Ross Skelton and Jennifer Walsh ran the fastest parkrun times on Saturday 29th April
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The highly talented Skelton, coached by Geoff Watkin, topped this week’s parkrun rankings clocking 14:49 at Hastings on what ended up being a fast week on the South Coast. The Sussex Relays earlier this month were first competitive outing in 2023 for the man who represented England at the 2021 Antrim Coast Half Marathon and who boasts impressive PBs of 29:18 for 10km and 64:37 for half.
Jennifer Walsh was the fastest woman this week with 1632 and a course record at Riverside parkrun in County Durham. Walsh anchored home the Victoria Leeds team at the recent National Road Relays after a fine 2022 which saw her set PBs of 15:54 over 5000m and 9:13 over 3000m.
The rest of the best
Paul Whittaker is another man who has presented England over half marathon and he also broke 15 minutes to run the second fastest time at Chalkwell Beach with 14:57. Whittaker who sits 56 on the UK all time parkrun rankings, has been running half marathons for over a decade but she his PB earlier this year with 65:51 in Barcelona.
With 16:52 and a course record Charlotte Penfold this this week’s 2nd fastest woman with her performance at Blyth Links. Penfold is a frequent parkrun performer but this her PB and was the first time she has run under 17 minutes since 2018. The North Dheodls Poly athlete has made a strong start to 2023 finishing 23rd at the Intercounties.
Will Cork was one of three athletes to feature in the top 10 this week from Seaford parkrun with his 15:09 just one second outside the course record. He was joined by Kevin Moore with 15:11 and James Turner with 15:14 to ensure Seaford claims the top spot for the fastest course this week nudging out the nearby by Hastings event.
Another England athlete in action this week was Naomi Taschimowitz who broke Jess Gibbon’s course record at the undulating Finsbury Park course with 16:58. The Charlotte Fisher coached athlete has started 2023 in excellent form having set a 10km PB in Lille in March with 33:37.
A special mention goes to 4th placed athlete Rae Le Fay who at 16 years old clocked an impressive 17:29 in Hastings to take over 30 seconds off her previous best parkrun time.