12th September 2022
WEEKEND ROUND UP - MUIR AND WIGHTMAN IN 5TH AVENUE MILE WINS
5th Avenue Mile, New York, Sunday 11 September
Laura Muir (Andy Young, Dundee Hawkhill) and Jake Wightman (Geoff Wightman, Edinburgh) completed their 2022 competition seasons with a flourish with a GB victory sweep at the 5th Avenue Mile in New York
Following their successes at the World Championships, Commonwealth Games and European Championships Sunday’s victory capped a fine season with impressive wins over the quality fields.
In the women’s race Muir’s kick shortly after halfway took her clear of the pack to take the title in a course record time of 4:14.8.
Reigning champion Jemma Reekie (Andy Young, Kilbarchan) finished fourth with 4:18.3, but she is already part of an impressive group of previous GB title winners including Wendy Sly (1983), Kirsty Wade (1987), Paula Radcliffe (1996, 1997), Lisa Dobriskey (2008) and now Muir.
At the men’s race, in winning with 3:49.6, Wightman became one of only two British men to win three titles in New York (2018, 2021, 2022) after Peter Elliott (1987, 1989, 1990). The strong field also included GB teammates Jake Heyward (Mark Rowland, Cardiff) and Josh Kerr (Danny Mackey, Edinburgh) for company with Kerr unfortunately hampered by a slip at the start. Wightman ran away from the field in impressive form to cap his fantastic season.
Great North Run, Gateshead, Sunday 11 September
Marc Scott (Jerry Schumacher, Richmond and Zetland) and Charlotte Purdue (Nic Bideau, Aldershot Farnham and District) were the top GB male and female finishers at Sunday’s Great North Run, with David Weir (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy) and Eden Rainbow-Cooper (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy) taking the men’s and women’s wheelchair race titles.
Weir, completed the course in 42.59, whilst Rainbow-Cooper held off Sammy Kinghorn to cross the line in 51.27.
A few minutes later, Scott finished 6th overall in the men’s race in 62.28, whilst Purdue was 5th in the women’s race with 70.11.
British Athletics Uphill Only Trial Race for the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships incorporating the 2022 Senior England Athletics Mountain Running Championships, Skiddaw, Keswick, Friday 9 September
Jacob Adkin (Keswick) and Phillipa Williams (Dark Peak Fell Runners) were the winners at the World (uphill only) trial event at Skiddaw with places on the team for November’s World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand up for grabs.
Adkin triumphed once again on the Skiddaw course with Joe Steward Harry Kelly, Salford) and Daniel Haworth (Matlock) completing the top three.
Meanwhile, Williams narrowly beat Holly Page (Lewis Walker, Dartford) by five seconds to secure the women’s title, with Salford’s Ruth Jones (Duncan Mason) taking third position.
2022 British Athletics Up-and-Down Trial Races (Senior & U20) World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, Ericstane, near Moffat, Scotland, Sunday 11 September
Andrew Douglas (Sophie Dunnett, Inverclyde) and Phillipa Williams were the winners of the up and down trial in Scotland.
Williams followed up her uphill win on Friday with a superb performance on the up and down course. Holly Page was once again second female athlete in the race, while Kate Avery (Shildon) rounded out the top three overall.
Douglas won the battle with Carnethy’s Alexander Chepelin as he narrowly took the win by just four seconds. Chris Richards (Duncan Richards, Helm Hill) was a clear third place in the senior men’s field.
As for the junior races, Fraser Gilmour (Robert Hawkins, Kilbarchan) and Finlay Grant (Dark Peak Fell Runners) were given the same time in a frantic bid for the line, but it was Gilmour who was judged to have taken the win. William Longden (Buxton) just sneaked third place ahead of Edward Corden (Michael Doyle, Stockport).
Jess Bailey (Matthew Long, Leven Valley) secured the junior women’s title with Ellen Weir (Anne Hegvold, Hercules Wimbledon) and Rebecca Flaherty (Bingley) second and third respectively.
Memorial Borisa Hanžekovića – World Athletics Continental Tour Gold, Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday 11 September
European bronze medallist Jeremiah Azu (Helen James, Cardiff) finished second in the men’s 100m as the track and field season all but came to a close in Zagreb.
Azu was second behind Marvin Bracy (USA) in 10.14 (0.0), while Charlie Dobson (Benke Blomkvist, Colchester) ran 10.28 for fifth. The latter also came back to post 20.21 in the 200m for third position.
There was a personal best for Katie Snowden (Herne Hill) in the mile event as she revised her best to 4:25.72 as she came home in sixth position overall.
European medallist Lawrence Okoye (Zane Duquemin, Croydon) ended his discus campaign with fourth place in the competition, throwing 64.99m.
Meanwhile there was a PB for William Battershill (Luke Gunn, Erme Valley) over the rarely run 2000m steeplechase, his time 5:26.91.