorphine AAC winning the senior men’s race and Fife AC taking home the senior women crown. Both victories were a first-time success for those clubs after ‘knocking on the door’ a number of times over the past few years.

Calum McKenzie brought home the win for Corstorphine on the final leg only 24 hours after he finished seventh at the Home Countries XC in Nottingham. Also in the team were Stuart Livingston, Douglas Selman, James Harrison and Euan Brown as they recorded 2.18.48 with Central at 2.19.55.

Megan Crawford, Annabel Simpson, Helen Sharpe and Steph Pennycook were the Fife AC quartet who came home in a winning time of 1.45.32 and well clear of silver medallists Lothian RC and third-placed Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds.

Lots more racing on the roads

In the US, Emelia Górecka had a 17-second win at the Carlsbad 5000 in San Diego. Górecka took the tape over the 5k course in 16:04 flat to finish ahead of a good American field.

After an impressive cross country season, Górecka gets will now stay in the states for a period of altitude training.

Charlie Hulson won the men’s race at Cardiff Bay Run 10k on Sunday in a time of 29:32, while Eleanor Davis won the women’s title in a course record and personal best 33:42. A full report and results can be found here.

Also on Sunday Jonny Mellor was the runaway winner at the Liverpool Half Marathon. Mellor, who will compete in the London Marathon next month, won in 63:35, with Dejene Gezimu second in 67:25 and Alistair Rutherford third in 70:36.

Kirsty Longley won the women’s title in 76:29, ahead of Sarah Lowery in 77:00 and Charlotte Mason completed the podium in 80:12.

Bedford’s James Bellward and Tipton’s Amie Williams won the Bedford 20 miler in 1:55:35 and 2:12:06 respectively.

At the Colchester Half Marathon, Ramadan Osman won the men’s race in 69:36 with Helen Davies winning the women’s in 77:37.

Earlier in the week 0n Wednesday (March 21) at the Queen’s 5k in Belfast, Olympian Kerry O’Flaherty won the women’s race in 16:13, with Springwell RC’s Neil Johnston winning the men’s title in 15:02.

The post Cross country and road relays light up this weekend appeared first on Fast Running.

Andy Vernon, Jess Judd and Emelia Gorecka are among the British team taking on Europe and the USA in four scoring races, two senior and two under-20 races, as well as the non-scoring mixed relay. Laura Muir heads the GB team in the mixed relay and will no doubt receive the biggest cheer from the Scottish crowd.

European Cross Country champion Yasmin Can, who won individual honours last year in Edinburgh, once again starts as the favourite in the senior women’s race.

The Turkish athlete leads a strong European team that includes Ireland’s Fionnuala McCormack, who was the runner-up in 2016, Swedish star Meref Bahfa and Ancuta Bobocel of Romania. Desiree Linden is among the top American team that also includes Chelsea Blaase and Molly Seidel.

With Judd, Gorecka and junior European champion Harriet Knowles-Jones Edinburgh bound, the GB team is well represented to challenge for top honours.

For Knowles-Jones, it’s a first time competing in the senior category, but following her performance in Samorin, it should be excitement instead of nerves that fills the 19-year-old on Saturday. The strong team is completed by Louise Damen (Winchester), Phillipa Bowden (Aldershot Farnham & District), Verity Ockenden (Swansea Harriers), Phoebe Law (Kingston & Poly) and Mhairi MacLennan.

Team Europe men’s team includes no fewer than six of the top eight finishers from the championships in Samorin last month and is headed by Turkey’s Kaan Kigen Ozbilen.

However, Ozbilen will face a very different cross country course to the dry, flat conditions in Slovakia. Holyrood Park has tested some of the greatest ever cross country runners over the years and Saturday will be no different over the 8km course.

Over the past few years, the course has changed and now omits the hill known as the Haggis, but will still provide a testing surface for the fields. One athlete who always excels in Edinburgh is Garrett Heath of the USA, beating Mo Farah in 2016. Teammate and defending Edinburgh champion Leonard Korir also returns to the Scottish capital.

Other athletes likely to challenge include; Chris Derrick (USA), Aras Kaya (Turkey), Adel Mechaal (Spain) and Hassan Chahdi of France.

Antrim International fourth-place finisher Vernon and Ben Connor, who was sixth at the European XC Championships head the British contingent aiming to impress. Given Connor’s growing confidence from recent performances and Vernon’s improvements in every race following injury, the British pair will be amongst those challenging for podium spots.

Also, fellow British team members Jack Martin, Patrick Dever, Andrew Heyes, Nick Goolab and European Cross Country representatives; Chris Olley and Southampton duo Alex Teuten and Mahamed Mahamed will all aim to begin 2018 with strong performances.

Before the senior races get underway the mixed relay event will see international teams compete for the Stewart Cup. The British team of recent Scottish 3000m indoor champion Muir, Alexandra Bell, Tom Marshall and Adam Clarke will take on teams from Europe, the USA, Scotland, England, Ireland and Belgium.

Jake Wightman and Steph Twell will line out in the Scottish A team and newly crowned 3000m indoor champion Sol Sweeny in the B team, while 2016 Olympian Kerry O’Flatherty features in the Irish quartet.

Inter-District XC action

Away from the international cross country, the backdrop of Arthur’s Seat will also inter-district races take place with teams from East Scotland, North Scotland, West Scotland, Scottish Students and the North of England will competing.

In the senior races, some of the runners to look out for are Jack Morris (Stockport Harriers) who finished 30th at the European trials in Liverpool, Alastair Hay (Central AC) who ran an impressive 8:10 for 3000m back in August, Lachlan Oates (Shettleston Harriers) finished 16th in a high-class field in Antrim last weekend, and Andrew Douglas (Inverclyde) the 2017 British Mountain running Champion.

