Competitive elite fields will contest the 21^st edition of the Principality Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday (6 October). 

A string of established Kenyan athletes will be chasing fast times somewhere underneath the course record of 59:30 in the men’s race. Meanwhile, a strong field that includes two-time European Cross Country Champion Fionnuala McCormack is set to contest the women’s race.

Cardiff is the penultimate venue in the 2024 Superhalfs Series. It holds a prestigious World Athletics Elite Road Race Label and hosts the Welsh Half Marathon Championships annually.

Elite Men

Benard Ngeno (59:07) is the fastest athlete on paper owing to an impressive lifetime best set at the Trinidad Alfonso Valencia Half Marathon in 2019, finishing second at the world’s top race over the distance. Cosmas Boi (59:29) comes to the City following a solid block of training that indicates a new P.B. could be possible. Perhaps his greatest accolade to date was a victory at the 2023 Stramilano Half Marathon.

Patrick Mosin (59:31) is the next fastest and was the winner of the 2023 Lille Half Marathon but more notably third at the Prague Half Marathon that was won by the current World Half Marathon Champion Sebastian Sawe in April.

Bravin Kiptoo (59:37) is the 2019 African U20 Champion over 10,000m showing winning pedigree and then finishing as the third placer at the Birrell Grand Prix later that year and is joined by Antony Kimtai (59:45), the winner at Stramilano for 2024 and the runner-up at Napoli Half Marathon setting his P.B. a month earlier.

Vincent Kigen (59:48) was second at the Seville Half Marathon in January and again at the Malaga Half Marathon in March and Vincent Mutai (60:20) will make a third trip to the City as last year’s surprise winner and with a second place at the Cardiff Cross Challenge from November to his name.

Kento Nishi (61:09) of Japan, Ethiopian Man Enyew Nigat (61:17) and Tanzania’s Josephat Gisemo (64:27) will add further International flavour to a mainly Kenyan front of the field. Nishi is a 2:08:11 Marathon man, Nigat was seventh at the Yangzhou Half Marathon earlier this year and Gisemo was the runner up at the 2024 Generali Geneva Marathon.

Ben Connor (60:55) is the fastest British man and tackles the Cardiff course for the first time. Connor is the sixth fastest Briton in history and has shown recent fitness with an impressive second place at the re-scheduled English National Cross Country Championships in September.

Jonathan Collier (64:37) and William Bryan (64:58) are the remaining British Athletes who have dipped under 65 minutes in the past. Ciaran Lewis (65:17) is the fastest Welshman in action but is likely to face stiff opposition to the National title from Dan Hamilton (65:57) and Dan Nash (66:16).

2023 Cardiff Half Marathon Elite Men’s Leaders

Elite Women

Twice European Cross Country Champion Fionnuala McCormack (69:32) will make her Cardiff debut on Sunday. McCormack claimed her titles at Valenje, Slovenia in 2011 and at Budapest in 2012. Since then the Wicklow woman has become the second fastest Irish athlete in history over half marathon and over the full marathon distance. She became the first female Irish athlete in history to compete at five Olympic Games’ in Paris this summer.

Nelly Jepchumba (67:00) is the fastest entrant and was the winner at the Rio De Janeiro Half Marathon in August and the winner at the prestigious 2021 Madrid Half Marathon. Miriam Chebet (67:14) was the runner up at the Istanbul Half Marathon and notably the winner at the Ibiza 10k in 30:40.

Ethiopian Anchinalu Dessie (67:30) is another winner of the Stramilano Half Marathon in action here and was fourth at the Valencia Ibercaja 10k in 2022 with 31:01, an event that has recently been acknowledged as the World’s top annual road race.

Caroline Nyaga (67:36) is an exciting late edition to the race and will be chasing a huge new lifetime best. Nyaga is the 2022 African Champion over 10,000m and has a best over 5,000m of 14:30 set finishing fifth at the Diamond League final in Brussels last month. Daisy Kimeli (68:34) was the winner at the 2019 Trabzon Half Marathon and Adane Anmaw (69:47) was third at the Yanzhou Half Marathon.

Perhaps the most exciting prospect in  women’s race however is Grace Nawowuna (debut) who will make her debut here but was fourth at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst in 2023 and has a 29:47 best for 10,000m. Nawowuna is likely to chase the early pace with Nyaga.

Polish Athlete Sabina Jarzabek (72:42) will be making the trip to Cardiff. She is a former Polish champion over 5km and 10km.

Olivia Tsim (73:38) claimed Bronze medals at the Welsh Half Marathon Championships here in 2022 and 2023. The Pontypridd Roadent will be in racing action after giving birth this summer. Alaw Evans (75:00) was the winner of the Cardiff 10k last year and is likely to be contesting for the Welsh title this time.

Australia’s Isabelle Pickett (75:36), Charlotte Taylor (75:46) and Ellen Feringa (75:54) of Philadelphia Runners Track Club are next fastest.

