English duo triumph on the roads in Northern Ireland, while Konrad Bukowiecki breaks world U23 shot put indoor best in Torun
Laura Weightman and Jess Judd showed good form ahead of the Commonwealth Games as they finished one-two in the women’s 3km at the Armagh International Road Races.
Weightman successfully defended her title as she strode home four seconds ahead of Judd in 8:59, while Verity Ockenden was third in a high-quality women’s race and Lauren Howarth fourth. In total, 16 women ran 9:30 or quicker, and 34 dipped inside 10 minutes.
The men’s 5km, meanwhile, was won by Sam Stabler in 13:59 on Thursday evening (February 15) as the Wreake & Soar Valley athlete continued his fine winter with victory in the 28th running of the Armagh event.
Runner-up was Charlie Hulson in 14:00 with American Jordan Mann third in 14:01. Such was the quality of the race, with 94 runners breaking 15 minutes, Dewi Griffiths was back in 11th in 14:07.
Elsewhere in Europe, at the Copernicus Cup meet indoors in Torun the Polish athletes Piotr Lisek, Konrad Bukowiecki and Adam Kszczot excelled on home soil.
Lisek pole vaulted a world lead of 5.91m, while Bukowiecki set a world under-23 shot put best of 22.00m for the performance of the night. Still only 20, Bukowiecki is a former world and European junior champion and reigning European indoor gold medallist.
Kszczot, meanwhile, continued his 2018 unbeaten streak with a 1:46.76 800m win.
Several Brits were in action as well with Dina Asher-Smith running 7.14 in the women’s 60m behind Marie-Josee Ta Lou’s 7.11. Imani Lansiquot clocked a PB of 7.21 in fifth to move to joint eighth on the UK all-time list.
Elliot Giles ran an indoor PB of 1:47.61 for fifth in the 800m and Charlie Da’Vall Grice was fourth in the 1500m in an indoor PB of 3:39.05.
Adelle Tracey was fifth in the women’s 800m in 2:02.87 behind Angelika Cichocka’s 2:00.76.
For results from Armagh, see here, while for indoor results from Torun, see here.
