Stonier is still on fire, Grantham wins in Italy and the World Athletics Tour and National Athletics League provide top running at all stages and ages of competitions.

The World Athletics Continental Tour was in action over the week in various locations and still going as I type). At the Irena Szewinska Memorial – World Athletics Continental Tour Gold in Bydgoszcz, POL Matthew Stonier continued his brilliant run of results, taking bronze in 3:35.92.

The BoXX United Manchester – World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting at Sportcity saw a raft of international runners in attendance. From the Netherlands, Diane Van Es won the 5000m in 15:20.79 while Verity Ockenden was first Brit home, taking fifth in 15:31.85.

 

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Beth Kidger ran 15:49.67 and Sarah Chapman 16:07.77. Kenya’s Edward Zakayo took gold for the men in 13:13.03 with Jack Rowe running 13:34.50 for seventh. Over 1500m Marta Zenoni (ITA) was first in 4:10.20 and Georgie Hartigan earned sixth place and first Brit in 4:15.76. First over the line in the men’s race was Uruguay’s Santiago Catrofe in 3:40.58. Cambridge’s Thomas Keen was ninth in 3:43.47. At the Montreuil International Meeting Eloise Walker set a new best of 15:31.26 for 5000m.

Aside from Reece Prescod’s brilliant 100m win at the Ostrava Golden Spike (he ran 9.93 into a headwind in case you hadn’t heard), there was a big PB for Adelle Tracey who ran 4:02.55 over 1500m for fifth place. In 10th was Melissa Courtney-Bryant (4:04.13) and 4:08.71 earned Alexandra Bell 16th. The winner of the race was Diribe Welteji (ETH) in 3:59.19.

Brits win abroad

While Katrina Matthews was making Ironman history this weekend, Lee Grantham had his own historical moment, leading the Passatore 100km from Florence to Faenza to finish in 7:03:29 and become the first Brit to win the since 1980.

 

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1500m’s All Over the Place

Tuesday’s BMC Trafford Grand Prix resulted 1500m wins and PBs for David Holman in 3:57.41 and Sophie Tarver in 4:21.80. Over 3000m Blackburn’s Matthew Ramsden clocked 8:21.16 for a PB victory and Gateshead’s Elisha Tait improved her best to be the fastest woman in 9:30.53 The 1500 Elite in Norway saw Stephen Makay take 12th place in 3:47.23. Katie Knowles (4:48.56) and Ted Chamberlain (PB of 3:55.83) were fastest over 1500m at the BMC Races in Exeter.

Leeds Crownpoint played host to the BMC Regional Races / GAA Miler Meeting. In the 3000m mixed races it was Annabel Simpson who placed fifth in her race and fastest female overall in a 9:05.41. On her tail taking 6th and second lady was Megan Keith (9:06.85) and in the next race Hanna Ryding took thrid fastest in 9:28.09. The men’s A race was won by James Donald in a PB of 8:10.96 – a clear lead over Kane Elliott’s 8:16.28 and Aidan Thompson’s 8:17.33

At the BMC PB Classic in Street, the 1500m win went to Scarlett Livingstone in 4:39.71 and Matthew Houchell in 3:58.23. Ellie Wallace was first over the line in the mixed 3000m, running 9:22.91 and Ellis Garamszegi PB’d to take the men’s victory in 8:34.08. At the Milton Keynes edition of the races, Zoe Gilbody and Henry Dover set new bests over 1500m to top the rankings in 4:26.12 and 3:54.95 respectively. Seven and a half times around the tartan resulted in a 9:19.12 PB and first place for Jess Bailey, while Will Barnicoat took his win in 8:18.53

The Watford Open Graded Meeting 1500m podium was also filled with women setting new bests – top of the rankings was Phoebe Gill who continued her fine form with a dominant 4:20.40. In second Emily Marmion Williams ran 4:25.90 and Nicola McGovern clocked 4:28.90 for third. In the men’s race Alex Aston was first in 3:55.98. Runners up were Matthew Merrick in 3:56.09 and Matt Woodward in 3:56.59. Over 3000m the fastest woman was Alex Barbour in 9:31.99 followed by Ellen Weir in 9:34.95 and Holly Lathwell in 9:42.50. Dylan Evans topped the podium in the men’s race, with William Cork (8:22.27) and Sam Hodgson (8:23.06) both bettering their bests to take second and third.

Hercules Wimbledon hosted their own 1500m Night of Races which was won by Maddie Deadman in 4:21.45 and Stuart McCallum in 3:46.03. The Iffley Festival of Miles A races were won by Callum Elson in 4:02.73 and Isabel Ives in 4:44.08. The HOKA Festival of Miles saw Euan Makepeace set a new PB to break the four minute barrier with 3:59.42.

10ks on the Roads

At the Bungay Summer 10K Series the home club were first over the line in both categories, as Jo Andrews ran 37:55 and Marcus Sladden 34:56. The Metro Aberdeen Beach 10km saw victories for William Mackay (31:34) and Elaine Wilson (40:12).

Victoria Croucher won the Medway 10K in 42:00 and home-boy Ben Tyler took the overall victory in 34:10. Racing for their postcodes in the East Finchely Neighbours 10k, Gillian Hughes 44:04 earn N10 bragging rights, and David Andrade was ‘just running’ for no area in particular when he broke the tape in 37:53.

Over 5km Wednesday saw the return of the South West PB Series 5km in Bath. Ben Cole of Swindon Harriers claimed victory in 14:33 edging out team mate Simon Byrne who finished second in 14:36. Alex Miell-Ingram was third with 14:57. For the women Thames Hare & Hounds athlete Claire Hammett and Bristol & West AC’s Katrina Entwistle both crossed the line in 17:33 with Lucy Thompson third in 17:44.

Photo: Kevin Sabah

Getting FAST in France

At the new FAST5000 in Montesson, Paris, it was Ellis Cross and Tessa McCormick who led the way. The course la plus rapide de ta saison did not disappoint with 10 men finishing under 14 minutes and Cross winning in 13:46 and Sam Charlton a handful of seconds back in 13:53.

McCormick was fourth in the women’s elite field in 16:23 and Katherine Golding won race 3 in 17:59.

“We are really delighted, proud – and somewhat relieved considering the really bad storms on Saturday, to have been able to deliver on our promises to create an elite event where so many runners broke 14 minutes in the men’s race or achieved top PBs in both the women’s and men’s races!” said organiser Simon Messenger.

“70 men ran sub-15 and 20 women sub 17 : this is by far one of the biggest 5000m track events in many years in France, which doesn’t usually have a big focus on the distance, so there’s a real sense of pride in the team post-event.”

For more information on the event, inspired by some of the excellent grass roots track racing in recent years, check out the website here. 

Samantha Amend NOT on the Grand Union Canal. Thankfully navigation all went swimmingly in the race and no one ended up in the Lake District. Photo: James Vincent

Ultra News

The Grand Union Canal Race covers 145 miles from Birmingham to London. An epic race by anyone’s standard with the relentlessness of the terrain (and one that’s on a very unlikely part of my bucket list!). The wonder woman that is Team Hour7 athlete Samantha Amend took the victory in a brilliant 25:45, holding off Ian Hammett (27:48), Dan Moloney (29:20), Sarah Sawyer (29:50) and James Bennett (29:52).

And last, but not least…

Our editor Robbie Britton was in action on the roads in Italy, winning the Due Sanctuari road race, from Graglia to Oropa. The 19.7km event climbed 400m and finished at the stunning Sanctuario di Oropa in Piedmont. Britton crossed the line in 1:11.

The women’s race was won by Holland’s Jessica Oosterloo, which has already PB’d this year at the marathon with an excellent 2:49:22.