Indoors

The past couple of days have been a nice reminder that the indoor season is in full flow, with plentiful competitions across the UK and further afield bringing a host of memorable performances, particularly in the field.

Let’s start at the Czech Indoor Gala in Ostrava on Thursday. The notably fast track delivered once again, with lifetime bests for seven of the eight British middle-distance athletes competing. They included Elliot Giles, who took almost a second off his indoor best with a 3:35.93 for the race win. That time also moves him to sixth on the UK all-time list. Finishing sixth, Piers Copeland’s 3:38.64 provided his first World Indoor standard of the year, whilst there was a big indoor PB for Archie Davis (3:40.28) in ninth.

There was a British 1-2 for the women over the same distance, as Revee Walcott Nolan obliterated her indoor best with 4:10.53, her second PB in as many races this year. Making her indoor 1500m debut and after leading for much of the race, Adelle Tracey finished closely behind with 4:10.88.

Competing over 800m, Tom Randolph improved his indoor PB, set just last week, by over half a second (1:48.11).

Fast forward a day to the Meeting Elite de Miramas in France, where there were lifetime bests for Izzy Fry over 3000m (8:58.44) and Luke Duffy over 1500m (3:48.32).

Dynamic New Athletics? Possibly

Saturday saw Glasgow play host to the first indoor Dynamic New Athletics, a new concept that sees athletes compete for their country with a range of track and field events. This event included teams from England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Spain and Portugal, and it seemed to be well received. However, the highlight of the day came in the pre-event races as Jenny Selman ran a suberb 2:00.70 for 800m. That time was not only a PB, her fourth of the year, but a qualifying time for the World Indoors and Commonwealth Games.

Heading to the States and the Camel City Elite (great name) in North Carolina. Continuing the fine depth of British racing, Sam Atkin became the fifth man to go under the World Indoor qualifying time over 3000m in 2022 with 7:46.79, whilst Charlie Grice improved his best this year over the mile with 3:57.22.

To the Roads

Much has been happening on the roads too.

The Granollers Half Marathon took place in Spain with a team of seven athletes representing England. Official results have not yet been published but Naomi Mitchell finished 3rd in a new PB – 73:10. Lucy Reid made a welcome return to the half marathon distance after a challenging year with injury to finish 4th in 73:48. Chloe Richardson was 5th in 75:21 with Sophie Wood 6th running 76:25.

Ross Millington led the men home to finish 4th overall in 65:04 with Norman Shreeve 10th in 67:29 and Matthew Crehan 13th in 68:45 over the hilly course.

Photo: Jo Wilkinson

Sunday saw the Chichester 10k, marketed as one of the oldest and fastest races in the country, although new organisers for 2022 brought in a new course that starts and finishes within the Goodwood Motor Circuit. The new course seems to be just as fast, with Joshua Grace (30:47) just getting the better of Jack Woods (30:50) and Ben Brown (31:00). Tessa McCormick had a more comfortable margin in taking the win, her 34:50 almost half a minute ahead of Emily Ruane (35:18) and Cassie Thorp (35:50).

Goodwood also played host to PB5K on the same day. Building on the success of the events held last year at Ardingly Showground, it was the turn of Eileen Beach (17:18) and James Beeks (15:30) to add their names to the winners list.

Sunday also saw the return of the Watford Half Marathon, incorporating Hertfordshire Senior County Championships. It’s a race that has been taking place for over 40 years, and this year comes with extra kudos for its sustainability drive of swapping finisher shirts for planting one tree for every £100 taken in entry fees. Mohammed Elbayan (72:53) and Rebecca Bunting (81:30) took respective wins.

Staying with the half and the Great Bentley Half Marathon. The honours went to Joshua Entwistle (69:24) and Katie King (84:48), with the Course Records held by James Connor and Helen Davies living another day.

Imperial Distances

The Alsagar 5 took to the streets of Cheshire, one of many popular five mile road races that have taken place in recent weeks.

Kate Holt’s incredible form continued with an emphatic win here, her 26:49 seeing her cross the line 40 seconds ahead of Bronwen Owen (27:28) and Steph Pennycook (27:36). Amongst the men, Richard Allen (24:25) just got the better of David Devine (24:28), with Stuart Spencer rounding out the top three with 25:16.

Dewsbury Delight

Another set of strong results came at the Dewsbury 10k, although the plaudits go to Joe Sagar for a fantastic solo run, his 30:37 putting him almost a minute clear of the rest of the field. A total of 43 athletes ran under 34 minutes. Rhianne Hughes’ 34:33 was the quickest female time.

Students Storming

The cross country may be winding towards a close, but that does not mean there are no results to bring you from the mud.

One of the cross country highlights of the year is the BUCS Championships, which made a welcome return on Saturday at Horseden Hill. With it came a superb atmosphere and plenty of noise as some of the country’s best athletes took to the course.

The men’s long course race saw athletes cover 10km, and it was Will Battershill who took home the title, finishing thirteen seconds ahead of Zakiriya Mahamed, with Matt Stonier a further five second behind. Kirsty Walker worked hard to build a significant advantage over the rest of the field of the women’s 8k long course, crossing the line over half a minute before Abbie Donnelly and Megan Keith.

Fast forward 24 hours and the European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country in Oeiras in Portugal, with British representation from Aldershot Farnham District and Central AC in the senior women’s and men’s races respectively, with AFD also fielding a team in the mixed relay.

Central ACs team of Jamie Crowe (32nd in 31:45), Alastair Hay (51st in 32:36) and Tom Graham-Marr (59th in 33:00) finished a creditable 15th amongst a high quality field. Cameron Milne was 76th in 34:25.

AFD produced a fantastic performance to finish 5th thanks to an excellent team display from Steph Twell (9th in 23:07), Louise Small (16th in 23:29) and Niamh Brown (22nd in 23:48). They were well backed by the experience of Emily Wicks (38th in 24:36).

 

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Schools Action Also

Saturday saw the continuation of School Cross Country Championships across England, with by my count at least nine competitions taking place. Given the extent of racing to cover this week, I have not gone into the results of each, but events took place for Greater Manchester (Heaton Park), Lancashire (Blackburn), Northern Inter Counties (Stewarts Park in Middlesbrough), Nottinghamshire (Berry Hill Park), Shropshire (Oswestry) South East Inter Counties (Reigate), South West Inter Counties (Chippenham), South Yorkshire (Campsall Country Park in Doncaster) and Staffordshire (Betley Court Farm in Crewe).

Finally, its not quite cross country, but the 34th edition of the Charnwood Hills fell race took place, and whilst results have not been found, we understand that Tom Evans took the win. Keep an eye for updates!

The post BUCs titles claimed & English success in Spain – roundup appeared first on Fast Running.

Belfast Brilliance

The highlight of this weekend’s cross country action came at the Northern Ireland International in Belfast, part of the World Athletics Silver Cross Country Tour which also incorporated the fourth stop of the British Athletics Cross Challenge, the Celtic Games and Home Countries International.

Making a surprise visit to Belfast, reigning World Cross Country Champion and two-time Olympic medallist Hellen Obiri led the senior women’s race from the outset and did not relinquish that lead, completing the 8km course in 26:44. There was a good battle behind, however, which saw Fast Running’s Hannah Irwin have an excellent race and move away from Mhairi MacLennan in the final home straight, with the duo completing the podium and taking the top two spots in the Cross Challenge.

Eleanor Bolton had a good race to move through the field and finish fourth, four seconds ahead of last month’s European Cross Country U20 Champion Megan Keith.

 

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After fourth and second place finishes in Cardiff and Milton Keynes, Zakariya Mahamed made it to the top of the Cross Challenge podium with a win in the senior men’s race. Mahamed was joined by Stuart McCallum and Italian IIlliass Ouani in a break midway through the 10km race, and a strong last lap saw the Southampton athlete finish seven seconds ahead of Ouani (29:49 to 29:56), with McCallum a further seven seconds back for third (30:03).

Scotland’s Hannah Ryding (U20 women), Sam Mills (U20 men), Connor Bell (U17 men), Lucy Foster (U17 women), Freya Woodhead (U15 girls), Jamie Wallace (U15 boys), Callum Dick (U13 boys) and Emer McKee (U13 girls).

Magnificent in Manchester

In my review of 2021, I gave a cheer to Bryggen Sports for organising one of the only indoor events in England last year, getting across the line (pun intended) just before the nationwide lockdown curtailed all racing opportunities.

This weekend it was once again Vicente Mohdal’s team who kicked off the indoor season with the Boxx United Manchester World Indoor Tour at Sportcity on Saturday. The event also had the honour of being the first event of the prestigious World Indoor Tour that culminates with the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade in March.

The highlight from a distance perspective came from Osain Perrin who bettered his own 3000m British U20 Record (7:54.41) and became the third fastest European U20 in history over the distance. His time was a four second improvement from his previous best run in Sheffield a fortnight ago and suggests a strong season is ahead for the Welshman. Qatari Mohamad Al Garni won the race with 7:52.68.

Photo credit: James Rhodes

Romania’s Claudia Bobocea took a commanding win in a 1500m that saw lifetime indoor bests for Jenny Selman (4:12.55, her second in as many races in 2022), Georgie Hartigan (4:14.06), Sabrina Sinha (4:21.09) and Maisie Grice (4:24.17). A strong last lap saw Piers Copeland take the men’s 1500m in 3:42.14, his third win on the Sportcity track in the past 12 months.

In winning the 3000m, Ciara Mageaan was rewarded with a World Indoors qualifying time (8:47.23). It was an impressive race for the Irish athlete based near Manchester, who’s 2:44 last kilometre saw her overtake long-time leader Luiza Gega in the final straight. Behind her, there were good runs for Verity Ockenden (8:51.17) and Jenny Nesbitt (8:54.99), with PBs for Revee Walcott Nolan (9:01.26) and Izzy Fry (9:02.16).

The fastest over 800m were Issy Boffey (2:03.11, her second fastest indoors) and Ben Greenwood (1:48.04, an indoor best). In all, 16 athletes set qualifying marks for the World Indoor Championships, a great start to the indoor season.

Photo credit: James Rhodes

Fast Indoors

It was not just Manchester that was providing indoor competitions over the weekend, however. In the capital, Lee Valley was playing host to the London Indoor Games, one of the largest indoor athletics competitions since before COVID-19 entered our dictionaries with over 850 athletes registered. The longest race distance of the weekend was 800m, where Ben Murphy (1:49.96) and Abigail Ives (2:06.07).

Taking place amidst COVID restrictions that limit the number of athletes allowed indoors at any one time to 30, Sunday’s Cardiff Met Non-Thomas Open included a series of races over 800m and 1500m. Highlights included outright PBs for Blake Moore (3:44.84) and Ellie Wallace (4:24.79), the fastest over 1500m.

Finally, to the British Masters 3000m Championships in Sheffield, hosted as part of a wider set of open competitions on the track and field. A four second margin of victory provided steeplechase specialist Daniel Eckersley (M35) with the fastest time of the afternoon (8:44.34), whilst an even bigger margin saw Alexis Dodd (W35) the fastest of eleven women in the field (10:52.74). Behind her was an impressive run by W60 Fiona Matheson in 11:01.55.

Speedway delivers again

It would be remiss of me to not start the road roundup at the Santa Pola Half Marathon, where Jess Piasecki ran a superb 67:20 to finish second. That time sees her move to third on the British all-time list, behind Paula Radcliffe and Liz McColgan, and is a two minute improvement on her best. Safe to say it has been a fantastic twelve months for Jess that have included the Tokyo Olympics and a 31:19 10km at the Leeds Abbey Dash.

Brilliant run from @jess_piasecki_ now 3rd on the GB all time half marathon list , GB girls distance running is so strong at the moment . Well done Jess #pb #halfmarathon #running #strongwomen pic.twitter.com/lecWoL2d8N

— liz mccolgan (@Lizmccolgan) January 23, 2022

The title of fastest domestic road race of the weekend goes to the Speedway 10k in Chepstow, just outside Bristol. Organised by Chepstow Harriers, the event has built a reputation for accommodating fast times; indeed, the previous edition in May 2021 saw a comfortable win for Jenny Nesbitt whilst Omar Ahmed was the quickest of 12 men who finished in under 30 minutes and 53 in under 32 minutes.

