Another busy weekend of racing saw a new World Best over 15km and European 10km record on the roads. Three World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold events took place on Saturday in addition to plenty of national cross country league action. Read on for race results.
International
There were some incredibly fast times at the World Athletics Gold Label Road Race I’Urban Trail de Lille 10km including a new European record set by race winner Etienne Daguinos of France with a 27:04 clocking. Meshak Lelgut (Kenya) was second in 27:16 and Charles Rotich (Kenya) was third in 27:18. Narve Gilje Nordas ran a Norwegian record of 27:31 and Mohamed Abdilaahi ran a German record of 27:40. The women’s race was won by Christine Chesiro (Kenya) in 29:56 with Asmarech Anley Yashaneh (Ethiopia) second in 30:23 and Wede Kefale (Ethiopia) third in 30:31.
On Sunday, Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) ran a World Best for 15km of 40:42 at the NN Zevenheuvenloop in Nijmegen. This race is also known as the “Seven Hills Race” and the local athlete Mike Foppen (Netherlands) finished second in 43:19 and Marc Scott (Great Britain) was third in 43:21. Mizan Alem (Ethiopia) won the women’s race in 46:51 ahead of Diane van Es (Netherlands) and Enyish Mengie (Ethiopia).
The Hong Kong Three-Runway System 10km was won by Loice Chemnung (Kenya) in 30:24 as Janeth Chepngetich (Kenya) took second in 30:55 and Lilian Kasait Rengeruk (Kenya) was third in 31:12. Samwel Nyamai Mailu (Kenya) just won the men’s race in 27:59 ahead of Vincent Kibet Langat (Kenya) in 28:00 and Tadese Worku Gebresilase (Ethiopia) in 28:11.
At the Eurospin Verona Run Marathon in Italy, Carly Scoble (Great Britain) got herself onto the podium with a second place in 2:54:07. Damiana Monfreda (Italy) won in 2:53:01 and Silvia Luna (Italy) was third in 2:54:55. The men’s race was won by Riccardo Mugnosso (Italy) in 2:14:31 as Onesphore Nzikwinkunda (Burundi) finished second in 2:18:16 and Marius Stang (Germany) was third in 2:26:18.
The first of three major cross country events was the Cinque Mulini in San Vittore Olona, Italy. Kenya dominated the men’s race with Matthew Kipkoech Kipruto beating fellow countrymen Andrew Kiptoo Alamisi and Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang. Yenenesh Shimket (Ethiopia) won the women’s race ahead of Sheila Jebet (Kenya) and Nadia Battocletti (Italy) who gave the home supporters something to shout about.
In Spain it was the Cross Internacional de Italica in Santiponce, Seville. Cherop (Uganda) won the women’s race with Diana Chepkemoi (Kenya) and Mercy Chepkemoi (Kenya) taking the minor places. There was a home victory for Thierry Ndikumwenayo (Spain) in the men’s race as Rodrigue Kwizera (Burundi) and Berihu Aregawi (Ethiopia) finished second and third.
Meanwhile in France, the Cross International Le Maine Libre-Allonnes-Sarthe. Jimmy Gressier (France) just outsprinted Kuma Girma (Ethiopia) by one second for a home victory ahead with Milkesa Fikadu (Ethiopia) in third. Grace Loibach Nawowuna () won the women’s race with Sarah Chelangat (Uganda) and Manon Trapp (France) in second and third.
The NCAAs season is really heating up with the top collegiate athletes in the USA getting their final runouts at various Regional meets over the weekend before the big showdown at the National meet this coming weekend.
National
The British & Irish Masters Cross Country International in Belfast saw Irish dominance. The five-way international was won by Ireland with England finishing second, Scotland third, Northern Ireland fourth and Wales fifth. The men’s competition was the same order as were the women’s rankings. Overall, Ireland won six of the eight women’s team events and four of the nine men’s events. There were age groups from M/W35 all the way up to M/W80.
There was Midland Counties Championship action. The women’s 5 mile cross country race at High Harcourt Farm was won by Rebecca Miles (Desford Striders) as Beth Tabor (Tipton Harriers) and Katy McGonigal (Bournville Harriers) took the minor places. Jack Gray (Cambridge & Coleridge AC) won the men’s 7 mile race with Dan Hallam (Wreake & Soar Valley AC) finishing second and Matthew Williams (Notts AC NS) in third.
The SEAA London Cross Country Championships was won by Andrew Penney (Hercules Wimbledon AC) and Lucy Jones (Herne Hill Harriers). Sophie Tooley (Herne Hill Harriers) and James Hoad (Thames Hare & Hounds) finished second and Elizabeth Apsley (Thames Hare & Hounds) and Michael Cameron (Thames Valley Harriers) finished third.
