Wightman breaks British 1000m Record

Across the world in America, Jake Wightman put his name in the British record books this weekend at the Boston New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.

Wightman competed over the 1,000m distance, crossing the line in second place with a record-breaking time of 2:17.51. The record had been standing since Matt Yates ran 2:27.86 in 1992. Wightman was pipped on the line by USA’s Bryce Hoppel by a 10th of a second!

Also at the Indoor Grand Prix, in the Leonard Memorial Men’s Mile, Chris O’Hare came out on top. O’Hare clocked an impressive 3:59.62 to take the win from New Zealand’s Nick Willis.

1000m Congrats to the win, the PB and becoming the 3rd fastest American in history @brycehoppel (2:17.41) and big @jakeswightman for breaking the British Record @jakeswightman (2:17.51) @NBIndoorGP pic.twitter.com/FMWwqD4hPa

— Global Athletics (@gamupdates) January 26, 2020

A different sort of indoor running.

Hungary’s Zoltán Csécsei set a new world record last week by running 286.8km in 24hrs on a treadmill. Csécsei, who was 2nd at the historic Spartathlon and top 10 at the world 24hr Championships in 2019, takes a big leap in performance and will likely enter his next 24hr race brimming with confidence. He’ll at least know he can cope with boredom better than most.

Good old English mud

This weekend, athletes took to the home of cross country to compete in the ever testing and challenging conditions at Parliament hill. Thousands of athletes ran through the mud in the South of England Cross Country Championships.

Taking home the win in the senior women’s race, after a strong race running for England in Seville last weekend, was Reading AC’s Jess Gibbon. Gibbon had a solid 20 second lead on Tonbridge AC’s Nicole Taylor. After battling with an injury, Taylor made her return in fine form to prove her strength and determination. Completing the podium was Herts Phoenix AC’s Elizabeth Janes, just one second behind Taylor.

Adam Hickey (Southend AC) won the challenging 15km men’s race after an impressive third place finish at the equally testing Run Stirling event. The GB athlete took the win by a clear margin from Alex Lepretre (Highgate) who finished second. The final medal winner was Dylan Evans of Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers.

Credit: Daniel Lewis

The Midland Cross Country Championships saw some fast names out in force in Loughborough. Gemma Steel (Charnwood), bronze medallist at the European Cross Country Champs in 2013, was crowned champion, retaining her title. Steel was shortly followed by Cloe Hubbard (Newark AC) who improved on her finishing position from last year by four places. In third place was Steel’s clubmate, Juliet Potter.

In the men’s race, it was Omar Ahmed of Birchfield Harriers who took home the victorious winning title after a second-place finish last year. The second male across the line was triathlete Ben Dijkstra (Leicester Coritanian AC) ahead of Kadar Omar Abdullahi, Ahmed’s clubmate.

In the Northern Cross Country Championships, Jess Judd, winner of the Euro trials in Liverpool, ran a fantastic race to cross the line first. The Blackburn Harrier athlete had a 25 second lead. It was Georgia Taylor-Brown of Sale Harriers Manchester who earned herself the silver medal ahead of Mhairi Maclennan of Preston Harriers.

Gateshead Harrier Calum Johnson secured himself the position at the top of the podium in the men’s race. It was Joe Steward from East Cheshire Harriers who narrowly landed himself the silver medal just 16 seconds behind Johnson. With just one second between second and third, it was Linton Taylor of Leeds City AC who took home the bronze medal.

In the warmth and ‘comfort’ of the indoor track was the Welsh Indoor Senior Championships. The men’s 1500m win went to Swansea’s Jonathon Hopkins in 3:52.17, his fastest time in three years. In the women’s event, over the same distance, Kate Seary took home the win in a solid 4:37.50.

Back on the road

This year’s winner at the Farnborough Winter Half was Casper Hojsgaard Jensen. Jensen won in a strong 1:10:38, taking the gold medal from West 4 athlete, Chris Mason. Mason was not far behind in 1:10:52, a 32 second lifetime best. In third was Russell Murphy (AFD), also with a personal best time of 1:13:04.

Tracey Barlow gave a strong performance to earn herself a convincing win. Barlow crossed the finish line in 1:15:39, just over a minute and a half lead. It was the Swansea and Welsh athlete, Sophie Harris who came in second in 1:17:15, nearly 3 minutes faster than her previous best time! A close 6 seconds behind was Heather Noone (Woodbridge) with another huge PB of 1:17:22.