This year’s event was equally as fast, with victory going to steeplechaser Phil Norman, improving from his second-place finish at this event in January 2020. Not only did he improve his placing by one, but with a 29:11 clocking he improved his PB by one second. Not a bad way to start the year for the Woodford athlete in just his third race since the Tokyo Olympics. Behind him were good outings for Josh Griffiths (29:14), Jonathan Cornish (29:22 PB), Dan Nash (29:27) and Dominic James (29:30 PB). In all, 11 men ran sub-30 and 33 sub-32 taking advantage of what were perfect racing conditions.

Alex Eykelbosch took to the win for the women ahead of an equally impressive field where nine women ran sub 35 minutes and 20 ran sub 37. The Dacorum athlete delivered what must the considered the best performance of her senior career to clock 33:31. Clara Evans, with 2021 highlights including a 2:31:19 marathon and PBs over 5000 and 10000 on the track, has started the year where she left off, her 33:44 seeing her hold off strong competition from Olivia Tsim (33:48), Elle Twentyman (33:49), Kirsteen Welch (33:49) and Kate Drew (33:58) to claim second spot.

Alex Eykelbosch storms to victory. Photo: Tom Craggs

Fast in Farnborough (& Elsewhere)

Andrew Heyes (64:17) and Philippa Bowden (76:12) had good outings at the Farnborough Half Marathon on Sunday, bettering the winning times of Stephen Blake (1:11:03) and Lesley Locks (1:18:51) last year. It was not an easy win for the Hallamshire athlete Heyes, with the top three separated by just six seconds with Sean Chalmers (64:22) second and Jonathan Glen (64:23). Last year’s winner Lesley Locks was second of the female athletes (78:30), with Carla Molinaro (79:31) third.

Also on Sunday was the Carlisle Resolution 5k / 10k, where the 10k race was celebrating its tenth anniversary. With the races starting and finishing at Carlisle Racecourse, Melissa Albarran (38:38) and David Holmes (32:28) were first across the line in the 10k, Jules Hatcher (17:03) and Fiona Smith (19:45) doing the same over 5k.

Sunday also saw the Nigel Barge Memorial 10k held in and around the Garscube Estate in Glasgow, a race named after the soldier and keen athlete killed during World War II. Organised by Maryhill Harriers, it is one of the oldest road races in Scotland, having been first held in January 1943. This year’s event continued its fine tradition, with Finlay Todd (31:36) and Meredith Reid (37:01) taking the respective wins.

Ending the 10k round up, Ian Allen (34:59) and Charlotte Everard (44:23) went home quickest at the Tempo Winter Series 10k in Ilmington.

Imperial March

It was also a weekend for the less-frequently run imperial distances, with a flurry of five- and ten-mile races taking place across the country.

The Great South Run may provide the fastest 10 miles of the year; however, there are a host of lower key but well-established races over the distance that attract some excellent fields of club runners. One such example is Sunday’s Fred Hughes 10, organised by St Albans Striders, where Scott Cousins (50:12) and Alice Belcher (59:21) took wins over a tough course that incorporates a number of challenging hills.

Staying in the south but moving to the Canterbury 10. Organised by Invicta East Kent Athletics Club and sponsored by Pentland Homes, the race provided Charlie Brisley (49:39) and Helen Gaunt (60:04) with lifetime bests in finishing as the fastest athletes. It must be a lucky course for both, as they also won the previous edition last August!

Although certified as a multi-terrain race, the Romsey 5 provides a flat and fast three-lap course in the grounds of the Broadlands Estate in Hampshire, and Annie Mann (29:22) and Gary Armstrong (26:30) made the most of the conditions and course to cross the line first.

Sticking with five miles, James Deane (24:59) and Gemma Collier (29:12) took wins at the 28th edition of the Linda Franks Race in Cheltenham.

The Kids Are Alright

By my count, there were eight School XC Championships taking place across the country this weekend, including Berkshire, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, Somerset, West Midlands, Hereford & Worcestershire and Northant. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, results are online only for a small handful and, in the interests of fairness for all and given the extent of racing elsewhere, I have not included these today.

Not All About the Kids

At the other end of the age spectrum, there were also a couple of competitions in the mud dedicated for masters athletes. Wimbledon Common played host to the Vets AC Open Championships, with men and women running together across the five-mile course. Richard McDowell recorded an emphatic victory, finishing the five mile course over 45 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Gina Galbraith was afforded a similar margin amongst the women racing.

At the same time as racing was underway in Wimbledon, the Sussex Masters Championships were kicking off about 40 miles to the south at Coombes Farm in Lancing. With the two genders running separately but over the same five-mile course that included 400 feet of elevation gain and, according to the course description a cattle grid. Results were not online at the time of publication (but I had already written this paragraph, so left it in!).

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Excellent fields have been compiled for races over distances between 400m and 5000m at a venue that has been hosting BMC meetings for over 40 years. Races are set to run between 16:30 and 21:20 with all the action to be streamed live on Vinco.

It is, of course, the first BMC Grand Prix of this Olympic year. For those who believe in such things, you might be interested to know that in the first Grand Prix of 2012, winners of four of the six events went on to qualify for the London Olympics (Lynsey Sharp, 800m; Laura Weightman, 1500m; Ross Murray, 1500m; and Jo Pavey, 5000m). The other two winners were elite athletes from abroad. Will similar patterns emerge this year?

This is probably the strongest domestic track meeting of the year so far, and to whet your appetite I will take you on a stat-filled run through of some of those expected to be in action and particular times to keep an eye on. I will also be there providing updates on the night via social media (details at the end).

Men’s 5000m

European U23 Championships Standard: 13:53.00
World U20 Championships Standard: 13:55.00
European U20 Championships Standard: 14:25.00
BMC Record: 13:21.17, Micha Kogo (Kenya), 2005 (member record 13:28.22, Kris Bowditch, 2000)

The men’s 5000m may provide the strongest depth of Saturday’s action, with a who’s-who of British middle-distance athletes entered including ten who have run inside 14:00 and two under 13:30.

Based on PBs, Jonathan Davies is the leading entrant thanks to his 13:23.94 best. The Reading / University of Birmingham athlete has a number of accolades on his racing resume, including 2015 European U23 Cross County Champion, silver (5000m) and bronze (1500m) at the 2017 World University Games and 2020 British Indoor Champion over 3000m. His outdoor season got off to a winning start with victory over 3000m on his home track at Birmingham University last month, his 30th appearance at a BMC event. He will be looking to continue the winning trend on Saturday.

There will be tough competition, however, including sub-14 men Adam Clarke, Jordan Crowe, Owen Hind, Kristian Jones, Henry McLuckie, Tom Mortimer, Scott Overall, Phil Sesemann and Michael Ward.

Phil Sesemann will be looking to continue his good form from the indoor season which included gaining his first British vest on the track at the European Indoor Championships and three runs under eight minutes for 3000m, including a new 7:51.27 PB. Indeed his outdoor season has started strong with a second-place finish at the BMC’s Gold Standard Race in Birmingham last month (3000m, 7:57.44) and a 13:40 at Podium 5k, just one second outside his 2020 PB. By my count, this will be Phil’s 34th BMC race since his debut back in May 2013 and his eighth time on the Trafford track.

Jonny Davies. Credit: James Rhodes

Eyes will also be on youngster Henry McLuckie as he targets a World U20 Championships QT. His PB of 13:56.20, set in March at the Comeback 5000, is one second shy of the required time, although almost half a minute inside the European U20 Championships QT. Henry also competed at the BMC’s Gold Standard Races in Birmingham last month where he took the win over 1500m (3:42.71).

Also looking for age-group qualifying times will be U23 athlete Tom Mortimer. His PB (13:43.47, set in taking bronze at last year’s British Championships) is well inside the standard, but outside the time period. His 13:39 at Podium 5k suggests it should be an easily achievable target. Tom is also no stranger to the Trafford track, taking the win over 3000m at last September’s BMC meeting.

I must also add – it is exciting to see Scott Overall entered for a track race! A man best known more recently for his exploits on the road, his 5000m PB was set back in 2008. Indeed, this will be his first race on the track in six years (save for a DNF at the 2019 Night of the 10k PBs) and only his second BMC appearance since 2006. Since then, his career needs no introduction, with highlights incorporating the London Olympics, a host of major marathons (including London, Berlin, Boston and Chicago) and multiple victories on the domestic road racing scene. This year he has taken wins over 10km at Goodwood and Kempton Park, and has the UK lead over the distance by over 20 seconds.

Mick Hill, fresh off his V45 British Record for the distance on the roads, may have his eyes on improving his sixth place on the all-time V45 list on the track, a list topped by Nigel Gates’s 14:42.67 from back in 1998.

Women’s 5000m

European U23 Championships Standard: 16:05.00
World U20 Championships Standard: 15:55.00
European U20 Championships Standard: 16:40.00
BMC Record: 14:49.12 (indoors), Laura Muir, 2017

There is also considerable depth in the women’s races over 12.5 laps, led by Jenny Nesbitt and Kate Avery who are two of five athletes on the entry list to have broken 16 minutes.

It has been a good couple of months for Cardiff’s Jenny Nesbitt, with victories on the track at the Comeback 5000m in March and the Speedway 10k last weekend (although making it clear on social media she was unhappy with how that race went) alongside a 3000m PB when coming second to Jess Judd at the BMC in Birmingham last month. With a PB less than one second shy of the qualifying standard, eyes may well be on a second Commonwealth Games and the Welsh QT of 15:30.

Another athlete with Commonwealth Games experience is Kate Avery, who finished fourth in the 10,000m in Glasgow in 2014. The Shildon athlete has no shortage of international experience both on the track and cross country, including team wins at the 2013 and 2015 European Cross Country Championships. Kate took a comfortable victory in the BMC’s 3k Road Race at Tameside last month in her season opener, her 31st BMC race having made her debut as an U13 athlete back in 2004.

Jenny Nesbitt. Credit: James Rhodes

Three others on the entry list have run under 16 minutes; Claire Duck, Louise Small and Mhairi McLennan, all of whom will be opening their track seasons having run 5k on the roads. Scot Mhairi ran an impressive 15:47 at Podium 5k, four seconds faster than her track best, and one would expect her to feature here.

Two Herne Hill Harriers will have their eye on a particular time, with Saskia Millard and Charlotte Alexander looking for European U23 and U20 qualifiers respectively. Saskia’s PB (16:02.03) was set last summer, but she needs to replicate this in 2021. Charlotte meanwhile ran under the 16:40 standard at the Comeback 5000 in March; however, the use of male pacemakers means the run does not count for qualifying purposes.

Ribble Valley’s Eleanor Bolton will be looking to improve her PB by two seconds to give her a U23 QT, and her 15:58 at Podium suggests this should be possible. Fast Running’s Hannah Irwin, who ran largely solo at the Comeback 5000 to improve her PB by over 20 seconds to 16:01.29 will be looking to dip under 16 minutes for the first time.

Women’s 1500m

European U23 Championships Standard: 4:14.00
World U20 Championships Standard: 4:17.00
European U20 Championships Standard: 4:22.00
BMC Record: 4:03.09, Nancy Chepkwemoi (Kenya), 2015 (member record 4:03.74 Charlene Thomas, 2013)

The women’s 1500m features one of the few international athletes competing with Ireland’s Sarah Healy leading the entrants. Sarah is no stranger to success at the age-group championships, having won gold over both 1500m and 3000m at the 2018 European U18s and silver over 1500m at the European U20s in Boras in 2019. Her PB of 4:09.25 is over a second faster than anyone else entered and is well inside the European U23 qualifying time of 4:14.00.

Revee Walcott-Nolan is also entered and certainly one to watch. Whilst perhaps best known as an 800m runner (with a 2:01.74 PB), she has been experimenting over longer distances in recent weeks, with a 9:09.9 3000m at the Comeback 5000 in March, her first time over her distance since 2012, and a 15:50 on the roads at Podium 5k. This will be Revee’s second 1500m of the season, having run 4:14.88 for second behind Alexandra Bell at Birmingham University last month.

 

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Two athletes will be targeting Championship qualifiers, Erin Wallace (U23) and Emily Williams (U20). Both have PBs inside the respective qualifying times; Erin has a PB of 4:12.57 and was less than one second shy of the 4:14.00 U23 standard during the indoor season. Emily took silver at the 2018 European U18 Championships behind Sarah Healy, and her 2019 PB of 4:16.89 is inside the World and European U20 QTs. However, it will be her first race in 15 months and her first outdoor track race since July 2019.