2017 winner Morag MacLarty (Central AC) will return aiming to impress home crowds, however, she will have competition from English National XC bronze medallist Claire Duck (Leeds City) and Fionnuala Ross (Shettleston) who last weekend finished ninth at the Antrim International.

The Great Edinburgh XCountry action will be broadcast live on the BBC from 13:15.

Schedule
10:15 – U15 Girls Inter-District & U15 Boys inter-district
10:40 – senior & U20 women inter-district
11:10 – senior & U20 men inter-district
11:45 – U20 Great Edinburgh Winter Run
11:50 – U13 girls inter-district & U13 boys inter-district
12:15 – Great Edinburgh XCountry U20 men’s (inc. U17 inter-district)
12:45 – Great Edinburgh XCountry U20 women’s (inc. U17 inter-district)
13:23 – Great Edinburgh XCountry 4 x 1km relay
13:55 – Great Edinburgh XCountry senior women
14:35 – Great Edinburgh XCountry senior men

The post Britain, USA and Europe set to battle at Great Edinburgh XCountry appeared first on Fast Running.

Elsewhere, Steph Twell and Aly Dixon celebrated the New Year in style with podium spots at the BoClassic in Italy and the San Silvestre Vallecana in Spain.

Corrida de Houilles 10km, Paris, Sunday, December 31

British athletes shone in the French capital with Ben Connor finishing a brilliant sixth place in 29:03. The 46th edition of the race was won by the in-form Swiss runner Julian Wanders in a Swiss 10k record time of 28:01.

Luke Traynor finished 11th in 29:29, followed by Callum Hawkins in 12th with 29:33, Jonny Mellor in 15th with 30:02 and Robbie Simpson in 24th with 30:46.

Rosie Clarke finished a brilliant fourth place in the women’s race with 33:03 to take 27 seconds off her personal best. The race won by Stacey Chepkemboi Ndiwa in a rapid 31:34.

Katrina Wooton ran a great race to finish sixth with 33:32.

Ribble Valley 10k, Clitheroe, Sunday, December 31

The wind settled this morning just in time for the start of the Ribble Valley 10k. Matthew Crehan (St Helens) got off to a fast start a had a 40m lead at 2k, however, it was short-lived as a big pack soon caught up with the gutsy runner.

A small group comprising of last year’s winner Marc Scott, Jonny Brownlee, Patrick Dever, Richard Horton and Calum Johnson passed halfway around the 15-minute mark.

By the 8k marker, it was last year’s winner Marc Scott who built up a small lead which he held to win in a slightly slower time than last of 29:37. Olympic Triathlete Jonny Brownlee followed in 29:54, with Richard Horton in third with 29:58, and Patrick Dever in fourth with 30:03.

In the Northern 10k Road Championships, it was Preston Harriers who took the gold medals followed by Blackburn Harriers and Richmond and Zetland.

Olympic 1500m athlete Laura Weightman had a great battle against 10,000m specialist Beth Potter, with Weightman proving the better runner on the day taking the win in 32:31. The Leeds based athlete just missed out on Helen Clitheroe’s course record by one second.

Potter followed in second with 33:00 and in third was Stevie Stockton (Leeds City). Eleanor Davies finished fourth in 35:21.

In the Northern 10k road Championships, it was Blackburn Harriers who took the gold, Sale Harriers silver and Ilkley Harriers AC taking the bronze.

San Silvestre Vallecana, Madrid, Sunday, December 31

Aly Dixon clinched a podium spot with her fourth fastest 10k ever clocking 32:57 for third over the 10km course. Dixon finished ahead of fellow British marathoner Sonia Samuels who finished a strong sixth in 33:26.

Race favourite Gelete Burka was the clear winner in 30:55.

By his own admission, Chris Thompson had a below-par race in the Spanish capital, but the British distance runner still clocked a strong 28:57 to finish ninth.

Thompson commented afterwards on Twitter: “That race was the most frustrating of my career. However, the good news is I’m ticking along nicely. Bad news it’ll bug me for a few days.”

Eric Kiptanui won the men’s race in 27:34, with Irish marathoner Paul Pollock crossing the line in a personal best 29:12. Pollock also posted a 5k best on route to his 14th place finish, while Nick Samuels finished 75th overall in 32:24.

BoClassic, Bolzano, Italy, Sunday, December 31

Britain’s Andy Vernon finished in strong ninth place crossing the line in 30:22. The race was won by world 5,000m champion Edris Muktar in 28:45.

Soufiane Bouqantar of Morocco took second in 29:07 and Hicham Amghar also of Morocco took third in 29:08.

Steph Twell finished a brilliant third with Emelia Gorecka taking fourth, behind winner Agnes Tirop with 15:30. Twell crossed the line 16:03 and Gorecka 16:09.

We Run Rome 10k, Rome, Sunday, December 31

Lily Partridge sealed a top four sport at the 7th edition of the We Run Rome 10k. The women’s race was won by Poland’s Karolina Nadolska in 33:35 and the men’s by Kenyan athlete James Kibet in 29:03.

Nos Galan Road Races, Mountain Ash, Sunday, December 31

Cardiff runner Ieuan Thomas claimed victory in the popular Welsh race in 14:29, with Alaw Beynon-Thomas taking the honours in women’s race with a quick 16:46.

Matt Clowes (Cardiff AAC) was second in the men’s race in 14:33 from Kristian Jones (Swansea Harriers) with 14:33. In second and third place for the women was Sian Edwards (Swansea Harriers) and Clara Evans (Cardiff AAC) with times of 17:46 and 18:11 respectively.

The post British athletes shine across Europe and impress at home appeared first on Fast Running.