Jess Judd and Sol Sweeney were among the winners in Loughborough, while a number of British runners impressed at meets overseas and at home.
Usually one for the sprinters rather than endurance runners, especially this year due to the hot weather, the Loughborough International nevertheless saw plenty of good running performances.
Jess Judd led home the women’s 3000m in 9:05.16 and was followed by Amelia Quirk, whose 9:11.20 was a World Juniors qualifier. Julia Paternain (9:33.05) and Chloe Sharp (9:36.39) followed suit with good under-20 times.
The first seven in the men’s 3000m, won by Sol Sweeney in 8:06.90, set PBs. Kieran Wood (8:11.00), Guy Smith (8:12.10) and Mahamed Mahamed (8:13.34) were next in.
Thomas Keen, in sixth, went to the top of the world under-18 rankings with his 8:14.41 Euro Youths qualifier.
Holly Page produced a World Juniors qualifier to win the 3000m steeplechase, clocking 10:13.98, holding off the faster finishing Nicole Roberts (10:15.99) and Emily Moyes (10:16.46). The men’s event was won by Adam Kirk-Smith in 8:49.09, with Phil Norman second in 8:49.54.
Jamie Williamson (3:44.57) and Jemma Reekie (4:11.96) won the 1500m races.
Daniel Rowden was around half a second outside the European Championships qualifier with 1:47.01 in the 800m as under-20 Alex Botterill’s 1:48.66 was also of particular note behind him.
In the women’s event, Mari Smith repeated her win over Mhairi Hendry from the BUCS – 2:03.23 to 2:03.61. It was another PB for the winner as Isabella Boffey also broke new ground to run 2:04.00 and a World Juniors mark. Emily Williams’ 2:06.22 was a qualifier for the European Youths.
Pfingstsportsfest, Rehlingen (GER), May 20
Zac Seddon set a PB by more than three seconds with his 8:26.51 for second in the 3000m steeplechase behind Morocco Abdelkarim Ben Zahra (8:24.37). As well as being a European Championships qualifier, it lifted the Bracknell AC athlete into the top 25 on the GB all-time list.
Highgate Harriers’ Night of 10,000m PBs, London, May 19
Charlotte Arter clinched European Cup bronze with a personal best 32:15.71, while debutant over the distance Alex Yee finished fifth in the men’s race running 27:51.94 to lead three British men under 28 minutes. A full report from the Night of 10,000m PBs can be found here.
Lange Laufnacht, Karlsruhe (GER), May 19
Bristol & West’s Stephanie Barnes equalled her PB in the 5000m with 16:01.78 for fourth.
USATF Distance Classic, Los Angeles (USA), May 17
Lincoln Wellington’s Sam Atkin took more than 17 seconds from his PB as he ran 13:39.38 for third in the 5000m.
World and Olympic finalist Lynsey Sharp was third in her 800m race, clocking 2:03.84 behind Canadian winner Lindsey Butterworth. Hallamshire Harrier Calli Thackery was 11th in the 5000m, running 16:06.57.
Swarthmore Final Qualifier, Swarthmore (USA), May 15
William Paulson of Stroud AC and Princeton University ran 3:39.51 for sixth, improving his best by more than two and a half seconds.
Twilight Series, Lowell (USA), May 19
Cambridge & Coleridge’s Holly Rees clocked 33:51.89 for second in the 10,000m.
Team Bath Steeplechase Invitation, Bath, May 18
Under-20 Amber Owens of Newark AC revised her PB with 5:08.7 in the 1500m steeplechase as Bridgend under-17 Fffion Higginson was second in 5:16.0.
BMC Gold Standard Races, Stretford, May 15
Tom Lancashire made a low-key season debut with 8:21.47 to win the 3000m.
Jacob Brown took more than a second off his best to win the fastest 800m race in 1:50.61. Under-17 Darcey Lonsdale was quickest of the women, running a PB 2:11.20, to go to fourth on the UK age group rankings for 2018. Ben Greenwood was fastest in the 1500m races, being timed at 3:48.14.
Watford Open Graded Races, Watford, May 16
Under-20 Yasmin Austridge was impressive in taking her 800m race in 2:10.97. Behind her in the mixed race were under-17 Amy Miller (2:13.96) and under-20 Maisey Grice (2:14.76). In a separate race, under-17 Kate Willis clocked 2:16.56.
Charnwood Opens, Loughborough, May 16
Gordon Lee topped the M50 5000m rankings with 15:57.74 for eighth overall behind winner Jimmy Kershaw (14:46.43).