Plenty more race action last saw the indoor races continue to deliver quick times in both Europe and the US including a junior world record. Domestically it was area cross country championships as well as the Welsh championships. There were also races closer to home including a very quick 10 miler in Cheltenham.
International
The indoor action continues in both Europe and the USA. Most of the meets in Europe involved shorter sprint distances and field event action. There was a quick men’s 800m at the Meeting International Indoor De Nantes Metropole in France. Yanis Meziane (France) ran 1:46.28 followed closely home by Mark English (Ireland) in 1:46.48. The women’s 800m was won by Clara Liberman (France) in 2:01.46.
Over in the US, the meet of the weekend was probably the Dr. Sander Scorcher Invitational at The Armory in New York. There were various Pro-Elite races which produced some quick performances. The women’s 800m was won by Nia Akins (USA) in 2:01.03 with Jonah Koech (USA) winning the men’s race in 1:47.56. There was a close finish in the women’s mile with Katelyn Tuohy (USA) taking the victory in 4:25.54. The men’s race was also very close with Cameron Myers (Australia) winning in a World Indoor Under-20 Record of 3:53.12 and Brit Adam Fogg finishing third in 3:35.49.
There were also quick times at the Penn 10 Elite meet in Philadelphia. The men’s mile was won by Marco Langon (USA) in 3:54.60 with Tatum David (USA) winning the women’s race in 4:33.27. Bailey Habler (Australia) won the men’s 3000m in 7:49.53.
In Japan there was a women’s-only marathon event in Osaka. It was won by Workenesh Edesa (Ethiopia) in 2:21:00. Kana Kobayashi (Japan) was second in 2:21:19 and Yuka Suzuki (Japan) was third in 2:21:33.
The cross country continues to build momentum with action in Belgium at the Cross Cup de Hannut. There were home nations teams present and Britain had a clean sweep of the podium in the junior women’s race with Isobelle Jones winning followed by Eliza Nicholson and Isla McGowan. Quinn Miell-Ingram was third in the junior men’s race. The women’s race was won by Sheila Jebet (Kenya) ahead of Yenenesh Shimket (Ethiopia) and Charity Cherop (Uganda). Amelia Quirk was the first Brit home in sixth. Rogers Kibet (Uganda) won the men’s race with Celestin Ndikumana (Burundi) second and Gideon Rono (Kenya) third. Richard Slade was the top British man in eighth.
The Arc of Attrition is one of the world’s most gruelling ultra races and takes place around the Cornish coastline. The event is part of the UTMB series and features 25 mile, 50 mile and 100 mile races. The 25 mile races were won by Kris Jones (Great Britain) and Sara Alonso (Spain). Lewis Ryan (Great Britain) won the 100 mile as did Noor van der Veen (Netherlands). There were course records in the 50 mile race by both Elsey Davis (Great Britain) and Tom Evans (Great Britain).
The International Marrakech Marathon in Morocco was won by Alfonce Kigen Kibiwott (Kenya) in 2:08:50 followed by Soufiyan Bouqantar (Morocco) in 2:09:15 and Omar Ait Chitachen (Morocco) in 2:09:25. The women’s race was won by Beyene Tirfi Tsegaye (Ethiopia) in 2:25:46 with Oumaima Saoud (Morocco) second in 2:29:53 and Bekele Abebech Afework (Morocco) third in 2:30:44.
National
Dewi Griffiths (Swansea Harrier) won his ninth Welsh Cross Country Championship title to equal Steve Jones’ record. It was a close race and he just beat Thomas Chaston (Belgrave Harriers) by 5 seconds with Dan Nash (Pontypridd Roadents AC) in third. Lauren Cooper (Parc Bryn Bach Running Club) won the women’s race ahead of Ifan Lloyd (Swansea Harriers) and Gemma Sutton (Swansea Harriers).
The North of England Cross Country Championships took place at Tatton Park. Angus McMillan (City of York AC) won the men’s race ahead of Tommy Power (Hallamshire Harriers) and Harry Wakefield (Salford Harriers). The women’s race was won by Lauren Heyes (Hallamshire Harriers) followed by Sophie Tarver (Wirral AC) and Katy Wood (City of York AC). Salford took the men’s title and City of Leeds won the women’s title.
The Midland Cross Country Championships took place at Mallory Park. Olivia Mathias (Newark AC) ended up winning quite comfortably ahead of Gemma Steel (Charnwood AC) and Rosie Hamilton-James (Westbury Harriers). Kadar Omar (Birchfield Harriers) dominated the men’s race from the start beating teammate Omar Ahmed (Birchfield Harriers) and Lee Gratton (Rugeley Runners). Charnwood AC won the women’s title and Newark AC took the men’s title.
The South of England Cross Country Championships took place at Beckenham Place Park. A competitive men’s race saw Abdinassier Mohamoud Elmi (Bournemouth AC) beat James Kingston (Tonbridge AC) with Flurry Grierson (Highgate Harriers) finishing third. Megan Gadsby (City of Norwich AC) won the women’s race as Naomi Kingston (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers) finished second and Kate Estlea-Morris (Aldershot, Farnham & District AC) was third. Highgate Harriers won the men’s team competition with Thames Hare & Hounds winning the women’s title.
Local
On Saturday the Dry Run 2025 took place which is a team event organised by Bristol-based running group Runners to Ravers. This fresh take on a pub crawl involves small teams of runners self-navigating from venue to venue, collecting points and sampling an alcohol-free of low abv drink at each stop. There are six pubs on the route.
The Chepstow Running Festival at Chepstow race course took place on Sunday and there were 5k, 10k and half marathon options. The 5k was won by Craig Smith (Unaffiliated) in 17:35 and Dora Huszar (Unaffiliated) in 24:09. The 10k winners were Hannah Baggott (Emersons Green Running Club) in 42:27 and Carl Eldred (Unaffiliated) in 35:48. The half marathon saw a victory for Clark Grantmyre (Unaffiliated) in 1:16:09 and Sophie Tabor (Unaffiliated) in 1:38:02.
The Longleat 10k on Sunday is a traffic-free race that takes place in a stunning setting. It starts at the Longleat House and weaves around the estate’s private roads which is undulating and definitely not flat. The men’s podium was made up of Matt Lusby (Unaffiliated) in 35:56, Aaron Pritchard (Team Bath AC) in 36:45 and John Baslington (Unaffiliated) in 37:18. The top 3 women were Gill Pearson (Unaffiliated) in 40:10, Emma Mogridge (Unaffiliated) in 41:16 and Rosie McKissock (Somer AC) in 41:48.
Also taking place on Sunday was the Boddington 10 mile in Cheltenham. This flat and fast four lap road race around quiet lanes was organised by CLC Striders. Dominic James (Western Tempo) won the race in a quick 49:55 followed by teammates Dylan Gillett (Western Tempo) in 49:59 and Charlie Jones (Western Tempo) in 51:25. Georgina Greenwood (Stroud & District AC) was the first woman home in 1:02:15 as Hattie Jenkins (Western Tempo) finished second in 1:03:19 and Kate Jacobs (Cirencester AC) was third in 1:03:27.
The Slaughterford 9 organised by Chippenham Harriers took place on Sunday but we are still waiting for race results. This 9-mile road and trail race through the Slaughterford Valley includes lots of hills.