At the BMC meeting in Watford earlier this week Jake Wightman brought the heat to an already sweltering track meet by coming back after nearly a year off with a stress fracture. He delighted those who have been hoping for his healthy return by winning the 800m in a very confident-looking 1:45.55.

It was a veritable who’s who of domestic middle distance talent in that one sprint finish with Elliot Giles, Charlie Grice and Karl Langford all fighting for every inch at the tape.

Langford may face a sanction for an altercation with an elderly track referee after initially being disqualified for warming up in lane two whilst the 5000m race was still ongoing. The athlete later apologised on Twitter.

In the women’s race New Balance’s Sarah McDonald PB’d in empathic style, using the last 200m to pick the pace up, bringing it home in 2:00.15.

Andy Butchart also featured on the track winning the 1500m in 3:38.84. He then casually went on to do pacer duties in the 5000m! That race was won by Hillingdon’s Mohamed Mohamed in 14:07.25 while Emily Hosker-Thornhill made the most of her race’s pacer, Jess Judd, for an 11s PB and a win in 15:46.22.

Over in the US at the Pre Classic there was an outstanding performance from Laura Weightman in the 3000m. It may only have been good enough for fifth on the night, where two runners, Siffan Hassan and Konstanze Klosterhalfen ran inside the European record, but it puts Weightman second on the British all time list, only behind Paula Radcliffe.

Weightman’s PB moved from 8:43.46 to 8:26.07, a massive jump at that level and a fine reward for the hard-work of the 2018 Commonwealth Games medallist.

Laura Muir also raced and posted her 10th sub four minute time for the 1500m, but was beaten to the line by Faith Kipyegon.

Alpine success for British athletes

From the flattest of flat to the Mont Blanc Vertical K – a race which is “ not recommended in case of vertigo” and travels up 1000m metres of vertical gain in less than five kilometres. It’s basically just straight up the side of a mountain from 1000m to 2000 in Chamonix, France.

Fast 10’s Jacob Adkin (Keswick AC) and Joseph Morwood (Aldershot, Farnham & District) showed that you don’t have to come from the Alps to be able to run up them quicker than everyone else. The returning champion Adkin took first and Morwood an excellent second in the French mountain town.

Adkin, who won the European Mountain Running Trials at the start of the month, powered up in 35:05 and will be putting that speed to work at the European Championships in Zermatt next weekend. Morwood, who may have less hills to train on than his Keswick based compatriot, still managed to stay 26 seconds ahead of Frenchman Yann Gedufin to finish second in 37:21.

Hannah Russell of Helm Hill was first GB lady to the top, finishing eighth in 51:09 and Clare Prosser finished ninth in 52:42, both having to battle higher temperatures than Adkin, who had the earned the right to start last due to his win the previous year. There was a notable performance from Ireland’s 2:33 marathon runner Nicola Duncan who placed fifth.

Georgia Wood ran the Cross du Mont Blanc 23k and had a cracking race, coming home third lady. After some excellent front running, Wood finished in in 2:49:03 behind two locals – Lucille Germina (02:35:52) and Céline Jeannier 02:46:41.

It was an excellent performance in mountain terrain for the runner who clocks up most of her miles on Bournemouth Prominade. GB mountain runner and Sale Harrier Chris Richards was 11th in the men’s race in 2:27:25.

Going the (ultra) distance

Tom Evans was in action on the dusty trails of California to take part in the prestigious Western States 100. He finished a fantastic third place in 14:59:44. It was the first 100 mile race for the impressive British ultra runner, who was paced to the finish by the British 100km champion Charlie Harpur.  Hoka One One’s Jim Walmsley won in a new course record of 14:09:28.

British doctor Beth Pascall also made the iconic journey from Squaw Valley to Auburn. Despite saying she prefers cooler, more mountainous races she showed that she is in brilliant form, coming home fourth in 18:06:51 in a field of fiercely competitive women. Pascall started conservatively and stormed through the field in the latter stages in an excellent display of ultra running.

Over in the Italian Dolomites at the Lavaredo Ultra Trail even more British runners were having an impact. Anne-Marie Watson (Avon Valley) and Sophie Grant (Beta Running) took eighth and ninth place in their 119k trail race past the iconic Tre Cime mountains. Watson finished in 17:17:29 and Grant in 17:24:09.

