Richard Allen and Stevie Stockton won the England 5k Road Championships on Friday evening (April 27) in Kingsley.
Some of England’s fastest runners made their way to the rural village of Kingsley for the Mid Cheshire 5k and enjoyed perfect racing conditions as they battled for the country’s 5k honours.
Aldershot’s Allen, racing in his first 5k road race, clinched the men’s title in 14:07, while Leeds City’s Stockton set a new course record and personal best to take the women’s crown in 15:39 (CT:15:38).
Allen, who won the Chichester Priory 10K in February, finished five seconds ahead of Leeds City’s young star Emile Cairess and Stockport’s Jack Martin.
Cairness, who has enjoyed a fine cross country season, just edged out Martin to silver with both men clocking 14:12.
Stockton enjoyed a dominating victory in the women’s race finishing more than 20 seconds ahead of second-placed Emily Hosker and takes a big slice of her recent best at the Podium 5k.
The 28 year-old’s chip time of 15:38 places her 11th on the UK all-time list.
Racing in her first 5k on the roads Aldershot’s Hosker also dipped under the 16:00 mark clocking 15:59. The St. Mary’s University athlete adds the England 5k silver to the BUCS 3000m indoor gold she won earlier this year.
City Of Stoke’s Kate Holt, who was also racing competitively for the first time over the distance, completed the women’s podium in 16:12.
Salford’s Marc Brown was the last of the 25 male runners to break the 15-minute mark, which improves last year’s course record by two.
A record number of 12 women dipped under the 17-minute mark with Heanor RC’s Lisa Palmer-Blount concluding the dozen in a time of 16:54.
Men’s results – name, club, gun time/chip time
1) Richard Allen, Aldershot Farnham & District: 14:07
2 Emile Cairess, Leeds City: 14:12
3) Jack Martin, Stockport Harriers: 14:12
4) Ross Skelton, Brighton Phoenix: 14:17/14:16
5) Robbie Fitzgibbon, Brighton Phoenix: 14:18
6) Charlie Hulson, Liverpool Harriers: 14:19/14:18
7) John Ashcroft, Liverpool Harriers: 14:19/14:18
8) Ed Shepherd, Woodford Green: 14:19/14:18
9) Jack Gray, Cambridge & Coleridge: 14:20/14:19
10) Chris Parr, Gateshead Harriers: 14:20/14:19
11) Andrew Smith, Pudsey & Bramley: 14:21/14:20
12) Linton Taylor, Newark AC: 14:22
13) Dane Blomquist, Aldershot Farnham & District: 14:24/14:23
14) John Beattie, Newham & Essex Beagles: 14:26
15) Dominic Shaw, New Marske Harriers: 14:27
16) Alastair Watson, Notts AC: 14:29/14:28
17) Carl Avery, Morpeth Harriers: 14:30/14:29
18) Tom Merson, Exmouth Harriers: 14:32/14:31
19) Dejene Gezimu, Liverpool Harriers: 14:32/14:31
20) Jack Morris, Stockport Harriers: 14:32/14:31
Women’s results – name, club, gun time/chip time
1) Stevie Stockton, Leeds City: 15:39/15:38
2) Emily Hosker, Aldershot Farnham & District: 16:00/15:59
3) Kate Holt, City Of Stoke: 16:14/16:12
4) Calli Thackery, Hallamshire Harriers: 16:20/16:17
5) Elle Baker, Stockport Harriers: 16:29/16:28
6) Lucy Crookes, Leeds City: 16:42/16:39
7) Jenna Hill, Sale Harriers: 16:43/16:42
8) Rachael Burns, Liverpool Harriers: 16:45/16:44
9) Hannah Viner, Highgate Harriers: 16:47/16:44
10) Kirsty Longley, Liverpool Pembroke: 16:55/16:54
11) Sinead Bent, Salford Harriers: 16:56/16:52
12) Lisa Palmer-Blount, Heanor RC: 16:57/16:54
13) Georgia Campbell, Jarrow & Hebburn: 17:15/17:12
14) Sophie Wood, Salford Harriers: 17:19/17:14
15) Olivia Stones, Leigh Harriers: 17:22/17:16
16) Holly Smith, Vale Royal: 17:22/17:19
17) Claire Martin, Telford AC: 17:27/17:24
18) Emma Burgess, Highgate Harriers: 17:36/17:32
19) Louise Rudd, Stockport Harriers: 17:46/17:43
20) Sarah Howard, Liverpool Harriers: 17:48/17:46