Jess Piasecki goes No.2 all-time among British marathoners – weekly round-up
Many events in the UK were cancelled over the weekend because of the storms but there was still plenty of top-class action.
These included:
Keely Hodgkinson's UK 800m record at the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham – click here
Jakob Ingebrigtsen's world indoor record at 1500m in Lievin – click here
Eilish McColgan's British record at the RAK Half-Marathon – click here.
Mile records including a M65 world mark for Paul Forbes at Lee Valley – click here
Seville Marathon, February 20
While British eyes were on Piasecki, there was an Ethiopian clean sweep in the women's race as Alemu Megertu won in a PB with near perfect splits of 69:25 and 69:26.
Compatriots Meseret Gola (2:20:50), Yeshi Kalayu Chekole (2:21:17) and Chaltu Kumsa (2:22:13) followed with the Briton best of the rest.
Finishing fifth, Piasecki destroyed her lifetime best with 2:22:27 (2:22:25 on chip), a time that moves her above Mara Yamauchi to No.2 on the British all-time list with only Paula Radcliffe's former world record of 2:15:25 quicker.
She passed halfway in 70:33 and came back with a 71:54 second half – still sub 2:24 pace. Her 5km splits were 16:41, 16:43, 16:41, 16:50, 16:47, 16:39, 16:58 and 17:40.
This year she has set PBs at 10km, 10 miles and half marathon despite starting the season short of racing as she went to her first Olympics.
In eighth, Majida Maayouf set a Moroccan record of 2:24:09 and Gladys Tejeda from Peru set a South American record of 2:25:57 in ninth.
Piasecki's performance was not the only fast British time as Rose Harvey continued her improvement as her 13th-placed 2:27:20 (2:27:27 chip) improved her previous best from London of 2:29:45 to move to 10th all-time on the UK rankings.
Like Piasecki's this mark is also a World Championships qualifier as well as a European and Commonwealth qualifier.
Former British 10,000m champion Philippa Bowden made a good marathon debut finishing 25th with 2:34:30 (2:34:28 chip).
Olympian Steph Davis, who, like Harvey, runs for Clapham Chasers and is coached by Phil Kissi, accompanied her initially but struggled the second half and finished 29th in 2:37:41 (2:37:38 chip).
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The men also ran significant times.
Ethiopia's Asrar Abderehman won in 2:04:43 (with splits of 62:31 and 62:13) ahead of team-mate Adeladlew Mamo in 2:05:12.
Eritrea's 2015 world champion Ghirmay Ghebreslassie was third with a PB of 2:05:34.
In sixth, Ayad Lamdassem set a Spanish record and world over-40 record of 2:06:25 as the top-19
all broke the 2:10-barrier.
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The 2017 World Championships representative Josh Griffiths improved his PB by almost two minutes with a 2:11:28 (2:11:24 chip) to set European and Commonwealth qualifying marks though such was the quality he could only finish 31st.
Back in 40th, Mo Aadan (2:12:37 - 2:12:34 chip) just missed his PB from the Olympic trials at Kew Gardens last year while in 51st place Andrew Davies (2:14:23 -2:14:20 chip) also set qualifying marks with the latter improving his own British M40 record of 2:14:36 in 2019.
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Additionally Adam Clarke in 61st debuted with 2:15:37 (2:15:35 chip) while Ross Braden in 65th improved his PB to 2:16:50 (2:16:48 on chip).
BMC Indoor Races, Lee Valley, February 16
Sam Reardon improved his 800m indoor PB by four seconds to 1:48.81 in going fifth all-time among UK under-20 athletes.
The Blackheath and Bromley athlete who won the England under-20 400m title in 47.74 a few days earlier, looks a most exciting middle-distance prospect with his basic speed that saw him run a 46.07 leg in Britain's winning European under-20 4x400m team.
BUCS Indoor Championships, Sheffield, February 18-20
Birmingham's Saskia Millard won a good quality women's 3000m in a PB 9:17.31 and she was chased home by Abbie Donnelly (9:23.77).
Hannah Brier (7.37) and Joe Chadwick (6.68) both won 60m titles. It was a big improvement for the latter as his pre BUCS best was just 6.76 and he hadn't broke 6.80 before February.
