runbritain Grand Prix off to a splashing start!

The 2013 Mizuno Reading Half Marathon kicked off the runbritain Grand Prix on Sunday with more than 12000 runners splashing through incessant rain to finish in the impressive Madejski Stadium. They were led home by winners, Andrew Lesuuda (64:15) and Emily Biwott (74:14), both from Kenya.

Nick Pearson, the managing director of sponsors Sweatshop, was delighted with the quality of the field and the excellent charity work that always makes this event such a resounding success, whatever the weather.

While the organisers had laid on pacemakers, the weather proved to be a barrier for fast times this year, although the overall quality was better with more than 20 runners running faster than 70 minutes!

The event also incorporated the England Championshipsand the pre race favourites, as predicted in the runbritain preview, ran to the top of the Grand Prix standings.

Paul Pollock (Kent AC) was unable to get the better of Dave Webb (Leeds AC) who was the best placed British athlete in 65:14. This also awarded him the national title of 2013 England half Marathon Champion.

Tish Jones (Belgrave AC) was delighted with her England title and prime position in the Grand Prix prior to the second event that will be held at the Bristol 10k on 5 May. There are five more races left in the  Grand Prix and the leader boards are expected to change several times before the 2013 champions are crowned at the Leeds Abbey Dash on 17 November.  The best four races will count to the overall
prize that rewards the best British runners from the £18.000 prize fund.

Whilst the Grand Prix leader boards are still being checked to ensure that the top 250 male and female eligible runners are awarded the correct points the results can be found here. We hope to have the leader boards live shortly.