The indoor season is really starting to take off with meets all over the globe producing lightning quick times. Cross country and road action continues as well. The BUCS cross country championships did not disappoint as Birmingham dominated. Closer to Bristol it was the famous Doynton Hard Half Marathon. Read on for race results!

International

Once again there were plenty of indoor meets taking place across America. Some standout results included Rivaldo Marshall (Jamaica) winning the men’s 800m in 1:46.80 and Shafiqua Maloney (Saint Vincent) winning the women’s 800m in 1:59.87 at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville. The mile races were won by Fouad Messaoudi (Morocco) in 3:52.66 and Krissy Gear (USA) in 4:26.00 with the 3000m races being won in 7:46.35 by Cruz Gomez (USA) and Shelby Houlihan (USA) in 8:31.56.

The BU John Thomas Terrier Classic featured a very quick men’s mile race won by Ethan Strand (USA) in 3:48.32 with Brits Adam Fogg finishing third in 3:49.85, Tyler Bilyard running 3:52.73 and Piers Copeland running 3:54.42. Elise Cranny (USA) won the women’s mile in 4:20.83. The women’s 3000m was won by Nikki Hiltz (USA) in 8:32.52 and the men’s race was won in 7:38.90 by Arthur Gervais (France) as Brit Henry McLuckie finished third in 7:41.97. Jimmy Gressier (France) and Whittni Morgan (USA) won the 5000m races in 13:00.54 and 14:48.41.

The New Balance Indoor Grand Prix saw Heather Maclean (USA) win the women’s mile in 4:23.32. There was a British victory in the women’s 3000m for Melissa Courtney-Bryant in 8:28.69 with fellow Brits Georgia Bell and Hannah Nuttall close behind in 8:36.96 and 8:40.01. The men’s 1500m was won by Josh Hoey (USA) in 3:33.66 as Thomas Keen (Great Britain) ran 3:35.12. A very quick men’s 3000m was won by Andrew Coscoran (Ireland) in a national record of 7:30.75 with Brits James West and Neil Gourley clocking 7:37.13 and 7:49.95.

At the Meeting Indoor Miramas Metropole in France, the men’s 800m was won in a very quick 1:45.57 by Abdelati El Guesse (Morocco). The men’s 1500m was won by Louis Gilavert (France) in 3:36.25 and the women’s 3000m was won by Agueda Marques (Spain) in 8:45.71.

Another French meeting, the Meeting de L’Eure, also had quick 800m races with Noah Kibet (Kenya) and Audrey Werro (Switzerland) winning in 1:45.97 and 2:00.34. A women’s mile race was won by Birke Haylom (Ethiopia) in 4:25.44 and a men’s 3000m saw George Mills (Great Britain) run a world leading 7:27.92 for the win.

There was another quick men’s 800m over in Germany at the Sparkassen Indoor Meeting Erfurt as Mohamed Attaoui (Spain) clocked 1:46.19. Majtie Kolberg (Germany) ran a world lead to win the women’s 800m in 2:00.53.

Over in Belgium, there was some British representation at IFAM Indoor Gent with Isabelle Boffey winning the women’s 800m in 2:03:00 and Abigail Ives clocked a personal best with 2:03.90. The men’s 3000m was won in a quick 7:46.69 by Frederik Ruppert (Germany) and the men’s 1500m was won by Darragh McElhinney (Ireland) in 3:43.85.

The Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in Saudi Arabia was won by Alex Matata (Kenya) in 59:20 followed by Gemechu Dida (Ethiopia) in 59:25 and Isaia Lasoi (Kenya) in 59:26. Ejgayehu Taye (Ethiopia) won the women’s race in 1:05:52 with Judy Kemboi (Kenya) second in 1:06:34 and Jesca Chelangat (Kenya) third in 1:06:53.

In Japan, the Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon was won by Vincent Kipchumba (Kenya) in 2:06:01 followed home by Hiroki Wakabayasi (Japan) in 2:06:07 and Shohei Otsuka (Japan) in 2:06:38. The women’s race saw a home victory for Rieko Yoshishi (Japan) in 2:42:20 as Shimizu Hodaka (Japan) was second in 2:43:16 and Ayana Yamazaki (Japan) was third in 2:43:26.