Elite Wheelchair Racers

Callum Hall (46:15) heads the fields for the Wheelchair race on the men’s side owing to his outstanding personal best and is also the 2023 winner of the Yorkshire Marathon. Former winners Sam Kolek (49:55) of Poland and South African Athlete Tiaan Bosch (51:14) also return.

2018 Commonwealth Para-Triathlon Champion Jade Hall (49:50) will be in action in the women’s event and has more recently taken the Great North Run title.

Mel Nicholls (53:39) is the 2022 winner at Cardiff and will return this October.

The post Principality Cardiff Half Marathon Preview appeared first on Fast Running.

Dewi Griffiths will look to overcome Omar Ahmed and Kadar Omar as the trio ‘do battle’ on the streets of Cardiff this Sunday, whilst Jenny Nesbitt will face Lauren Reed, Kate Estlea-Morris and 2023 winner Alaw Evans on her bid for glory.

The Brecon Carreg CDF 10K is the largest race in the R4W 10k Series with around 6,500 runners expected to pound the streets of Cardiff where the flat and fast route takes runners past the medieval Castle and the impressive Principality Stadium before returning to finish alongside Alexandra Gardens and the Edwardian Civic Buildings.

Dewi Griffiths (28:20) has been edging back to racing fitness throughout the first half of the year, claiming a 10km P.B. at Manchester in May but unable to beat Ahmed & Omar at the Ogi Porthcawl 10K in early July.

The Carmarthenshire based Marathon Man is the fastest on paper however and is likely to be the man to beat this time around despite Omar Ahmed (28:27) winning all three of the R4W 10Ks so far this year and with Kadar Omar (28:27) as the runner-up here, 12 months ago in a race won by Kenyan man Alfred Ngeno in 28:33.

03.09.23 – Cardiff 10k – Omar Ahmed

Commonwealth Games sixth placer Jonathan Hopkins (29:01), Ultra Runner Dan Nash (29:23) and Bristol & West’s Kurt Taylor (29:20) are next fastest in the men’s line-up with Nash showing great speed with a 14:05 clocking at the Adidas Podium Home Nations last weekend.

Welshmen James Hunt (29:43), Ciaran Lewis (29:45) and Jonathan Butler (29:52) add further quality.

Photo: Stephen Lee

A women’s race with great depth

Jenny Nesbitt (32:30) is the outstanding favourite for the women’s race and warmed up over half the distance, finishing sixth at the Podium race last Saturday, recording a time of 16:07. The Cardiff based athlete is also a former UK Inter-Counties Cross Country Champion and a runner-up here, dating back to 2019. This will be a great test for the Pontypridd Roadent ahead of the Autumn season.

Lauren Reed (nee Deadman) (33:16) was the winner of the Cardiff Bay Run when it was held over five miles, back in 2015. More recently she won the 2024 Wokingham Half Marathon in February and lines up as the current Essex Cross Country Champion.

Aldershot Farnham & District athlete Kate Estlea-Morris (33:38) is the next fastest athlete in action and convincingly won the Reading Half Marathon earlier this year.

Returning Champion Alaw Evans (34:48) is always competitive and was third at the series opener in Newport in April, later winning the Seaside based Ogi Porthcawl 10K, overcoming Louise Small on that occasion.

Bryony Proctor (34:52) and Deborah Buce (34:56) are next fastest here, followed by Kate Roberts (35:03) and Alice Braham (35:11).

The Brecon Carreg CDF 10K is the final race in the 2024 10K series, but is a warm-up ahead of the Principality Cardiff Half Marathon for many.

The post The battle for 10k honours in Cardiff appeared first on Fast Running.

Our weekly parkrun top ten is now sponsored by the Coggiola Endurance Centre, a residential coaching and performance facility in the Italian Alps. Follow on Instagram for more updates in the new future. 

The course record at Woodhouse Moor had stood for 12 years, until today that is, when Leeds City man Mark Bostock clocked 14:48 over the undulating course to reset the records (if they still existed of course). Bostock is a prolific racer over 5km, clocking 14:19 in tough conditions in Armagh earlier this year.

European Championship and Commonwealth Games athlete Samantha Harrison took further steps on her return post injury with an excellent 15:53 at Long Eaton to top this weeks rankings. With a new coaching set up and her injury behind her we are excited to see Sam’s competitive racing return soon.

The best of the rest

Three other women ran under 17 minutes this week with Almi Nerurkar the next quickest running 16:28 along Hove Prominade. A fine year for the Brighton based athlete has seen her claim a BUCS indoor medal and clock 32:43 over 10k. European Cross and European 10000m Cup competitor Jess Gibbon was the third fastest woman running 16:40 at Prospect parkrun. Scottish 5km silver medalist Morag Millar was the other runner to crack 17 running 16:48 at Strathclyde.

For the men it was 13:58 5000m athlete Dylan Evans who claimed the 2nd spot with 14:57 at Bushy. Evans was a 2nd place finisher at Bath Half in March. Prolific parkrunner Mohammed Hussein was next in the rankings with 15 flat at Leicester Victoria on his 18th outing this year. Team Bath man Alex Carter ran one of his quickest parkruns ever with 15:09 at Teignmouth.

