10th September 2018
WEEKEND UPDATE
Great North Run, Newcastle, 9 September
Sir Mo Farah (coach: Gary Lough, club: Newham & Essex Beagles) won the Great North Run for a record breaking fifth consecutive year on Sunday, breaking clear of his rivals to cross the line in a swift 59.27, almost 30 seconds clear of New Zealand’s Jake Robertson. Farah forced the pace throughout, testing himself ahead of the Chicago Marathon in a month’s time. Despite pushing all the way, Farah was just missed out on breaking his own British record, which stands at 59.22.
After the race, Farah said: “It definitely feels good. I like coming back to the Great North Run, year after year. It is nice to come home and run in front of a home crowd and run with my training partner Bashir Abdi. I want to give credit to Jake who definitely had it a tough race for me.
“I wanted to go hard, to test myself, who I am, ask myself questions. The conditions made it a little bit tough. If we had had perfect conditions it would definitely have been a lot faster. The last two miles were particularly tough. Overall, I am happy where I am. I can’t wait for Chicago. It’s just a case of staying focused and doing what I am doing. I am sure my coach, Gary, is already thinking ahead what I need to do.”
Mohamud Aadan (Paul Oppe, Thames Valley) was next Brit home in 63.59, with Andy Vernon (Nic Bideau, Aldershot, Farnham & District) crossing the line in 65.04. The women’s race was won by Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot in 67.43, with Northern Ireland’s Emma Mitchell (Eamonn Christie, Queen’s Uni Belfast) the first Brit home in 74.38.
In the wheelchair race David Weir (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy) took his seventh title as he prevailed in 41.19, a time that represents a new course record.
Results: https://www.greatrun.org/myresults/full-search
IAAF Continental Cup, Ostrava, Czech Republic, 8-9 September
Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley) was the best British performer representing Team Europe at the Continental Cup as she finished second in the 100m to bag her team seven points; she was just 0.02 seconds down on Africa’s Marie-Joseé Ta Lou who took victory in 11.14 (-0.4m/s).
Shara Proctor (Rana Reider, Birchfield Harriers) leapt to 6.63m (-0.6) for fifth in the long jump, whilst Marc Scott (Jerry Schumacher, Richmond & Zetland) was sixth in an elimination 3,000m. Meanwhile in the penultimate event of the day the British 4x100m team, selected to represent Team Europe, were an impressive second in the 4x100m relay, clocking 42.55 to narrowly lose out to The Americas.
On day two Matthew Hudson-Smith (Lance Brauman, Birchfield Harriers) was fourth in the men’s 400m in 45.72, whilst Meghan Beesley (Michael Baker, Birchfield Harriers) ran a strong race for fourth in the women’s 400m hurdles, crossing the line in 55.58.
NYRR 5th Avenue Mile, New York, USA, 9 September
Jake Wightman (Geoff Wightman, Edinburgh AC) made history on the streets of Manhattan as he kicked away from a world class field to win the 5th Avenue Mile in fine style, becoming the first Briton to do so. Battling with Nick Willis in the closing stages, Wightman showed a terrific turn of pace that proved decisive, capping a wonderful season that saw him win 1500m Commonwealth Games and European Championship bronze, with a win in New York. Breaking the tape in 3.54, Wightman headed Willis, with his fellow Scot Neil Gourley (Ben Thomas, Giffnock North) third in 3.56.
In the women’s race American Jenny Simpson won her seventh title, however Melissa Courtney (Rob Denmark, Poole AC) capped a breakthrough season with a fine third place finish in 4.21, just two seconds back.
Great North City Games, Gateshead, 8 September
Laura Muir (Andy Young, Dundee Hawkhill) ended her season on a high, backing up her thrilling Diamond League victory in Brussels with a win on the streets of Gateshead, as she won the mile at the Great City Games. In a strong, but largely domestic field, Muir did just enough to win in 4.33 from The Netherlands European medallist Susan Krumins, with Jess Judd (Mick Judd, Blackburn) third in 4.35.
Holly Bradshaw (Scott Simpson, Blackburn) won the women’s pole vault convincingly with a 4.55m clearance, whilst Greg Rutherford (Dan Pfaff, Marshall Milton Keynes) called time on his glittering career with a 7.38m leap for third in the men’s long jump.
Dwayne Cowan (Lloyd Cowan, Hercules Wimbledon) won an exciting 500m road race in 59.84, getting the better of a quality field of quarter milers, half milers and 400mH specialists, Anyika Onoura (Rana Reider, Liverpool) doing similar in the women’s race, stopping the clock in 1.06.94.
After a couple of low-key 100m races at his training base at Loughborough University two weeks ago, Jonnie Peacock (Michael Khmel, Charnwood) continued his comeback with an 11.08 (1.3m/s) run on the streets, having to settle to second behind Germany’s Felix Streng.
Daryll Neita (Jonas Dodoo, Cambridge Harriers) was another second place finisher, clocking 16.80 to Michelle Lee-Ahye’s 16.49 in the women’s 150m. In the men’s race Reece Prescod (Jonas Dodoo, Enfield & Haringey) took the spoils in 14.87, edging out Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Benke Blomkvist, Sutton & District).
Results: http://www.greatcitygames.org/results/NewcastleGateshead/2018
Birell 10K, Prague, Czech Republic, 8 September
Ross Millington (Steve Vernon, Stockport) continued his return to form with a very impressive 28.40 run for 16th place in the Czech capital, not just a season’s best but also a personal best by six seconds. Luke Traynor (Glasgow City) was two places further back in a time of 29.21, whilst Emelia Gorecka (Chris Thompson, AFD) made her 10km road debut, posting a time of 33.40 for tenth place.
Results: https://www.runbritainrankings.com/results/results.aspx?meetingid=255542
Memorijal Borisa Hanzekovica, Zagreb, Croatia, 4 September
Daryll Neita (Dodoo, Cambridge Harriers) was the best British performer on Tuesday night in Zagreb, third in the women’s 100m in 11.33 (0.5), not far outside her season’s best. Meghan Beesley (Michael Baker, Birchfield) was another third place finisher, crossing the line in 56.46 in the hurdles, whilst Martyn Rooney (Graham Hedman, Croydon) and Rabah Yousif (Carol Williams, Newham & Essex Beagles) were third and fourth in the men’s 400m in 46.13 and 46.26.
Anyika Onoura (Rana Reider, Liverpool) was fourth in the women’s equivalent in 52.33, whilst Charlie Myers (Chris Boundy Middlesbrough Mandale) was fourth in the pole vault with a best of 5.26m. David King (James Hillier, City of Plymouth) was fifth in the 110m hurdles in 13.74 (0.7), with Eilish McColgan (Liz Nuttall, Dundee Hawkhill) running 8.47.36 in the 3,000m.
Results: https://thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=235405
City of Stirling 10km (Scottish Championships), Stirling, 9 September
WPA Marathon Cup gold medallist Derek Rae (Ron Morrison, Fife) recorded a personal best over 10km at the Scottish championships, posting a chip time of 32:14 for 20th position overall.
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