24th October 2016

Weekend Update

24 October 2016 

Great South Run, Portsmouth, 23 October

Chris Thompson (coach: Mark Rowland) got the better of the man who beat him at the Great Birmingham Half Marathon last weekend, Andy Vernon (Nic Bideau), with a decisive run on the south coast. Despite lengthy time on the side-lines over the past couple of years, the 2010 European 10,000m silver medallist claimed an impressive victory over the 10 mile distance. The 35 year old began his march to victory after six miles, putting distance between himself and Vernon, to take the plaudits in a time of 47:23. Vernon, his Aldershot, Farnham & District teammate finished second in 48:09, with triathlete turned runner Matt Sharp completing the top three in 48:18.

The women’s race was dominated by Ethiopia’s six-time Olympic medallist Tirunesh Dibaba, who finished over a minute ahead of compatriot Senbere Teferi in 51:49. The British charge was led by Lily Partridge, who finished in fourth place in 54:41 with Olympian Beth Potter (Mick Woods) fifth in 54:57 and Gemma Steel (Rob Denmark) rounding out the top three Brits with 55:18, good for sixth.

Results: http://www.greatrun.org/myresults

Great South Run 5km, Southsea, 22 October

15 year old Lachlan Wellington (Vince Stamp) took eight seconds off his personal best to win the men’s race in 15:18. There was an incentive for the mass race runners with Olympic race walking sixth placer Tom Bosworth (Andi Drake) lining up in the race. Anyone who could beat Bosworth would secure free entry for next year’s event, but he was tough to beat posting a time of 20:10. Just 40 participants could match the impressive walking speed of Bosworth as he came through in 41st place.

Results: http://www.greatrun.org/myresults


Scottish XC Relay Championships, Cumbernauld, 22 October

2016 will be a year to remember for Andrew Butchart (Derek Easton), who kept his breakthrough form going to guide Central AC to a clinical victory. Butchart, sixth in the 5000m in Rio, anchored his club team to the win in 44:19, with the 25 year old putting down a time of 11:22. Olympian marathoner Callum Hawkins (Robert Hawkins) continued to show his excellent form this year to run the fastest leg of the day in 11:01. 

Edinburgh University Hare & Hounds were a considerable way back in second in 48:43 and Aberdeen AAC taking third in 48:54. 

A women’s quartet of Stephanie Pennycook (John Lees), Catriona Graves, Louise Mercer and Mhairi Maclennan (Lees) from Edinburgh University Hare & Hounds were victorious on the Cumbernauld cross country circuit, crossing the line in 56:28. Glasgow AC finished just 16 seconds back in second place, just edging Central AC into third in a sprint finish. Central AC’s Morag MacLarty (Easton) couldn’t quite catch the Glasgow outfit though, despite producing the fastest leg of the day with a fine 13:18.

Results: http://events.scottishathletics.org.uk/events/19090-17095-lindsays-scottishathletics-national-cross-country-relay-championships