Tracy Barlow with Race Director Mike Gratton. Credit: Vashti Macdonald-Clink

The BAM Nuttall Freethorpe Ten saw some speedy times clocked by both the men and women. Ash Harrell of City of Norwich made his 10 mile debut a good one, clocking 50:13 for the win. Harrell was followed by Alan Darby (Ely) in 53:29, a solid 32 second lifetime best. To complete the podium, Michael Eccles of Bure Valley crossed the line in 54:15.

For the women, Danielle Nimmock, also of City of Norwich was first home in 58:56. Charlotte Rose was second in 1:01:03 ahead of Amy Beck in 1:03:29.

Lily Partridge was out racing in Seville Half Marathon and we await official results….

In the IEKAC Pentland Homes Canterbury 10 Miler, plenty of runners took to the roads. It was Abel Tsegay (Invicta East Kent) who secured himself the position at the top of the podium with a winning streak for 5 years consecutively. Tsegay stopped the clock at 52:29, a 3-minute lead. The first female finisher was Helen Gaunt (Tonbridge) in 1:03:56, just 9 seconds off her PB time.

At this weekend’s RunThrough Brixton 10k event, Andrew Inglis of Cambridge Harriers took home the win in 33:49. The first woman to cross the line was Emmie Le Merchand in 41:00.

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The post Wightman with British Record and area champions are crowned – weekend roundup appeared first on Fast Running.

The highlight of the race was the unbridled competition at the front of the ladies’ race. Calli Thackery of Hallamshire took the race out but was always closely tracked by a group of 4 until just before the three-mile mark. At this point it became a two-horse race between Charnwood AC’s Gemma Steel and Lucy Crookes from Leeds City AC.

A tough battle ensued but, coming back into Bassingham village it was Crookes who had the edge, winning by 15 seconds and smashing the course record by almost a minute to record 27.15. Steel was chased home by Thackeray and Cloe Hubbard (Newark AC) with the top four all beating the previous course record.

Kirandeep Marsh from Tonbridge AC held on to take fifth place securing the first prize in the U23 age category in 28.33. The first F40 was Lucy Broom from Steel City Striders in 33.18 with Catherine Payne of Grantham Running Club taking the first F50 place in 34.14.

In the men’s race in spite of a couple of likely leading entries to the men’s race not making the start line due to illness, there was an early breakaway of a leading group of five who quickly opened a gap on the chasing field.

With four runners still in contention at the three mile point it was Aaron Scott from Lincoln Wellington who pulled away from Sam Johnson (Birchfield Harriers) and Alex Bellow (Leeds City AC) by the four miles.

Holding his lead to the finish Scott also succeeded in breaking Ben Livesey’s 2014 course record by 9 seconds to post a time 24.32. Sam Johnson was the first U23 man home in 24.41 with Jan Bailey posting 27.02 to be first M40 over the line. Dean Norton of Rotherham Harriers secured the M50 prize with a time of 29.37.

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The post Scott and Crookes break course records at Bassingham Bash appeared first on Fast Running.

Wales’ largest 10km race will attract 7,000 runners to compete around the flat and fast course in the Welsh Capital. The elite fields this year feature a host of names who have competed at major championships and the conditions look set for fast times.

Steel goes head to head with Wales’ best

Gemma Steel of Charnwood AC has the fastest PB in the women’s race with a best of 31:26 which places her third on the UK all-time list. The 2014 European Cross Country Champion will face some major Welsh competition however led by Cardiff AC’s Charlotte Arter who is the second fastest Welsh athlete of all time with a 32:17 best set at Brighton in 2018. Arter will only need to shave two seconds of that mark to re-set the record held by Angela Tooby in 1984.

2019 UK Inter-Counties Cross Country Champion, Jenny Nesbitt is a club mate and training partner of Arter and will also be in action on Sunday. A third Cardiff athlete, Clara Evans will add further strength to the Welsh contingent here. The 25 year old is enjoying somewhat of a breakthrough this year following a 72:52 clocking for Half Marathon set at Barcelona in February.

