Weekend update
There were some outstanding weekend performances with Emile Cairess being the highlight with a UK record equalling 10k performance in Valencia. Other eye-catching performances included a Commonwealth qualifier for Amelia Quirk in Sheffield and a UK Junior indoor 3000m record from Osian Perrin (pictured). The Belfast Victoria parkrun saw two top parkrun times from Ben Branagh and Grace Carson.
At the annual 10K in Valencia, Spain, Emile Cairess (handicap -6.4) equalled Mo Farah’s 10km British record in Spain as he clocked a time of 27:44 to finish fifth overall in the race. He matched the time Farah set back in May 2010, and his time will be subject to ratification.
There were PBs for several athletes including Mahamed Mahamed (handicap -5.8) who was 12th overall in a time of 28:16, Jonathan Mellor (handicap -6.4) with 28:30 and Adam Clarke (handicap -5.7) with 28:34. Beth Kidger (handicap -0.8) and Stephanie Davis (handicap -1.9) clocked times of 32:53 and 32:58 respectively.
The BMC Indoor Grand Prix, Sheffield, lived up to it’s billing as Osian Perrin (handicap -4.7) broke the British U20 3000m record at the EIS, with a time of 7:58.23. The Welshman, who recently competed for GB&NI at the European Cross Country, transitioned seamlessly to indoor track racing, improving the previous record of 7:58.68, which was set by Tom Farrell in 2010.
He pushed the pace early on in a fast race that was won by Leeds based Italian international Ossama Meslek (handicap -4.4) in 7:50.13, just ahead of Olympic finalist Jake Wightman (handicap -5.8) who revised his PB to 7:50.96.
Amelia Quirk (handicap -1.3) moved to number three on the UK all-time rankings over 5000m indoors as she pipped Jenny Nesbitt (handicap -1.8) to the win. For Quirk, the time of 15:27.74 was also an England Commonwealth Games qualifying time, while Nesbitt clocked 15:30.32, for a new a Welsh record and fourth UK all-time list.
The Belfast Victoria parkrun near George Best City Airport was again the fastest parkrun in the UK for both men and women with winning times of 14:17 and 16:33. Ben Branagh (handicap -4.6) who has returned to his best was dominant as he headed the field by 91 seconds. The diminutive Grace Carson (handicap -0.4) from Omagh set new PB figures of 16:33 at Victoria Park.
UK runbritain rankings for endurance events and age groups
Other results from the Xmas weekend are on the following links: