McCormick and Damen v Dixon clash in BM10k
The UK’s fastest over 10k for 2014, Nick McCormick (handicap -4.9), and third fastest woman, Louise Damen (handicap -0.8), are the big name draws for the inaugural BM10k which takes place on Sunday April 6.
London Olympian McCormick has been in the form of his life recently, racking up a personal best of 28:56 for the distance when he triumphed at the Trafford 10k. McCormick might also have his eye on the £1000 time bonus for the winning male athlete breaking 29 minutes.
It has been a fine start to the year for the Morpeth Harrier. At the Northern 12-stage Relays last weekend he was fastest over leg eight as well as winning the Armagh International Road Race in February.
Trying to unseat McCormick will be Belgrave’s Phil Wicks (handicap -5.0) with a faster lifetime best and a lower current handicap score, but who failed to break 30min last year, Sale Harrier Anthony Ford (handicap -4.2) who was over a minute down on McCormick in Trafford and former English cross country champion, FrankTickner (handicap -5.2), of Wells City..
Winchester’s Chris Powner (handicap -1.9), Brighton Phoenix’s Jon Pepper (handicap -4.6) - eighth in the Brighton Marathon last year - Southend’s Adam Hickey (handicap -5.6), who has the lowest current handicap score of the lot, and Swansea’s Simon Jones (handicap -1.2) will all be looking to dip under 30min on this fast new course.
On the women’s side, Winchester’s Damen (32:47PB) has the fastest time of the entrants for this year, but former Brighton Marathon champion, Alyson Dixon (handicap -0.6), almost as fast over the distance as Damen, will be a tough nut to crack.
The Sunderland Stroller knows the course well after running the marathon twice and setting lifetime bests on both occasions.
Other quality contestants are Winchester’s Lorna Russell (handicap 0.2) and Natalie Harvey (hanidcap 11.8) of South London.
Over 1400 entrants have been registered for the inaugural BM10k which sets off at 8.30am on Sunday April 6, just before the fifth Brighton Marathon gets under way at 9.15am.
The Brighton Marathon is an IAAF Bronze Label event.