With the track season over, attention has firmly moved towards the roads. Fast times on the streets of London were amongst the highlights of the racing action this weekend, and James Rhodes brings you a selection of results in the weekend round up.

The streets of the capital played host to the Vitality London 10000 on Sunday. Facing humid conditions, Eilish McColgan (31:36) and Jack Rowe (29:14) took decisive victories.McColgan, returning after prolonged injury-forced absence, continued a busy month that included appearances at The Big Half and the Great North Run. She won the event in 2022 and had a forty second margin ahead of second-placed Lucy Reid (32:16). Lily Partridge (32:37) finished third.

Tracy Barlow (34:25) finished fourth and Becky Briggs (35:07) fifth.

Photo: Tony O Brien for London Marathon Events

Jack Rowe’s fine year continues with victory here to sit alongside that at The Big Half at the start of the month. Seyfu Jamaal (29:42) and Tewelde Menes (29:55) completed the podium, with the top-three the only athletes top run inside 30 minutes. In fourth, Jack Kavanagh (30:02) was agonisingly close, as was Peter Le Grice (30:04) in fifth. Jack was rewarded with a PB of over one minute in his first road 10k of the year.

Photo: Jed Leicester for London Marathon Events

A day earlier, Katie Snowden (4:23) and Joe Wigfield (3:59) won the Bannister Mile wave of the Vitality Westminster Mile. The race was organised in partnership with the British Milers Club in celebration of the seventy-year anniversary of Roger Bannister running the first sub-four mile. It was a fitting race, with Wigfield’s time being the first sub-four clocking in the event’s history. Meanwhile, Katie’s time is a UK lead for 2024. She will next race in New York City over 1500m on Thursday.

Road Races A-Plenty

Outside of the capital, there were plenty of racing opportunities over 10k this weekend. One of the fastest times came at the Warrington Running Festival 10k, thanks to Omar Ahmed who clocked 29:30. Kirsty Longley (35:13) took the honours amongst the women racing.

Finishing almost two minutes ahead of the rest of the field, Angus Smith (31:55) took a decisive win at the Stafford 10k. Georgia Stanfield’s victory in the women’s field was even more decisive. Her time of 37:58 saw her finish two and a half minutes clear of second placed Joanna Connelly (40:34).

Adrian Mussett (35:15) and Sara Hallhort (38:28) crossed the finish line quickest at the Chatsworth 10k. Hannah Cole (44:41) and Paul Graham (35:13) did the same at the Sport in Action 10k in Carlisle.

Back in the capital, Nick Greenwood (34:10) and Sheridan Wilbur (38:27) won the QE Olympic Park 10k. Rebecca Piggott (38:44) and Josselin Polini (33:30) won the Pride Run 10k. Moving south, victories at the Eastbourne Tempo Charity 10k went to Thomas Key (37:18) and Magdelena Schoerner (43:47), and Run Reigate 10k to Samuel Stapley (34:15) and Alice Crane (35:48).

Still Going

Nicolene Hanekom (36:40) and Ashford AC’s Wegahta Zerom (31:11) recorded commanding wins at the Larkfield 10k. In Wales, Caroline Lambert (37:52) and Gavin Stuart (33:37) won the Neptune Fish & Chips Beaumaris 10k. Jacob Tasker (34:42) and Melanie Williams (49:47) won the Llantwit Major 10k.

Out of Wales and across to Scotland, where Peter Tucker (37:32) and Yvonne McNairn (41:16) were victorious at the Arrochar 10k. Killian Davies (35:04) and Crystal Dishman (42:48) set the fastest times at the Hoylake 10k Coastal Run. Alex Hughes (38:38) and Sarah Pearson (48:48) did the same at the Shardeloes Trail 10k.

Victories were achieved by Terry Mackin (37:59) and Helen Mussen (40:16) at the Moor Park 10k, Jennifer Hirst (41:54) and Robert Foster (34:21) at the Matfen 10k, and Dan Dunnington (37:08) and Samantha Davies (41:53) at the Sutton Park 10k.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Oluwatosin Adedeji (31:36) and Laura Cason (39:01) at the Langham 10k, Daniel Wilson (35:42) and Jo Andrews (37:33) at the Marriott’s Way 10k, and Molly Shaw (41:06) and Adam Theaker (33:01) at the Redcar Running Festival Zetland 10k. Wins in the associated half marathons went to Alexandra Sneddon (79:07) and James Anderson (71:37).

Longer Distances

For those fancying a longer race, there were plenty of options too. In his sixth half marathon of the year, Jack Nixon (68:03) crossed the finish line first at the Larking Gowen Ipswich Half Marathon. Clare Jacobs (80:27) was the fastest female. Ricky Lightfoot (72:21) and Rebecca Robinson (83:45) won the Keswick Half Marathon. Meanwhile, James Copeland (72:01) and Natalie Lawrence (85:30) won the Winchester Half Marathon.

It was the turn of Ben Short (74:31) and Laura Ebbs (89:16) to record victories at the Run Reigate Half Marathon, with April Thorpe (82:10) and James Scott-Farrington (70:07) doing the same at the Warrington Running Festival Half Marathon. 

Tougher courses led to slower times at the Ouse Valley Half Marathon. However, wins for Doug Marsh (1:32:50) and Katy Raven (1:44:08) were no less sweet . Tara Spillings (90:11) and Mark Hornsey (79:22)  had the winning feeling at the Tissington Trail Half Marathon. Saleem Rizvi (75:18) and Alex Maher (90:41) did also at the Richmond Park Trail Half Marathon in London.

Ty Farrer (2:51:17) and Shelley Uff (3:56:51) won the Ouse Valley Marathon, and Dawn Robinson (3:45:43) and Iain Ward (3:09:04) the Norfolk Coastal Trail Marathon. Simon Wright (1:32:18) and Lucy Horan (1:42:23) won the associated half marathon.

Centurion’s Chiltern Wonderland 50 saw the fastest times set by Alastair Courtney (6:32:49) and Fiona Slevin-Brown (8:35:46). In Chatham, Lyndon Cooper (8:01:33) and Linda Goodchild (8:57:04), who finished third overall, won the Triple Trail 50.