Weekend update
The last weekend in March saw many excellent endurance performances that included Pip Woolven (running handicap -1.8) finishing her season on a high with a strong performance in the invitational cross country event at Aarhus in Denmark. In the USA, there were many top drawer performances from the academic community too. Closer to home Adam Clarke (handicap -5.2), and Charlotte Arter (handicap -2.2) were the top finishers at the Cardiff bay 10k.
The new initiatives set up by the IAAF and the organisers of the World Cross Country Championships in Denmark, saw Pip Woolven (handicap -1.8), take full advantage to nail a starting position and finish an outstanding 35th, just behind Mhairi MacLennan (handicap -1.2), Jenny Nesbitt (handicap-0.9) and Kate Avery (handicap-1.2).
Renowned for its perfect spring conditions, the Stanford Invitational is the place to go for distance runners early season and it didn’t disappoint in 2019, as Jack Rowe (handicap -4.4) led the British charge with a stunning 10km personal best of 28.50.22 to go top of the British rankings. Also in personal best form was Chris Olley (handicap -4.6), the San Francisco University student finishing fifth in the 5000m in 13.47.92, whilst in the men’s 800m Michael Wilson (handicap -5.5) was near his best with 1.48.77.
The Raleigh Relays in North Carolina, saw Michael Ward (handicap -4.9) set an impressive 10k personal best of 29.16.20, with Bradley Wattleworth (handicap -2.1) also going inside 29.30 with his 29.26.32 effort. There were other sub 30 clockings for Daniel Haymes (handicap -2.6) and Luke Greer (handicap -3.7).
Sticking with the endurance races, Haran Dunderdale (handicap -4.7) took an early lead on the Power of 10 3,000m steeplechase rankings as he finished second in 8.50.95, just half a second shy of his personal best.
The Welsh capital’s annual Cardiff Bay 10k turned out to be a cracker, as the first four men were separated by just seven seconds. Taking the win was Adam Clarke (handicap -5.2), the Aldershot, Farnham and District athlete forging clear to break the tape in 29.28, a personal best by over 15 seconds. Chasing him home were Welsh trio Jake Smith (-4.7), Josh Griffiths (-5.2) and Ieuan Thomas (-4.1), with Jake and Josh running 29.34 and Thomas just one second back.
In the women’s race, it was Charlotte Arter (handicap -2.2) who moved to fifth on the Power of 10 rankings for 2019 thanks to a runaway victory in 32.49, the second fastest she’s ever run on the roads.
Over 1,400 people took advantage of the sunny weather to take part in the 13th annual TQ10k. In the women's event, Danielle Hodgkinson (handicap 0.4) strode to a clear victory in a time of 33:42, which was a huge 30 seconds off her personal best and a course record.
Second place place went to NI & Ulster athlete, Fionnuala Ross (handicap -0.1), who crossed the line in 34:13, coming 26th overall. She was followed by her teammate, Nakita Burke (handicap 3.4) in a time of 34:34, which was a new PB. Next came an English trio of Eleanor Bolton (35:02), Carla Davies (35:38) and Olivia Stones (36:13). NI & Ulster’s Rachel Gibson (handicap 1.6) who was 3rd last year, finished 7th in 36:45.
Personal best times were also the order of the day in the men's race where the North of England pair Ollie Lockley (handicap -4.5) and Dejene Gezimu (handicap -5.0) battled for the entire race. In a frantic sprint finish Lockley just got the verdict by one second in an impressive 29:57 which was 13 seconds faster than his previous best. Silver went to Gesimu who finished in a time of 29:59 while Bronze went to England's James Bellward (handicap -3.2) in a PB of 30.38.
In 4th place was England's Daniel Bebbington (handicap -4.7) in 30:46 just two seconds ahead of NI & Ulster’s Chris Madden (handicap -3.0). The ever consistent Madden has had two runner up spots in this event and was delighted with his time of 30.48, which is his fastest by some 25 seconds. UK Masters cross country champion Mark McKinstry (handicap -4.4) was 6th in 30:57. He was followed by Kyle Doherty (handicap -2.6) in a time of 31:05, Paddy Hamilton (handicap -2.6) in 31:18, Edward Knudsen (handicap -.3.2) in 31:19 and NI & Ulster's Conan McCaughey (handicap -3.5) in a time of 31:41.
Some of the bigger races over the weekend were:
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- 5,302* finishers |
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- 1,816* |
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- 1,618 |
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- 1,422 |
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- 1,280 |
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- 1,032 |
* Provisional results
Other results via the following links: