Apparently, there were some good 1500m’s in Eugene this week. Does anyone know anything about that? Oh and rather good races back on UK soil too. 

World Athletics Chamionships, Eugene

The 1500m earned team GB their first medals at the World Championships in Eugene earlier in the week, as a fair few headlines in the process. Laura Muir’s final was a spicy one from the start, but the Scot held on hard even when Faith Kipyegon and Gudaf Tsegay kicked in the final lap, running a brilliant 3:55.28 for bronze –  her first ever World Championship medal. Muir was injured in February and didn’t run for two months which makes her performance all the more impressive. Kipyegon’s winning time was 3:52.96 and Tsegay’s silver, 3:54.52

Normally Laura Muir’s performance would have been the highlight of the week and deservedly have got all the glory, but that was before Jake Wightman stepped onto the track. Whilst his name had been mentioned occasionally as a medal contender, Wightman’s own reaction and that of the press and his family makes it fair to say that his emphatic victory, beating Jakob Ingebritsen was something of a surprise.

Another of the Scottish middle distance powerhouse group, Wightman is widely respected for his work ethic and race craft and it was here that he really shone. As he made his move down the back straight many fans worried he’d moved too early but with 200m to go he locked down the result and came home in a huge personal best and world lead of 3:29.23 to take Gold. Ingebritsen was second in 3:29.47 and Spain’s Mohamed Katir third in 3:29.90.

In the 3000m chase, Aimee Pratt continued to point to a bright future as she broke her own British record by over three seconds, running the best ever finish by a Brit in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at a World Athletics Championships. She finished in 9:15.64 and seventh place.

Photo: James Rhodes

Yesterday night saw Eilish McColgan and Jess Judd race in the 5000m but with a good few laps of the track already in Judd’s legs and McColgan coming into the champs off the back of covid and some niggles, it was likely to be a long shot for a medal. In the end, both women ran eminently respectable times with MacColgan finishing 11th (15:03:03) and Judd 13th  (15:19.88). The race was won by Gudaf Tsegay in 14:46.29. 

A huge nod must also go to Matt Hudson-Smith who won the first 400m medal at a World championships in 31 years, taking bronze in 44.66 seconds2, to Dina Asher-Smith for her bronze medal, earned by a 22.02 over 200m and to the men’s 4×100 team who took bronze in 37.83 (Efoloko, Mitchell-Blake, Hughes and Prescod).

The marathon seems a long time ago but fell after last week’s roundup. Jess Piasecki got amongst it in the women’s race which was won by Gotytom Gebreslase breaking Paula’s Championship record to clock 2:18:11. Piasecki worked with Sara Hall for much of the race to fade in the later stages but finishing a brave, battling 12th in 2:28:41. Charlotte Purdue and Rose Harvey both withdrew during the race.

The mens race was won by Tamerit Tola in a championship record of 2:05:36 and also saw Josh Griffiths run 2:17:37 to finish 49th as he battled quad pain, later diagnosed as a stress response. Chris Thompson sadly did not get two start the race due to his visa not arriving in time.

On the track back in the UK

At the BMC Grand Prix, Stretford, Hannah Nuttall ran nearly five seconds clear, to win her 1500m race in 4:09.66. Phil Norman won the men’s race in 3:39.89. Over 5000m the podium spots went to Jacob Cann in 14:01.18, Alfie Manthorpe in 14:04.57 and Lewis Jagger in 14:04.93. Calli Thackeray continued her winning streak, running 15:02.55 and holding off Eloise Walker who clocked 15:25.21 and Izzy Fry with 15:34.16.

Wednesday night’s BMC Regional Races at Wormwood Scrubs resulted in 1500m victories for Michael Cameron (3:58.01) and Brogan Wallace (4:31.35) the Eltham edition was won by Alex Melloy (3:53.12) and Dominique Corradi (4:33.60). Eltham also held a 5000m race, which went to David Borg in a PB of 15:12.83 and Jessica Hatch in 18:49.63.

