Corrida Internationale de Houilles, Paris, France, Sunday 18 December

For the third weekend in a row the top of the Power of 10 women’s 10km rankings were subjected to a reshuffle as Katrina Wootton (coach: Harvey Rose) produced what is undoubtedly the run of her life over 10km in France.

After a career best 16th place finish at the European Cross Country Championships last weekend, Wootton moved onto the roads to compete over the 10km distance. Heading into the race with a 32.23 personal best from 2013, the Coventry athlete smashed that time, finishing second in 31.47 behind Viola Kibiwot of Kenya. That sub-32 time puts Wootton top of the British rankings for 2016 and second on the European equivalent.

Following her home were Melissa Courtney (Mark Pauley), Rosie Clarke (David Harmer) and Rachel Felton (Christopher Frapwell) who finished fifth, seventh and eighth in times of 33.15, 33.32 and 33.36 respectively.

There were also strong runs in the men’s race from Dewi Griffiths (Kevin Evans) and Ben Connor (Spencer Duval) who were part of the British Athletics team that took gold in the senior men’s race at last weekend’s European Cross Country Championships. Eighth and ninth respectively, the duo both set personal bests to go second and third on the Power of 10 rankings for 2016. Griffiths crossed the line in 28.45, with Connor coming home twelve seconds later. There was also a 29.22 personal best for Scotland’s Robbie Simpson (Martin Cox) in 15th place.

Results: https://www.topchrono.biz/fiche-resultat-evenement.php?idc=10029  

Iris CrossCup, Brussels, Belgium, Sunday 18 December

Laura Weightman (Steve Cram) finished strongly to take the final podium place in Brussels, but couldn’t quite out kick 2015 European U23 Cross Country Champion and local girl Lousie Carton. 1500m specialist Weightman was just 18 seconds behind winner Fionnuala McCormack who was fifth at the European Championships last weekend, whilst Kate Hulls (Frapwell), Charlene Thomas (Aaron Thomas) and Louise Small (Mick Woods) were fifth, sixth and seventh.

In the senior men’s race Jonny Taylor (Gordon Surtees) was the leading Briton in fifth place, followed home by Graham Rush and Adam Hickey (Eamonn Martin) who were separated by just a second in eighth and ninth. Andy Vernon (Nic Bideau) was 28th after missing the start by over a minute, although he did finish third in the 3km race.

Results: http://powerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=181056