The fastest course?

20 different performances, 20 different parkruns. Roll the dice.

Women’s Rankings

Men’s Rankings

The post 10 fastest UK parkrun times on 17th August (2024) appeared first on Fast Running.

The London International Cross Country, organised by Eamonn Martin, will see some of the UK’s best athletes racing on a 2km loop around Parliament Hill – a venue steeped in XC heritage. The junior and senior races both include a home countries international with teams from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, North, Midland, South and East competing.

There are also automatic selections available for GB&NI at the World Cross and for GB Students at the World University XC Champs in Oman at the event which also forms a part of the British Athletics Cross Challenge series of races.

A new look for XC

Eamonn Martin outlined his vision for the event to me;

“The course in London takes place on a unique, spectator friendly 2km loop and includes running through a tent and also a large screen to watch the event live when it goes out of sight. There is a full commentary across the PA System and the race is being filmed and live streamed, there is a tent for those who fancy a beer or mulled wine etc on a Saturday afternoon at the event.”

The ambition is to create an event that not only achieves a fantastic series of races for athletes, but also creates a real experience for fans and spectators. There is a VIP tent and some cross country greats such as Andy Vernon, Wendy Sly, Julian Goater and Liz Yelling will be attending to have some interviews across the PA system and conduct the presentations.

Get involved

The 4km open races provide runners with a great chance to be a part of a special day in the British endurance calendar and there is still time to enter via the UK Cross Challenge web site. By entering these races you can pit yourself against athletes targeting selection for the GB Students team, but since they consist of only 2 laps of the 2km loop, they do not require a minimum standard for entry.

Head over to the entry page to secure your place in the 4km race now.

Calling all students

Eligible students seeking selection to represent GB Students at the World University Cross (in Oman on 17th & 18th February) should also secure an entry ASAP in either the 10km senior men’s or women’s race, or the 4km men’s or women’s race. Any student seeking selection must also complete an expression of interest with BUCS in advance. Full details on how to do this and the full selection policy can be found on the BUCS website.

Louise Damen will be one of the speakers at the event. Credit: Christian Clement

An overview of the day

The full timetable for the London International Cross Challenge can be seen below and promises to be a fantastic day of sport, so even if you do not intend to pull on your spikes get yourself along and enjoy some of the UK’s best athletes competing in this iconic venue.

10.45 U13 Girls 3km
11.00 U13 Boys 3km
11.15 Open Women’s & BUCS 4km Trial
11.35 U15 Boys 4km
11.55 U15 Girls 4km
12.15 Senior Women 10km
13.00 Senior Men 10km
13.40 U20/U17 women 6km
14.05 U17 Men 6km
14.30 U20 Men 8km
15.00 Open Men’s & BUCS 4km trial

Note: Senior and Junior races also contain the Home Countries International and area match within the race with 4 to run 3 to score.

The post Join the Parliament Hill Party appeared first on Fast Running.

In almost perfect autumn marathon weather conditions Ashford AC athlete Marshall Smith and Welsh international Alaw Evans created history at the 39^th running of Marathon Eryri, as they produced outstanding performances to take the men’s and women’s crowns.

Dubbed at one of the UK’s toughest marathons, the last miles of this race are notoriously hard, as they head to the highest point of the race at mile 24, almost 380 metres above sea level and an ascent of over 200 metres in just 1 mile!

With temperatures hovering around 12 degrees Celsius, mainly dry weather and a light wind, conditions were just about perfect for fast running on the tough Eryri course, as almost 2300 runners weaved their way out of the village of Llanberis and out towards the Llanberis Pass at the traditional 10.30am start time.

Evans for the win

Evans was running the race for the first time, and such was her performance that she became the first Welsh woman to go under 3 hours on this course, winning in 2:58:07 and overtaking long-time leader Caryl Edwards in the closing two miles who ultimately was to finish third as Steel City Strider Gillian Allen ran a very strong second half of the race to take the runner-up spot.

Commenting after the race Alaw said, “What a race – I had always watched the TV coverage of the race over the years and was always in awe of the winners getting their picture with the trophy at the end! It was always a dream, but the opportunity of giving myself a chance kept me going on my comeback from injury at the start of the year. 

“It will definitely take a while for it all to sink in as it was just brilliant; the support, the hills, the event as a whole and of course the win.”

ALL IMAGES – © SPORT PICTURES CYMRU

A busy month for Marshall Smith

22 year-old Smith had recently won the Chester Marathon, on a flat city course, hardly the best preparation for one of the UK’s toughest marathons. However, he showed supreme control, strength and maturity beyond his years over the second half of the race, to not only win one of the most coveted crowns in marathon running, but to also smash the men’s course record by over 2 minutes, winning in 2:31:21. In doing so Marshall also becomes the youngest ever winner of the event which began back in 1982.

“I was really scared coming down the last mile”, he said, describing the technical under-foot mountain paths that greets the runners as they plummet down to the finish line in Llanberis. “I have never run on that sort of terrain. But it’s an incredible feeling to win this race and to also take the course record!”.

The Kent man was chased home by Salomon UK athlete Dan Connolly, who added the second place to his runner-up position of 2019, vowing to come back to try and take the Eryri title, stating “I am happy with today and Marshall was the better runner on the day, but I do want to come back and try and win this race for sure!”

Chorlton runner Tom Charles, running his first Marathon Eryri, ran a controlled race holding on to third-place over the closing miles, followed home closely by Jacob Tasker who had figured heavily over the first 13 miles.

ALL IMAGES – © SPORT PICTURES CYMRU

Many running for a good cause

A huge amount of runners were using the race as an opportunity to raise funds for charity, such as friends of Fast Running Jamie and Sarah-Jayne Pugh. Shelter Cymru exists to defend the right to a safe home in Wales and last year alone, they helped 17,953 people in housing need – including 5,725 dependent children.

To donate to the cause, please follow the link here. 

Men’s top 5

1 Marshall Smith 2:31:21 Ashford AC

2 Dan Connolly 2:33:56 Salomon UK

3 Tom Charles 2:35:10 Chorlton Runners

4 Jacob Tasker 2:35:26 Ogmore Phoenix

5 Johnny Suttle 2:41:36 Bristol & West AC

Women’s top 5

1 Alaw Evans 2:58:07 Les Croupiers

2 Gillian Allen 3:04:46 Steele City Striders

3 Caryl Edwards 3:05:08 Swansea Harriers

4 Jess Flynn 3:10:53 Les Croupiers

5 Caroline Brock 3:11:24 Steele City Striders

Full results via the TDL Event Services here https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=3984

Photo: SPORT PICTURES CYMRU

And now the report in Welsh

Marathon Eryri 2023 – Adroddiad y Ras

Smith ac Evans yn fuddugol ym Marathon Eryri 2023 a dorrodd record

Mewn tywydd marathon hydref bron yn berffaith fe greodd yr athletwr AC Ashford Marshall Smith ac chwaraewr rhyngwladol Cymru Alaw Evans hanes yn y 39ain rhediad o Marathon Eryri, wrth iddynt gynhyrchu perfformiadau rhagorol i gipio coronau’r dynion a’r merched.

Wedi’u galw yn un o farathonau caletaf y DU, mae milltiroedd olaf y ras hon yn hynod o galed, wrth iddynt anelu at bwynt uchaf y ras ar filltir 24, bron i 380 metr uwchben lefel y môr ac esgyniad o dros 200 metr mewn dim ond milltir!

Gyda’r tymheredd yn hofran tua 12 gradd Celsius, tywydd sych yn bennaf a gwynt ysgafn, roedd yr amodau bron yn berffaith ar gyfer rhedeg yn gyflym ar gwrs caled Eryri, wrth i bron i 2300 o redwyr wau eu ffordd allan o bentref Llanberis ac allan tuag at Fwlch Llanberis yn yr amser cychwyn traddodiadol o 10.30am.

Roedd Evans yn rhedeg y ras am y tro cyntaf, a chymaint oedd ei pherfformiad fel mai hi oedd y Gymraes gyntaf i fynd o dan 3 awr ar y cwrs hwn, gan ennill mewn 2:58:07, gan oddiweddyd yr arweinydd hir-amser Caryl Edwards yn y ddau olaf. milltir a oedd i orffen yn drydydd yn y pen draw wrth i Steel City Strider Gillian Allen redeg ail hanner cryf iawn o’r ras i gipio’r ail safle.

Wrth wneud sylw ar ôl y ras dywedodd Alaw

“Am ras – roeddwn i wastad wedi gwylio’r darllediadau teledu o’r ras dros y blynyddoedd ac roeddwn bob amser wedi syfrdanu’r enillwyr yn cael eu llun gyda’r tlws ar y diwedd! Roedd bob amser yn freuddwyd, ond roedd y cyfle o roi cyfle i mi fy hun yn fy nghadw i fynd yn ôl o anafiadau ar ddechrau’r flwyddyn.

“Bydd yn bendant yn cymryd amser i’r cyfan suddo i mewn gan ei fod yn wych; y gefnogaeth, y bryniau, y digwyddiad yn ei gyfanrwydd ac wrth gwrs y fuddugoliaeth.”

Roedd Smith, sy’n 22 oed, wedi ennill Marathon Caer yn ddiweddar, ar gwrs dinas fflat, go brin y paratoad gorau ar gyfer un o farathonau caletaf y DU. Fodd bynnag, dangosodd reolaeth, cryfder ac aeddfedrwydd goruchaf y tu hwnt i’w flynyddoedd yn ystod ail hanner y ras, nid yn unig i ennill un o goronau mwyaf chwenychedig rhedeg marathon, ond hefyd i dorri record cwrs y dynion o dros 2 funud, gan ennill mewn 2:31:21. Wrth wneud hynny Marshall hefyd yw enillydd ieuengaf erioed y digwyddiad a ddechreuodd yn ôl yn 1982.

