Abbie Donnelly and Robbie Ferguson ran the fastest parkrun times in the UK this weekend (17th June).
Our weekly parkrun top ten is sponsored by 1001 Running Tips by our editor Robbie Britton. Want to run faster at parkrun in 2023 or your next marathon then order your copy today.(PBs not guaranteed, but very likely).
For the second week in a row we have to apologise for a late edition of the parkrun top 10 (and maybe pre-warn about another next weekend) as I’m out in the US racing and coaching for a three week period. Next weekend is the Western States 100 Mile race so it’s a busy one!
Especially since another Robbie made the top of the list this week, with Robbie Ferguson and Abbie Donnelly our top parkrun athletes on Saturday.
Donnelly, of Lincoln Wellington AC, is no stranger to fast times and our rankings with a 15:52 parkrun best that sits high in the all time fastest times for the free Saturday morning events. Recently even faster PBs over 5k on the road (15:25) and 32:10.16 for 10,000m on the track saw the distance star run for GB&NI at the European 10,000m Cup in Pace, France.
Robbie Ferguson ran 14:55 at Elder Park parkrun this weekend and topped the men’s rankings. That’s a big new parkrun best and also quicker than Ferguson’s 5k PB on the road, so we might see more PBs this summer too. 2023 has already seen a fantastic 10k PB of 30:38 for the Kilbarchan athlete as well.
The best of the rest
At the Tetbury Goods Shed parkrun, which we assume is run in a giant shed somewhere, Chelsea Rose Barker pipped Jessica Gibbon to second spot on the podium by just one second! It was 17:12 for the Bristol and West AC runner who’s had a blinding year already with a 2:36 marathon PB in London and new bests at 10k, 10 mile and half marathon too.
Reading AC’s Jessica Gibbon ran 17:13 at Higginson parkrun, Marlow for the third fastest time. So far this year Gibbon only has parkruns on her Power of 10 profile, but it feels like all is moving in the right direction as the last two weeks have been strong performances that have made these lists.
Just one second over 15 minutes was Adrian Bailes with a 15:01 parkrun time at Riverside parkrun. Which river you ask? Not the Riverside parkrun in Idaho, USA, but the alongside the River Wear in County Durham in the North-East of England. The middle distance runner has a new 800m PB of 1:52.62 this year already and a 5k on the road of 14:28 at the iconic Armagh International Road Races.
Third fastest male was Euan Brown at Oaklands parkrun with 15:08. It was a mere second away from a parkrun PB for the Hallamshire Harrier, but a 3000m, 5000m and 10k PB is probably good comfort for the prolific racer!
The fastest course?
It might be a surprise, but this week this award goes outside of the UK. Sandgate parkrun in Australia had nine male athletes under 15 minutes and four women under 17:30. Must have been a real party, I bet there was a BBQ afterwards too, if not too cold this time of year.
Women’s Rankings
Men’s Rankings