Another big weekend of racing saw plenty of road and cross country action. Up in Scotland it was nice to see Laura Muir receive a special presentation to be awarded the 2015 European Indoor 3000m bronze medal which would have been her first international medal. The eventual disqualification of the race winner, for doping offences, means Laura has finally been upgraded.

There was plenty of cross country action over in the NCAA’s in America with the various Conference Championships taking place on Friday and Saturday. Lots of national cross country league races also took place here in the UK.

International

It was the final marathon major of the year on Sunday in New York. This rolling, twisty, turny course is not known for particularly fast times but always delivers exciting races. In the women’s race everyone was focused on defending champion Helen Obiri (Kenya) which allowed the eventual champion Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya) to sit in the pack and win by 14 seconds in 2:24:35. Obiri finished second with Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya) finishing in third in 2:25:21.

The men’s race was won by Abdi Nageeye (Netherlands) in 2:07:39. It wasn’t a particularly quick first half but a surge at 25km by the reigning champion and Olympic gold medallist, Tamirat Tola, broke up the pack. Nageeye eventually broke clear and won by 6 seconds ahead of Evans Chebet (Kenya). Albert Korir (Kenya) was third in 2:08:00.

The leading Brits were Lily Partridge finishing ninth in 2:30:55 and Jonny Mellor who clocked 2:11:22. Callum Hawkins made his return to marathon running with a 2:15:12 performance.

The Beijing Marathon was won by Lemi Berhanu Hayle (Ethopia) in 2:09:16 and Vicoty Chepngeno (Kenya) in 2:21:56. In the men’s race Bethwel Kibet Chumba (Kenya) and Chen Tianyu (China) took second and third in 2:09:30 and 2:09:48 with Rahma Tusa (Ethiopia) and Angela Jemesunde Tanui (Kenya) taking the minor places in the women’s race in 2:24:31 and 2:25:41.

In the Porto Marathon it was Tejitu Siyum Alemayehu (Ethiopia) who took the victory in the women’s race in 2:32:06. Emmanuel Kemboi (Kenya) won the men’s race in 2:14:14.

Ruth Jebet (Bahrain) dominated the Istanbul Marathon winning by almost 10 minutes in 2:24:45 ahead of Urge Diro (Ethiopia) and Ayantu Abdi (Ethiopia) in 2:33:37 and 2:33:49. Dejene Debela (Kenya) was first man home in 2:11:40 with Mathew Samperu (Kenya) finishing second in 2:11:55 and Kenneth Kirprop Kipkemoi third in 2:12:07.

The Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes was won by David Kipyego (Kenya) in 2:10:14 ahead of Elijah Kemboi (Kenya) in 2:16:30 and Julien Gueydon (France) 2:27:52. Mercy Kipkemoi (Kenya) won the women’s race in 2:41:08 with Bethan Male (Great Britain) finishing second in 2:53:19 and Charlotte Knowles (Great Britain) third in 2:56:03.

The Brussels Marathon was won by Belayneh Shimels (Ethiopia) and Romo Liz (USA) in 2:22:53 and 2:51:28.

National

It was the National Cross-Country Relays in Mansfield on Saturday. Belgrave Harriers (Donegan, Astin, Axford) won the women’s race with their anchor runner, Kate Axford, running the fastest leg of the day. Aldershot, Farnham & District showed their depth taking second (Jordan-Lee, Estlea-Morris, Brown) and third (Roessler, Griffiths, Brown) place overall.

The men’s race was won by Shaftesbury Barnet (Hirshman-Chandler, Dee, Evans, Dee) ahead of Bedford & County (Blythman, Alcock, Brodie, Goodwin) and Cambridge & Coleridge (Keen, Escalante-Philips, Gray, Elson).

An exciting sprint finish in the Scottish Short Course Cross Country Championships saw Ben Potrykus (Inverclyde AC) beat Jamie Crowe (Central AC) by just 2 seconds. Aidan Thompson (Central AC) finished 3rd. The women’s race was won by Nancy Scott (Edinburgh AC) with Lynn McKenna (Shettleston Harriers) finishing second and Morag Millar (Central AC) taking third.

The Hertfordshire Half Marathon was won by Michael Waddington (Ware Joggers) in 1:09:45 and Freya Weddell (St Albans Striders) in 1:18:32. There was also a 10k race won by Lawrence Hollom (Thames Hare & Hounds) in 32:54 and Faye Thompson (Unattached) in 43:40.

There was plenty of action at the Run London Victoria Park Races. The Half Marathon was won by Arthur Camps (Unattached) in 1:10:47 with Henrietta Marsh-Smith (Ealing Eagles Running Club) winning the women’s race in 1:30:43. There were also a 10k and 5k races.

Dewi Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) continued his strong form with a 29:50 clocking at the Richard Burton 10k. Olivia Tsim (Pontypridd Roadents) was first lady home in 35:37.

Local

The second race in the Gloucestershire AAA Cross Country League in Cirencester Park took place on Saturday. The men’s race was won by Dominic James (Western Tempo) and the women’s race was won by Millie Porter (Western Tempo).

Over in Bradford-on-Avon, the Over the Hills 12km multi-terrain race organised by Avon Valley Runners was won by Jamie Williamson (Springburn Harriers) in 42:51 ahead of Harry Palmer (Team Bath AC) in 42:59 and James Reeder (Team Bath AC) in 43:57. Laura Backhouse (Unattached) won the women’s race in 53:34 with Emily Griffiths (Team Bath AC) finishing second in 56:10 and Lizzie Atkins (Unattached) third in 56:47.

Down in the Blackdown Hills, the Herepath Half trail race organised by Taunton’s Running Forever Running Club was won by Elizabeth Dyson (Haldon Trail Runners) and Alexander Coombs (Wells City Harriers) in 1:41:51 and 1:27:50. Second and third in the women’s race was Phoebe Aspinall (Wells City Harriers) and Kate Dobson (Chard Road Runners). The men’s podium was rounded out by Matthew Lusby (Wells City Harriers) and Alex Bennett (Unattached).

The Apocalypse Run which is a 10 mile trail run near Stroud also took place on Sunday but the results haven’t been released yet.