GB athletes show great form in Ostrava and Poznan. Farah and Partridge take all-comer’s records in Antrim. The SOAR Running weekend roundup is brought to you by Gill Bland
Scott shines as Farah and Partridge win in Antrim
The Antrim Coast Half Marathon was perhaps the most talked about event of the week not only thanks to one Sir Mo Farah making an appearance, but also due to the fantastic home grown field on the start list.
It had the added spice of giving us a glimpse of what shape those due to run London Marathon were in.
Farah predictably took the win in 60:27 – not the British record that had been touted, but a very decent time given the stresses that a 1hr track race (and world record) would have put on his legs last week.
Perhaps the real story of the day though was an impressive Half Marathon debut by another Nike athlete – Bowerman Track Club / Cambridge & Coleridge’s Marc Scott. Scott was right up with Farah until the last mile, when his trademark killer-kick proved too much to handle, but 60:39 and third on the British all-time list is a pretty tasty debut.
Third place went to Ben Connor who ran a fantastic PB of 60:55 to earn his spot just behind Scott on the all-time list and Stephen Scullion was fourth in 61:08, taking the Northern Irish record in the process.
5th place went to Kev Seaward in a new PB of 63:05. There were many PBs throughout the field including Josh Griffiths (63:08), Adam Craig (63:24), Tom Evans (63:19) and Adam Hickey (64:37) as 17th athletes ran inside 66 minutes with 13 of them either a PB or a debut.
V60 runner Tommy Hughes was another impressive tale from the race, breaking the over 60 world record to finish in 71:09.
Partridge shows form before marathon
Lily Partridge showed good form ahead of London Marathon, running a convincing win in 71:36 (a NI all-comer’s record). Samantha Harrison came back fighting after her disappointment with her 5000m at the British Championship, to race hard and strong and take second place in 71:58.
Wales’s Clara Evans had a great day, taking third in a PB of 71:21. Becky Briggs (City of Hull) also PB’d for fourth place in 72:54 as did 44 year old Kirsty Longley in 75:27 (Liverpool Pembroke Sefton) who pulled away from a strong group of athletws including Jessica Craig.
Sadly a few of the women’s field had to drop out before or during the race including Steph Davis who had been a part of a strong early group with Harrison, Partridge, Briggs and pacemaker Holly Archer. Aly Dixon was disappointed but characteristically balanced in her-post race analysis as she pulled out with glute and nerve related pain around five miles.
A full Vlog will be available from the race organisers over coming days.
Mo Farah wins the Antrim Coast Half Marathon! Was a closer finish than you might think with @_MarcScott, Ben Connor & @scullion262 not far behind, Stephen setting a new NI record. Full event vlog to follow. @larneac @AthleticsNI @mea_bc @Mo_Farah @POferries pic.twitter.com/CuHaO5ho8R
— Stephen J Reid (@StephenJ_Reid) September 12, 2020
Middle distance talent shines again
At the 59th Ostrava Golden Spike, GB athletes had a great evening’s work. Over 1500m Faith Kipyegon (KEN) set a new meeting record, winning in 3:59.05 but Britain’s Laura Weightman ran another brilliant race to place second in 4:01.96 with Gemma Reekie right behind her in 4:03.25.
Eilish McColgan had a tough one, which looks like it may have been thanks to time of the month, finishing 7s slower than she ran the previous week to place 11th in 4:12.07. Eilish – we feel your pain but please don’t “rip out [your] own ovaries”!!
Joking aside, that’s a difficult issue to manage and we hope she gets the best science and support behind her so she can keep on fulfilling her huge talent. Over 5000m Melissa Courtney-Bryant was in action and with Sifa Hassan taking it out hard, she fought well amidst a strong field to run 15:16.50 for 6th place.
Stunning kick brings Wightman PB
In the men’s races, Jake Weightman took the win over 800m in a stunning new PB of 1:44.18. Elliot Giles was next for GB in sixth place with 1:45.51. Guy Leamouth took eight in 1:46 flat. It was a double win for GB over the distance as Laura Muir ran a season’s best of 1:58.84 to take gold in her race too.
New PB of 1:44.18 tonight, but more importantly my first proper international 800m win. Can I pass for an 800 guy now? 🤷🏻♂️ https://t.co/kyA0lmwd3H
— Jake Wightman (@JakeSWightman) September 8, 2020
Elsewhere on the european track circuit, Piers Copeland ran a quality race to take the win over 1500m at the Poznań Athletics Grand Prix in 3:37.51. Newly crowned British Champion George Mills was 5th in 3:38.06 in a field which included the likes of Lewandowski & Kzscot.
Alex Bell took the win in the 800m against a strong field in 2:01.60 with Adelle Tracey 3rd in 2:01.71.
Back again! @PiersCopeland1
1st @ Poznan Grand Prix (3:37.5)
🥇🏃🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/1jSffTAmwF— Chelsie Walters (@walterschelsie1) September 11, 2020
Highgate Open sees strong performances
Closer to home, clubs continued to host their own track meets, pitting athletes against each other over 1500 and 3000m. Highgate Harriers track at Parliament Hill got a hammering on Wednesday evening.
Good conditions allowed PBs for the top three gents in the 1500m – VP&TH’s Luca Minale took the fastest time of the night with his 4:03.1. St Alban’s Striders’ Zachary Segal was second in 4:09.00 and Jonny Brook (St Mary’s Richmond) was third in 4:11.3.
In the women’s 1500m it was great to see such a breadth of runners out there smashing out fast times – youngster Abigail Reid (U15, WGEL) was fastest in 04:50.8, followed by V40 Kate Carter (Wimbledon Windmilers) in 5:14.6. Third went to home-girl Lauren Russell (U15, Highgate Harriers) in 5:19.2.
