With summer in full swing, road races continue at pace. The track season has temporarily slowed, meanwhile, with the Olympic Games just around the corner. James Rhodes brings you the highlights of the racing action in the weekend round up.

Terrific Tooting

The track at Tooting Bec has gained quite a reputation for delivering fast times when combined with a British Milers Club meeting. Following the success of the event in 2022 and 2023, the British Milers Club Record Breakers Meeting returned on Wednesday. Strong fields were once again assembled, including a number of athletes from abroad looking for final race opportunities before the Olympics.

The highlights came in both of the 1500m races. Ten men ran inside 3:37 in the men’s race, led by Irishman Nick Griggs (3:35.04). That time is a BMC All Comers Record, and also an Irish U23 Record. Behind, there were PBs for Joe Wigfield (3:36.09) in third and Henry McLuckie (3:36.66) in seventh.

Photo: James Rhodes

Archie Davies (3:36.88) and James McMurray (3:37.93 PB) finished ninth and twelfth respectively. The rest of the field comprised international athletes. In the ‘b’ race, Tyler Bilyard improved his PB to 3:38.02 with PBs for the first seven athletes.

Kate Axford was a clear winner of the women’s race over the same distance. Stepping down from her usual events, the Belgrave Harrier ran a 4:10.06 PB and Stadium Record. Lauren Church (4:14.56) and Abbie Ives (4:18.09) finished third and sixth respectively.

Photo: James Rhodes

Efrem Gidey (7:59.79) and Georgie Grgec (8:57.61 PB) won the two fastest 3000m races. Local athlete Katie Snowden (2:01.67) and Justin Davies (1:46.26) won the 800m ‘a’ races. It means Katie has now run inside 2:02 every year for the past ten (except for an injury-ridden 2019). An impressive feat for a 1500m specialist.

Photo: James Rhodes

In Europe

Katie Snowden raced again on Saturday at the Meeting voor Mon. She was one of many Brits who made the journey to Belgium in search of a fast time. She won the 800m, improving her season best to 2:00.78.

Steeplechase specialist Lizzie Bird made a rare appearance over 1500m. She improved her PB by six seconds to 4:06.56 to take the win. It bodes well for her second Olympic appearance which comes next week. In the same race, Cari Hughes (4:08.73) and Ellie Leather (4:09.04) finished fourth and fifth. Adam Fogg (3:36.59) and James Gormley (3:36.66 PB) raced over 1500m also and finished in fifth and sixth. Henry McLuckie raced again after Wednesday, finishing in 3:39.47.

Over 3000m, Charlie Wheeler set a PB of 7:42.43.

On the Roads

The always-fast Battersea Park continued to deliver speedy times via the Battersea Park Half Marathon. Belgrave Harrier Ugur Altan (69:48) took victory in the men’s field ahead of Samuel Friend (70:48) and Roman Banais (71:40). Just two seconds separated Troi Baxter (81:52) and Vaida Nakrosiute (81:54) in the women’s field, with Laura Thompson (82:32) third.

Katie Olding (36:09) and Lee Gatland (34:20) were victorious at the Hillsborough Castle & Gardens 10k. Wins in the associated half marathon went to Nick Weston (76:48) and Pamela Kirk (84:27).

Another RunThrough event, the Wimbledon Common 10k, saw Lucie Monbillard (46:13) and Mike Williamson (36:51) set the fastest times. Archie Hunt (78:40) and Sharon Walker (95:59) won the half marathon.

Lizzie Wellsted (33:10) was twelve seconds shy of her PB at Friday’s Ipswich Twilight 10k. Jack Nixon (31:50) was the fastest male. Barry Stephenson (32:39) and Amy-Jayne Goodhand (41:45) won the Deal Dinosaur 10k.

Rob Payne (32:31) and Gemma Selwood (42:32) won the South Cave 10k. Ben Tyler (33:58) enjoyed a winning margin of over one minute at the East Peckham 10k in Tonbridge. Becky Morrish (42:46) was the fastest female. Tracy Hodgson (44:35) and Paul Graham (36:00) crossed the finish first at the Netherhall 10k.

Meanwhile, Chepstow Harriers’ Magor 10k provided Jacob Tasker (30:57) and Alaw Evans (35:38) with clear victories. Clark Scott (34:28) and Carole Page (45:49) were victorious at the Run Northumberland Coquet 10k.

Jonas Mueller (33:24) and Natalie Wangler (41:06) were quickest at the Isle of Mull 10k. The associated half marathon saw Gemma Maguire (1:41:02) and Denis Prikulis (1:13:58) run fastest.

Still Going

Edward Buck had an impressive outing at the Hecklington 10. His time of 50:19 saw him finish over five minutes ahead of the rest of the field. Charlie Thornton (60:02) finished over two minutes clear of second placed Rebecca Cole (62:46). Over the same distance, Emily Renfrew (63:21) and William Ewens (53:59) won the Kenny Phillips 10.

Over shorter distances, Tom Dunlop (16:28) and Ava Leadbetter (19:00) won the midweek Workington 5k whilst Sarah Stewart (19:57) and Declan Reid (15:35) won the Eglinton 5k.

Richard Allen (14:35) was a clear winner of the Leeds 5k on Wednesday, joined by Stella Cross (18:09) on the winner’s podium. Also on Wednesday, Jenna Louise French (18:52) and David Mayes (17:25) won the Bexhill 5k.

James Baker (15:57) and Sarah Winstone (17:36) won the Lakeside 5k. Sarah was eight seconds faster than at the same race in June. Brandon Quinton (15:24) and Sally Best (20:22) set the best times (pun intended) at the Run Media City 5k. Brogan Kay (42:06) and Jonathan Manning (34:05) did the same over double the distance. Lewis Overend (35:30) and Aisha Anwar (41:24) won the Tatton 10k.

Finally, making a welcome return in her first race since the London Marathon in April, Alice Wright finished sixth (31:21) at the Wharf to Wharf 6 Mile in the United States.