On the roads, the Brighton 10k was won by Adam Clarke (Aldershot Farnham & District AC) in 29:47 ahead of Paul Whittaker (Road Runners Club) and Jack Woods (Worthing & District Harriers) in 30:07 and 30:09. Cassie Thorp (Portsmouth AC) was first woman home in 34:02 as Charlie Arnell (Unattached) finished second in 34:14 and Alice Crane (Dorking & Mole Valley AC) was third in 34:16.
There were lots of RunThrough events on the weekend. The iconic Run Alton Towers consists of a 5k, 10k and half marathon. The half marathon was won by Gemma Wilks (Unattached) and and Jack Cummings (Ilkey Harriers) in 1:26:21 and 1:10:33. The 10k was won by Joshua Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) in 31:24 and Chloe Potter (Hallamshire Harriers) in 37:54. The 5k was won by Aoibh Clarke (Club Coaction) and Edward Pettitt (Vale Royal AC) in 19:32 and and 15:31.
RunThrough’s Fulham 10k was won in a very quick 28:58 by Omar Ahmed (Birchfield Harriers) with Dylan Evans (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers) finishing second in 29:03 and Charlie Brisley (Newham & Essex Beagles AC) third in 29:08 as seven men broke 30 minutes. The women’s race was won by Transfora Mussa (Run Nation RC) in 31:53 as Martina Conner (Belgrave Harriers) finished second in 34:00 and Kosana Weir (Thames Valley Harriers) third in 34:20.
Another RunThrough event, the Olympic Park 10k was won by Nicholas Lightfoot (Guildford & Dodalming AC) in 32:44 and Orla Sandlin (Grange Farm & Dunmow Runners) in 39:49. Finally, the Southampton 10k was won by Thomas Dewey (Basingstoke & Mid Hants) in 33:16 and Tina Christmann (Southampton Triathlon Club) in 37:07.
The Gosport Half Marathon was won by Will Grace (Unattached) in 1:08:01 with Frederick Slemeck (Hercules Wimbledon AC) second in 1:08:46 and Barney Reed (Fat Max) third in 1:08:59. Jen Granger (Unattached) won the women’s race in 1:20:16 as Bethany Howarth (Ryde Harriers) finished second in 1:21:05 and Rosie Reed (Unattached) was third in 1:21:47.
Over on the Isle of Man, Corrin Leeming (Western AC) ran a quick 1:06:04 to win the Haldane Fisher Syd Quirk Half Marathon with Paul Atherton (Western AC) second in 1:15:21 and Philip Know (Manx Fell Runners) third in 1:15:33. Christa Cain (Isle of Man Veteran Athletes’) won the women’s race in 1:17:42, Kirsty Barber (Western AC) was second in 1:26:01 and Dawn Atherton (Western AC) was third in 1:26:29.
Local
The second race in the Street 5k Series took place on Wednesday. Tom Webb (Wells Harriers) and Nate Ground (Unattached) battled it out for a photo finish as both clocked 15:13. Jamie Williamson (Springburn Harriers) finished third in 15:36. Laura Jones (Taunton AC) won the women’s race in 18:35 as Kate Dobson (Chard RR) was second in 18:53 and Hayden Radforth (Unattached) was third in 19:18.
The Bath Skyline Races took place on Saturday and Sunday. The Night Race 5km was won by Tilly Coomber in 24:14 with Alex Leonaritis first man home in 25:16. The 10km was won by William Llewellyn in 44:09 as Joni Wildman was first lady in 48:34. The Day Race 5km was won by Luke Thomas in 21:06 and Daisy Hodgkinson in 27:43. The 10km saw David Tiley and Caroline McAleese win in 38:50 and 45:49.
The Mandy Whittington Newent 9 is a 9.5km road race just north of Gloucester which takes place in Foley Road which was previously the largest cul-de-sac in Europe. Lewis Munro (Islwyn RC) won in 33:28 ahead of Andy Raynor (Forest of Dean AC) and Sam Crowther (Western Tempo) in 33:32 and 34:11. Patricia Dendy (Almost Athletes) won the women’s race in 38:39 with Nikki Morgan (Chepstow Harriers) second in 40:30 and Jade Ocean (Western Tempo) third in 40:33.
The Avebury8 Nine is a 9-mile-ish trail race in the Wilshire countryside. Emma Barley (Pewsey Vale RC) won the women’s race ahead of Isabel McNulty (City of Salisbury ARC) and Juliette Hatt (Chippenham Harriers). Jake Stephens (Chippenham Harriers) beat Will Ballard (Chippenham Harriers) and David Rickards (Clevedon AC) to win the men’s race.
The Double Gloucester 5-6 Miles and Bath Hilly Half and “Ultra” 10k events also took place but the results haven’t been released yet.