Also in Japan was the Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon which was won by Dolphine Nyaboke Omare (Kenya) in 1:06:05 followed home by British athlete Calli Hauger-Thackery in 1:06:58 and Isobel Batt-Doyle (Australia) in 1:07:17. Alexander Mutiso (Kenya) ran 59:16 to win the men’s race ahead of Emmanuel Maru (Kenya) in 59:19 and Tomoki Ota (Japan) in 59:27.

Cross country action continues through the winter with the Cross Internacional das Amendoeiras em Flor Albufeira taking place in Portugal. The event featured the European Champions Clubs Cup (ECCC) Cross Country Championships. The men’s race was won by Rodrigue Kwizera (Burundi) and the women’s race was won by Francine Niyomukunzi (Burundi). In the team race, the women’s Belgrave Harriers team finished 14th and the men’s Central AC team finished 8th.

National

It was the British Universities & Colleges Championships (BUCS) over in Cardiff and the event saw Birmingham dominate. The women’s short course was a clean sweep by Birmingham with Eleanor Stevens first, Alice Bates second and Hannah Blundy third. The men’s short course was won by Jack Small (Loughborough) with Finaly Ward (Birmingham) second and William Rabjohns (Loughborough) third. Despite Jess Bailey (Birmingham) and Poppy Tank (Birmingham) finishing first and second in the women’s long course, Cambridge won the team title as Mia Waldmann (St Mary’s) finished third overall. Tomer Tarragano (Birmingham) won the men’s long course ahead of Louis Small (Loughborough) and Oliver Smart (Birmingham)

Up in Scotland, the Indoor Invitational in Glasgow, included a men’s 1500m won by Joe Wigfield in 3:37.72, a men’s 5000m won by Dominic Nolan in 14:15.13 and a women’s 800m won by Ava Lloyd in 2:05.13.

The Warwick Half Marathon was won by Jonathan Davies (Reading AC) in 1:07:06 with Ian Allen (Spa Striders) and Charlie Davis (BRAT) rounding out the podium in 1:07:40 and 1:08:31. Natasha White (Northbrook) won the women’s race in 1:19:57 ahead of Ashleigh Walters (Corby AC) in 1:20:59 and Emma Brown (Rutland Running & Triathlon Club) in 1:22:41.

The Chichester 10k at the Goodwood Motor Circuit was won by Jack Woods (Worthing & District Harriers) in 30:05 with Kevin Quinn (South London Harriers) second in 30:27 and Matthew Grindrod (Brighton & Hove City AC) third in 30:47. Charlotte Alexander (Tonbridge AC) won the women’s race in 34:04 followed by Lauren Reed (Havering AC) in 34:28 and Kate Drew (Unattached) in 34:50.

Local

The May Hill Massacre which is a 8 mile tough cross country race near Gloucester. There are three races, one on the Saturday, one on the Sunday and a 16 mile option. On Saturday, Rebecca Townsend won the women’s race in 1:06:04 and Matthew Hatherall won the men’s race in 57:32. On Sunday, Natalie Jenks was first lady home in 1:08:17 and Luke Johnson was first man home in 58:27. The 16 mile race was won by Frankie Tamblyn and Jacob Tasker in 2:29:18 and 1:43:33.

The Lungbuster, a 9 mile off-road race through woodland and fields in Wiltshire, took place on Sunday and was won by Tom Bray (Calne RC) in 1:03:07. Samanta Kelly (Royal Wootton Bassett Hounds) won the women’s race in 1:26:45.

The iconic Doynton Hard Half Marathon also took place on Sunday just outside of Bristol. The muddy, hilly and challenging off-road race is organised by Emersons Green Running Club and usually sells out very quickly. This year’s edition was won by Alastair Matheson (Bristol & West AC) in 1:36:23 and Katy Sutcliffe (Great Western Runners) in 1:50:47.