Arter winning the 2018 Cardiff 5km. Credit: Paul Stillman

Barlow, Law and Damen will be challengers

World and European Championship marathon runner Tracy Barlow of Thames Valley Harriers is a twice winner at the JCP Swansea Half Marathon and will be looking to revise her 10km PB of 33:21. Barlow is joined by 2018 English and UK Inter-Counties Cross Country Champion Phoebe Law of Kingston & Poly AC and Louise Damen of Winchester AC who took the same honours in 2013 and finished 7th at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Marathon. Law has a 10k best of 33:11 and Damen has a 32:41 clocking to her credit.

Sophie Harris of Swansea Harriers and Welsh 800m & 1,500m Champion Jade Williams of Amman Valley Harriers will also be in action. Marathoner Natasha Cockram of MMRT is another athlete who is enjoying a fine run of form which includes 2019 victories at Porthcawl, Barry and Vienna.

Kate Maltby of Bristol & West AC and Sophie Cowper of Rotherham AC are two further sub 34 minute performers worthy of a mention and capable of upsetting some of the races big name entries.

Cockram finishing the 2018 race. Photo credit: Cardiff 10km

Clowes, Seaward and Smith head the men’s field

Local club Cardiff AC will provide six sub 30 men to the race, led by Club Captain Matt Clowes. He is the fastest of the club men on paper having run 29:19 in the past and will target an 11thrace victory of 2019 in his home town. Jake Smith has a time of 29:01 over 10,000m to his merit, achieved whilst on GB duty at the European U23 Championships in Gavle.

Kevin Seaward was fourth at the Commonwealth Games Marathon last year running for Northern Ireland and a lifetime best over half marathon in February shows promising 2019 form. Seaward along with Clowes will use this race as preparation for the BMW Berlin Marathon later in September.

Clowes winning the JCP Swansea Half Marathon Photo: Owen Morgan

Sub 30 quality throughout the elite field

Ciaran Lewis and James Hunt both dipped under 30 minutes in 2019 with Lewis running 29:47 at the Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay Run and Hunt setting his P.B. at 29:58 at the Healthspan Porthcawl 10k in July.

Sub four minute miler Tom Marshall is the final Cardiff man with proven calibre over 10km’s who will race on Sunday during a fitness comeback that will see him making a welcome return to racing on the roads.

Aldershot Farnham & District’s Josh Grace finished seventh at the race in 2017 but as a regular sub 30 minute performer is likely to be nearer the front this time. Shaun Antell of Bideford AC stormed to a 29:13 best for the distance at the Brighton Marathon 10k race in April and on Welsh soil in May at the ABP Newport 10k.

The post Fantastic elite field assembled for Cardiff 10km appeared first on Fast Running.

At the Swansea Half Marathon, course record holder Tracy Barlow (Thames Valley Harriers) topped the podium again in 75:40.

Though it was ‘a windy & tough morning at the office’ Barlow used it as a chance to show her determination and take the win for the second year running.

Sadly Natasha Cockram, who is only just returning from injury, did not start the race and Hayley Munn ran with her Mum from halfway. That left the stage clear for Bristol & West’s Charlotte Taylor-Green to take second in 76:58 with plenty of clear road between her and last year’s fifth placer Naomi Mitchell, of Reading AC, who moved up to take the final podium spot in 79:00

Photo: Owen Morgan

The men’s race was a similar story with the wind leading to slower times than last year but the top spots looking rather familiar. Cardiff’s Matt Clowes, who like Tracy set a course record last year, ran 65:49 for first place while Swansea Harriers’ Josh Griffiths was second again in 66:37. Peter Huck of  Barrow & Furness finished in 68:12 for third.

You can read a full report here.

Torbay Half Marathon

Down on the south coast, the Torbay Half Marathon also saw a repeat champions in the men and women’s races. Exmouth Harriers’ Tom Merson continued to show that he can not only dominate his local running scene but is on awesome form this year.

Merson absolutely smashed his winning time from 2018, taking nearly two minutes off it, to come home well ahead of any rivals and comfortably inside his PB in a time of 67:11.

In his wake was Phil Wylie of Cheltenham & Country  Harriers (69:33) with Bristol & West AC’s Adam Stokes setting a 37 second PB to come third in 70:21.

Rachel Felton (Shaftsbury Barnet Harriers) successfully retained her title and took her seventh win of the 2019, running a time only nine seconds different to last year and keeping Lindsay Carrick at bay in 77:16. Carrick moved up a spot from last year with an improvement of one minute 22 seconds gaining her second place (78:25). 