“Roedd gen i ofn mawr yn dod lawr y filltir olaf”, meddai, gan ddisgrifio’r llwybrau mynydd technegol dan draed sy’n cyfarch y rhedwyr wrth iddynt blymio i lawr i’r llinell derfyn yn Llanberis. “Dydw i erioed wedi rhedeg ar y math yna o dir. Ond mae hwn yn deimlad anhygoel i ennill y ras hon ac i gymryd record y cwrs hefyd!”.

Erlidiwyd y gŵr o Gaint adref gan athletwr Salomon o’r DU, Dan Connolly, a ychwanegodd yr ail safle i’w safle yn ail yn 2019, gan addo dod yn ôl i geisio cipio teitl Eryri o’r diwedd, gan ddweud “Rwy’n hapus gyda heddiw ac roedd Marshall yn y rhedwr gorau ar y diwrnod, ond rydw i eisiau dod yn ôl i geisio ennill y ras hon yn sicr!”

Llwyddodd rhedwr Chorlton, Tom Charles, yn rhedeg ei Marathon Eryri cyntaf, i ddal y trydydd safle dros y milltiroedd olaf, wrth iddo gael ei ddilyn adref yn agos gan Jacob Tasker a oedd wedi chwarae rhan fawr yn hanner cyntaf y ras.

Llawer yn rhedeg dros achos da (Ychwanegwyd yr adran hon gan ddefnyddio Google Translate felly gobeithiwn ei bod yn iawn)

Roedd nifer enfawr o redwyr yn defnyddio’r ras fel cyfle i godi arian at elusen, megis ffrindiau Rhedeg Cyflym Jamie a Sarah-Jayne Pugh. Mae Shelter Cymru yn bodoli i amddiffyn yr hawl i gartref diogel yng Nghymru a’r llynedd yn unig, fe wnaethant helpu 17,953 o bobl ag angen tai – gan gynnwys 5,725 o blant dibynnol.

I gyfrannu at yr achos, dilynwch y ddolen yma.

Dynion – 5 uchaf

1 Marshall Smith 2:31:21 Ashford AC

2 Dan Connolly 2:33:56 Salomon DU

3 Tom Charles 2:35:10 Rhedwyr Chorlton

4 Jacob Tasker 2:35:26 Ffenics Ogwr

5 Johnny Suttle 2:41:36 Bristol & West AC

Merched – 5 uchaf

1 Alaw Evans 2:58:07 Les Croupiers

2 Gillian Allen 3:04:46 Steele City Striders

3 Caryl Edwards 3:05:08 Harriers Abertawe

4 Jess Flynn 3:10:53 Les Croupiers

5 Caroline Brock 3:11:24 Steele Striders City

The post Smith and Evans triumph at record-breaking Marathon Eryri 2023 appeared first on Fast Running.

A total of 51 athletes have been announced to date, with the team to be finalised next week following acceptance of World Rankings invitations from World Athletics for a number of athletes, likely to exclusively be in field events.

The team includes strong representation in the middle distance events, with a full contingent in the 800m and 1500m. They include medallists at last year’s edition Keely Hodgkinson and Laura Muir. Also in the team are Issy Boffey and Megan Keith, who set PBs last weekend in the 800m and 5000m respectively to run inside the qualification standard.

Natasha Cockram is the sole marathon entrant this year, with many others focusing on autumn marathons ahead of next year’s Olympics.

Photo: James Rhodes

Women

100m:

Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley)

Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Ryan Freckleton, Sutton & District)

Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)

200m:

Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley)

Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)

Bianca Williams (Linford Christie, Thames Valley)

400m:

Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham and Essex Beagles)

Ama Pipi (Linford Christie, Enfield & Haringey)

800m:

Isabelle Boffey (Luke Gunn, Enfield & Haringey)

Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter, Leigh)

Jemma Reekie (Jon Bigg, Kilbarchan)

1500m:

Melissa Courtney-Bryant (Rob Denmark, Poole)

Laura Muir (Dundee Hawkhill)

Katie Snowden (Stephen Haas, Herne Hill)

5000m:

Megan Keith (Ross Cairns, Inverness)

Amy-Eloise Markovc (Rob Denmark, Wakefield)

10,000m:

Eilish McColgan (Liz Nuttall, Dundee Hawkhill)

Jessica Warner-Judd (Mick Judd, Blackburn)

3000m Steeplechase:

Aimee Pratt (Thomas Dreißigacker, Sale Harriers Manchester)

100m Hurdles:

Cindy Sember (Chris Johnson, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

400m Hurdles:

Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

4x100m Relay:

Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley)

Alyson Bell (Anne Scott, Glasgow Jaguars)

Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Ryan Freckleton, Sutton & District)

Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)

Asha Phillip (Amy Deem, Newham and Essex Beagles) *subject to fitness.

