The 2018 BMC Grand Prix series for kicked off in earnest in Manchester on Saturday night, and fans were treated to a new age 15 European record as Max Burgin (coach: Brian Burgin) took the men’s 800m A race in a staggering 1.47.50. Just eight days shy of his 16^th birthday, Halifax’s Burgin smashed his personal best to take victory and knock almost a full second off the UK U17 record in the process. There was also a 1.47.76 personal best for U23 athlete Spencer Thomas (Jon Bigg) in second.

In the women’s 800m there was a pleasing 800m debut for former GB 400m international Laura Maddox (Colin Bovell) as she took the win in 2.03.86, just edging out young 1500m talent Jemma Reekie (Andy Young) who crossed the line in 2.03.91, also a personal best.

In the 1500m Ossama Meslek (Phil Townsend) produced a 3.42.15 personal best to win the A race, with another Leeds based athlete Philip Sesemann (Andrew Henderson) breaking 14 minutes for the first time to win the 5,000m in 13.59.27. In the  women’s 5,000m Claire Duck (Mike Baxter) and Stevie Stockton (Townsend) scored a Leeds City AC 1-2, both setting personal bests of 15.39.68 and 15.41.11 respectively.

In the 2000m steeplechase races Ben Thomas (Neil Thomas) and Elise Thorner both went inside the European Youth Championship qualifying marks, Thomas third in the men’s race in 5.57.89, whilst Thorner was a runaway winner in the women’s in 6.52.68.

Results: https://thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=237216&pagenum=2

Pure Athletics/NTC Sprint Elite Meet, Clermont, USA, 12 May

Edmond Amaning made the most of the perfect sprinting conditions to produce huge 200m personal best of 20.43 (+1.3m/s) to cross the line victorious, that time comfortably inside the European Championship qualifying mark. The Thames Valley athlete also went within 0.02 of his 100m personal best, set at the same track three weeks ago, with a 10.33 (1.1) effort for sixth place.

In the 400m Matthew Hudson-Smith was another winner, setting a fine season’s best of 44.70, just two tenths outside his personal best, whilst Jazmin Sawyers was second in the long jump with a best of 6.43m (0.7).

Results: https://thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=241671

Meeting Elite de Montgeron, Montgeron, France, 13 May

Daryll Neita (Jonas Dodoo) and Bianca Williams (Lloyd Cowan) were both in action in the 100m in France, with favourable tailwinds helping them to fast times. Neita clocked 11.30 (1.9) to win her heat before backing it up with a 11.35 (1.6) effort to take second in the final. Williams also ran well for fourth, setting an 11.48 (1.6) season’s best. There was also a season’s best of 13.41 (0.5) for Yasmin Miller (Robert Smith) as she finished second in the 100mH.

Results: https://thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=241700

Portland Twilight, Adrian, USA, 12 May

GB international Charlotte Taylor produced a fine winning run across the pond, taking the women’s 5,000m in 15.52.84 to move into the top 10 on the Power of 10 rankings.

Results: https://thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=241676

Ipswich Twilight 5k, Ipswich, 11 May

In an extremely tight finish on the streets of Ipswich Nick Goolab (Craig Winrow) edged out Richard Allen (Mick Woods) 13.50 to 13.51, with Adam Hickey (Eamonn Martin) third in 13.54. In the ladies race local athlete Faye Fullerton took the spoils in 16.01, just outside her personal best, Gemma Steel (Liz McColgan-Nuttall) just six seconds in arrears in second..

Results: http://www.chiptiminguk.co.uk/results/ipswich-twilight-5k

Loughborough Open Meeting, Loughborough, 9 May

In great conditions for hurdling, Heather Paton (Andy Paul) won the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.36 (1.7), a personal best and just 0.01 Pat Rollo’s Scottish record. There was an equally notable run by Marcia Sey (Lorna Boothe) who clocked 13.41 for victory in the U18 race, just 0.01 shy of the British Junior record.

Results: https://thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=232259&pagenum=1#100HW

BMC Gold Standard, Lee Valley, 9 May

Adam Clarke (Geoff Watkin) came close to a sub four-minute mile as he ran a solo 4.02.79 personal best, well clear of the rest of the field.

Results: https://thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=237181

Essex County Championships, Chelmsford 12-13 May

Charlie Dobson (Coach – Stephen Garnham) ran a world junior qualifying mark of 20.73. The youngster, who made his GB & NI debut at last summer’s International match in Manchester was 0.27 inside the mark required for selection to the team headed for Tampere later this summer.