It will also be interesting to see how Issy Boffey, reigning European U20 Champion over 800m, goes in only her second race over 1500m. Issy is mixing up the distances in the early part of her season and is due to race over 400m next week. Her 4:20.67 PB was set at the 2019 Loughborough International when finishing third behind Dani Chattenton and Rosie Johnson. She’s improved her 800m PB by over two seconds since that race, and so an improvement would be no surprise. Danielle Hodgkinson is the England 1500m Champion and returns to the track after getting over Achilles issues which hampered her training in 2020.

Men’s 1500m

European U23 Championships Standard: 3:41.00
World U20 Championships Standard: 3:43.00
European U20 Championships Standard: 3:46.00
BMC Record: 3:36.69, Ross Murray, 2012

The 1500m entrants are led by U23 athlete Thomas Keen, who has an indoor PB of 3:41.44 set in Vienna last February. The 2018 European U18 Champion over 3000m has spent recent weeks training in Flagstaff, Arizona with Jake Wightman and the race will be his season debut after three indoor races in January and February. He is no stranger to the Trafford track, having finished fourth at this meeting two years ago.

He will be joined by Michael Wilsmore in his first race of 2021 and Rory Leonard, fresh from his 3:45.70 PB last month in Birmingham. The Morpeth and Hoka One One athlete is in good shape after a 13:50.22 at the Comeback 5000, comfortably under the European U23 Championships QT.

Two athletes will have their eyes on qualifiers for the European U20 championships, Ethan Hussey and Kane Ellliot. Ethan ran inside the 3:46.00 standard at this meeting in 2019 (3:45.85), whilst 2018 European U18 Champion Kane needs to take less than one second from his 3:46.83 PB set in 2019.

Men’s 800m

European U23 Championships Standard: 1:47.00
World U20 Championships Standard: 1:47.50
European U20 Championships Standard: 1:49.00
BMC Record: 1:44.75, Max Burgin, 2020

It is expected to be a battle of the young guns in the men’s 800m, as U23 athletes Ben Pattison and Alex Botterill head up the field. Both set 1:46 PBs last year, inside the European U23 Championships standard. Ben will be looking to make his third age-groups championships this summer, having taken silver at the last edition of the European U20 Championships and competed over 400m at the European U18s in 2018. He took the win at his last two BMC races (over 800m in Watford in 2019), and Saturday will be his first outing in Trafford.

City of York’s Alex Botterill has made a positive start to the season after taking over three seconds off his 1500m PB (3:49.43) at the BMC Gold Standard in Birmingham last month. Alex ran under 1:47 for the first time last summer at the Bromley Twilight meeting and will have fond memories of the Trafford track, having set his previous PB here on his last visit in August 2019. Another to watch will be Brighton Phoenix’s Archie Davis, who took over a second off him 800m PB (1:47.26) last weekend Worthing.

Three U20 athletes (Henry Johnson, Joe Ewing and Daniel Joyce) have PBs within one second of the European U20 Championships standard and will undoubtedly be looking to get under the 1:49 mark required.

 

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Women’s 800m

European U23 Championships Standard: 2:03.00
World U20 Championships Standard: 2:04.00
European U20 Championships Standard: 2:06.00
BMC Record:1:59.91, Sarah McDonald, 2019; 1:59.33 (mixed), Lynsey Sharp, 2017

There is good depth expected as the women take to the track for two laps, with six of the field holding PBs under 2:05. They are led by 1:59 runner Alex Bell, fresh off her win over 1500m in Birmingham last month in her second fastest time over the distance. The Pudsey & Bramley athlete has no shortage of experience of the Trafford track, having raced on it 16 times over the past 14 years. This will also be her 30th BMC race, and she will be looking for her ninth BMC victory.

World Indoor Champion representative Mari Smith, who opened her season with 2:03.77 at the Birmingham University last month, and Irish Indoor Champion Louise Shanahan, who set a PB of 2:01.67 indoors in February, will be looking to challenge.

Katie Kirk (who in the spirit of continuing the London 2012 references was one of the seven athletes to light the Olympic Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony), Kirsty Fraser and Amy Griffiths also feature on the entry lists. Katie and Amy both opened their season in Birmingham last month (2:05.17 and 2:07.37 respectively), whilst this will be Kirsty’s first race of 2021.

Alex Bell. Credit: James Rhodes

400m & 400m Hurdles

In conjunction with British Athletics, the BMC is also looking to provide domestic competition and Olympics qualification opportunities through the addition of 400m and 400m hurdles races to the schedule, a first for the BMC.

Stand out entrants include five athletes who competed at last weekend’s World Relays in Silesia (James Williams, Kevin Metzger, Lee Thompson, Jess Turner and Jessie Knight) and World Indoor relay medallist Amy Allcock. However, middle-distance eyes will be focused on 800m specialist Keely Hodgkinson as the World Junior Record holder and European Indoor Champion makes a (fairly) rare appearance over the shorter distance.

How to Follow

The evening’s action will be streamed live on Vinco via: https://www.vincosport.com/live/132376/. I will also provide updates from trackside via twitter (@james_athletics) and Instagram (@jrhodesathletics).

The post BMC Grand Prix Preview appeared first on Fast Running.

This week saw the long awaited return of non-elite racing in England. Whether you are an athlete, coach, spectator, or all of these, it has been something to look forward to for the past few weeks.

It is fair to say it did not disappoint. Here’s a whirlwind run-through of an action-packed few days.

Brilliant Beth in Barrowford (Podium 5k)

I do not think I am wrong to suggest that, 24 hours ago, no one would have predicted I would be kicking off this round up with a (possible) World Record, run just outside a village in Lancashire on a Saturday evening. However, that is exactly what happened at the year’s first Podium 5k.

Beth Potter, based about 50km to the east in Leeds as part of their elite triathlon group including Alistair and Johnny Brownlee, had asked to run in the men’s race to try to hit a good time. It is safe to say she delivered on that attempt.

The Scot ran a simply incredible 14:41 to become the second fastest woman over the distance in history, and go two seconds faster than the current World Record (14:43), set by Beatrice Chepkoech in Monaco in February.

Yes, you read that correctly, World Athletics didn’t recognise the road 5k as a WR event until 2018, so the “World Record” is not actually the fastest in history – that honour goes to Joyciline Jepkosgei’s 14:32 split in Prague in 2017. The time also takes ten seconds off Paula Radcliffe’s British Record, set over 17 years ago.

I spoke to Beth to get her thoughts after the run of her life. She explained that, whilst the pace was faster than advertised, she knew there was a need to keep with the pace to avoid running in no-mans-land. This was clearly working, and it was towards the final kilometre that she realised something special was on the cards;

“Coming onto the last lap, with just over 1km to go, I saw the clock at 11-something and in my head I was thinking ‘about 3 minutes for this last lap and we are going to be 14-something’. When I crossed the line I saw the time and couldn’t really believe it”.

That time is a 43 second PB for the Scot, improving her time set on the same course last August. Of course, there was much animation on social media as people began to realise not only the British Record had been broken, but that the World Record might have been bettered also. How about on the ground in Barrowford?

“Well I had no idea what the WR was, the only thing I wanted to immediately do is confirm the time, as of course it was very fast! About five minutes later people started saying things about the WR and it went from there”.

Conditioned to perform

Whilst the last three years have seen focus on the triathlon (including a win at the Super League Triathlon at the Olympic Park just last weekend), Beth is no stranger to running. She has competed on the track at the Olympics, World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games, as well as at the World and Euro XC Champs.

She was also crowned British Champion over 10,000m in 2017, at my personal favourite edition of the always-superb Night of the 10k PBs.

Photo: James Rhodes

Beth notes the role that this change in direction in her sporting career has had in reaching performances such as Saturday’s. “Being a triathlete now I am not running as much as I used to, but I really believe the conditioning that comes from all the cross-training is so, so valuable”. It is also worth noting, since making the switch towards triathlon, Beth has put her physics teaching career on hold to focus on her sporting dreams. Plus, as many athletes have noted, lockdown has allowed Beth to “really get my head down with no distractions”, and alongside an injury-free four years, “everything has come together”.

This is the things athlete’s dreams are made of. Did the dreams of a much younger Beth, at the start of her athletics career, ever envisage something like this? Of course, but she is also not forgetting of the support she has received throughout her career;

“This sort of thing is something I have always aspired to. To be in the same conversation as Paula or some of the other great runners is amazing. But I am really just happy for all the people around me. It is the work day in day out that get results like this”.

Whilst World Athletics has confirmed the time is unlikely to be ratified as the World Record due to full procedures not being in place, it is still an outstanding performance. If I am honest, I am still a bit speechless.

If I am speechless, how about Beth herself, has the magnitude of what was achieved sunk in?

“No, not really. I just went to try to push myself and see what I could run and that was the result. The support, messages and calls from everyone has been overwhelming. But you are only as good as your next race, so it is head down and continue working for me!”.

That work has included a four hour bike ride today, in preparation for the next triathlons; the Arena Games in Rotterdam in a fortnight, and hopefully the World Triathlon Championship Series in Yokohama in mid-May.

Mortimer takes win with big PB

The men’s A race was won by Tom Mortimer, who outsprinted Phil Sesemann to cross the line in 13:39, a 32 second PB. The first ten finishers all ran under 14 minutes with Sesemann running 13:40 and Andrew Heyes 3rd with a fine 13:36.

Elsewhere, Mick Hill set a V45 British Record (14:44) and Revee Walcott Nolan made an excellent debut over the distance with 15:50. Samantha Harrison put in a strong display off the back of recent marathon training to clock 15:53 and Mhairi Maclennan was the 3rd fastest woman on the night racing in the 16:30 race she clocked 15:47.

After Marc Scott’s 13:20 British Record last August, Podium is certainly living up to its tagline as the fastest “course in the country”. By my count, a total of 133 athletes ran a PB. [Writer’s Note: shoe-related chat has been deliberately avoided. There are plenty of other articles focusing on this element, should you wish]

Comeback 5000

Thanks to COVID, it had been over a year since a non-elite 5000m had been raced on the track in England. Wednesday saw the much anticipated return of the distance at the Comeback 5000 at Battersea Park, jointly hosted by Belgrave and Herne Hill Harriers.

Despite this time away from 12.5 laps, competitors certainly put on a show, with over two thirds running a PB. These included 8 of the 14 in the men’s elite race, won by steeplechase specialist Phil Norman in 13:46.80 (in his first race at the distance since 2016), won thanks to a sprint finish against Adam Clarke (13:48.97) and Rory Leonard (13:50.22, a PB and European U23 qualifier).

The women’s elite race provided a demonstration opportunity for Jenny Nesbitt, crossing the line in 15:46.62, the second fastest of her career. Behind her was a gutsy run from Fast Running’s own Hannah Irwin, who ran the second half solo and was rewarded with a 23 second PB and 16:01.29 for second. Seven of the 11 in the field ran PBs, including Charlotte Alexander’s 16:35.09, which is under the European U20 qualifying time, but doesn’t count due to the use of male pacemakers.

The event was a demonstration of what is possible with domestic middle distance racing when passionate and dedicated people are involved. In the absence of on-site spectators it provided a high-quality livestream for all races, a prize pot built up by fans in excess of £1500, and some superb fields.

It would also be reminds of me to not express my gratitude to Steve Gardner for organising the event, as I came away with a 10 second PB in one of the earlier races (16:40.66).

Photo: James Rhodes

Istanbul Half Marathon

You wait a while for a World Record, then two come in the space of 15 hours! Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich took 29 seconds off the half marathon World Record with a 64:02 performance in Instanbul on Sunday morning, bettering the previous mark set last February by Ababel Yeshaneh.

Notably, it is also faster than the 64:28 run by Brigid Kosgei at the 2019 Great North Run, a course ineligible for World Records. The pace was fast from the start, with the leaders passing through 5k in 15:07 and 10k in 30:21. By 15k, the leading pack was down to three (Chepngetich, Yalemzerf Yehualaw and debutant Hellen Obiri) and went through in 45.29, 13 seconds ahead of WR pace. The reigning marathon World Champion and two-time winner in Istanbul broke away to record the fastest time in history.

