Simplyhealth Great South Run 10, Portsmouth, 21 October

Chris Thompson (coach: Alan Storey; club: Aldershot, Farnham & District) and Eilish McColgan (Liz Nuttall; Dundee Hawkhill) reigned supreme on the south coast as they took the Great South Run titles. Under the autumn sun, Thompson secured an unprecedented hat-trick of victories as he pulled clear along the Portsmouth seafront to set a 10 mile personal best of 46:56.

Now 37, Thompson is arguably in the form of his life as he heads towards the New York Marathon, proving so as he saw off the challenge of Andy Vernon (AFD) who finished some 30 seconds back. Running on tired legs after winning the Manchester Half last weekend, Thompson’s AFD teammate still ran a personal best of 47.23, with Petros Surafel (Mick Woods; Thames Valley) third in 48.05, also a PB.

In the women’s event, the race followed a similar pattern with McColgan showing great poise to take the title in the longest race of her career to date. McColgan’s fellow Scot Steph Twell (Geoff Wightman; AFD) was the one forcing the pace with defending champion Gemma Steel (Liz Nuttall; Charnwood) also in tow, eventually creating a small gap, but McColgan stayed calm and reeled her in. Running along the seafront together, McColgan had the strength to move clear inside the final mile to break the tape in 54.43, Twell crossing the line in 55.16.

Results: https://www.runbritainrankings.com/results/results.aspx?meetingid=245560

2018 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, 21 October

Competing for England out in Canada, Helen Davies (Ipswich Jaffa; Clive Sparkes) produced a very impressive 2:35:12 time to finish eighth, a season’s best and just one minute outsider her personal best set back in 2012. That puts Davies, who is approaching 40 years of age, third on the Power of 10 rankings. Three places further back was Rotherham’s Hayley Carruthers (Gary Warhurst), her 2:36:48 time good for fourth on UK rankings for 2018 and over 10 minutes quicker than she’s ever run before. In the men’s event Henry Pearce (Alan Storey) finished a credible 14^th place, also posting a personal best of 2.19.23.

Results: http://results.sportstats.ca/res2018/scotiabank_42.htm

North of England XC Relays, Graves Park, Sheffield, 20 October

Preston and Rotherham took the spoils in the senior men’s and women’s cross country relays respectively as both teams enjoyed 23-second winning margins. Fielding a young team in the four man event, Preston were only headed once all afternoon as Patrick Dever and Daniel Bebbington (both Andy Bibby) ran the quickest two legs of the day to secure gold. In the women’s race it was a similar story, Rotherham dominating proceedings, although Birtley’s Lydia Turner (Thomas Millmore) did deny Natasha Hatswell (Nigel Brookes) the fastest leg of the day by just one second.

Results: https://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2018/naxcrsm18.htm

South of England XC Relays, Wormwood Scrubs, London, 20 October

Taking on a 4x5000m format, the Southern XC relays senior men’s race couldn’t have reached a more exciting climax, with the top three separated by just two seconds. To the fore throughout were Highgate Harriers, although Belgrave led with one leg to go. Mohamud Aadan (Paul Oppe) produced the fastest time of the day for Thames Valley Harriers on the anchor leg, but came up just short as his side had to settle for bronze, with Highgate edging out Belgrave for gold. The senior women’s race was clearer cut, Wycombe the surprise winners with middle distance international Katie Snowden (Rob Denmark) quickest on the day to ensure Herne Hill Harriers took silver.

Results: http://www.seaa.org.uk/index.php/results/cross-country