Welshman Harry Jones was seventh in 13:30:32, 1 hr 11 min 45s off Hoka Team-mate’s Tim Tollefson’s win in 12:18:47. Keep your eyes peeled for an in depth interview with Jones in the future.

A busy weekend of UK trail running

On the edge of the Scottish highlands it was the Arrochar Alps race and the heat that were challenging our athletes on their home turf this Saturday. Mountain running legend Angela Mudge was first in the Scottish Hill Racing fixture, followed by Helen Fallas and Andrea Priestly. For the men, it was the Ben Nevis race legend Finlay Wild who won (3:07:39). Andrew Fallas came second and Tim Morgan third.

It was truly a jam-packed week for off-road antics. Sabrina Verjee followed in Jasmin Paris’s footsteps to become the outright winner of the Montane Spine Fusion. She covered the summer edition of the 268 mile race in 82 hours, 19 minutes and seven seconds. This was a full six hours ahead of the nearest competitor. That is an incredible feat considering Verjee finished second at Dragons Back only three weeks ago and won The Fellsman a month before that.

Back on the roads

Back to the roads and there were some fast times at Springfield Striders Friday Night Five with their own Pete Robinson finishing first in 25:51 ahead of Braintree & District AC’s Tim Woulfe (26:05) and club-mate Chris Burgoyne (26:32).

Rachel Sweatt of Grange Farm & Dunmow Runners, who has already gained half and full marathon PB’s this year, ran 29:35 for 13th overall and the women’s win. She was followed by Nikki Brockbank (Springfield Striders) in 30:55. Rebecca White of Saffron Striders RC took third place in 32:23.

The Lordshill 10k rounded off the Hampshire Road Race Season. It did so in pleasing fashion for the hosts as their women’s and men’s team won the meeting and look in a strong position for a top three in the league overall. In the race itself it was Ruth Thom of City Of Salisbury AC who topped the table, coming home in 39:19. Abigail Woolaston of Andover AC was second in 39:26. Local lady Kirsty Wood in 40:49 completed the podium.

Photo: Lois Elliot

For the men 25 seconds separated the top three. Aiden Lennan ran 33:03 for first place. Gosport Road Runner’s Ben Toye was second in 33:10. Stuart Holloway from City Of Salisbury AC was third in 33:28

Elsewhere on the roads

In Norwich at the Humpty Dumpty 10k Juliette Watkinson of Wymonham AC took the crown in 39:48 with a hot day seeing a slower finish than Dani Nimmock’s 35:14 last year. Waveney Valley AC’s Matthew Jefferies was the men’s winner in 33:47

Southport Half Marathon was won by Mandy Dohren of Victoria Park Harriers in 1:24:24 and Matthew Crehan (St Helens Striders) in 1:10:41.

At the North Devon AONB Half Marathon Mara Yamauchi took her Olympian legs for a spin to win in 1:36:54. Bideford AAC’s Ronnie Redmond was the men’s champion in 01:20:30.

Callum Elson was back to defend his title at the Humber Bridge Half Marathon taking over a minute off his winning time from last year to finish in 73:14. Elson was well clear of second place Ben Evison (76:46) and third place Gary Couzens (79:03). Naomi Bright of City of Hull AC was the first woman with 92:08 ahead of Caroline Teasdale (94:49) and Jessica Walker (96:31) in second and third.

High quality top 10 times at UK parkruns

Photo of Hayley Carruthers, our top parkrunner again this weekend : Stephen Lee

Despite the heat it was a fast weekend at parkrun. Hayley Carruthers kept her winning form but just with a few seconds knocked off at Walsall Arboretum (16:05). Omer Ahmed ran 14:26 to nudge tantalisingly close to his 5k PB at Brueton parkrun.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

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The post Strong performances at home and abroad – UK weekend roundup appeared first on Fast Running.

Luke Traynor won the České Budějovice Half Marathon and you can read all about it here, while a report on Andrew Davies and his fellow British veterans at the World Masters Mountain Running Championships can be found here. On the track, a number of British middle-distance athletes were in action in Belgium and the Netherlands.

