Tessa McCormick and Jacob Allen ran the fastest parkrun times in the UK this week (26th February).

Our weekly parkrun top ten is sponsored by 1001 Running Tips by our editor Robbie Britton. Order your copy today.

It seems that today it was mainly runners with long club names that did well at parkrun, particularly for the chaps. Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow AC takes the biscuit.

Given that it’s National XC Champs weekend we normally expect a drop in the average fast times, but it seems that isn’t the case this year. With much further ado, the fastest park-runners of the weekend.

Tess McCormick of Vale Royal AC has started 2022 with a bang already. At the Chichester 10k earlier this month McCormick ran a PB of 34:46 to take the win and this weekend runs a 16:38 parkrun best, not far off her road 5k mark of 16:26 from last year.

The fastest man, at Highbury Fields parkrun, was Jacob Allen. The Rugby and Northampton man was one of two under 15 minutes this week but the fastest by two full seconds in 14:50. After starting the season at the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza in January with a 21st place, Allen, now running for Highgate, has a 5k PB of 14:43 and an impressive 5000m mark of 14:19.95, both from last year.

Busy day at Great Denham

Not a parkrun we often see in the top 10, Great Denham features multiple times this week with second fastest female Elle Roche  laying down one of the best runs of the day in 17:14. The 16:48 5k runner opened up the ’22 season with an excellent 3rd at the Bedfordshire / Buckinghamshire County Championships on cross country and it looks like another exciting year ahead.

Alex Hampson, in a different field to Highbury Fields at Storey’s Field, was our other runner under 15 minutes with 14:52. The Peterborough & Nene Valley AC athlete broke through 1:55 and 3:50 for 800 and 1500m last year and starts this year in similarly fashion with a two 5k PBs at the Nottingham Winter 5K Series and Nottingham Holme Run 5K respectively.

Third fastest lady was Ellie Marie Monks at Southampton parkrun. On the south coast the Southampton AC runner clocked 17:19, which is a new parkrun best and matches the 5k road PB of the 2:57 V35 marathoner.

The next in the men’s rankings was Marc Brown at Keswick parkrun in the Lake District. The Salford Harrier ran 15:07, and has already PB’d at half marathon this year with 65:58 at the Brass Monkey Half in January. After 2021 saw PBs at every single distance going, Brown certainly didn’t rest on his laurels and hits new heights in 2022 already.

The fastest course?

We’ve hinted already but a turn-out in force from Marshall Milton Keynes AC at Great Denham parkrun was enough to equal those running at Storey’s Field, with three a piece making the top 10s. 2nd, 7th and 10th versus 2nd, 6th and 7th means that Great Denham takes it at the line!

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: Highbury Fields
Jacob Allen, 14:50, Rugby & Northampton AC
2) parkrun: Storey’s Field
Alex Hampson, 14:52, Peterborough & Nene Valley AC
3) parkrun: Keswick
Marc Brown, 15:07, Salford Harriers and AC
4=) parkrun: Bushy
Bradley Goater, 15:10, Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow AC
4=) parkrun: Poole
Niall Caley, 15:10, Team Bath
6) parkrun: Great Denham
Sam Winters, 15:20, Marshall Milton Keynes AC
7) parkrun: Storey’s Field
Ross Broomfield, 15:30, University of St. Andrews AC
8) parkrun: Long Eaton
Aston Perrin, 15:31, Long Eaton RC
9) parkrun: Croxteth Hall
Matthew Crehan, 15:35, St. Helens Sutton AC
10) parkrun: Stretford
Samuel Bryan, 15:42, Salford Harriers and AC

Women’s top 10

1) parkrun: Bushy
Tessa McCormick, 16:38, Vale Royal AC
2) parkrun: Great Denham
Elle Roche, 17:14, Marshall Milton Keynes AC
3) parkrun: Southampton 
Ellie Marie Monks, 17:19, Southampton AC
4) parkrun: East Park
Lauren Cooper, 17:23, Shrewsbury AC
5) parkrun: Burnham and Highbridge
Hannah Taunton, 17:28, Taunton AC
6) parkrun: Buckingham
Sophie Wood, 17:31, Sale Harriers Manchester
7) parkrun: Great Denham 
Alice Ritchie, 17:33, Marshall Milton Keynes AC
8) parkrun: Cardiff
Rachel Davies, 17:37, Swansea Harriers AC
9) parkrun: Cannon Hill, Birmingham
Bryony Haines, 17:38, Birchfield Harriers
10) parkrun: Storey’s Field
Darcie Hey, 17:39, Birmingham University AC

If you would like to run faster at parkrun we highly recommend 1001 Running Tips by Robbie Britton, found here.