Hellen Obiri’s 1:04:51 for third is the fastest half marathon debut ever, but it also allows for another milestone for the athletics history books – she is the first woman to run under 4:00 for 1500m, 8:30 for 3000m, 14:30 for 5000m, 30:00 for 10km and 65:00 for the half. An unprecedented range.

The men’s race was won by World Record holder Kibiwott Kandie in 59:35, the sixth half marathon win of his career. He certainly put the burners on in the last quarter of the race to shake off Geoffrey Kamworor, running the last 1.1km in 2:55 – that is 2:39/km pace!

Road Racing Round Up

After three months away, there were plenty of other road races dotted across the country. Saturday saw a return to marathon racing at Dorney Lake, with wins for Jordan Andrews (2:25;50) and Samantha Amend (2:52:36). The races provided good depth, with the top six men all ran under 2:30 and 52 going quicker than 2:45.

Seven women finished in under three hours; these included Fast 10’s Karla Borland, who ran 2:57:11 for fifth. That is a 27 second PB, run in the middle of 100 mile training, bettering a time set at the 2015 London Marathon. A very impressive result.

Saturday also saw the return of Runthrough’s events with a suite of races from the 5k to marathon at Kempton Park. The 26.2 mile distance provided wins for Ollie Garrod (2:27:03, a seven second PB) and Laura Thompson (3:22:03), whilst Elisha De Mello (1:08:35) and Becki Timmings (1:20:08) took the honours in the half distance.

The 10k races saw dominant wins for Scott Overall (29:59) and Julia Bijl (35:58), the latter winning with a six minute margin. The shortest race of the day saw victories for Daniel Bulbrook (16:34) and triathlete Olivia Matthews (16:56).

Libby Matthews breaks 17 minutes for the first time

James McMurray (30:00) and Jen Baird (37:08) took victories at the St Albans 10k, whilst the Race Organiser’s Olympic Park 10k saw wins for George Gurney in 33:14 and Lily Rae Zechmann in 38:50. Taunton’s Elle Twentyman (37:21) and Exeter Harrier Ben Holmes (32:29) claimed top spots at the Fast Friday 10K. The 5k was won by Oliver Smart (14:46) and Hannah Taunton, of Taunton AC, in 17:32.

Performances Continue in America

Athletes based in the collegiate system in the United States (as well as those based there to train) continue to provide us with plenty to write about.

The highlight belongs to Charles Hicks, who ran 28:25.29 on his 10,000m debut; a time that is almost 45 seconds under the qualifying standard for this summer’s European U23 Championships. Not a bad first outing for the Shaftesbury Barnet athlete!

Following its rebuild ahead of hosting the 2022 World Championships, the new Hayward Field hosted its first competition on Friday and Saturday, with a handful of Brits in action. These included Patrick Dever, fresh from his fifth place finish at the NCAA XC, who ran a 28:28.13 10,000m in his debut over the distance. Behind him Jack Leitch bettered his PB by over a minute with 29:47.21.
There were also debuts over 25 laps for Bella Williams and Grace Brock, who ran 33:17.07 and 33:59.31 respectively. Following a good XC season, Poppy Tank took over 20 seconds off her 5000m PB with 15:45.07.

The post Back with a Bang – weekend roundup appeared first on Fast Running.

In the run up to a race, there’s a few things I like to read about. Who is running, what they’ve done before and their thoughts are on the race ahead. So, I hope you enjoy this run through of the 15 men who, COVID test results permitting, will be spending their Friday morning running 26.2 miles around Kew Gardens at the British Athletics Olympics Marathon Trials.

For some, it is a chance to book a spot at the Olympic Games. For others, there’s Commonwealth Games qualifying marks in sight. For all, it’s simply a chance to race in a time where opportunities are sparse. It promises to be an excellent race, with many races within that race.

What’s at Stake?

Let’s go straight to the Olympics first. With Callum Hawkins (who is on pacing duty on Friday) pre-selected, there are two spots for Tokyo up for grabs. If an athlete finishes first or second and has the qualifying time (2:11:30), they’ll automatically be selected and on the plane to Japan.
Ben Connor is the sole entrance to currently have a qualifier. He needs to finish in the top two, regardless of time. For the remaining 14, to become an Olympian they need a top-two finish and a time under 2:11:30.

If the top two don’t have or get the QT, it opens a chance for those not running who have the time to be selected. These notably include the injured Johnny Mellor.
Beyond that, there are the Commonwealth Games to consider, with the English qualifying standard 2:14:00. That is well within the ability of much of the field and is a well-known target for many.

So, Who’s Racing?

Ready, here we go!

Ben Connor

Marathon PB: 2:11:20 (2020)
Most Recent: 2:11:20, London Marathon, October 2020

For me, Ben Connor is the most exciting prospect for Friday’s race, but also the one with the most at stake as the only in the field to have the Olympic qualifying time. His job is simple, on paper at least – finish in the top two and, regardless of time, a ticket for the plane to Japan will be his.

Not only that, he ran the qualifier in his debut over 26.2 miles, at last year’s London Marathon in what was a mighty performance in mightily unpleasant conditions. In the absence of the injured Johnny Mellor, Ben goes in as the fastest athlete over the past three years. One could even argue the similarities between the London and Kew courses – flat and lapped – may work in Ben’s favour.

Ben’s speed on the road was no fluke, with his 60:55 for third in last year’s Antrim Coast Half Marathon (behind Mo Farah and Marc Scott) putting him fifth on the British all-time list. These were backed up with 61:34 at the Barcelona Half Marathon and 28:10 at the 10K Valencia Ibercaja earlier in 2020.

If he makes it, this would be Ben’s first Olympics, but not his first appearance at a major championships, having run in a British vest on the track (2019 Worlds, 2018 Europeans), road (2018 World Half Marathon Champs) and cross country (2010, 2016 & 2017 Europeans, 2011 Worlds). If he can replicate his performance around St James’ Park five months ago, you’d have to say Ben is a favourite.

Photo: Keith McClure

Chris Thompson

Marathon PB: 2:11:19 (2014)
Most Recent: 2:13:32, London Marathon, October 2020

It is fair to say Chris Thompson is no stranger to the international stage. He first donned a British vest at the World Junior Championships 23 years ago. By comparison, Josh Griffiths, the youngest man in the field, was only five years old. Becky Briggs, also racing on Friday, wasn’t born.

Since then, Chris has represented GB (or England) on the track at the 2012 Olympics, three European Championships, a Commonwealth Games with a 5000m and 10,000m double, European XC Championships and a host of junior-level competitions.

His marathon debut, at London in 2014, remains his PB, and is the only time he has run under the Olympic QT. Since then, he’s had five goes at 26.2 miles – three in London (2016, 2:15:05; 2017, 2:24:11 and 2020, 2:13:32), one in New York (2018, 2:28:54) and a win at the Richmond RUNFEST Marathon in 2019 (2:30:09).

Whilst he only raced twice, last year showed Chris is close to his best. His 61:07 at the Vitality Big Half last March was his fastest half since the 2012 Great North Run, whilst his 2:13:32 at last year’s elite-only London Marathon was the second best of his career.

Plus, as anyone who has met him I am sure will attest, Chris is a downright nice guy. Ever since we first met (me being a much younger athletics fan at Crystal Palace many years ago), Chris has made the time to ask how my running is going, including about two minutes before the start of the Big Half last March. If I could chose a favourite based on that alone, Chris would be my pick.

Photo: Keith McClure

Dewi Griffiths

Marathon PB: 2:09:49 (2017)
Most Recent: 2:11:46, London Marathon, April 2019

Based on PBs, Dewi Griffiths is the fastest man in the field, thanks to his 2:09:49 run at the 2017 Frankfurt Marathon. More impressive is the fact this was his debut over the distance.
Whilst three and a half years can be a long time in running, I feel you’d need to be a brave man to rule the Welshman out of contention. His second and most recent marathon was only 16 seconds outside the Olympic qualifier (2:11:46 at the 2019 London Marathon). Notably, also, he is the only man in the field to have raced this year, taking on 10,000m at the elite-only event held in Newport earlier this month. He also ran a 5k PB (13:57) last August.

As you’ll see at the end of this preview, he is a noted contender by my prediction provider. Dewi is also the fastest Parkrunner in the field, thanks to his 14:12 that puts him fourth on the all-time list. A nice stat to end with!

Andrew Davies

Marathon PB: 2:14:36 (2019)
Most Recent: 2:17:12, Bedford Autodrome Marathon, October 2020

I think one of my favourite things about the men’s race is the variety of age and experience. You have those making their debuts at a young age, and those who have plenty of experience, both in life and in racing. One fifth of the field is over 40. I think that is awesome.

That group is headed up by Welshman Andrew Davies. He is the marathon V40 British Record holder, thanks to his 2:14:36 in Valencia in 2019 (only 55 minutes faster than I was that day), and by my count has run 22 marathons on the road, including at the 2017 World Championships and two Commonwealth Games. Add in his mountain races and there’s certainly plenty of experience to draw on.

His most recent 26.2 was in October in Bedford, comfortably winning the race by over seven minutes. One would imagine a faster time would be easily possible in a competitive field.
Indeed, Andrew says training has been going well in the run up, fortunate to have near perfect conditions for sessions – save for the cold and some inclement weather! He’s got a strategy for racing tactics as well; “I think it’s important to take the racing line and not run abreast with other people on the corners-could be running quite a bit extra otherwise, which I don’t really want”.

Josh Griffiths

Marathon PB: 2:13:11 (2020)
Most Recent: 2:13:11, London Marathon, October 2020

If 2020 is anything to go by, Swansea’s Josh Griffiths is a man in good form having set PBs at the half marathon (63:08 at Antrim) and marathon (2:13:11 at London). Given the less-than-ideal conditions in London, I’m excited to see how the race unfolds.

Indeed, those performances have given Josh confidence in the run up to Friday; “2:13 was a big step forward and that was run in less than ideal conditions, so I do feel like that I can go faster this time”. However, it would be remis to not mention the particularly stringent restrictions that have been in place in Wales in recent months, and Josh notes these have been “tough mentally”, but that he is looking forward to racing.

He may be the youngest in the field, but Josh certainly has shown his ability at major Championships, having worn the British vest at the 2017 World Championships in London – qualifying in his marathon debut – and the Welsh vest at the 2018 Commonwealths. Adding to that resume, with an eye on Tokyo and Birmingham next year, is providing “plenty of motivation to run hard”.
How will Josh relax beforehand? With a bit of Modern Family over breakfast. But once at the venue, it’ll be full race mode.

Josh Lunn

Marathon PB: 2:17:59 (2020)
Most Recent: 2:17:59, London Marathon, October 2020

Josh Lunn made his marathon debut only five months ago, running 2:17:59 in miserable weather in London. It is thanks to the allure of an opportunity to race that he will be in Kew come Friday morning, with the original plan being to focus on an autumn marathon.

That’s not at all to say the effort and ambition is missing, with a PB the objective come race day, an achievable target given the conditions in October. Josh notes that training has been “a mixed bag”, with a few niggles forcing some weeks off in the build-up. The plan however is simple, to “run my own race even if I’m on my own at the back… remember it’s a marathon and not a sprint!”

Does having marathon race experience of only a small field and laps help? Yes and no. “The small field I’m personally not looking forward to. [Adam] Hickey and I spent 26 miles [of London] about 20-40 seconds apart at London, otherwise we were completely on our own which wasn’t ideal. The laps however I really enjoyed”.

Something I like to know (maybe I am just nosey) is what music gets an athlete in the mood to race. For Josh? Expect the headphones to be playing some Dave, Eminem and Fredo.
One can’t ask for more than a PB, and I hope Josh is rewarded with one.

Lunn coped well with the tough conditions in October. Photo: Tom Craggs

Robbie Simpson

Marathon PB: 2:14:56 (2019)
Most Recent: 2:14:56, London Marathon, April 2019

Before speaking to Scotsman Robbie Simpson, equally known for his performances on the trails and mountains as on the road (which include his 2:14 PB set in his most recent marathon), I wondered whether the impact of COVID on racing opportunities had changed his approach to training this year given his usual range of race types. Naturally it was the first thing I asked.

“Training has been pretty different this winter although I feel it’s gone quite well. Usually I’d try to escape to warmer weather for a bit, that wasn’t possible which was fine, but we ended up with a pretty severe winter”.

