Weekend Roundup
Last weekend saw many substantial PBs and Championship qualifying times for seniors and juniors. The middle distance events particularly came to life with 17 year old Max Burgin running 1:46.80 over 800m in Loughborough.
The BMC Grand Prix, at Loughborough, saw 17-year-old Max Burgin (handicap -2.4) well and truly steal the show on his return to the track after injury in Loughborough as he won the men’s 800m by almost three full seconds in 1:46.80, the seventh best ever by a GB junior. The men’s 5,000m served up the best race of the night, with six men going sub 14, headed by Emile Cairess (handicap -5.8) who bagged the European U23 qualifying time with a 13:50.58 run.
Ellis Cross (handicap -4.4) was his closest contender, second in a 13:52.54 personal best, whilst Rory Leonard (handicap -4.3) won the European Junior trial race as he finished third in the B race in 14:20.85. In the women’s race Jess Judd (handicap -1.5) was a runaway winner in 15:31.64, a personal best time, while sister Jodie Judd (handicap -0.6) was fourth in 16:04.56, a massive PB and inside the European U23 qualifying mark. Izzy Fry (handicap 1.5) was the other standout name as she slashed her personal best with a 16:22.55 effort to secure the European Junior qualifying mark.
The Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle, Washington, saw more World Championships qualifying times for UK athletes. Josh Kerr (handicap -6.0) produced the second quickest 1500m ever by a Scot as he took a clear victory in 3:33.60, a world class performance. In the same race recent Oregon graduate James West (handicap -6.0) lowered his personal best for the second time in a week with a 3:35.74 run in fourth, whilst one place further back was Neil Gourley (handicap -5.7) who also ran a 3:35.95 PB. All three Brits were inside the World Championships qualifying standard.
At the Adidas Boston Boost Games in the US, Chris O'Hare (handicap -6.2) was third in the mile with a 3:57.60. Ossama Meslek ( handicap -4.2) was also inching towards qualifying with a 3:39.80 in the Copenhagen Games on Tuesday night.
The German Internationales LA Meeting at Anhalt saw Jemma Reekie (handicap -0.9 ) produced her best ever performance over two laps of the track over in Germany, the young Scot finishing third in 2:01.45 to hit the European U23 qualifying standard for the distance.
At the Pacific Distance Carnival, Canada based Scot Sarah Inglis (handicap -1.6) and pictured above, produced the run of her life over 25 laps of the track, finishing second in a massive 32:11.42 personal best as she gears up for her British track debut at the European 10,000m Cup.