Elsey Wyman-Davis takes the women’s honours as Jonathan Hopkins tops the men’s parkrun rankings on Saturday.

Elsey Whyman-Davis – rocking the new double barrelled name – clocked 16:55 at the Preston parkrun to record the quickest women’s time across the UK on Saturday (January 12).

The Preston Harrier, who is coached by Helen Clitheroe, told Fast Running after her run: “I am actually on the back of one of my biggest training blocks ever, but will be easing off for Speedway 10k next weekend to set a mark for my fitness.

“The course [Preston parkrun] is fairly challenging, three laps with a nasty little climb. Fortunately I had Andy Benson helping me carve the path of least resistance and on ‘keep left’ shouting duties on the last 2 laps.”

After a year of PBs over different distances, Whyman-Davis will be representing England in Armagh over 3k in February.

Jonathan Hopkins ran under 15 minutes – clocking 14:44 –  at Cardiff parkrun to post the quickest men’s time on Saturday.

The Welsh international steeplechaser finished 2018 with a 30:12 at Telford 10k and a 24:10 at Glynneath 5 on Boxing Day. It seems that fine form has been carried into 2019.

Jack Rowe, of Aldershot, Farnham & District, was running at Bushy Park this weekend and posted a snappy 15:09 to finish quicker than Peter Le Grice (15:11) at Edinburgh parkrun and Joe Morwood (15:23) at Rushmoor parkrun.

Rowe was running for San Francisco University in the USA in 2018 and broke eight minutes for 3000m and 14 minutes for the 5000m for the first times with 7:58.52 indoor and 13:58.04 at the Cardinal Classic in April.

Rachel Gibson of North Down AC posted 17:27 at the quick Belfast Victoria parkrun in Northern Ireland to finish second in the women’s rankings. The run equalled the parkrun best for Gibson, set in September 2018.

Alexandra Millard, of Invicta East Kent, ran 17:33 at Pegwell Bay parkrun in Kent. It was a parkrun best for the 17 year-old who has a 5k best of 17:10 and had a fine 2018 with PBs over 800, 1500, 1 mile and 5k.

Jennifer Wetton of Central AC was fourth fastest female in the UK. The prolific park runner, who has a best of 16:55, clocked 17:37 at the at Perth parkrun. The 2:46 marathoner has already run four parkruns in 2019!

Cardiff parkrun actually featured three times this week with the fastest time of Jonathan Hopkins, but also a 15:38 from Christopher Carpanini and a 17:43 for Tamara Beach.

Last week’s fastest two female both featured strongly at the Great Stirling XC in Scotland this weekend as well, with Charlotte Arter second and Pippa Woolven fourth. The full report from Stirling can be found here.

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: Cardiff
Jonathan Hopkins, 14:44, Swansea AC/RunFast
2) parkrun: Bushy
Jack Rowe, 15:09, Aldershot, Farnham & District AC
3) parkrun: Edinburgh
Peter le Grice, 15:11, Mount Bay Harriers
4) parkrun: Rushmoor
Joe Morwood, 15:23, Aldershot, Farnham & District AC
5) parkrun: Bromley
Alex Goodall, 15:28, Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow AC
6) parkrun: Poole
Chris Powner, 15:29, Winchester and District AC
7) parkrun: Belton House
Sam Mitchell, 15:32, Notts AC
8) parkrun: Cardiff 
Christopher Carpanini, 15:38, Swansea Harriers AC
9) parkrun: Wimbledon Common
Alex Milne, 15:40, Enfield & Haringey AC
10) parkrun: Normanby Hall
William Strangeway, 15:45, Lincoln Wellington AC
11) parkrun: Llanerchaeron
Michael Kallenberg, 15:46, Carmathern & District Harriers AC
12) parkrun: Kettering
Jack Hope, 15:50, Kettering Town Harriers
13) parkrun: Northwich
Ed Shepherd, 15:51, Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies

The men’s list goes to 13 this week as we added the Cardiff and Bromley results later and wanted to include those who had previously made the top ten list. Likewise with the women’s top 11.

Women’s top 10

1) parkrun: Preston
Eleanor Whyman-Davis, 16:55, Preston Harriers
2) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Rachel Gibson, 17:27, North Down AC
3) parkrun: Pegwell Bay
Alexandra Millard, 17:33, Invicta East Kent AC
4) parkrun: Perth
Jennifer Wetten, 17:37, Central AC
5) parkrun: Merthyr
Clara Evans, 17:39, Pontypridd Roadents AC
6) parkrun: Wanstead Flats
Danielle Nimmock, 17:40, City of Norwich AC
7) parkrun: Luton Wardown
Rosie McNabola, 17:41, Luton AC
8) parkrun: Cardiff
Tamara Beach, 17:43, Les Croupiers RC
9) parkrun: York
Sophie Crumly, 17:45, Newbury AC
10) parkrun: Portobello, Edinburgh  
Charlotte Morgan, 17:50, Carnethy Hill RC
11) parkrun: Isabel Trail
Danielle Smythe, 17:56, Heaton Harriers & AC

If you enjoy running at parkrun but want to develop and get a bit faster then find a running club near you. Clubs have all the social aspects of parkrun and cater for all levels to help you progress. More information can be found here.

Also if you would like to run faster at parkrun, top tips to help runners of all abilities can be found here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

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