Annie Tagoe (Vince Anderson, Thames Valley)

Bianca Williams (Linford Christie, Thames Valley)

4x400m Relay:

Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove)

Yemi Mary John (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

Laviai Nielsen (Phillip Unfried, Enfield and Haringey)

Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham and Essex Beagles)

Ama Pipi (Linford Christie, Enfield & Haringey)

Nicole Yeargin (Boogie Johnson, Pitreavie)

High Jump:

Morgan Lake (Robbie Grabarz, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

Pole Vault:

Molly Caudery (Stuart Caudery, Thames Valley)

Long Jump:

Jazmin Sawyers (Aston Moore, City of Stoke)

Heptathlon:

Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Aston Moore, Liverpool)

Marathon:

Natasha Cockram (Robert Hawkins, Micky Morris Racing Team)

Men

100m:

Eugene Amo-Dadzie (Steve Fudge, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Reece Prescod (Marco Airale, Enfield & Haringey)

200m:

Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)

400m:

Matthew Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield)

800m:

Max Burgin (Ian Burgin, Halifax)

Ben Pattison (Dave Ragan, Basingstoke and Mid Hants)

Daniel Rowden (Jon Bigg, Woodford Green & Essex Ladies)

1500m:

Elliot Giles (Jon Bigg, Birchfield)

Neil Gourley (Stephen Haas, Giffnock North)

Josh Kerr (Danny Mackey, Edinburgh)

110m Hurdles:

Tade Ojora (Joanna Hayes, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

4x100m Relay:

Eugene Amo-Dadzie (Steve Fudge, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

Jeremiah Azu (Marco Airale, Cardiff)

Jona Efoloko (Clarence Callender, Sale Harriers Manchester)

Adam Gemili (Marco Airale, Blackheath and Bromley)

Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Reece Prescod (Marco Airale, Enfield & Haringey)

4x400m Relay:

Joe Brier (Matt Elias, Swansea)

Lewis Davey (Trevor Painter, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Charlie Dobson (Benke Blomkvist, Colchester)

Alex Haydock-Wilson (Benke Blomkvist, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Matthew Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield)

Rio Mitcham (Leon Baptiste, Birchfield)

Discus:

Lawrence Okoye (Zane Duquemin, Croydon)

Mixed 4x400m Relay:

All athletes involved in the women’s and men’s 4x400m relay squads

The post Great Britain Squad for World Championships Announced appeared first on Fast Running.

Starting off it Olympic Valley, California, we have the Broken Arrow vertical uphill race and the Broken Arrow Skyrace mountain race.

Broken Arrow has been part of the World Cup before, first in 2019, then again in 2021, but it promises to provide even more competitive races this year, with top elite fields. And while it takes place in the US, the event very much has its roots in the traditions of European mountain running, with steep terrain, scrambling and huge amounts of vertical gain and loss at altitude.

2023 promises to be a totally different race to recent years, mainly due to a huge amount of snowfall in the region this year. Whilst last year’s loop was only 10% snow covered, if that, this year estimates sit around 70-80% of snow cover on the course for the 23k loop. Fast Running will be out on the route today to see what lies in wait for our runners.

The courses

First up is the vertical uphill race on Friday 16^th June at 10am (UTC -7). The race starts on the valley floor and climbs its way up 954m (3,100 feet) over 6.8km (4.5 miles) to the summit of Washeshu Peak at 2708m (8885 feet). Along the way it takes in some brutally steep terrain, leading up to the Headwall Ridge and the ‘stairway to heaven’ bolted ladder to the summit of Washeshu Peak.

On Sunday 18^th June at 8am the long mountain race, the Broken Arrow Skyrace takes place. This is a loop which climbs 1,533m over the course of 23km (or 5,033 feet over 14.25 miles).

It starts in Palisades Tahoe Village and most of the race takes place above the tree line on technical and demanding trails. Runners will be treated to views of Granite Chief Wilderness and they will experience Emigrant Pass and, like the vertical uphill runners, the ‘stairway to heaven’ ladder to Washeshu Peak.

The women’s field

As ever there is a very strong women’s field assembled, with many electing to take part in the vertical uphill and long mountain race. Grayson Murphy (USA) will be taking on both, on the back of her very successful campaign at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Innsbruck, where she won the classic mountain race and took bronze in the vertical uphill race.

Murphy was third at the uphill race and won the classic mountain event. Photo: Marco Gulberti

Lining up alongside Murphy in both races will be Janelle Lincks (USA), winner of the 2021 23k race.

Other women to watch include Anna Gibson (USA), who’s had some success in vertical races previously, Sophia Laukli (USA), cross country skier, Danielle Marquette (USA), Hillary Allen (USA), Tabor Hemming (USA) and Lara Hamilton (AUS).

Rachel Drake (USA) has won the Cortina sky race in Italy, Amanda Basham (USA) is stronger over longer distances but certainly has the potential to feature in these tough conditions. Anna Gibson (USA) has won the vertical race at The Rut and Sara Willhoit (GBR) is a British national runner who has featured in multiple World Champs.