Also at Wormwood scrubs, the Thames Valley Harriers Open meeting was where U17 Michael Cattini and Cordelia Parker both set new bests in their 3000m race to the win, clocking 9:12.15 and 10:04.11 respectively.  Holme Pierrepont RC Track Championships saw Oliver Mathru clock 9:35.9 and Juliet Potter 10:09.7 for first place over 3000m

A wet track didn’t stop fast times at the Medway Mile Invitational Track Race where Jordan Chambers (4:13.94) and Annabel Carter (5:18.35) both set new bests to be fastest on the night. Chambers stormed past Sean Molloy in the final few meters – check this video out. 

Cheltenham Midsummer Open’s 5000m race was won by Dom James in 14:50.8 and Jordan Matthews in 17:09.2 Down the distances a bit, Thames Valley Hare and Hounds’ Josh Carr was fastest at the Golden Stag Mile, running 4:14.82 and Gemma Kersey for Basildon in 4:47.21. Wimbledon’s Dave Clarke Mile Extravaganza recorded two sub-4 minute miles, as Shaftesbury Barnet’s Henry McLuckie ran 3:58.49 and Callum Elson PB’d with 3:59.07

Masters on the track…

There were plenty of Masters competitions this week. We’ve not been able to get hold of all the results but here are a few that we could find…at the North East Masters AA League the fastest mile went to V35 Peter Grimoldby in 4:52.0 and Alexis Dodd 5:13.6 but a big shout out must go to V70 Ray Smedley who ran  6:27.00. Over 5000m at the Southern Counties Veterans League it was Croydon’s day as V35 Phil Symonds PB’d with 16:13.4 and V40 Madeleine Armstrong Plieth ran 20:15.4 to log the fastest times. Welsh Masters Athletics League veteran athletes tested over a variety of distances. In the 3000m V50  Huw Evans took the win in 9:38.8 with V35 Donna Morris fastest woman in 10:29.5

Quality 10ks

Matt Clowes retained his title at the Helena Tipping Wrexham 10K, though it didn’t take a sub-30 to do so this time. Not surprising though as this was a quick turnaround after running 3:34.21 to joint win his C-Race 1500m at the BMC Grand Prix the night before – he went straight on to take the 10k victory in 30:36. Chasing him down was Scott Overall who ran 31:45 and Jay Ferns (32:23). With Samantha Harrison not around to defend her title after racing over 5000m at the BMC, the door was open for Emily Kearney to step up and take the win in 33:39. Runners up were Anna Bracegirdle in 34:07 and Sophie Wood in 34:45.

Another high quality 10k today was the Elmbridge 10k which saw Jonathan Cornish celebrating his recently England selection to blast home for the win in 31:23, with Andy Coley-Maud safely behind in 32:12 and Thomas Foster 32:17. Charlotte Dannatt led the women’s field, crossing the line in 35:09 ahead of Chloe Richardson (26:51) and Lesley Locks (37:30).

Earlier in the week the Brighton Phoenix 10k was a one man show as Finn McNally dipped under 30 to win in 29:48. Ben Savill (32:30) and Thomas James (32:34) were runners up. The women’s race saw a similarly dominant win as Emma Navesey ran 35:39, with Rachel Hillman (37:25) and Lucy Lavendar (37:36) in her wake. 

Clubs on the roads

In a busy week internationally, club rivalries don’t take a back seat – the finals of some of the regional leagues and series took place this week. The Rugby 6 Mile is the last of the EMGP series and we’re seeing a real theme here as Alicce Belcher of Wellingborough took gold in 34:52, making it a clean sweep. Haydn Arnall of Rugby & Northants took the men’s victory in 31:50.

In the ELVIS League the Harold Wood 5k resulted in a win for Robert Warner (16:54) and Neringa Masilioniene (18:58). Birkenhead Park 5 Mile wins went to Tj Jones, Wirral AC 26:44 & Emily Kearney, Wirral AC 27:23 (2nd OA) and the EHH Summer League Hedon 4  was won by Lewis Suddaby, East Hull Harriers 21:26 & Venika Moverley, East Hull Harriers 25:25

Back in time..

See what happened this week last year here.