In the UK, 10k and half marathons were the flavour of the weekend on the roads in Alloa, Derby, Worthing and Woodhall Spa. While Cardiff hosted the combined British Athletics League and UK Women’s Athletics League fixture and a report can be found here.

Alloa Half Marathon, Scotland

Mike Christoforou, fresh from a victory at the Edinburgh 10k, ran a four-minute PB to win the Alloa Half Marathon in 68:12. Could it be down to the training sessions recently shared with Fast Running?

Alastair Hay of Central AC (70:28) and Paul Sorrie of Shettleston Harriers (73:15) completed the men’s podium.

In the women’s race, Hungarian 2:39 marathoner Fanni Gyurko of Central AC won by almost two minutes in 80:21 and was followed home by Falkirk Victoria’s Claire Moffett in 82:20. Sheena Logan of Fife AC was third in 85:18.

V50 Willie Rennie, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, ran a fine 1:25:21.

Asda Foundation Derby Half

Steven Bayton was the first across the line in Derby clocking a winning time of 68:33. The 2:19 marathoner was three and a half minutes clear of second place Dave Archer of Hallamshire (72:07) and Andy Harding of Belper Ten Twenty (73:47).

Sally-Ann Walker of Tipton was the first woman in a personal best 1:31:15. Lisa Giampalma also ran a PB of 1:31:37 to beat Geraldine Tutty (1:32:00) as the first three women all finished within 45 seconds of each other.

Worthing 10k

It was another victory for the Allison Benton Training (ABT) group with footballer turned distance runner James Westlake setting a new course record at the Worthing 10k with a fantastic PB of 30:31.

Another great performance from @08Westlake, winning the Worthing 10k this morning in a new course record and PB of 30.32. Well done Westy! @ABTrainingGroup @CrawleyAthletic @BonifaceMassage pic.twitter.com/GDO9SoTgGp

— ABTrainingGroup (@ABTrainingGroup) June 3, 2018

The Crawley runner recently saw some “bants” with club 10k record holder Tim Hutchings about the Sussex club’s record and it is good to see the young athlete moving in the right direction. There is apparently a betting school open on who will be the first within the successful training group to break 30 minutes, and Westlake is the current favourite.

Serpentine’s Andy Greenleaf was second in 30:58 and Jonathan Cornish of Hercules Wimbledon was third in 31:14.

The ladies winner was Elspeth Turner of Horsham Blue Star Harriers. The V50 ran an excellent 37:22 to hold off Rebecca Bunting of London Hearthside (37:50) and Emma Gill of Brighton and Hove AC (39:21).

Woodhall Spa 10k

Matthew Bowser of Lincoln Wellington, who has previously run sub 30 minutes for 10k was the winner of the day in 30:42. Bowser has impressive PBs across an array of distances from 800m (1:49), 1500m (3:43) and a 14:03 for 5000m.

Fellow Lincoln Wellington club mate William Strangway ran 31:32 and Mark Sands of Skegness and District RC was third with 34:03.

Chloe Hubbard of Newark Athletics ran 37:24 for the victory in the women’s race, followed home by Sophie Wallis, another Lincoln Wellington runner, in 38:50. Emily Foran of Seaford Strides was well under 40 minutes in 39:05 to take third place.

GAA Miler Meet, Glasgow

European U20 1500m champion Jemma Reekie delivered a PB performance of 2:02.62 to win the women’s main 800m race, while James Bowness won the men’s race in 1:50.16 from Sol Sweeney.

Photo: Bobby Gavin

Mhairi Maclennan, the Lindsays cross country champion, and Fife AC’s Logan Rees, won the main 3000m races in 9:34.03 and 8:16.34 respectively.

IAAF World Challenge Meeting, Hengelo, Netherlands

Andrew Osagie ran his quickest 800m since 2013 to finish fourth in the men’s race in 1:45.09, while Elliot Giles clocked 1:45.84 to finish ninth and Guy Learmonth was 11th in 1:46.32.

Sarah McDonald, Melissa Courtney and Katie Snowdon were in action in the women’s mile race that was won by USA’s Jenny Simpson in 4:25.71.

McDonald ran a PB of 4.27.12 to finish an impressive fourth, while Commonwealth 1500m champion Courtney was fifth in 4:27.29 and Snowdon 12th in 4:29.56.

