Poppy Tank and Jack Kavanagh ran the fastest parkrun times in the UK this weekend (2nd November).
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Poppy Tank ran an impressive 16:34 at Cannon Hill parkrun in Birmingham to top the women’s rankings this week. Poppy is now based in Birmingham under the guidance of former steeplechaser Luke Gunn. This year she has run inside ten minutes for the 3000mSC for the first time and improved her 5k PB to 15:53. It is her first parkrun since 2014, so perhaps it is no surprise she was over three minutes faster.
At Poole parkrun, Holland Sports’ Jack Kavanagh topped the men’s rankings with 14:32. The only athlete to run under 15:00 this weekend, he took three seconds off his previous parkrun best set last year on the same course. Jack has set PBs at every distance he has raced over in 2024, including a 4:02 mile, 13:48 5k and 30:02 10k. He will likely be found at the front of the Surrey League field next weekend at his home venue of Hurst Green.
Best of the Rest
Paige Quinn set the second fastest time of the weekend with a 17:12 outing at Exeter Riverside. It was her fifteenth parkrun of the year but her first at this venue. Paige won the U15 race at September’s National XC Championships and looks to be continuing that excellent form. Seven seconds behind, and much further north, was Isla McGowan. Another junior, she finished in 17:19 at Holyrood in her first ever parkrun. Not a bad debut!
Only three seconds separated Christopher Smith and Brandon Dewar to complete the top-three. Both ran their fastest parkruns of the year, Christopher with 15:12 at Hastings and Brandon 15:15 at Dulwich. That is a PB for Christopher by eight seconds with Brandon just two seconds shy of his best.
Fastest Event
With three appearances, Derry City takes the honours as the fastest course of the weekend. An honourable mention to Brockwell and Southampton which both appeared twice – the former with the same time for the first finishers!