15 September 2015 

The 28^th IAU/IAAF World Road Running Championships took place in Winschoten, Holland on Saturday.

The race around the roads of the town, has become an annual running festival where streets are decorated and parties held to support and cheer on athletes as they tackle the 10x10km lap course. This was the 40^th annual running of the race and the eighth time it has hosted the World Championships.

At the start of the day the weather conditions were almost perfect as the British team crossed the start line joined by one of the strongest fields seen for many years.

Steve Way set off with the lead group whilst Craig Holgate and Marcus Scotney were close behind. For the ladies Jo Zakrzewski was with the leading ladies, with Sue Harrison and Holly Rush running together in the following pack.

Unfortunately Way, who was 10^th in the marathon at last year’s Commonwealth Games was forced to pull out at the 50km mark with a strain to his right glute. 20km later, his teammate Rush had to withdraw from the race in tough conditions for the British team.

The first British athlete home was Holgate in 12^th who was delighted with his performance running 6.53.22 which took him to 13^th on the UK all-time list. He was closely followed by Marcus Scotney in 17^th place in 6.56.12. Both athletes ran massive lifetime bests and joined the elite sub-seven hour club.

Zakrzewski fought hard through the last 15km after a strong early pace and was rewarded with an outstanding fifth place with a magnificent 10 minute personal best, running 7.31.33 to propel her to fourth on the UK all-time list. This performance was recognised with Jo winning the European bronze medal. Running an equally impressive race was Harrison who also ran her fastest ever time by eight minutes, clocking 7.39.50, to cross the line in 10^th place. 

The women’s race was won by Camille Herron of the USA who was a clear winner of the women’s race with the fourth fastest time in history (7:08.35), while the men’s race was won by Jonas Buud from Sweden in 6.22.44.

Full results from the IAU/IAAF World Road Running Championships can be found here: http://www.iau-ultramarathon.org/