Alistair Watson leading Ben Connor around the four mile mark, before being reeled in by the NB athlete. Photo: Stephen Lee

Notts 10 miler

Earlier in the week it was the turn of the 10s. The Notts 10 was won by Derby AC’s Ben Connor (49:25) who was using it for a Friday night tempo run. Alastair Watson (Notts AC) had hoped to capitalise on his home advantage and did manage to stay ahead until mile mile but in the end he was left doffing his twitter-hat to Connor as the better athlete, though he still managed to hang on for second in 49:53.

The battle for first and second might have been a fair way ahead of Daniel Kestrel’s third place (53:37) but the Rotherham Harriers athlete had good reason to finish well with Daniel Bagley behind him, crossing the line only 13 seconds later.

In the women’s race Connor’s New Balance team-mate Gemma Steel utterly dominated, winning in 57:41. Helen Woods of Kimberley & District Striders came second in 67:51 with Barnsley AC’s Christine Laking just a shoelace behind in 67:56.

From 10 miles to 10k

The speedsters were out in force on Friday at the Brian Godwin Memorial 10k in Pollok Park and the Grantham Summer Solstice. 

Making the most of the long evening, Sarah Chynoweth of Grantham RC took a win for the home team finishing in 40:59. Suzannah Fleming (41:16) and Melissa Neal (42:11) completed the top three.

JLF Racing team member Aaron Scott crossed the line first for the men in 30:52, a convincing lead over Lincoln Wellington AC’s Jake Richardson (32:02) and Kent AC’s Sean Fitzpatrick (32:39)

In Glasgow, Kilbarchan AAC’s Callum Hawkins took his legs for a shorter spin that his normal marathon distance and came away with first place in 29:06, only 11 seconds off his PB. After his marathon heroics in London, running a huge PB and getting himself selected for Great Britain for the World Championship Marathon in Doha, it is excellent to see the young Scot in such good form.

Second and third place bagged themselves shiny new PB’s as Central AC’s Jamie Crowe finished second in 29:43 and James Donald of Dundee Hawkhill Harriers was third with 30:11.

Central AC topped the podium in the women’s race thanks to Morag Miller who finished in 33:51. Elspeth Curran (Kilbarchan AAC) was second in a strong field, finishing just three seconds off her previous fastest time, in 34:20. Fiona Brian of Metro Aberdeen RC ran 34:21 for third. All three women within 30 seconds looks like it was a good race for the ladies podium.

At the Withal and Hollywood 10k fun run Hayley Carruthers and Dan Robinson were working together once again to help the England Marathoner to a great time and win. The Birchfield Harrier ran 33:40 and was minutes clear of second place female. Robinson actually finished third himself, one second ahead of the athlete he coaches, who also topped our parkrun rankings yesterday. Quite the weekend!

The winning time for the men’s was 32:53 by James Marshall of BRAT, who was closely followed by Ronnie Wilson of Lincoln Wellington in 33:23. Second and third females were Jane Evans (38:01) and Rachel Gifford (38:34).

The winners of the event’s 5k race were Christopher McLeod in 15:38 and Jessica Saunders in 19:16.

Going long

Photo: Amanda Hamilton

Finally, we head a little further north of Glasgow for the West Highland Way Race, Scotland’s oldest Ultra marathon.

Siobhan Killingbeck was sixth overall and first woman covering the 95 miles of trail and 14,000ft of ascent in 17:41:09. Rachael Campbell finished in second, just under an hour later in 18:18:45 and 16^th overall. Third place went to Rosie Bell in 20:54:43.

Photo: Clark Hamilton

The swiftest to arrive at the Nevis Centre in Fort William was Rowan Boswood who took a mere 15:14:42 to finish – well over an hour faster than last year’s winner and putting him as the fourth fastest athlete over West Highland Way Race history, behind course record holder Rob Sinclair, multiple winner Paul Giblin and FR’s Robbie Britton.

Rob Payne’s time of 16:09:04 would have got him the win in 2018 but was only enough for second place this time around. GB 24hr runner James Stewart didn’t have the day he wanted, but the Hoka One One athlete rounded off a fast podium for third in 16:42:18. 

Also worthy of note are Norma Bone who is still the oldest female finisher (31:45:03) now at the age of 67 and Rob Reid who extended his own oldest male finisher record to 73 (32:16:47). Both were comfortably inside the 35 hour cut off for the race.

parkrun

Hayley Carruthers and Kris Jones are your quickest parkrunners this weekend (June 22). Check out the full rankings here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

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The post From parkrun to 95 miles, with everything in-between – The UK weekend roundup appeared first on Fast Running.

Sir Mo Farah, fresh off his tough fifth place at the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon, will be looking for his sixth victory at the Vitality London 10000 on Monday 27 May after previous wins in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2018.

But he will face stiff competition from two-time previous winner Andy Butchart who, after a 2018 scampered by injury, has returned to competitive action in fine fashion this year. The Scottish athlete, who was sixth in the 5000m at the 2016 Olympics, ran a World Championships qualifying time of 13:18.16 for 5000m in the USA earlier this month.

Farah and Butchart will line up with a strong domestic field that includes six men who have run sub 29 minutes including Nick Goolab – the fastest man over the distance in the UK this year (28:22) and 13:34 victor at the Ipswich Twilight 5k this weekend. Goolab arrives in London having finished 4th in last week’s Great Manchester Run 10km.

Loaded women’s race

The women’s race also has a loaded domestic field that includes three former winners: defending champion Steph Twell, 2016 victor Lily Partridge and Gemma Steel who won in 2014. Twell ran 32:41 in last week’s Great Manchester Run.

Charlotte Arter, the reigning British 10000m champion on the track, and Tish Jones, who was the second British woman home at the Virgin Money London Marathon and qualified for the World Championships, are also racing, as are three of the six-strong team that Great Britain sent to the World Cross-Country Championships in March: Kate Avery, Jennifer Nesbitt and Jess Piasecki. It will be the first faster test for some of those who raced marathons in April, as well as Jones and Partridge the race sees Hayley Carruthers, Tracy Barlow and Louise Small lining up.

The Vitality London 10000 takes place on Monday 27 May – the day after the Vitality Westminster Mile where Laura Muir will be starting a summer season which she hopes will end in glory at the World Championships in Doha.

Muir & O’Hare in for the mile

Multiple European champion Muir leads the entrants in a star-studded elite women’s field in the Vitality Westminster Mile. Defending champion Melissa Courtney, the Commonwealth Games 1500m bronze medallist, is back again as is 2017 champion Adelle Tracey.

European Indoor Championships 800m gold medallist Shelayna Oskan-Clarke will make her debut in the event while Sarah McDonald, who won the Vitality Westminster Mile in 2016 and was runner-up a year later, returns to the streets of central London.

Photo: Andy Peat

In the men’s race, defending champion Chris O’Hare is hoping to become the first man in the history of the Vitality Westminster Mile to break the four-minute barrier.

O’Hare, who won a bronze medal over 3000m at the European Indoor Championships in March, is aiming to break the mark and win the Bannister Trophy just weeks after the 65^thanniversary of Roger Bannister’s first sub-four minute mile.

O’Hare will face competition from rising star Jake Heyward, who was fourth in the 1500m at last year’s World Junior Championships, and three-time British 800m champion Elliot Giles. Jamie Webb, who won a bronze medal in the 800m at this year’s European Indoor Championships, and the current course record holder Nick Goolab, who ran 4:01 to win in 2016, will also be on the start line.

Sir Mo Farah will also be at the Vitality Westminster Mile – but not racing. He will be cheering on runners in the family events with some lucky entrants getting the amazing chance to run alongside the four-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion.

The Vitality Westminster Mile is the world’s biggest timed mile event with races for all ages and abilities, from families to adults, schools, wheelchairs, Masters and Olympians. The under-13, under-15, under-17, under-20 and senior races are also the British One Mile Road Championships. Entry for children aged 11 and under is free. Entry for adults is £8 and for children between 12 and 18, entry is £6 with a £1 reduction for Westminster residents. To enter, click here.

A record number of more than 17,000 participants are expected to run the Vitality London 10000 on a course which passes iconic London landmarks such as Admiralty Arch, Nelson’s Column, St Paul’s Cathedral, Mansion House, the Bank of England, the Old Bailey, Somerset House, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

The Vitality London 10,000 also incorporates the British Athletics 10km Championships for men and women.

Entry to the Vitality London 10,000 costs £35 (£33 for members of a UK affiliated running club). To enter click here.

Entries close at 17:00 on Friday 17 May.

For full start lists for the Vitality Westminster Mile click here and for the Vitality London 10000 click here.

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The post Farah, Goolab & Butchart to face off at London 10000 appeared first on Fast Running.

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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The post British and Irish runners ready to race top international field in Dundonald appeared first on Fast Running.

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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The post Gemma Steel and Emelia Gorecka set for Northern Ireland International appeared first on Fast Running.

The 37-year-old has won the last two races on the south coast, and victory on Sunday will make it an unprecedented hat-trick as he lines up for the seventh time in the world famous race.

No athlete has won three consecutive Great South Runs – and only Gary Staines has won three in total in the race’s 29-year history.

Thompson, fresh from winning his second consecutive Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run a fortnight ago, will go up against Aldershot, Farnham and District teammate Andy Vernon, who was forced to pull out of the half marathon in Glasgow owing to food poisoning.

Also lining up in the men’s race is 2012 Olympian Scott Overall, Libya’s Mohammed Hrezi and Euro XC team bronze medallist Alex Teuten.

Thompson, who competes in the New York City Marathon next month, said: “I’d be absolutely delighted to make it three wins in a row in Portsmouth. It’s a race which is close to my heart and to win it for the first time in 2016 was a massive moment for me.

“Everything is going in the right direction at the moment as New York draws near. I thoroughly enjoyed the victory in Glasgow two weeks ago and I’m determined to continue the good work into this race.”

Steel going for a double as well

Another athlete aiming for a repeat performance is Gemma Steel, who will return to the South coast a year on from her win in the 2017 staging of the race.

The Charnwood 32-year-old tasted victory in the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run 10K a fortnight ago and represented England in the Commonwealth Half Marathon staged in Cardiff last week.

Despite victories over 10K in Gateshead and Glasgow this year, Steel has struggled to replicate the form that saw her achieve the third fastest 10KM in British history, and will go up against two distance running heavyweights in Steph Twell and Jo Pavey.

Twell showed her versatility earlier this year when she represented Scotland over the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m in the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, while flexing her muscles over the half marathon in Cardiff a week ago.

She made her Great South Run debut in 2010 which remains her sole 10-mile outing to date.

Pavey, however, is no stranger to Portsmouth having won on two occasions in 2006 and 2012. The hugely-experienced Olympian is still going strong at the age of 45 and will be among the contenders for the race which is broadcast live on Channel 5.

Making her 10-mile debut will be European medallist Eilish McColgan. The daughter of two-time Great South Run winner Liz took her first senior silverware this year when she claimed silver in the 500m in Berlin over the summer. The Scottish international has not raced further than 10K in her career to date.

The Simplyhealth Great South Run is televised live on Channel 5 on Sunday from 10am until 12pm.

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The post Thompson going for three wins in a row at Great South Run appeared first on Fast Running.

Gemma Steel is one of the UK’s fastest ever road runners, ranking third all-time for 10k and half marathon. So why is the GB international not receiving any help or support from British Athletics?

The Charnwood AC athlete has struggled to get anywhere near her personal bests of 31:26 and 68:13 in recent years. Is the fact her lottery funding was withdrawn just a year after posting those times a factor in her struggles?

Steel is strongest over the roads and on the country, yet it would appear her strength on those surfaces at the expense of the track – along with her unwillingness to step up to the marathon – is her weakness in the eyes of the governing body.

As it stands, there is no funding available for British athletes competing on the world stage on the country or on the roads below the marathon distance.

Fast Running asked British Athletics (BA) for a comment on this, but they ‘politely declined’.

However, Steel is adamant that her funding was withdrawn in 2015 because she couldn’t meet the demands set by the governing body – to run a marathon within a certain timeframe.

She says the pressure and expectation placed on her by those holding the purse strings became too much.

Photo: Keith McClure

During the time she did receive financial support from BA, she worked hard to maintain her form over the shorter distances, but the effort of marathon training – and meeting the lottery funding requirements – took its toll.

While Steel still managed to clock top class half marathon times up until last year (including a 71:32 result at last year’s Great North Run), even that distance has become a struggle due to added health issues.

Her 73:39 performance at March’s World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia was more than five minutes slower than her best, while a similarly below par run at the Falmouth Road Race in America in August confirmed that all was not well.

In typically determined fashion, Steel finished the race (in 41:44, compared to her best of 36:03 on the same course) despite feeling flat and slowing to a jog in the last three miles.

Steel’s health issues

A subsequent blood test revealed she was suffering with low glycogen and borderline Bilirubin levels, which can be a sign of a genetic liver condition called Gilbert’s Syndrome.

She is now waiting for a liver function test, which has to be done through her GP because she no longer receives medical support – or any support at all – from BA.

Photo: Stephen Lee

She is frustrated at the impact that lack of support is having on her ability to train properly.

“It’s a shame it’s taken so long – it’s such a slow process, despite telling them I needed to know before the Great North Run,” she explains. “Sadly I didn’t get my blood test results back in time, so had to withdraw from the race.

“I have no contact with British Athletics, and am unable to access medical support as I don’t take part in Olympic events (cross country and half marathons don’t count), or get acknowledged in the same way that track and marathon runners do.

“I have had no physiotherapy since my funding was taken away, but luckily Andy Toal at the Whitwick Massage Centre has stood by me and supported me.”

No track or marathon

Steel has decided to speak out to condemn the lack of support for world-class athletes who choose not to compete on the track or in the marathon.

She also feels the way she was pressured into training for a marathon in order to maintain funding from BA was wrong, and that the system needs to change.

Steel points to the fact that the funding she received between 2013 and 2015 directly helped her run her road PBs, but questions the apparently short sighted way the system seems to work.

“While I was on funding [albeit the lowest level], it’s main aim was to get me to run the marathon, which I just wasn’t ready to do,” she says. “Having the free physio and medical services did help me become European half marathon champion, but the pressure to run the marathon got to me in the end.

“It made me feel like my achievements weren’t enough to warrant funding – especially when Nike dropped me as well – because I didn’t show ‘enough commitment’ to running the marathon.

“BA weren’t willing to be patient with me and allow a natural progression up to the marathon, which saddens me a bit, since they obviously believed in my potential.”

While Steel’s current medical issues have clearly had an impact on her performance – her season’s best 10k time is 33:00 from the Vitality London 10,000m, and her fastest half marathon a 72:37 in Doha – she has not been at her supreme best since she lost that vital support.

The one time European Cross Country champion (she won the title in 2014) has gradually slipped down the finishing positions at the major competitions, and hasn’t dipped under 33 minutes for 10k for more than two years.

She says that, despite feeling a little like her ‘old self’ when winning last year’s Great South Run, since her London 10k performance she’s gone downhill.

Photo: The Great Run Company

“My times haven’t been great, I’ve been falling off the pace on the last few reps in sessions and struggling to do seven minute miles most mornings on the flat, feeling really tired and wiped out,” she explains.

“It’s not the first bump in the road by any means – I’ve had injuries such as Achilles tendinitis in 2012 and calf trouble in 2014 – but I’ve managed to turn negatives into positives before.

“Setbacks can inspire you to achieve great things and reassess why you love running. We sometimes take it for granted when we are healthy.”

However, when an athlete of her undoubted calibre can’t even get physiotherapy support from the sport’s governing body and has to wait weeks for blood tests and longer still for the results, surely questions have to be asked.

What is going on with the athletics support network in the UK?

Steel’s coach and endurance running legend, Liz McColgan, recently spoke out about this very topic when she asked ‘what is happening to our endurance programme?’

That question arose in the wake of a set of disappointing results for the British elite women at the Great North Run. Lily Partridge, Aly Dixon and Charlotte Purdue all struggled to below par performances in the half marathon. Purdue has since revealed she’s been diagnosed with a virus, forcing her to withdraw from the New York Marathon.

While every athlete has their own individual reasons for why they have a bad race – or a series of bad races – it seems that a lack of support from the very people who supposedly exist to help athletes like Steel, Purdue, Dixon and Partridge – is playing a role in the issues they’re facing.

RELATED: Where is British women’s distance running heading?

Steel is sponsored by New Balance. The athletics brand has supported the 32 year-old for a number of years, and take an active interest in the cross country and half marathon disciplines she so excels at.

“New Balance value cross country and half marathon racing, which has been instrumental in helping me continue my career and enjoy what I love,” she enthuses. “Our British cross country team deserve more recognition than we get. The standard is so consistent year after year.”

