Gemma Steel and Timothy Lefroy ran the fastest parkrun times in the UK this week (4th June).
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I’m all for an easy life, but it’s like Top of the Pops with how long Gemma Steel has been at number one now. The Charnwood AC runner is obviously enjoying Watermead County Park parkrun so much she’s going back each Saturday morning for a session. Not much more we can say, but most of us probably do the same too.
Timothy Lefroy is a new name in the top 10 for the men, with an excellent 14:47 at Dulwich parkrun in south-east London. Leading home a trio of chaps who made the rankings this week, we’re not sure if the UWA AC listed is the University of West Anglia or Western Australia, but the latter seems more likely with power of 10 mentioning Australia. 2021 saw PBs at 5000, 5k and 10,000, in 14:03, 14:23 and 29:38 respectively.
Fast finishing parkrunners
Next up for the ladies is Caitlyn Harvey of Annadale Striders. Crossing the line in 16:34 at Belfast Victoria parkrun would normally pop you top of the list, if Steel wasn’t on her multi-week chart topping streak. For Harvey this is a big PB at parkrun, but also quicker than her 5000m and 5k best on the roads so those could be updated in the near future too, after 2022 has already seen some really strong performances on the cross country too.
Nathan Lawson was first finisher at York parkrun in 15:07 (in a Dulwich Park sandwich on the podium) and the Dark Peak Fell Runner has brought some speed down off them there fells. After a 15:23 in March at the Even Splits Leeds 5K Series, followed up by a couple of first finishes at the Hastings and Roberts Park events, Lawson is heading in the right direction and this is a parkrun PB and only seven seconds off his road 5k best.
The Eden Project in Cornwall is an accurately measured course (with a professional measuring wheel) and looks like a beautiful, but windy affair so Annabel Gummow’s 17:00 for a course record is a fantastic run, especially when you see the previous course record holder was Lucy Charles-Barclay of triathlon fame. Given that the Winchester AC athlete clocked just seven seconds slower than a 2009 1500m PB in May, doubling up with a 3000m win on the day too, it’s looking like 2022 could be a good year under the guidance of new coach Andrew Hobdell.
The fastest course?
Combing the third placed male athlete and the fastest course is no mistake, as Sean Renfer, less than 30 seconds behind our top ranked Timothy Lefroy, ran 15:14 and was one of three Dulwich runners (with mountain man Russell Bentley clocking 15:40 for 10th). Renfer, who is a Highgate and Swiss athlete according to Power of 10, already has a 2022 5k PB of 14:44 at the Friday Night 5K Under the Lights so a nice parkrun PB to go with that makes sense.
Men’s top 10
1) parkrun: Dulwich
Timothy Lefroy, 14:47, UWA AC
2) parkrun: York
Nathan Lawson, 15:07, Dark Peak Fell Runners Club
3) parkrun: Dulwich
Sean Renfer, 15:14, Highgate Harriers
4) parkrun: Huntingdon
Jamie Hall, 15:20, Hallamshire Harriers Sheffield AC
5) parkrun: Bryn Bach
Callum O’Neill, 15:20, Newbury AC
6) parkrun: Bushy
Seyfu Jamaal, 15:21, London Heathside
7) parkrun: Burnham and Highbridge
Thomas Gostelow, 15:33, Charnwood AC
8) parkrun: St Andrews
Charles Sandison, 15:34, Fulham RC
9) parkrun: Waterworks, Belfast
Conor Gallagher, 15:38, St. Malachy’s AC
10) parkrun: Dulwich
Russell Bentley, 15:40, Kent AC
Women’s top 10
1) parkrun: Watermead County Park
Gemma Steel, 16:25, Charnwood AC
2) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Caitlyn Harvey, 16:34, Annadale Striders
3) parkrun: Eden Project
Annabel Gummow, 17:00, Winchester & District AC
4) parkrun: Harrow
Rache Porter, 17:06, Clapham Chasers RC
2) parkrun: Cardiff
Olivia Tsim, 17:11, Pontypridd Roadents AC
9) parkrun: Poole
Vicki Ingham, 17:15, Poole Runners
7) parkrun: Wollaton Hall
Lauren McNeil, 17:19, Hallamshire Harriers Sheffield AC
8) parkrun: Gunpowder
Danielle Nimmock, 17:28, City of Norwich AC
9) parkrun: Southport
Kirsty Longley, 17:34, Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers & AC
10) parkrun: Hull
Georgina Weston, 17:41, Notts AC
If you would like to run faster at parkrun we highly recommend 1001 Running Tips by Robbie Britton, found here.