Josh Armstrong was another inspired by the occasion as he dipped under eight seconds for the first time in the 60m hurdles with a 7.97 clocking.
Marli Jessop, who is only aged 18, enjoyed her first BUCS competition by improving her PB to 8.28 in taking the women's hurdles title.
Paralympic 100m champion Thomas Young (7.14) and Simran Kahr (8.74) won the ambulant 60m titles.
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Alex Haydock Wilson was first in the 200m in a fast 21.04 while other successful Loughborough sprinters were Alex Cooper (47.91) and Natasha Harrison (54.64) who both took 400m gold and they also won both 4x200m relays.
Michael Ward won the 3000m by a hundredth of a second in 8:36.36 from Joshua Lay.
James Henaghan took the men's 1500m title in 3:47.43 with Sabrina Sinha the women's winner in 4:25.15.
Dominic Walton (1:51.39) and Louise Shanahan (2:05.87) took 800m golds.
As we published this report, none of the results had been sent to Power of 10 and results of field events on the day were not available.
However, Hannah Tapley was the high jump winner with a PB 1.78m leap having previously jumped 1.75m on six occasions.
Jake Watson became pole vault champion with a 5.10m PB.
Lily Hulland was first in the women's triple jump with a 12.62m leap.
Swindon Winter Throws Invitational Series, February 19
Charlotte Payne, who is a teenager until March, improved her hammer PB to 64.78m to move to seventh all-time in the UK under-23 lists.
Only British record-holder and Olympic medallist Sophie Hitchon has thrown further as a British teenager.
ISTAF Indoor Dusseldorf, Germany, February 20
Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo transformed what has been a disappointing start to her season with a final round 6.96m world long jump lead. Her previous best in the competition was 6.39m.
World leader Ewa Swoboda won the 60m in 7.10 after a 7.12 heat.
Bo Kanda Lita Baehre won the men's pole vault with 5.81m defeating a field including world champion Sam Kendricks.
Nadine Visser won the women’s 60m hurdles in a season’s best of 7.93.
Arthur Cisse’s 6.56 won the 60m.
Birmingham and District Cross-Country League Division 1, Newbold Comyn, February 19
Loughborough's George Beardmore gained his third league win of the winter as he finished just a second ahead of Birmingham University's Tomer Tarragano as they finished a minute ahead of the chasing pack.
Chiltern Cross-Country League, Shuttleworth Park, February 19
The women's race failed to take place when the event was cancelled after landowners at the college called the police and request the event be cancelled and the men's race saw Jack Goodwin win in 29:19.
European Masters Championships, Braga, February 20
Sue Ridley, a well beaten second in the Scottish W55 Championships earlier in the month, won the European W55 cross-country title (and the W55 plus race) as this previously cancelled Championships from 2020 finally got under way.
Ridley was a former overall winner of the British Masters cross-country title and has been winning European and world masters medals for around 20 years.
She won the 8km race by a single second in 28:01 from Spain's Soledad Castro Solino. Britain's team finished second in the age group though required the services of W70 Angela Copson dropping a few age groups.
The all-time masters great Copson was surprisingly only second in her own individual age group in 34:24 and was around 150 metres down on winner Eileen Kenny of Ireland's 33:41.
W45 Carla Martinho of Portugal won the overall younger women's event in 29:27 (presumably over a longer course than the W55s) while M35 Rui Teixeira of Portugal was the fastest man with 24:59 with very few Brits competing on the country.
Midland Women's League, Newbold Comyn, February 19
Loughborough's Grace Carson, 12th in the BUCS race, won the women's event by over a minute in 22:41 with Rosie Hamilton-Jones second in 23:43.
Kelly Edwards won the masters race in 24:11.
Manchester Cross Country League, Heaton Park, February 19
Former South of England champion John Gilbert, who also still competes for his long-time club Kent AC, showed he is not slowing down as a M40 as he was first man with a clear win in the colours of Chorlton in 35:12.
He moved clear of Sale's Nicholas Barry to win the final race by the best part of 200m, as a storm threatened to rage at Heaton Park, with M40 Gavin Tomlinson (Trafford) third.
