Racing update
This weekend saw many athletes take to the track for their last race in a short but exciting season whilst others returned to the road. There were sub 4-minute miles in Scotland, Belgrave Harriers hosted a night of 1500s, top class fields were in action at the Cheshire Half Marathon and the Barrow 10k and Daniel Rowden produced a superb performance to top the UK 800m rankings.
In Zagreb, Croatia, the men’s 800m was dominated by UK runners as they secured all podium placings. Daniel Rowden (handicap -6.7), was on cloud-nine with a new personal best of 1:44.09. Elliot Giles (handicap -6.9) was second ahead of Jake Wightman (handicap -7.1) in 1:44.77 and 1:44.85 respectively.
Over 1500m, James West (handicap -6.4) and George Mills (handicap -6.0) flew to new best times. West ran a personal best of 3:34.56 whilst Mills, impressed with a PB of 3:36.72.
In Bellinzona, Switzerland, in the women’s 800m event, Jemma Reekie (handicap -3.2) ran a solid 1:58.87. The men’s 1500m saw Piers Copeland (handicap -6.4) run a PB of 3:35.69 with Josh Lay (handicap -5.9), hitting a PB of 3:36.92.
In Stirling, at The Monument Mile, both Jonathan Davies (handicap -6.2) and Ian Crowe-Wright (handicap -6.1) clocked sub-4-minute miles. Davies finally cracked the barrier with 3:59.36. Crowe-Wright set a PB with 3:59.61. The pair became the first in 11 years to clock sub-4 in Scotland.
In the women’s elite race, it was Cambridge University runner, Louise Shanahan (handicap -1.0) who took the win in 4:44.87.
At the Belgrave Harriers Night of 1500m races, Adelle Tracey (handicap -2.1) showed her class in winning from Australian steeplechaser, Genevieve Gregson to achieve a personal best of 4:07.47 to Gregson's 4:09.40. In third place was Revee Walcott-Nolan (handicap -1.0) in a PB of 4:11.54.
The men’s event was won in 3:40.85 by Joe Wigfield (handicap -5.1) ahead of a 3:41.30 run by Ian Crowe-Wright (handicap -5.4). U20 runner, Henry McLuckie (handicap -4.9), came in third with a PB of 3:42.16.
The Trafford, British Milers Club races held another top-quality track event. In the men’s 800m event it was Yusuf Bizimana (handicap -5.9) who ran 1:46.93 to win with a new personal best. Jonny Davies ran 3:39.90 for 1500m. Over 3000m, Tom Mortimer (handicap -5.8) won in 8:00.99.
In the women’s 800m event, it was Olivia Vareille (handicap 0.6) who won in 2:06.42. Eloise Walker (handicap -0.5), from Edinburgh AC, ran 4:17.36 for a PB in the 1500m whilst Hannah Nuttall (handicap 1.6) won the 3000m event in 9:16.60.
The socially distanced Sunset 5k in Blackweir Fields, Cardiff, signalled a welcome return to the Welsh racing scene with many elite Welsh distance stars performing. Osian Perrin (handicap -3.7) made the trip south from Anglesey to win in a frantic finish with Matthew Edwards (handicap -3.9). Both were credited with 14:35
Having recovered from injury recently, Charlotte Arter (handicap -2..4) was dominant in the women's race with a 15:59 win from Clara Evans (handicap -1.4) in 16:25. Lucy Marland (handicap 0.8) finished next with a personal best. of 16:54.
At the Cheshire Half Marathon, Andy Davies (handicap -5.2) secured a masterful win in 65:51 ahead of Charlie Hulson (handicap -5.7) in 65:52 and Jonathan Mellor (handicap -6.2) in 65:53. Fastest in the field, Ross Millington (handicap -5.7) was fourth. These four elites, who are part of the New Balance Manchester training group used the opporunity to work together at a training pace.
The Barrowford 10k saw sub 29 performances with Jake Smith (handicap -6.1), Emile Cairess (handicap -6.2), Jamie Crowe (handicap -6.1) and Omar Ahmed (handicap -6.2) flowing around the cycle track in Lancashire.
Approaching the final lap it was anybody’s race but three athletes pulled away as Ahmed had dropped off. Emile Cairess pushed on in the final dust up, finishing in 28:46, two seconds ahead of Jamie Crowe, with Jake Smith third in 28:50.
Eleanor Bolton (handicap 0.8) ran a big PB to win the women's event in 33:33, ahead of Leeds runner, Claire Duck (handicap -0.3) in 34:29 and third placed Georgia Malir (handicap 0.4) in 34:55.
UK runbritain rankings for endurance events and age groups
Other results from the weekend are on the following links: