Weekend update
Top performances last weekend include a Scottish double with Jake Wightman continuing his dominance of the New York Mile and Laura Muir taking top position in a record time on 5th Avenue. The Great North run saw Marc Scott and Charlotte Purdue come out as the top British performers.
At the stacked 5th Avenue Mile in New York, Laura Muir (handicap -3.2) and Jake Wightman (handicap -7.5) completed their 2022 competition seasons with a GB and Scottish victory sweep at the 5th Avenue Mile in New York.
Following their successes at the World Championships, Commonwealth Games and European Championships Sunday’s victory capped a fine season with impressive wins over the quality fields.
In the women’s race Muir’s kick, shortly after halfway, took her clear of the pack to take the title in a course record time of 4:14.8. Reigning New York champion, Jemma Reekie (handicap -2.9), finished fourth with 4:18.3,as part of an impressive group of previous GB title winners including Wendy Sly (1983), Kirsty Wade (1987), Paula Radcliffe (1996, 1997), Lisa Dobriskey (2008) and now Muir (handicap -3.2).
In winning the men's race with 3:49.6, Jake Wightman (handicap -7.5) became one of only two British men to win three titles in New York (2018, 2021, 2022) after Peter Elliott (1987, 1989, 1990). The strong field also included GB teammates Jake Heyward (handicap -7.2) and Josh Kerr (handicap -7.2) for company with Kerr unfortunately hampered by a slip at the start. Wightman ran away from the field in impressive form to cap his fantastic season.
At the Great North Run,Marc Scott (handicap -7.2) and Charlotte Purdue (handicap -2.8) were the top GB male and female finishers. Scott finished 6th overall in the men’s race in 62.28, whilst Purdue was 5th in the women’s race with 70.11.
At the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold in Zagreb, there was a personal best for Katie Snowden (handicap -2.5) in the mile event as she revised her best to 4:25.72 as she came home in sixth position overall. There was a great PB for William Battershill (handicap -5.1) in the 2000m steeplechase with 5:26.91.
Jacob Adkin (handicap 0.7) and Phillipa Williams (handicap 1.8) were the winners at the World (uphill only) trial event at Skiddaw with places on the team for November’s World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand up for grabs.
Adkin triumphed once again on the Skiddaw course with Joe Steward (handicap -3.7) and Daniel Haworth (handicap -4.5) completing the top three.
Meanwhile, Williams narrowly beat Holly Page (handicap 0.5) by five seconds to secure the women’s title, with Salford’s Ruth Jones (handicap 1.4) taking third position.
Andrew Douglas (handicap -2.9) and Phillipa Williams (handicap 1.8)were the winners of the up and down trial in Scotland. Williams followed up her uphill win on Friday with a superb performance on the up and down course. Holly Page was once again second female athlete in the race, while Kate Avery (handicap 0.8) rounded out the top three overall.
Douglas won the battle with Alexander Chepelin (handicap -3.1) a renowned orienteer, as he narrowly took the win by just four seconds. Chris Richards (handicap -3.9) was a clear third place in the senior men’s field.
As for the junior races, Fraser Gilmour (handicap -3.5) and Finlay Grant (handicap -2.3) were given the same time in a frantic bid for the line, but it was Gilmour who was judged to have taken the win. William Longden (handicap -1.0) just sneaked third place ahead of Edward Corden (handicap -0.6).
Jess Bailey (handicap 0.1) secured the junior women’s title with Ellen Weir (handicap 1.3) and Rebecca Flaherty (handicap 0.9) second and third respectively.
UK runbritain rankings for endurance events and age groups
Other results from the weekend are on the following links: