12th May 2022

JUDD AND ATKIN AMONG LEADING BRITS IN NIGHT OF 10,000M PBS ENTRIES

The Night of 10,000m PBs in Highgate will incorporate the UK 10,000m Championships and also act as the trial for this summer’s World Athletics Championships.

The first two placed eligible athletes in the trial event will be automatically selected for the same event, provided that the athlete has achieved at least one World Athletics Qualification Standard within the qualifying window (1st January 2021-26 June 2022).

In the women’s 10,000m, Jessica Judd (coach: Mick Judd, club: Blackburn) leads the way having secured a standard on her way to qualifying for last summer’s Olympic Games. The 27-year-old has a PB of 31:20.96 which she set at last year’s European 10,000m Cup in Birmingham, so will be one to watch on Saturday night’s race.

Amy-Eloise Markovc (Chris Fox, Wakefield) is another athlete on the entry lists, and she ran just outside the standard, 31:25.91, in California last year. The 2021 European Indoor 3000m champion has excelled from 3000m to 10,000m in the last 18 months, so will be in contention at Highgate.

Others British athletes to watch out for in the women’s field include Verity Ockenden (Tony Houchin, Swansea), who was ranked fourth in the UK over the distance in 2021, Charlotte Arter (Chris Jones, Cardiff) and Sarah Inglis (Lothian) – the latter ran a European standard over 5000m this month, 15:16.90.

In the men’s field, Sam Atkin (Mike Collins) is the fastest in the field on personal bests. The Tokyo Olympian will be seeking another British vest having set his PB of 27:26.58 in 2020. Although he hasn’t run inside the standard during the qualifying window for the 2022 Worlds to date, he’ll be chasing that in Highgate. The Lincoln Wellington athlete is in solid form after setting a 5000m PB indoors this winter, recording 13:03.64.

Other notable Brits to watch out for in the race include Emile Cairess (Leeds) and Tom Anderson (Andrew Hobdell, Bingley). Earlier this year Cairess moved to second on the UK all-time list for 10km on the roads after a time of 27:43 in Valencia. Meanwhile, Anderson is in good form after posting a lifetime best over 5000m at the Oregon Relays last month – the time 13:28.07.

Among the internationals in the men’s field, notable entries include Richard Ringer (GER) who won in Highgate at the European 10,000m Cup in 2018, and Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa.

The Emsley Carr Mile and Millicent Fawcett Mile races will also take place on Saturday. Our preview of those events is available HERE.

A timetable and entry list can be found HERE.

The event will be streamed on the British Athletics website from 15:00 or on the BBC iPlayer from 20:00 onwards.