Not to panic though, cross country skiing, sourcing out clear roads and plenty of treadmill running provided opportunities to train. “Thinking back to the previous year I had a really good 12 months of consistent training with few races or trips away to interrupt. I was lucky to get three hill/trail races in last summer in Scotland but still kept ticking over with the flat training to be in a good place for the build up to this race”.

What does the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist hope to get out of the race? “The main goal is just to execute a good race and run as quick as possible. I’ve no idea what sort of time I’m capable of so will just have to see how it feels at the time. The commonwealth standard is a good aim although I doubt I’ll improve on my 2018 result if I was selected!”

Adam Hickey

Marathon PB: 2:16:56 (2019)
Most Recent: 2:17:38, London Marathon, October 2020

Southend’s Adam Hickey is a relative newbie when it comes to the marathon, with two under his belt; a 2:16:56 at the 2019 Berlin Marathon (yes, the race where Kenenisa Bekele was only two seconds behind Eliud Kipchoge’s World Record) and 2:17:38 at London last October.

He has plenty of track, road and cross country experience, including a PB in Antrim last year and runs at the World and European XC Championships, including as British team captain at the European XCs in 2019.

Training has gone well in the run up, with “a few niggles along the way (but who hasn’t!)” but Adam notes all is good now, and now is the time that matters most!
It’s not all glam in the world of elite runners though; Adam’s day-before-the-race routine will include “herding my two boys out the door to school” before the final prep and heading to the meeting hotel.

Lastly, his coach – Eammon Martin – is certainly no stranger to the marathon, with wins in London (in his debut and PB of 2:10:50) and Chicago. What advice has he given for when on the line standing for the gun to go off? “Just relax and enjoy it!”.

Tom Evans

Marathon PB: 2:26:04 (2017)
Most Recent: 2:26:04, Frankfurt Marathon, October 2017

Any distance, any terrain. That ends Tom Evans’ biography on Power of 10, and it is very accurate. Afterall, his CV includes everything from third place at the 2017 Marathon des Sables – a 251km ultramarathon touted as one of the toughest races in the world, third at the Trail Running World Championships and a 1500m on the track at the Army Individual Championships.

Despite this incredible range, Friday will only be Tom’s second road marathon, following a 2:26:04 debut in Frankfurt in 2017, and the chance to double this tally comes with a level of excitement and gratitude; “It’s been a crazy 12 months so I’m really grateful for the opportunity to race. [It’s an] amazing line up so looking forward to pushing myself”.

As for everyone, 2020 has been a different year, with no chance to take on the trails. Has this changed the approach to training? Not really. Tom’s build up has included “more marathon specific sessions but the fundamentals stay the same” when compared to a fast trail race.

As Tom notes, “it’s been great training in a small group in Loughborough under the guidance of Andy Hobdell”.
Race eve will comprise the drive from Loughborough to London, a shake out, relaxation and making sure everything is good to go; “I don’t like leaving things to chance so I will be double checking everything. I will bring a book down, listen to some music, have a coffee and just chill really”.

Music you say? As you know I like knowing this. What will be on the playlist pre-race? Fort Minor’s Remember the Name. As Tom says, “that’s going to be ideal for Friday!”.

Tom Evans. Credit: Nigel Bramley

Matt Clowes

Marathon PB: 2:13:57 (2019)
Most Recent: 2:15:43, Valencia Marathon, December 2020

On Friday, it will be 110 days since Cardiff’s Matt Clowes last ran a marathon – on the streets of Valencia last December. No one else has run a road race since this date. Is that a benefit and provide valuable lessons learnt for tomorrow? Matt certainly thinks so;

“I was fit going into it and it was basically a free ticket to see what I could do. I wanted to see how far I could go at around 2:10/2:11 pace. I’ve learnt that negative splitting the marathon plays to my strengths. Part of me was disappointed as I felt that I was in 2:12 shape but brings me confidence that with going out aggressive that I could still hold”.

His 2:15:43 in Valencia was the sixth fastest by a Brit in 2020, and less than two minutes shy of his PB in 2019’s Berlin Marathon, his second run at the distance and a 30 minute improvement on his 2018 debut in London. A jump I’m not sure anyone else running on Friday can claim!

His CV includes every distance from 400m to the marathon and covers a 15-year span. Yes, that 400m was 12 years ago, I imagine Matt is much happier to be racing a distance over 100 times longer on Friday.

His goals for the race, after a good taper this week? “To be competitive and enjoy it. There’s nothing more than that for me. If everything aligns how I want it then I’ll be very happy with the outcome”. Here’s hoping by late-morning there will be a smile on Matt’s face!

Ian Leitch

Marathon PB: 2:18:33 (2019)
Most Recent: 2:18:33, Brighton Marathon, April 2019

At 45, Ian is the oldest in the men’s field. But, as they say, age is just a number and does not dictate either performance or goals. Ian is a clear example of that, having run a superb 2:18:33 in the last edition of the Brighton Marathon, a seven-minute improvement.

Training had been going well for Ian, although cellulitis and a requirement for antibiotics has given, as he puts it, “a really bad curve ball”. He’s not letting that get in the way of racing though, and fully intends to toe the line on Friday morning and has clear goals for the race; “My intention is to be in a fight with some new faster folk – though it all very much depends on how this week and medication affect me”.

Whilst COVID has been a hindrance to many, it has provided some new opportunities thanks to a lack of commuting. “I work a busy full time job around a family so training has in some ways been easier as I can nip out over lunch … I’ve upped my mileage [compared to in the run up to Brighton] and also focused on in hard long runs and marathon tempos which I know make the difference for me”.

But as I am sure many can relate, it’s not been easy with job sharing and home schooling two young children! How about times, did his PB come as a surprise? Absolutely not. “I knew I could run 2.18 at Brighton and I did it – it was a great day”.

Indeed, Ian notes the windy conditions and hills in the early miles mean he believes a faster time is possible, especially when comparing 2019 and 2021 training sessions. I asked if sights were on the 2:19 British V45 Record – but the goal sits at sub-2:15. Whether that will happen this week, with the infection and antibiotics, is unclear. But it makes the coming months an exciting watch! Many readers will know as well as being a top runner Ian has a pedigree of a world class mountain bike racer.

Nicholas Torry

Marathon PB: 2:15:04 (2013)
Most Recent: 2:16:21, London Marathon, April 2019

Rounding out the over-40 club is Serpentine’s Nic Torry, another athlete who is running close to his best times. Indeed, his most recent marathon – 2:16:21 at London two years ago – is the second fastest of the six he has run and his best since the 2013 Berlin Marathon.

Nic’s range is impressive; he sits in the top 10 on the British all-time V40 lists for the 5000m (8th), 10,000m (6th), parkrun (3rd), half marathon (5th) and marathon (5th). Quite a statistic!
He hasn’t raced during the COVID-era, his last being the Bath Half Marathon last March. It will be interesting to see how he goes here.

Nigel Martin

Marathon PB: Debut
Most Recent: Debut

One of this year’s Fast 10 club, Nigel Martin will be making his debut over the marathon. He will be a well-known face to those regular to Fast Running, including thanks to his 13:54 at the Armagh 5k in 2019.

I won’t dwell for long on Nigel; not because I don’t want to, but because you can read his own words about his run up towards and his feelings ahead of Friday, and he says them much more eloquently than I could. Have a read here.

Photo: Pete Brown

Frank Baddick

Marathon PB: Debut
Most Recent: Debut

Frank Baddick is the second of three making their marathon debut. Much like Nigel, I am excited to see how the Newham & Essex Beagles athlete goes over 26.2 miles following his stellar 2020.
This included PBs at 3000m (8:03.94), 5k (13:56), 5 miles (24:00) and half marathon (63:54), and good outings at the British Championships over 5000m alongside a XC win. Not bad for a year with minimal racing opportunities!

With three sub-65 minute half marathons under his belt, an impressive maiden marathon could be on the cards.

Mohamud Aadan

Marathon PB: Debut
Most Recent: Debut

The third and final athlete making their 26.2 mile debut is Thames Valley’s Mohamud Aadan.

His road credentials are certainly noteworthy; his 62:30 half marathon PB set at the Cardiff Half Marathon was the sixth fastest by a Brit in 2018, whilst his 62:41 at last autumn’s World Half Marathon Championships was the eighth fastest of the year.

His three races in 2020, all half marathons, were progressively faster, and if that momentum has been carried through the winter then Kew could provide an excellent performance. The battle of the debutants will be fascinating!

So, Who Will Win?

I am not one for making race predictions, not publicly at least. That’s not because I am superstitious and worried about somehow jinxing the athlete I suggest to be a favourite. Not at all; it’s simply because I’m not very good at it. That’s not to say there is not a prediction for you to close out this preview.

I asked Tim Hutchings, who’ll be commentating on Friday on the BBC iPlayer, for his views as to who will take the top spots. “My heart says Chris Thompson and Dewi Griffiths, as they’ve both had so many injury problems (and I can empathise with that), but my head says Ben Connor – who has great track pedigree, strong recent (well, last Autumn) road form.”

Find out if he is right from 08:00 on Friday.

The post Men’s Marathon Trial: Who’s Running? appeared first on Fast Running.

It’s a funny time for athletics at the moment. The indoor season has concluded, the outdoor season hasn’t yet started, and COVID has wreaked havoc on the usual flurry of spring road races. However, there is grounds for cautious optimism, particularly with athletics competition restarting in England in ten days.

That’s not to say there is nothing to talk about. In fact quite the opposite with this weekend witnessing a World Record and British Record in the race walks. I can’t claim to be a fountain of knowledge on race walking, but it has certainly been a weekend where the walkers have taken centre stage.

Walking in Dundince

Saturday saw the 40th anniversary edition of the Dundiska 50 in Dundince, Slovakia. Incorporating 20km, 35km and 50km distances for the men, and 10km and 20km for the women, it provided an opportunity for athletes both to compete in a period sparse of racing, but also to chase Olympic qualifying times four months before Tokyo.

British interest came in the form of trio Cameron Corbishley, Dominic King and Daniel King, all going in the 50km race, with their sights on getting below the 3:50 Olympic qualifier. For context, Chris Maddock’s British Record is 3.51:37. This was set in 1990. It is older than me, and a sign of the challenge ahead. The trio went through 10km with a large group in 46:30, before Cameron put in a burst of pace to reach 20km in 1.31:38, inside Olympic Q (and British Record pace), with Dominic and Daniel about 50 seconds behind.

Cameron did not take his foot off, climbing to third by halfway in 1:54 and catching the leaders by 30km (2.15:37), gaining momentum in the chase for Tokyo. Dominic was about three minutes behind at this point, not far off 3:50 pace.

By 35km Cameron had a 49 second lead and was on course for a 3:45-or so finish, with his lead growing to over 90 seconds by 40km. No British man won the 50km event in its 40 year history. Could that change? With only 10km to go, was history in the making?

Strong finishing King breaks British record

You know what they say though, the last part is always the hardest. True enough, the rapid pace started to take its toll on Cameron, and by 43km he was down to third, slipping to fifth by 45km. He rallied to cross the line in 15th with 3:54:13, the second fastest of his career. However, Dominic was having quite the opposite experience over the closing kilometres, overtaking a number of the field, his teammate included, to finish tenth in 3:51:13, setting a new British Record with a four-minute PB.

Congratulations to @DomKingOlympian who broke the British Record for the 50km Race Walk this morning

He took 24 seconds off the long-standing record at the race in Dudince, Slovakia finishing in 3:51:13 pic.twitter.com/eKjpoX9d47

— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) March 20, 2021

I feel this is a suitable reward for the 37-year-old, in his 27th race at the distance. He has represented his country for 20 years, including at two Olympics, two World Championships and two Commonwealth Games, the first being Manchester in 2002. For a bit more context, I was only two years old when he raced on the roads for the first time.

His brother Daniel finished 29th in 4.06:09, his best time since 2008. The race was won by Guatemala’s Bernardo Uriel Barrondo in 3:47:01. Race walking clearly runs in the Barrondo family, with his older brother winning silver at the 2012 Olympics.

All three are due to compete at the British Athletics 20km Race Walk Olympics Trials next Friday in Kew Gardens. Keep an eye out for our preview of Friday’s action in the coming days.