Photo: Sportsfile

She adds: “If more backing came (from BA) we might have a chance to medal in the world cross country championships – we’re already proved year after year to be the best in Europe. BA claims that cross country is the backbone of the sport, but they don’t back it up. The dedication in training is the same for cross country as for other disciplines, particularly in the winter months when you’re grinding it out in the freezing cold temperatures.

“It may be less glamorous than track running, but it is just as exciting and more involved. I can’t see why it isn’t as valued.”

RELATED: Cross country is a true test of strength, grit and determination

Remaining upbeat and positive

Refreshingly, Steel remains upbeat despite the setbacks she is enduring.

The Charnwood stalwart is taking steps to address the symptoms she is enduring with her liver issues – changing her diet to include more carbohydrates, eating steak as well as plenty of white meat and vegetables and drinking milk to stabilise her blood sugar levels – and knows she has to listen to her body even more so now than ever before.

“Another downside to being a cross country and road runner is that there is no break between the long slog in the winter and road racing in the spring, summer and autumn – it’s always full steam ahead,” she concedes. “I’ve taken this time off racing to pursue another passion of mine, dancing, as well as looking after my niece Tilly Rose.

“I’ve had space to think and reflect on what I want from my running. Nothing is more important to me than the cross country season, as it’s where I feel part of a truly great team spirit and nothing can replace it.”

Let’s hope that this energetic spark of an athlete can overcome her issues, despite the lack of support from the governing body, and make an emphatic return to competition on the mud and hills this winter.

RELATED: Gemma Steel: the pressure from others’ expectations

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The post Gemma Steel says cross country and half marathon athletes deserve help too appeared first on Fast Running.

The world’s fastest ever woman over the half marathon will be looking to spoil Vivian Cheruiyot’s plans to make it two Simplyhealth Great North Run wins in three years on Sunday (September 9).

Joyciline Jepkosgei, the world record holder over the half marathon, has been added to the field for one of the world’s biggest half marathon this weekend and will be the main competition for Olympic champion Cheruiyot in the iconic race.

Kenyan Jepkosgei clocked her record time of 64:51 in the Prague Half Marathon last year where she also broke the world 10km, 15km and 20km records.

She went on to beat her own 10km world record time back in Prague three months later when she clocked 29.43 to become the first woman to ever break 30 minutes over 10km.

Betsy Saina, who finished fifth in last year’s race which was won by Mary Keitany, will also be in contention, with British hopes lying with Lily Partridge, Gemma Steel, Charlotte Purdue and Sunderland athlete Aly Dixon.

Steel was the highest placed GB runner last year, finishing sixth in 71:32, ahead of Partridge in seventh and Dixon in eighth place.

Irish athlete Emma Mitchell, who finished 17th over 10,000m at the European Championships, is also among the entries and will make her half-marathon debut.

Elsewhere, Hayley Carruthers aims to continue her impressive season in her first Great North Run ahead of England debut at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in October.

RELATED: Hayley Carruthers is just getting started

The men’s race will see Mo Farah battle against Jake Robertson, Daniel Wanjiru and Stanley Biwott as he attempts to win a five consecutive title. The full men’s elite field can be found here.

Women’s elite field (subject to change)
201) Vivian Cheruiyot
202) Joyciline Jepkosgei
203) Betsy Saina
204) Brigid Kosgei
205) Misato Horie
206) Linet Masai
207) Stephanie Bruce
208) Yuka Hori
209) Andrea Seccafien
210) Emma Mitchell
211) Maria Larsson
212) Lily Partridge
213) Charlotte Purdue
214) Gemma Steel
215) Aly Dixon
216) Camille Buscomb
217) Emily Waugh
218) Julie Briscoe
219) Hayley Munn
220) Carla Martinho
221) Tracy Millmore
223) Naomi Mitchell
224) Heather Sellars
225) Carly Needham
226) Eva Vail
227) Rosamund Ponder
228) Hayley Carruthers
229) Nicola Squires
230) Michelle Nolan-Hood
231) Stacey Clusker
232) Sarah Murphy
233) Johanna O’Regan
234) Ashley Gibson
235) Sheena Logan
236) Sarah Winstone
237) Sarah Gruber
239) Alexa Joel
240) Victoria Mousley
241) Jacqueline Penn
242) Alice Smith
244) Georgia Campbell
245) Charlotte Ellis
246) Eilidh Bell

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 Great North Run elite women’s field announced appeared first on Fast Running.