The men’s field

Like the women’s field, most of the elite men are opting to race both the vertical uphill and the long mountain race. But we will see more international runners in the men’s field. Andy Wacker (USA), winner of last year’s 23k and 6^th in the vertical uphill race, will be great to see racing, but is just returning from ankle surgery so current form is unknown.

Eli Hemming (USA) was 2^nd in both the vertical race and 23k last year. He will be taking part in the 23k race and will be hotly tipped again.  Henri Aymonod (ITA), who was almost unbeatable at a vertical uphill race in 2021, but had more of a mixed 2022, will always be a runner to watch. He was 3^rd here in the 23k race in 2019. Andrea Rostan (ITA) will also be travelling to run both races, having had a lot of success in Europe over similar races.

Photo: Marco Gulberti

Zak Hanna (IRL), who had a very successful 2022, particularly in vertical uphill races like Vertical Nasego and Canfranc Canfranc Vertical, could also do well.

Other US talent includes Chad Hall (USA) won the Mammoth Trail 50k in 2022 and Liam Meirow (USA) was on the US national team at the World Champs this year in the classic race. Garrett Corcoran (USA) won the US National Champs, but didn’t have his best race in Austria so may be looking for redemption. Morgan Elliot (USA) was another at Worlds just recently and could feature as he was sixth last year and third in the vertical.

Other men to watch include Chris Richards (GBR), Joe DeMoor (USA), Joey DeFeo (USA), Paddy O’Leary (IRL) and Raul Criado (ESP).

We look forward to kicking off our 2023 Valsir World Cup and making this the biggest year ever. A livestream for the event will be available at Broken Arrow Livestream by UltraSignup

The post The WMRA World Cup begins in the US appeared first on Fast Running.

Frenchwoman Marion Delespierre wins the women’s Trail Long over 86.9 kilometers and 6,500 vertical meters in ascent ahead of Katharina Hartmuth from Germany and her fellow French native Manon Bohard Cailler.

The best ten women were within minutes of each other for most of the race, with the technical nature of the race seeing places change throughout depending on the strengths of each athlete.

While the women’s Trail Short on Thursday was exciting enough, the decision on the Trail Long was even more suspenseful. The first surprise came only 18 kilometers after the start, when defending champion Blandine L’Hirondel had to abort the race.

Following this, Marcela Vasinova from Czechia kept the lead for a long time and was able to play to her strength in the steep parts. However, she had problems in the downhill, which allowed Katharina Hartmuth to come closer and closer before finally gaining on her during the climb to the Hoadl.

Competition against each other, but also together against the brutal course

Then we got to see something that is rather rare at World Championships – the two competitors walking next to each other and chatting for several hundred meters. Behind them, the following seven ladies all came within a distance of four to five minutes.

Just like Andreas Reiterer among the men, Hartmuth was the expected winner, but just like him she was overtaken – in her case by Marion Delespierre. On the tar section leading up to the Nordkette, the German tried to keep up but had to admit defeat during the ascent towards the Aspach hut as she just couldn’t keep up with the Frenchwoman’s speed any longer.

Not only that, she also had to fend off Manon Bohard Cailler who kept creeping closer. Her efforts evidently paid off – Katharina Hartmuth won Silver.

Photo: Roast Media

Men’s Racing

At only 23 years of age, Frenchman Benjamin Roubiol wins the men’s race. Italian Andreas Reiterer was the second to cross the finish line, followed by Peter Frano from Slovakia in third place.

Immediately after the start, a trio of Japanese runners took the lead, with Yamato Yoshino being the first to reach the so-called Naturschauplatz Hühnerspiel. However, once the field returned to Neustift after the initial 17 kilometers of the course, he had fallen back as far as 14 minutes and eventually had to give up.

Italian Andreas Reiterer was in the lead for more than 45 kilometers, at times running solo and leaving a changing field of pursuers up to six minutes behind. But after having passed three peaks as well as the flat approach to Kranebitten, the climb up to the Nordkette caused him trouble, which allowed Benjamin Roubiol to come closer and closer and finally pass Reiterer just before the Aspach hut.

Over about seven kilometers, the Italian athlete lost eight minutes but he managed to cross the finish line in second place, 1:23 minutes ahead of Peter Frano from Slovakia.

British & team interests

It was a mixed day for British runners with a tough day for experienced team members Harry Jones and George Foster, but debutant Tom Joly de Lotbiniare, who ran well all day and just missed out on a top 10 finish in the final stages.

The women’s team had three strong performances from Fiona Pascall (18th), Jasmin Paris (31st) and Julia Davis (41st) which led to them being sixth team.

France had a double team victory as well as their double individual golds, showcasing the huge strength and depth of talent within the country. There was an almightily close battle for both team events, with Germany a close silver for the women and the US men seeing it go down to the wire after finishing 5th, 6th and 7th.

Photo: Roast Media

The post The long trail race doesn’t disappoint appeared first on Fast Running.