These Boots Are Made for Walking (a World Record)

The women’s 20km race walk has been dominated by China in recent years. Even more so when you exclude the dubious and discredited Russian performances. Six of the nine available medals at the last three World Championships, including a clean sweep in Doha in 2019, and one third of Olympics medals in the history of the discipline have gone to Chinese athletes.

So perhaps it comes as no surprise that the Chinese Race Walking Championships in Huangshan delivered some fast times. I say fast times, I should say the fastest time in history, as Yang Jiayu set a new World Record of 1:23:49, bettering the six year old mark set by her compatriot Liu Hong in 2015. That sets a 49 second improvement, or for context is the equivalent of 1:28:25 half marathon pace. Walking.

The 2017 World Champion made a break on the rest of the field in the first kilometre, going through halfway in 41:52 before picking up the pace in the second half.

It was a strong field behind her, with reigning World and Olympic champion Hong second in 1:24:27, a time that was inside her previous World Record (1:24:38). 2019 World and 2012 Olympic silver medallist Qieyang Shenjie completed the podium, also in a PB (1:24:45).

With the event acting as a trial event for the Olympics, all three secured their spot in China’s team for Tokyo. It is the first 20km race in which more than one woman has walked sub- 1:25:00, with the top 10 all bettering the Olympic qualifying standard of 1:31:00.

Wang Kaihua won the men’s event in a NR of 1:16:54, moving him to third on the world all-time list, just 18 seconds behind the WR.

NCAA XC

Last week’s weekend roundup included a run through of the NCAA Indoor Championships, which are always a highlight for ridiculous performances. This wasn’t the end of the NCAA action. Monday saw the Division 1 Cross Country Championships taking place that had been postponed from November.

By my count, there were 18 British athletes in action, nine in each race. The standout performance came from Patrick Dever, who finished an impressive fifth in 30:00 over the 10km course. That placing by the Preston athlete, currently studying at Tulsa, is the best by a British athlete since Gavin Thompson came third in 2003 and Jon Brown fourth in 1990.
Behind him there were good runs for Charles Hicks (14th / 30:21), Isaac Akers (19th / 30:26) and Jamie Dee (56th / 31:04).

The race was won by BYU’s Conner Mantz, the first American winner of the NCAA XC since Galen Rupp in 2008.

In the women’s 6km race, Portsmouth’s Poppy Tank (currently at the University of Utah) was the highest placed Brit in 27th, finishing with 20:46. Sarah Chapman crossed the line in 47th (21:04).

The highlight of the NCAA XC, however, is the start and first few hundred metres, with the entire field spread out horizontally, resembling a battle scene in a Hollywood movie more than a cross country race.

We are under way with the DI Men’s Cross Country Championship!#NCAAXC pic.twitter.com/HMUBSkuNj7

— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) March 15, 2021

Elsewhere in the States

Whatever happens in the world, it is a near certainty that there will be a handful of American track meets taking place, and this weekend is no exception. On Friday Thomas George ran a 3:48.70 1500m PB in Missouri. This time currently puts him twelfth on the UK rankings for 2021. Just behind him on said rankings is Alexander Hanson after a 3:50.92 PB in Arkansas. This was a six second improvement for the Newbury athlete.

At the Rams College Invitational in South Carolina, Nathan Baker ran 14:30.60 to take the win in the 5000m, a 21 second PB that puts him third on the UK 2021 rankings (although at the time of writing only 12 athletes sit on that list thanks to the lack of racing here. Tynedale’s Thomas Joyce ran 14:45.76 in his debut over the distance.

At the same meeting, Emily Kearney ran a 15:39.65 PB over 12 and a half laps, her first time under 16 seconds, which currently puts her top of the UK rankings. A nice momento! She followed this up with a 4:26.46 1500m the next day, second best of her running career. Not a bad weekend.

It’s all Uphill in Italy

Last week we wrote about Fast Running’s own Robbie Britton’s return to racing with a 134th place finish at the Italian Cross Country Championships. An upward trajectory is certainly in place, with Robbie racing again today at the Biella-Piedcavallo, a 18.6km road race incorporating 600m of climb. He ran (or should that be climbed?) well to finish eighth in 71 minutes. Not bad for someone who says he is “no uphill runner”.

Coming Up

As I said at the start of this article, there is a sense of excitement with the imminent return of racing in England. This kicks off with the British Athletics Marathon and Race Walk Olympic trials at Kew Gardens on Friday.

There is a lot at stake in the four races, and we will have a dedicated preview of these in the coming days. The racing will be livestreamed on British Athletics’ website, kicking off with the race walks at 06:00 and the marathons at 08:00.

The competitor lists for the Müller British Athletics Marathon and 20km Walk Trials at Kew Gardens, London on Friday 26 March, are now available to view.

— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) March 19, 2021

Beyond this, the government’s COVID roadmap allows organised sporting competition to take place from Monday 29th March. A number of road and track races expected in the coming weeks. These include the Comeback 5000 at Battersea Park, jointly organised by Belgrave Harriers and Herne Hill Harriers. Maybe I am biased towards this, as it will be my first race of 2021. As exciting as my participation may be, there are also excellent lineups assembled for the elite races, and we will have a preview of these during the week.

The post Dom King breaks British record, Dever & Tank impress at NCAAs – weekend roundup appeared first on Fast Running.

What can I say? For the past four days (as well as those preceding) I have been consumed by the European Indoor Championships in Torun. It has been 515 days since the World Championships in Doha came to a close, and it was a long, but worthwhile, wait.

In a sea of travel restrictions, sanitary protocols, testing procedures, limited on-site media and no spectators, the event somehow managed to go ahead smoothly. It’s a fantastic achievement and I can’t really believe it happened.
The athletes went – in record numbers – to run in Torun, and run they certainly did.

As an all-round athletics fan I’d even suggest they left the best session till last. It had everything, and as I have for the past three days, I’ve put pen to paper (or keys to a Word document) to share my thoughts on what we saw from a middle distance perspective.

Heroic Hodgkinson

The women’s 800m final came with a bit of history – it was the first time in European Indoors history that Britain had three women in the final. They came in the form of Keely Hodgkinson, Issy Boffey and Ellie Baker, all making their senior debuts in a British vest.

All three had impressed in their heats and semi-finals, and there were genuine medal chances on offer.
Thanks to her 1:59:03 now-former World U20 Record, Keely was the fastest on paper, but so many times that counts for little in championship racing, as had been witnessed in other races. Just nineteen years old, you might expect the pressure of going in the favourite to be daunting, especially with two strong Polish stars in Joanna Jozwik and Angelika Cichocka in the field.

But Keely took it in her stride, leading from (almost) gun to tape to take the gold medal in 2:03.88. She led from the second lap in a slow starting race (going through the mid-way point in 1:05.31), before putting a kick in with a 30.29 third lap, speeding up to end with a 28.28 final lap.

Despite their best efforts, the field could not catch her. It wasn’t just a win, it was a dominant and tactical win. There’s not much else to say other than she is a bloody good athlete!

Poland completed the podium with Jozwik taking silver and Cichocka bronze. Ellie Baker ran well to finish fourth, with Issy Boffey sixth.

She continues a strong tradition in the event, with previous winners including her mentor Jenny Meadows. She is also the youngest British European Indoor Champion in 51 years. What a statistic!

.@keelyhodgkinson only turned 19 last week but she mastered the 800m in #Torun2021! #Torun2021 pic.twitter.com/4dCLN4re4i

— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) March 7, 2021

Webb Went For It

The men’s same over four laps also promised to be a cracker. It could almost be seen as a battle of the young guns against the old guard, with the line up comprising (comparative) veterans of the distance Adam Kszczot, Pierre-Amboise Bosse and Amel Tuka up against Jamie Webb and Poles Mateusz Borkowski and Patryk Dobek.

Jamie, who went in with the fastest time of 2021 and was looking to upgrade his silver medal from two years ago, took it out and led for the first three laps. It was a brave move, particularly after a fast semi-final, but ultimately he could not hold off the charge of the Polish trio, coming home in third for bronze.

It was a race of six athletes, but also a race of three Poles, with all looking good for victory as they approached the home straight. In the end it was Dobek who had the fastest charge for the line, crossing in a PB of 1:46.81, closely followed by Borkowski (1:46.90). Just 0.14 seconds separated the top three. Adam finished fourth. A changing of the guard of sorts.

I omitted Dobek from my preview, which was clearly an oversight! In my defence, five weeks ago he had never run an 800m. Not a bad progression! Again I must mention Mark Hookway, who messaged me after reading my preview to say he was looking forward to seeing how Patryk would won. He’s clearly got an eye for talent, which is no surprise given his success with Tonbridge AC.

BRONZE for @jamiewebb800!

A gutsy front-running display earns Jamie a podium finish and a second European indoor medal

absolutely smashing it at #Torun2021 pic.twitter.com/9hJEB5h5nw

— Team GB (@TeamGB) March 7, 2021

Keeping Up With the Ingebrigtsen (or not)

The 3000m men had the potential to deliver fireworks. Jakob Ingebrigtsen was looking to defend his title from Glasgow, but was about to run his fourth race in as many days after taking gold in the 1500m.

Not only that, a number in the field had run quicker this year than his PB. Would they go for it from the start to try and outrun the Norwegian? This seemed the only possible way anyone could claim victory.

As it turned out, no, they would not do this. In fact, they did the complete opposite and the race played straight into Jakob’s hands.

It was slow (VERY slow), going through the first kilometre in 2:44 and the second in 2:42. That’s 8:10 pace, over half a minute slower than the fastest in the field in 2021.

Then, just as one would expect, Ingebrigtsen put the burners on and was gone. There were valiant attempts to catch him by Belgian Isaac Kimeli and Spanish duo Mohamed Katir and Adel Mechaal, but they all fell short, with Kimeli taking the silver and Mechaal bronze.

It was no surprise they failed to catch the 20 year old; he closed in a 2:21 (yes, that’s not a typo) final kilometre, rewarding him with a second PB in two days (7:48.20). That 2:21 would place him eighth over that distance in Europe this year (thanks to Jon Mulkeen for that stat).

He also overtakes his older brother Henrik as the most successful of the Ingebrigtsen trio at the European Indoors with three golds and one silver.

Brits Andrew Butchart and Jack Rowe (another in his GB debut) finished in seventh and ninth respectively.

Elsewhere

It was a successful evening for the Brits elsewhere, with medals in both relays and both hurdles, and plenty of other noteworthy performances on the track and in the field. Here’s a whirlwind tour.

The men’s 4x400m relay team (Joe Brier, Owen Smith, James Williams and Lee Thompson) took bronze behind strong Dutch and Czech teams, the first medal Britain has got in the event since 2013. Credit to James for a very impressive leg, another athlete in his first GB vest.

In the final race of the Championships, the women went one better to take silver. They did so behind a Dutch squad that included individual gold medallist Femke Bol, who ran one of the all-time fastest indoor relay splits (49.99). The time of Zoey Clark, Jodie Williams, Ama Pipi and Jessie Knight was the third fastest by a British quartet.

A fantastic finish to the track events with a Silver medal in the women’s 4 x 400m!

Congratulations to @_ZoeyClark @Jodiealicia27 Ama Pipi and @Jessie_Knight #Torun2021 pic.twitter.com/ePXW86HKOu

— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) March 7, 2021

It was a case of Sister Act in the 60m hurdles, with Cindy Sember and her older sister Tiffany Porter taking silver and bronze. I said yesterday that people who know me would know it’d be remiss to not mention Nadine Visser’s performance, and that is applicable again today. She defended her title with a PB and National Record of 7.77, which puts her =16th on the all-time list. A personal highlight of the Champs.

Andy Pozzi took silver in men’s equivalent, equalling his PB of 7.43. As expected, the heptathlon title was taken by European Record holder Kevin Mayer, scoring 6,397 points. The fight for the remaining medals was a much closer battle, and largely hinged on the 1000m that brings the seven events to a close.

In a chase for the bronze Dutchman Rik Taam was off like a rocket, at one point with an 80m or so gap on the seven others. He was rewarded with a PB (2:35.35, not bad after six events in two days), and a heptathlon PB, but finished in the agonising fourth place.

