Another week, another opportunity for fast racing. James Rhodes brings you the highlights in the Weekend Round Up.
By the Seaside
Adam Clarke (29:47) was a clear winner of the Brighton 10k. He finished precisely twenty seconds clear of the field in his first race since winning the Manchester Marathon in April. The course saw runners face a headwind for the second half, although not as strong as originally predicted.
Behind, Paul Whittaker (30:07) ran his fastest 10k of the year off the back of winning last month’s Tiptree 10. Two seconds behind was Jack Woods (30:09 PB) with Tonbridge’s Cole Gibbens (30:23 PB) fourth. In his first non-parkrun race since February, Dom Nolan finished fifth in 30:41.
Photo: James Rhodes
Cassie Thorp (34:02) won in a competitive women’s field. Her gun time of 34:02 matches her fastest of the year, from Chichester in February, but was faster by chip (33:57). Behind, fellow Manchester Marathon winner Charlie Arnell took over half a minute off her PB with 34:14 (31:13 chip). This was her first race since August’s Antrim Coast Half Marathon.
Alice Crane’s 34:16 (34:11) for third marked her first time under 35 minutes. She was closely followed by Kate Estlea-Morris (34:24, 34:19 chip) and Cassie Gasson (34:28, 34:22 chip).
Fast in Fulham
RunThrough’s Top Flight series continued on Sunday with the Fulham 10k. It was clearly a fast course on the streets of west London, with victories for Omar Ahmed (28:58) and Transfora Mussa (31:53). Omar is no stranger to the series, and was competing in his eleventh 10k of the year. His time is shy of his fastest, but his fifth quickest of 2024.
In second, Dylan Evans (29:03) improved his PB by one second with Charlie Brisley (29:08) third. Charlie equalled his second fastest 10k, seven seconds shy of his best from the Leeds Abbey Dash last month. Impressively, George James (29:24) made his 10k debut (according to Power of 10), in his first race since his excellent 2:11:19 at Frankfurt.
Jonathan Escalante-Phillips (29:44) rounded out the top-five.
In the women’s field, athletes in second and third were too making their 10k debuts. Martina Conner (34:00) started running for Belgrave just this year, and is coming off the back of a 16:45 5k and 27:35 5 miles in recent weeks. Kosana Weir (34:20 debut) finished third, with Hannah McGowan-Jones (35:25 PB) fourth and Kristina Popadich (35:28) fifth, another debutant.
The Top Flight series concludes at the Ribble Valley 10k on Sunday 29 December.
More 10ks
Fulham was not the only RunThrough race of the weekend. Thomas Dewey (33:16) and Tina Christmann (37:07) were victorious at the Southampton 10k on the south coast. Wins at the QE Olympic Park 10k went to Nicholas Lightfoot (32:44) and Orla Sandlin (39:49). Bethan Walters (20:02) and Callum Stewart (16:13) won the associated 5k.
On Saturday, Joshua Griffiths (31:24) and Chloe Potter (37:54) were comfortable winners at the Alton Towers 10k. Hopefully they got to enjoy the rides as a post-race treat! A day later, Gemma Wilks (86:21) and Jack Cummings (70:31) won the associated half marathon, and Aoibh Clarke (19:32) and Edward Pettitt (15:31) the 5k.
Back on the south coast, Oliver Regan (36:54) and Asmaa Hatim (44:27) won the Coastbuster 10k in Ramsgate. Aislinn Darvell (39:59) and Jonathan Learnihan (36:18) crossed the finish line first at the Crowborough 10k. Rachel Nealon (38:38) and William Brailey (36:24) set the quickest times at the Matthew Walker 10k.
Amy Fuller (43:57) and Andy Lawrence (35:13) were victorious at the second race in the Tempo Winter Series 10k. Adam Pavey (38:07) and Fliss Tournant (43:22) won the Watford Autumn 10k.
Longer Distances
Over 13.1 miles, there were wins for Sam Stratford (73:52) and Keely Smith (84:45) at the Conwy Half Marathon and Will Grace (68:02) and Jen Granger (80:17) at the Gosport Half Marathon. Ben Jones (70:57) led a Cambridge & Coleridge one-two at the St Neots Half Marathon. Shannon Barton (80:54) was the fastest female.
Vicky Ingham (59:16) and Abdinassier Mohammed Elhmi (49:25) won the Wimborne 10. The latter finished over one minute ahead of the rest of the field. Also racing over ten miles were David Bishop (50:18) and Naomi Mitchell (56:29) who won the Derby 10.
Wins at the Coastbuster 10 went to Alex Dugard (59:11) and Siobhan Burne (68:17). Roger Pruden (57:17) and Nicky Morris (66:28) won the Morecambe 10. Finally, Jason Hall (50:42) and Charlotte Grieve (58:57) won the Tadcaster 10.
A World Record
The NN Zevenheuvelenloop is famed for being one of the few races over 15km. Despite being named after the rolling hills its the route in the Netherlands takes in, it produces fast times. This year was no different.
An impressive performance from Marc Scott (43:21) saw him finish third ahead in a race won by Jacob Kiplimo. Kiplimo’s time of 40:42 broke the World Record by 22 seconds. The previous time was set by Joshua Cheptegai on the same course in 2018 and equalled by Kiplimo last year. Jake Smith (45:29) finished 30th, with his eyes set on next week’s Cross Challenge in Liverpool.
The post Fast Times in Brighton & Fulham – Weekend Round Up appeared first on Fast Running.
Source: fastrunning.com