The England Athletics International Jumps & Throws Conference takes place on the 25th & 26th March at Loughborough University and will bring together performance professionals, athletes and coaches from across the different event groups to share skills, knowledge and expertise. This is a great opportunity for not only jumps and throws coaches but also endurance coaches to gain multidisciplinary skills, knowledge and expertise.

MacNamara’s background is in physical education, youth coaching, and talent development. She has worked in a range of sporting environments as an educator, coach educator, and consultant. Her main research interest is in talent development, youth coaching and the design, implementation, and evaluation of systems and policies in sport.

Photo: James Rhodes

‘Psychological characteristics of developing excellence’

MacNamara has published widely and consults with a range of sporting organisations in Ireland and the UK to help them develop player development and coach development pathways and policies as well as providing coach and parent education to support the implementation of these ideas.

She said: “In this keynote, what I am really interested in doing is drawing on our research that has explored the psychological characteristics of developing excellence [PCDEs] as mechanisms that help support the development of high-potential young athletes on the pathway to help them convert their potential into talent. A lot of emphasis in coaching has tended to be placed on the technical, tactical, and physical elements and even though it’s long recognised that psychological factors and mechanisms are key components it often doesn’t get the same emphasis within coaching practice.

“In this presentation, I’d really like to help coaches understand how they might be able to promote and reinforce PCDEs as part of their coaching practice integrated into their processes and systems to help encourage and prime and reinforce those psycho-behavioural characteristics in young athletes before they hit some of the challenges and hurdles that they will inevitably face as they progress to higher and higher levels within their sport.”

The conference will be a chance to share skills and expertise after a busy championship summer. Photo: James Rhodes

World-renowned expertise

Darren Ritchie, England Athletics Event Group Lead for Jumps and Combined Events, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to confirm Dr Áine MacNamara will be a keynote speaker at our Jumps and Throws Conference. To have someone of Áine’s standing as a world-renowned practitioner in sport and sport coaching sharing her insight, knowledge, and expertise with those joining us for our conference in March is a huge coup.

We are thrilled to be able to offer delegates this opportunity to hear from such a leading authority in her field and we will be confirming more keynote speakers and guest experts attending the conference in due course.”

Book now to avoid disappointment

The England Athletics Jumps and Throws Conference on 25 and 26 March 2023 will take place at Loughborough University and the Burleigh Court Hotel. The theme of the conference is titled, ‘Coaching the Adaptable Athlete’.

As well as featuring leading practitioners as keynote speakers, the conference will include practical sessions from those in their field of expertise, looking at the development of the athlete.

Click here to secure your place now at the Conference either as a delegate attending in person or as an online delegate. Please note places are limited, sign-up early to avoid disappointment.

The post Dr Áine MacNamara keynote speaker at England Athletics Jumps & Throws Conference appeared first on Fast Running.

The race was started at 10:30am shortly after a minutes silence dedicated to Queen Elizabeth, and whilst warm, there was a gently breeze which helped keep the runners cool.

£100 was up for grabs for anyone who broke the course record and Rebecca Bunting (London Heathside) duly obliged by taking the ladies win in a new record time of 78:40. Juliette Watkinson (Wymondham AC) managed cling on to 2nd place in 83:16 ahead of the first Essex Finisher in Heidi Hogan-Steele (Colchester Harriers) who completed the podium to finish 3rd in 83:36.

It was a welcome return to racing for Scott Cousins (Springfield Striders) after an injury spell and he led the men out early doors. However it was not enough to claim the win as John Eves (Bedford & County) reeled him in and won the race in 68:47 but sadly no course record bonus for John. Scott Cousins managed to hold onto 2nd in 69:29 ahead of Springfield Striders team-mate Pete Robinson who rounded off the podium in 69:49.

This was also the final race in the Essex Road Running Grand Prix where the Essex Road Running Champions were decided. Heidi Hogan-Steele of Colchester Harriers became the womens champions and Pete Coates from Witham RC was crowned the mens champion.

Results

Women Top 3
1st – 78:40 Rebecca Bunting (London Heathside), 2nd – 83:16 Juliette Watkinson (Wymondham AC), 3rd – 83:36 Heidi Hogan-Steele (Colchester Harriers)

Mens top 3
1st – 68:47 John Eves (Bedford & County), 2nd – 69:29 Scott Cousins (Springfield Striders), 3rd – 69:49 Pete Robinson (Springfield Striders)

Essex Women Top 3
1st – 83:36 Heidi Hogan-Steele (Colchester Harriers), 2nd – 86:07 Nikki Woodyard (Springfield Striders), 3rd – 86:10 Victoria Primmer (Colchester Harriers)

Essex Men Top 3
1st – 69:29 Scott Cousins (Springfield Striders), 2nd – 69:49 Pete Robinson (Springfield Striders), 3rd – 70:33 Pete Coates (Witham RC)

The post Bunting & Cousins win Pleshey Half Marathon appeared first on Fast Running.