Jorge Urena and Pawel Wiesiolek took silver and bronze. As much as I love the multi events, there are others able to tell their story considerably more eloquently than I, so I shall leave it there. Other than to say kudos to Andreas Bechmann, who ran the 1000m with just one shoe.

Fin.

That was, as they say, that. A superb four days of competition that has certainly whet the appetite for the outdoor season and – hopefully – the Olympics.

Congratulations to European Athletics and the Local Organising Committee for managing to make it happen, and for providing excellent live results and live streams, including dedicated videos for every separate event. I would have been there if it had been permitted, but I have enjoyed watching at points four streams simultaneously on four devices.

Also, thank you for those who have read these round ups and previews, and to Fast Running for giving me the chance to share my track and field passion with others.

The post Curtain Call for a Terrific Torun appeared first on Fast Running.

Whilst focus this weekend has been primarily been on the European Indoor Championships – for which I have written daily previews and so will not cover in detail here – there has been plenty of action elsewhere.

Sound Running Invite, California

The early hours of Sunday morning (Saturday evening local time) saw the Sound Running Invite in California, with three Brits in action.

Josh Kerr kicked off his 2021 season with victory in the 1500m – clocking 3:35.78. Both the quality of the field and the margin of victory were both superb – he was almost three seconds ahead of the rest of the field that included Olympic Champion Matt Centrowitz and bronze medallist in the same race Nick Willis.

Josh’s closing speed was mighty impressive with a 56 second last lap. Interestingly, his record against Centrowitz (who was second going into the home straight but finished 8th) is now 5-0.

Scott moves to 3rd on UK 5000m AT list

Whilst Andrew Butchart was racing at the European Indoor Championships, Marc Scott was a man on a mission over 12.5 laps in California. Marc ran superbly, finishing second in a race where the top five men all ran PBs and an Olympic qualifying standard. The race was won by Grant Fisher, the first of his professional career.

Why do I link him with Andrew? His PB – 13:05.13 – has moved him to third all-time on the British rankings, leapfrogging Butchart’s 13:06.21 and sitting behind Mo Farah and Dave Moorcroft. It’s all looking good for the summer!

The women’s race was an equally fast affair, with Emily Session running sub-15:00 for the first time (14:55.82) in her first track race since September 2019. As with the men, the top five all ran PBs and Olympic standards, including reigning triathlon Olympic Champion Gwen Jorgensen.

Unfortunately Eilish McColgan did not finish the race, having gone through 3000m in 9:02.32. Molly Huddle was another non-finisher.

Catch up with the action here –

Djibouti Half Marathon

In his duty as ambassador for the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (yes, really), Mo Farah made his 2021 debut at the first edition of the Djibouti Half Marathon.

In his first race since the Antrim Coast Half Marathon last September (excluding his pacing duties at the London Marathon), the double-double Olympic Champion took victory in 63:07, his slowest ever time over the distance.

Without video coverage of the event it is hard to say exactly how the race unfolded, but one can presume from the results Mo ran alongside training partner Bashir Abdi before speeding for the win, with the Belgian coming second four seconds behind.

The pair were over a minute ahead of the rest of the field that included David Nilson of Sweden, France’s Hassan Chahdi and the Netherlands’ Mohamed Ali.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sir Mo Farah (@gomofarah)

Elite Only Winter 10k, Newport

Saturday saw one of (if not the) first outdoor track action of 2021 in the United Kingdom, with the Elite Only Winter 10k in Newport. The event provided an opportunity for athletes to race ahead of the GB Olympic Marathon and Race Walk Trial later this month.

Lily Partridge took victory in the women’s race with 32:33.16, followed by Jenny Nesbitt, Clara Evans (in a PB) and Sarah Astin.

The men’s race was won by Emile Cairess with 28:14.30 (PB) with Kristian Jones second also in a PB (28:33.17). Dewi Griffiths, James Hunt and Michael Ward completed the field that finished the race.
In the race walks, Callum Wilkinson walked a lifetime best to lower his own National Record to 39:05.85, an impressive 50 second PB.

It’s great to see action returning to British soil, and hopefully there will be more to follow in coming weeks. You can read Alex Donald’s detailed report on the action here.

Terrific Torun! European Indoor Championships

At the start of the year, I didn’t believe the European Indoor Championships could possibly happen. Even a month ago, I thought it was a remote possibility.

However, I was proven wrong. In a sea of COVID-19 protocols, medical procedures and literally thousands of COVID tests, the event went ahead successfully, with a record number of athletes participating.

Great Britain sent their largest team to a European Indoors not held in the UK, comprising a large number making their senior debut, or gaining their first British vest at any level. The team outshone itself, bringing home 12 medals – a joint record.

They included gold for Amy-Eloise Markovc (3000m) and Keely Hodgkinson (800m), silver for Holly Archer (1500m) and bronze for Verity Ockenden (3000m) and Jamie Webb (800m).

I have written standalone daily reports on the action, and so have not covered any further information in this round up. It’s been great to have major athletics back after a 515 day absence, and it has certainly whet my appetite for the summer and outdoor season ahead.

The post Kerr beats class field and Scott, Partridge and Cairess impress – weekend roundup appeared first on Fast Running.

By the time the European Indoor Championships kick off on Thursday evening, it will have been 515 days since a major track and field championships took place. As a big athletics fan, I have waited a long time to say this – it’s Championships week!

Since then there’s been a postponed Olympics, cancelled European Championships, and twice-postponed World Indoor Championships. In a time of travel restrictions and closed borders, it feels an almost-impossible feat that the 36th edition of the European Indoors is going ahead as planned in Toruń, Poland between Thursday and Sunday.

No spectators and a significantly reduced media presence means this is the first major championships I will be watching from home since the Rio Olympics. But, in honest, I am just happy that extensive planning and COVID protocols have allowed it to go ahead. It’s not just going ahead, a record 733 athletes are registered to compete from 47 countries. Great Britain (for non-UK held editions) and Ireland are sending their biggest ever teams. Impressive, right?

It is also a special moment for a number of British athletes who are gaining their first British vest, making their senior debut or experiencing their first time racing for their country on the track. This alone makes it a worthwhile watch.

It has the potential to be a brilliant four days. To whet your appetite, I’ve run through what to look out for in the middle-distance races. To paraphrase Aerosmith, you don’t want to miss a thing. All race times quoted are for the UK and previews based on entry lists as of Tuesday afternoon.

Men’s 800m (Heats 18:55 Friday, Semis 18:25 Saturday, Final 17:25 Sunday)

Five men have entered the top-20 of the European All Time list this year. To put that into context, only four men did the same between 2004 and 2020. Three of those men – Jamie Webb, Andreas Kramer (Sweden) and Mariano Garcia (Spain) will be in Torun, with the other two (Elliot Giles and Charlie Grice) focusing on the outdoor season.

They are not the only noteworthy athletes competing – 18 men on the entry list have run sub-1:47 this year, and the previous edition’s podium return (Spain’s Alvaro De Arriba, Jamie and Ireland’s Mark English), as does 2015 bronze medalist Dutchman Thijmen Kupers.

2017 World Champion Pierre-Ambroise Bosse (France), reigning European U23 Champion Mateusz Borkowski (Poland) and Bosnia’s two-time World Championship medalist Amel Tuka also compete and have set indoor PBs this year. Guy Learmonth also goes for Great Britain, fresh off a 1:46.73 iPB this year.

However, for me at least, the standout athlete is Adam Kszscot. Until writing this, I hadn’t fully appreciated his track record – Adam is reigning World Indoor Champion and is undefeated at every European Indoor and Outdoor Champs he’s competed for 10 years, with three outdoor (2016, 2016, 2018) and three indoor (2011, 2013, 2017) titles.

His season best (1:45.22) is third fastest of the field this year, and his fastest indoors in seven years. With his Champs record and being on home turf, you’d be brave to bet against him. I am not that brave.

Women’s 800m (Heats 12:00 Friday, Semis 18:00 Saturday, Final 17:13 Sunday)

I mentioned earlier that this Championships was an opportunity for athletes to compete on the “big” stage for the first time. The 800m exemplifies that, with Keely Hodgkinson, Issy Boffey and Ellie Baker all making their British senior debuts. Not only that, there is a serious chance for at least one to take home a medal. Keely is over a second faster this year than any of the other 40 entrants with her 1:59.03 which, until last weekend, was the (yet-to-be-ratified) World U20 Record.

As I wrote at the time, Issy’s 2:02.45 for third at the Boston edition of the World Indoor Tour was a personal highlight of the meeting and I’m excited to see what she will do this weekend. They will have strong competition from across the Irish Sea, though – of those on the entry lists, three of the top seven fastest in 2021 are in Ireland’s team. Such is the strength of Irish 800m running this year that 2:01.67 was not fast enough to book a spot in Torun.

Síofra Cléirigh Büttner and Nadia Power have traded the Irish National Record this year, both running sub-2:01. Nadia has looked at home on the World Indoor Tour this season, whilst Síofra has experience at the outdoor World and European Championships. They are joined by Georgie Hartigan after her equally impressive 2:01.48 in Dublin a fortnight ago.

Competition is likely to come from home-stars Joanna Jowzik and Angelika Cichocka, alongside Norway’s Hedda Hynne. Interestingly, only one of the finalists from the previous edition (Belgium’s Renee Eykens) is in the field. I am genuinely excited for this race!

Issy Boffey. Credit: James Rhodes

Men’s 1500m (Heats 19:20 Thursday, Final 20:35 Friday)

If you were to ask me to sum up the 1500m in three words, I would say “Jakob versus Marcin”. I am of course referring to Marcin Lewandowski and Jakob Ingebrigtsen. A battle of the ages, literally – Jakob was only nine when Marcin won his first European Championships. The Norwegian tends to get the overarching share of plaudits from pundits, but I wouldn’t describe him as the out-and-out favourite just yet. I won’t dwell on either’s achievements, but it’s hard to not mention a few stand out moments.

Jakob famously won a 1500m-5000m double at the last outdoor Europeans, is reigning European Indoor Champion over 3,000m and has won the Junior Race at the last four European XC Championships. Plus, he went second on the 1500m all-time list with a staggering 3:31.80 in Lievin last month.

Marcin’s career is equally as decorated, his resume including three-time European Indoor Champion (twice over 1500m and once over 800m), bronze medallist at the 2019 World Championships, and silver at the 2018 World Indoor Championships. He too has run a PB and NR (3:35.71) this season. Marcin has the upper hand in their head-to-heads (2 to 1), including in this race in 2019, and again on home turf I’d not bet against him.

If you assume the first two spots on the podium are decided, the battle for the remaining is more open, with GB’s Neil Gourley next up of the European lists after his 3:35.79 PB in Toruń last month. Spain’s Jesus Gomez, who took bronze behind Marcin and Jacob, Poland’s Michael Rozmys, Czech Filip Sasinek (2017 bronze) and Jakob’s older brother Filip Ingebrigtsen also feature.

It is also great to see Cardiff Met’s Piers Copeland and Brighton Phoenix’s Archie Davis getting their first senior British vests. His clubmate George Mills is entered as a non-travelling reserve.

BACK TO TORUŃ

Grateful to be selected for the European Indoor Championships on this track next week in Poland

Can’t take any championships for granted anymore so I can’t wait to toe the line in this one

Congratulations, as well, to everyone selected Let’s do this! pic.twitter.com/Xoe4hoQxrA

— Neil Gourley (@Neil_Gourley) February 22, 2021

Women’s 1500m (Heats 11:22 Friday, Final 18:50 Saturday)

In the absence of both all members of the 2019 podium and the two fastest women this year, the 1500m is another that is hard to call. Belgian Elise Vanderelst leads on time, with 4:05.71 in Lievin last month, closely followed by Hanna Klein (Germany) and Spanish duo Esther Guerrero and Marta Perez. Elise is the youngest of the four and lacks senior-level experience compared to the others (although did take silver at the last European U23 Championships behind Jemma Reekie).

Steeplechaser Gesa Krause certainly isn’t lacking in experience, with two World and three European Championships medals. However, she hasn’t raced a 1500m at a Championships since 2015 and her four 1500ms this year have delivered mixed results. British Indoor Champion Holly Archer will be making her Great Britain debut, thanks in part to an excellent 4:10.03 in Manchester last month, an outright PB, and her win at the trials event.

Friday will also be the first time Katie Snowden dons a senior British vest, having represented England over the same distance at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. They go in sixth and eighth fastest this year in the field, and so anything could happen. Ciara Mageaan has unfortunately withdrawn from the Irish squad this week.

Men’s 3000m (Heats 10:25 Saturday, Final 16:52 Sunday)

If you were to ask me to sum up the 3000m in three words, I would say “Jakob versus Marcin”. Wait, I have a sense of déjà vu. No, in fact, both Marcin Lewandowski and Jakob Ingebrigtsen are down for the difficult-but-not impossible double.

If Marcin wins, he’ll be the first athlete to have European Indoor titles over 800m, 1500m and 3000m. If Jakob wins, he’ll retain his title from Glasgow two years ago. Both could happen. Tactics aside, this is the hardest of the men’s races to call on paper. Six men have run sub-7:45 this year, headed up by Spain’s Mohamed Katir, Frenchman Jimmy Gressier (reigning 5,000m and 10,000m European U23 Champion, although you definitely know him better for his failed knee slide celebration at the 2018 European XC Championships) and Scot Andrew Butchart.

Andreas Almgren (Sweden), Mike Foppen (Netherlands) and Isaac Kimeli (Belgium) have also run sub-7:45 this season and could feature, as could 2017 European Indoor Champion Adel Mechaal. After a withdrawal from Marc Scott, who has decided to stay in the USA, Leeds City’s Phil Sesemann gets his first British vest on the track. He’s noted it as a career highlight, and I am chuffed for him, especially given his focus for this year at one point was the marathon. He’ll be joined by AFD’s Jack Rowe, also making his GB track debut.

Been going at this a few years now so absolutely delighted to be called up for my first track GB vest.

I love so many aspects of this sport but it’s tough to top moments like this.

I cannot thank all those who have supported me along the way enough. https://t.co/Qn9USoMXQu pic.twitter.com/yFrl29WEH0

— Phil Sesemann (@philsesemann) March 1, 2021

Women’s 3000m (Heats 18:30 Thursday, Final 20:00 Friday)

With the two fastest Europeans of 2021 (Sifan Hassan and Melissa Courtney-Bryant) and reigning champion Laura Muir not competing, the women’s 3000m is another with a somewhat open field. On paper and based on times alone (via the World Athletics website), the charge would be led by Slovenia’s Maruša Mišmaš-Zrimšek (8:48.82), Maureen Koster of the Netherlands (8:49.63) and our own Verity Ockenden (8:51.63), with times run in Karlsruhe, Lievin and Manchester respectively.

Of course, times rarely count for much in Championship races, but it would be fantastic to see Verity feature in what is her first major Champs. She will be joined by two athletes earning their first senior British vests on the track – Amy Eloise Markovc and Amelia Quirk. Based in the USA, Amy-Eloise ran a 8:54.1 split en route to breaking the British Record over two miles in Boston last month, whilst, if I am not mistaken, this will be Amelia’s second ever indoor track race after the trials last month. Quite a debut! Rosie Clarke is named as a non-travelling reserve.

Dutchwoman Jip Vastenburg, who is part of Steve Vernon’s Team New Balance Manchester squad, has run well in Karlsruhe and Manchester this year and could feature.
According to the entry lists, Israel’s Selamawit Bayoulgn and Romania’s Claudia Bobocea (who is entered for the 800m, 1500m and 3000m!) have both run sub-8:50 this year, but these times do not feature on the World Athletics lists for 2021. I guess we will find out on Friday.

All sessions will be shown live on the BBC.

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Brilliant Brits in Boston… I mean New York

After the madness of the previous stop on the World Indoor Tour in Lievin, it was hard to see how the New Balance Indoor GP, due to be held in Boston but moved to New York after the original venue was converted to a COVID test centre, could better it; however, there was no shortage of noteworthy performances.

In his only indoor race of the year, Jake Wightman ran an excellent 3:34.48 for second, rewarding him with a Scottish Record but just missing Peter Elliot’s 1990 British Record. It was a gutsy front run, caught by Olli Hoare in the last 100m, who ran 3:32.35 to go seventh on the all-time list with an Australian Record.

SCOTTISH RECORD ALERT@JakeSWightman breaks indoor 1500m mark with 3:34.48 run in New York #WorldIndoorTour for 2nd place, eclipses @joshk97 mark (3:35.72 from 2019)
Congrats Jake @WightmanGeoff #SALachieve @ianbeattie1 @IanHodge7 @AthleticsWeekly @SALDevelopment @ArnoldBlack1 pic.twitter.com/SaZYxoZrFz

— scottishathletics (@scotathletics) February 13, 2021

In her World Indoor Tour debut, Birmingham University’s Issy Boffey looked at home on the big stage, running confidently to come an excellent third in a big PB (2:02.45). The long journey to New York was worth it.

It was probably my favourite race of the evening and I hope it’s enough to get the reigning European U20 800m Champion a well-deserved first senior vest at the European Indoors. Adelle Tracey ran 2:04.28 for seventh.

After an exciting run by Issy, Jamie Webb took the baton for the men and ran his third 800m indoor PB in as many races, coming second with 1:46.26, behind an American Record for Donavan Brazier, who bettered his own mark by 0.01 with 1:44.21.

It’s a PB performance from @IsabelleBoffey in the 800m as she finishes 3rd in 2:02.45 behind Kaela Edwards (2:02.17 and Ajee Wilson (2:01.79) @adelle_tracey is 7th in 2:04.28#WorldIndoorTour pic.twitter.com/DZ0g5bzqDm

— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) February 13, 2021

Two British Records were set in lesser-run events; Charlie Da’Vall Grice in the 1000m (2:17.20) and Amy Eloise Markovc over two miles (9:30.69, running a 3000m European Indoor qualifier in the process). The two races were won by Bryce Hoppel and Elle Purrier, going eight and third on the respective all-time lists.

Other notable performances included Shaunae Miller Uibo running 50.21 to go eighth on the indoor all-time list (the fastest 400m indoors since Nicola Sanders at the European Indoors in 2007), and a big PB for Ireland’s Siofra Clerigh-Buttner to go second on the Irish all-time list (4:09.67).

Meeting de l’Eure, France

Elliot Giles continued his excellent form with 3:36.90 over 1500m, improving his PB set three weeks ago, although like Jake just shy of Peter Elliot’s British Record. Following two great 800m races in Lievin and Karlsruhe, it’s hard to call what would be his favoured event at the European Indoors. Doubling up could just about be possible!

Ethiopia’s Getnet Wale and Lamecha Girma, who both ran in that incredible 3000m in Lievin, were apparently targeting the World Record but fell short with 3:35.54. Ireland’s Paul Robinson and Andrew Coscoran ran 3.39.36 (PB) and 3:41.62 respectively for sixth and tenth.

Five days after her incredible 1500m World Record, Gudaf Tsegay ran an Ethiopian Record of 1:57.52 for 800m, the fastest indoors since 2006.

Bryggen Sports Invitational, Manchester

What’s this, an athletics event in England? In 2021? How exciting! Sportcity was host to a series of races from 400m to 3000m as 47 athletes looked for European Indoor qualifying times, or simply just the chance to race.

Many capitalised on the opportunity, with eight athletes running qualifying times – Jessie Knight (400), Ellie Baker (800), Piers Copeland (1500), Andrew Butchart (1500), Holly Archer (1500), Katie Snowden (1500), Phil Sesemann (3000) and Verity Ockenden (3000).

Copeland’s time of 3:38.55 was enough to secure him a Welsh National Record to finish ahead of Butchart who in 3:40.82. Archer’s fine run saw her slice over three and a half seconds off her PB with 4:10.03 with Katie Snowdon just behind clocking 4:10.43.

Outright PBs won the two 3000m races for Phil Sesemann (7:51.27) and Verity Ockenden (8:51.63) respectively, both bettering outdoor marks set at the Bromley Twilight event last summer. Verity’s time was an impressive 40 second improvement on her previous indoor best, set in 2017. Jip Vastenburg of the Netherlands, Aimee Pratt, David Mullarkey and Amy O’Donogue also ran outright PBs.

Een nieuw pr op de 1500 meter indoor en goed haaswerk kunnen doen op de 3000 meter. In Manchester had ik vandaag een goede test in aanloop naar de EK indoor. Een korte update lees je op mijn website: https://t.co/3cL2FQX9VC pic.twitter.com/MgV3KGUKaz

— Jip Vastenburg (@JipVastenburg) February 13, 2021

Whilst the men’s race was a slower affair, the women’s 800m saw all five athletes go under 2:05. Four of the field contribute to a fun fact – never before have six Irish athletes run sub-2:05 in the same indoor season.

However, Saturday saw six do so! Louise Shanahan, Katie Kirk, Ciara Mageaan and Georgie Hartigan here, alongside Nadia Power in Ghent (Belgium) and Iseult O’Donnell in Val d’Oise (France). Superb depth.

It was also impressive to see Katie Snowden pace the 800m (59 seconds to 400m) about 20 minutes after her 1500m, and whilst no one went with her, it did help Ellie to an indoor PB (2:02.73).

Significant credit is due to Vicente Mohdal and all the officials and coaches involved for getting the event off the ground in very challenging times, a good step forward ahead of the multi-venue British ‘Trials’ for the Europeans.

 

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Monaco Run 5k Herculis

Monaco is a happy hunting ground for Joshua Cheptegai and Beatrice Chepkoech. The former broke the World Records there for 5000m on the track and 5k on the roads last year, whilst the latter smashed the 3000m steeplechase World Record on the same track in 2018.

Both headed up the fields for the traditionally fast race (both road WRs were set there) on a chilly and breezy morning. From the outset it was clear Cheptegai wasn’t going to threaten his own record, running at 13:20 pace after the first 2km. He did speed up over the last mile to win in a time of 13:13.

Following the women’s race was a bit harder. The camera focused on Sweden’s Meraf Bahta, with commentators Paula Radcliffe and Seb Coe saying Beatrice had apparently dropped from the race. It was only as she approached the finish did the camera pick up Chepkoech, just in time to see her break the tape in 14:43, breaking Sifan Hassan’s World Record – set on the same course in 2019 – by one second. An utterly strange affair.

Second to tenth places behind Cheptegai all ran PBs, including a road debut for Bethwell Birgen (13:18), and National Records for The Netherlands (Richard Douma 13:27), Germany (Samuel Fitwi, 13:33), Austria (Andreas Vojta, 13:49) and Denmark (Thjis Nijhuis, 13:49).

Mile Magic

Two Brits joined the sub-4 minute mile club with runs in the States; Yusuf Bizimana (3:57.81) at the Tyson Invitational in Arkansas and Tom Dodd (3:58.47) at the Big Ten Invitational in Ohio.

Arkansas also witnessed impressive runs by American’s Cooper Teare (3:50.39) and Cole Hocker (3:50.55), going seventh and eighth on the all-time indoor list. Australian Charlie Hunter ran 3:53.49 for third, before running 1:45.59 to set an Oceanian Record over 800m the next day.

England Athletics Virtual Road Relay Competition

The National Round of England Athletics’ virtual five mile road relays got underway this week, although the deadline for running has been pushed back due to the poor weather over recent days.

Members of the 50 fastest clubs in the previous round are eligible to compete, and at the time of writing the fastest times have been set by Woodford Green AC’s Phil Norman (23:02) and Guildford & Godalming AC’s – and Fast Running’s – Hannah Irwin (26:56).

Athletes have until next Sunday to register their race.

Combined Event Competitions

One thing I love in athletics is the combined events – they not only run fast, but do so after either 9, 7 or 5 events beforehand. This weekend saw a flurry of competitions as athletes look for scores that will get them to the European Indoors.

The men were led by Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer, who set a 6092 NR in Frankfurt behind Germany’s Andreas Bechmann (6057). A great response from Simon after NHing in the pole vault last week’s Swiss Combined Event Championships.

Frankfurt also saw a World Junior Record for Belgium’s Jente Hautekeete, scoring 6062 (using junior implements) and bettering the previous record of 5984 by Spain’s Eusebio Caceres in 2010. Other notable performances include Sweden’s Fredrik Samuelsson (5931, done in a solo competition) and Dutchman Rik Taam (5903).

… and finally

I know we are running-focused here, but a congratulations is deserved to KC Lightfoot who has become the 25th member of the 6m club in the pole vault, clearing the height in Texas.

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