My of Melissa Courtney, Katie Snowden & Sarah McDonald at @FBKGamesHengelo today! pic.twitter.com/VDJwhJMPx2

— James Rhodes (@James_Athletics) June 3, 2018

Memorial Leon Buyle, Oordegem, Belgium

In the men’s 800m Jamie Webb ran under 1:46 for the first time to take the victory in 1:45.73, while Daniel Rowden finished second with a PB of 1:45.83. Both athletes achieved the qualifying standard for the European Championships.

Mike Wilsmore also ran a PB in the men’s 1500m to finish second in 3:40.92.

Madeira Sky Race, Madeira

Fresh from a superb fourth place at the World Trail Ultra Championships, British ultra runner Jon Albon, based in Bergen, Norway, took the victory in the competitive Skyrunning world series race on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

In his typical style Albon came from behind to surge ahead in the latter stages, winning in 5:47:57 from Sweden’s Andre Jonsson (5:54:43) and Russian Dmitry Mityaev (5:56:20).

The obstacle course world champion also has impressive marathon speed, twice winning the Bergen City marathon, not a flat course, with a PB of 2:26:20. The runner comes into his own when there are obstacles en route, be them man-made or physical in the form of rocks and mountains.

The women’s race was won by recent World Trail Champion Ragna Debats of the Netherlands. Anyone who feels they cannot be a world-class mountain runner if not born in the mountains should look to Debats for inspiration.

parkrun, UK wide

After briefly enjoying a lead on Mo Farah at last Monday’s London 10,000, John Beattie was the fastest at parkrun on Saturday. The Newham & Essex Beagles runner clocked 14:57 at the Clumber Park event.

Junior athlete Holly Page clinched the top women’s spot with a big parkrun best 16:52 at Dulwich event. A round-up of the 10 fastest times at parkrun this week can be found here.

Who was the quickest at parkrun yesterday? …while a 63 year-old starred at the @cleeparkrun.

Here is this week's top 10 https://t.co/UOu1M0DMMm #parkrunhttps://t.co/IhOnIo9eZ5

— Fast Running (@FastRunning_) June 3, 2018

The post British runners impress across the UK and Europe – weekend round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Elite men’s field

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

Elite women’s field

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

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

O’Hare continued his great start to 2018 with a personal best performance in Boston that also improves his own Scottish indoor record.

In a field that included fellow British runners Jake Wightman and Jordan Donnelly, it was 27-year-old who made the decisive move at the bell taking over the race from USA’s Garrett Heath.

Wightman followed suit and the Scottish pair raced around the final 200m with O’Hare always looking comfortable out in front. O’Hare crossed the line to win in a PB 3:37.03, with Wightman second in 3:37.43, while Donnelly failed to finish the race.

Both men ran the qualifying standard for the World Indoors and now sit 5th and 7th in the UK all-time rankings.

Last weekend in New York, O’Hare became the first British male winner since 1965 of the prestigious Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games.

Next up for the middle-distance star is the British Indoor Championships, where he will surely be full of confidence after his two recent performances on the boards.

Sarah McDonald ran the world indoor qualifying standard in her season opener with personal best performance in the women’s 1500m.

McDonald finished fifth in 4:07.62 behind Ethiopian winner Dawit Seyaum in 4:04.38. Hannah England just missed the standard clocking 4:11.25, finishing a place behind Ireland’s Ciara Mageean in ninth.

Over 3000m Steph Twell clocked an indoor PB 8:41.94 to finish third ahead of world steeplechase champion Emma Corburn. USA’s Jenny Simpson took a great win in 8:40.31. Twell now moves to number six on the UK all-time list.

Meanwhile, in the men’s 3000m race, Jonny Davies finished sixth with big personal best 7:50.18. Last week at the Meeting National Elite in France, Davies won in a then PB of 7.56.13. Edward Cheserek, one day after running the second-fastest ever indoor mile, won in stunning fashion with a super fast personal best 7:38.74.

Lynsey Sharp finished fourth in the 800m with a season’s best 2:02.20, finishing behind Canadian winner Jenna Westaway. While Harry Aikines-Aryeetey clocked 6.66 to finish fifth over 60m with world 100m silver medalist Christian Coleman taking the win in 6.46.

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