The competition at the top end of the 3000m men’s field was fierce but it was Highgate’s own Roger Pooleman who ran a convincing victory, charging home in 8:18.9. Brighton Phoenix’s Leo Brewer grabbed a new PB and second place thanks to his 8:22.1. Only three tenths of a second separated the battle of the Alex’s for third and fourth but it was Crossland who won out taking the bronze spot in 8:24.6 (with an honourable mention for Alexandre Lepetre with 8:24.9).
The women’s field was less well represented but Basildon’s Gemma Kersey made sure there was some class at the top, running 9:12.4. Next in line was Gill Bland (Harrow AC) squeaking in under 11 mins with a 10:59.2 (though wearing what I later realised were not track-legal shoes – so I’ll be getting the result removed) . Third place went to Jemima Bowen of Guildford and Godalming with a gutsy run of 11:00.1 in a tough field for her section of the race.
Niner continues strong form
On the same evening at Worthing Track Night Thomas Niner of Brighton and Hove won the 1500m in 3:53.43, followed by club mate Tom Eames (3:55.00) and WSE&H’s Dylan Spencer (3:56.56).
Almi Nerurkar (U20) of Brighton Phoenix topped the women’s race with a 4:20.86 PB. Leah Harris of Worthing was next up in 4:39.15 and Poppy Palmer-Malins (U17) from Brighton Phoenix had the third fastest time of the night with 4:47.83.
Charnwood AC also held an event which saw Annabek Morton take top honours over 1500m in a PB of 4:43.34 (Horsham Blue Star) with Rosie Ashmore (U15, Wreake & Soar Valley ) joining the PB club in 4:52.54 and clubmate Imogen Saunders (U13) taking the third place in 5:06.37.
For the gents, Rushcliffe’s Joseph Tuffin was top in 3:53.20 followed by Lian Rawlings (U20, Oswestry) in a PB of 3:56.63 and Harry Leleu (Chichester) in 3:58.64 – also a PB. Over 3000m V40 Alastair Watson (Notts) took the win in 8:37.33 with Nick Hardy (Tipton) safely behind in 8:53.16 and James Wardle (Rushcliffe) third in 8:55.62.
U20 Maya Todd McIntyre led the women home in a PB of 9:42.11 for Rushcliffe, with Hannah Robinson (Birchfield Harriers) having the next fastest time in 9:57.02 and Akuce Perkins (Wolvs & Bilston) running 10:12.69.
The Roger Bannister Track was host for Harrow AC’s 3000m meet which saw Alex Eykeibosch (Dacorum & Tring) smash out a new PB of 9:27.28 in an otherwise all-male field for her starting group. Another PB was logged by Brighton Phoenix’s Tara Bage who clocked 9:38.88 in the same race that Herne Hill’s Phoebe Anderson (U20) ran 9:57.18.
The men’s field saw a raft of sub 9’s and even more PB’s, with Alex Melloy topping the list of speedsters thanks to his 8:22.60 (U17, Cambridge & Coleridge). Bedford & County took second and third with an 8:23.04 from Alfred Yabsley and 8:23.76 from Matt Bray.
10km on the roads sees win for GB’s Barlow
At the Spring Handicap 10k in Douglas, Isle of Man, dave Bignell (western) took the win in 35:16 keeping a good distance between him and clubmate Richard Shipway (v50) who finished in 37:16 – a dead heat with Manx’s Jahn Quaye. It was Manx Harriers who topped the women’s results thanks to Ciara Hardisty who finished in 40:30. Dawn Atherton was second in 41:25 and Joanne Schade third in 43:40.
The Kew Gardens 10k took place over two days, giving runners the chance to do a real race and have a whistle-stop botanical tour! Whilst the course wasn’t suited to fast times with the many twists and turns it certaintly provided some strong racing in beautiful condtions.
On the Saturday it was Daniel Mulryan who left the trees trembling as he blasted home in 30:51 followed by Callum Rowlinson in 31:12 and Ronny Wilson in 31:36.
The women’s field was a quality one, with GB marathoner Tracy Barlow home first in 34:54 and Ali Lavender comfortably behind in 35:15. Third place went to Jessica Welborn in 37:11.
On Sunday Lesley Locks took the women’s win in 36:05, leaving Jackie Skinner in second (36:28) and Sarah Johnson third (36:51). Seyfu Jamaal broke the tape in the men’s race in 30:14 ahead of James Hall (32:15) and Colin Thomas (32:38).
Thanks @RichmondRunFest for such a well organised event. I know how hard you have all worked. A race with a difference but possibly an expert at running corners now. Thanks to all the event staff for your cheering & support along the way. A lovely atmosphere 🙌🏼
— Tracy Barlow (@runner_tracyb) September 12, 2020
Ellis and Swanton-Rouvelin win CW50
On the trails, the Centurion CW50 got some good weather and some solid results. Jon Ellis was the proud recipient of a chunky winners trophy after covering the 50 mile course through the Chilterns in 6:22:25. Ed Knudsen was runner up in 6:42:43 and Matthew Brown in third with 7:21:50.
Laura Swanton-Rouvelin ran a super race to come home fifth overall and first in the women’s race in 7:37:29 just ahead of Alice Hector who was 6th OA in 7:46:27 and Charley Jennings (18th OA) in 8:27:43.
The Pilgrims Marathon near Farnham is known for its picturesque course and today was a lovely day for runners to tackle the full or half distance. Results are still tbc at time of writing.
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