Gilbert led Chorlton Runners to a team win, with Sale taking the team spoils in the women’s race.
Salford Harrier’s Ruth Jones (35:30) pulled away from early leader Alice Wright by 30 seconds to break the tape first in the women’s race, with fellow Sale Harrier Hannah Brown in third.
Sale Harriers Sophie Wood and Nigel Martin were convincing winners of the overall series.
Birmingham City Games February 20
Ireland´s relay Olympic finalist Chris O´Donnell won at the City Games the 400 m in an indoor PB 46.94.
4J Studios Scottish Athletics National Indoor U13/U15/U20 Championships, Glasgow, February 19-20
England's Sophie Walton set a championship best in the under-20 women’s 200m final with a 23.99 clocking.
In the under-13's, there was a championship best from Angus Weir in the long jump competition with a 5.38m leap that is also a Scottish age-group record and easily the best in Britain this year.
Rhuairidh Laing also set a Scottish record with a 1500m run of 4:40.17 which was an outright PB.
4J Studios Scottish Athletics National Indoor Senior & U17 Championships, Glasgow, February 18
In winning the senior 800m title, Philippa Millage broke the British W40 mark for 800m with 2:10.21 to go alongside her indoor W35 and outdoor W40 records.
The previous fastest British master was former Commonwealth runner-up Linda Staines, who had a lifetime 400m best of 50.98 and 2:01.98 for 800m but ran a 2:13.73 800m in 2005. However, that was on an outsize track and Sarah Heath's 2:14.09 is the official UK best from 2004.
In third place in the senior men's 800m, Andy Brown set a Scottish M40 best of 1:56.84, 17 years after winning the indoor title.
Another record-breaker was Corey Campbell who set a Scottish Indoor under-17 record at 3000m.
His 8:23.94 was also inside British Athletics qualifying time of 8:28 for the Euro under-18's in Israel later this year.
It decimated the 2013 record previously held of 8:38.01 by Gavin McArdle with Oliver Patton also inside the mark with 8.33.80.
The senior race was won by Kris Jones in 8:03.92 from Ryan Thomson's 8:04.29.
In the women’s 3000m, Niamh Kearney won though third-placer Lesley Bell ran 10:08.94 for a Scottish W45 best.
Signals Relays, inc NE Athletics Championships, Hetton-le-Hole, Northumberland,
February 19
Morpeth's women won the four-stage event by 88 seconds helped by a stunning run from double Olympic 1500m finalist Laura Weightman of 11:01 when no other women could go anywhere near breaking 12 minutes.
North Shields Poly and Elswick took the other women's medals.
In the same race, second across the line were actually Morpeth's M50 team with their quickest runner being M60 star Guy Bracken who ran 12:27 and had the pleasure of seeing Weightman flying past him on leg three.
Morpeth also dominated the men's six-stage relay winning by over three minutes in 63:56. Alex Brown was the fastest overall with 10:28 on leg five.
Sunderland and Birtley took the other medals.
Auckland, New Zealand, February 20
Former world champion Tom Walsh won the men's shot put with 21.26m
Hamish Kerr cleared 2.30m in the high jump.
Portia Bing won the 400m hurdles in a New Zealand record 55.50.
Conference USA Indoor Championships, Birmingham, USA, February 19
British hammer champion Tara Simpson-Sullivan improved her weight throw PB to 22.15m in winning the B event.
Joel McFarlane was second in the Heptathlon with a PB score of 5480 points that left him just two points short of Lewis Church's UK lead.
Arkansas Qualifier, Fayetteville, February 18
Former Olympic fourth-placer Cindy Sember won the 60m hurdles in an UK lead and World Indoor qualifier of 7.96.
Jarvis Scott Open, Lubbock, USA, February 19
Adam Clayton improved his overall 200m PB with a second-place 20.86.
Loughborough Pole Vault Invitational, February 18
Adam Hague won the men's pole vault with 5.21m and Sophie Cook won the women's with 4.31m.
South American Indoor championships, Cochabamba, Bolivia, February 20
Brazilian Olympic and world finalist Darlan Romani set a South American shot put record of 21.71m to also take a world lead.
In the men's long jump, Jose Luis Madrios set a Peruvian record 8.17m ahead of an Uruguayan record of 8.10m from Emiliano Lasa.
Brazil's Rafael Pereira equalled the South American 60m hurdles record of 7.58 for the fourth time this season.
Spanish Under-23 Championships, Salamanca, Spain, February 20
Cuban-born triple jumper Jordan Díaz won with a Spanish indoor record and world lead of 17.27m. Xènia Benach broke her own championship record twice to win 60m hurdles with 8.15 and 8.13.
Bernat Canet took the 60m in 6.68, Bernat Erta won the 400m in 46.44 meet record and Maria Vicente achieved 6.46m in the long jump.
Hannut Cross Cup, Belgium, February 20
Olympic 3000m steeplechase champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda won the senior women's 6.5km in 20:43 well clear of Kenya's world under-20 cross country champion Beatrice Chebet (20:56) and Ugandan Priscah Chesang (21:16).
Germany's Samuel Fitwi won the senior men's 9.5km again in 28:51 from Uganda's Rogers Kibet (28:55) and Eritrea's Samuel Habtom (29:00).
European indoor 1500m champion Elise Vanderelst from Belgium won the women's short course event.
Vibe Fest, Chicago, February 19
Thea LaFond of Dominica won the women's triple jump with a 14.34m leap.
Alex Wilson Invitational, Notre Dame, USA, February 19
On an oversized track Britain's Yusuf Bizimana won the 800m in an indoor PB of 1:47.27.
Virginia Tech Challenge, Blacksburg, USA, February 19
Olympic pole vault medalist Sandi Morris won on countback with a 4.65m leap.
Gaborone, Botswana, February 19
Teenager Letsile Tebogo set a Botswana 100m record of 10.08/1.3 at high-altitude.
Kingston, Jamaica, February 19
There were discus victories for Travis Smikle (64.65m) and Shadae Lawrence (62.56m).
Julian Forte ran 6.55/0.5 in the heat of the outdoor 60m.
Shashalee Forbes won the 60m in a 7.16/-0.2 PB over Bahamian Anthonique Strachan's 7.17.
Adelaide, Australia, February 20
Aidan Murphy set an Australian under-20 record of 200 m with 20.41/-1.3.
Satra, Sweden, February 19
There were shot wins for Norway’s Marcus Thomsen (20.73m) and Fanny Roos (18.55m).
Sollentuna, Sweden, February 19
Norwegian teenager Tobias Gronstad won the 800m in an indoor PB of 1:47.58.
Austin Marathon, USA, February 20
There were victories for Kenya's Sammy Rotich (2:14:25) and Kelsey Bruce (2:35:17).
Guadalajara Half-Marathon, Mexico, February 20
Ethiopia's sub-four 1500m runner Besu Sado won the women's race in the in 69:12 at 1566 metres above sea level with Kenyans Naom Jebet (69:50) and Janet Ruguru (69:56) completing the top three.
There was a Kenyan clean sweep in the men's race for Rhonzas Kilimo (61:20), Benson Kipruto (61:30) and Shadrack Kimining (61:33).
Japanese 20km walk, Kobe, Japan, February 20
Eiki Takahashi won in 1:19:04 beating Hiroto Jusho's 1:20:14 PB. The women's winner was Kumiko Okada with 1:33:28.
Newham & Essex Beagles Indoor 2x60m Series, February 16
Cheyanne Evans-Gray ran 7.22 in the women's 60m.
Hale & Ashley Race Series Waterson's Hale 10km, February 20
The 2016 Olympic 10,000m runner Ross Millington was a clear men's winner in 30:57 while Sophie Wood was first woman in 35:26.
Deal Half-Marathon, Kent, February 20
James Ross won the men's race by over five minutes in 73:59.
Tunbridge Wells Half-Marathon, Kent, February 20
Liam White won this tough event by over a minute in 73:41.
Helen Gaunt was first woman by over four minutes in 83:23.
Winchester 10km, February 20
George King (32:57) won the men's race by two minutes in 32:57.
Louise Hooker was first woman in 39:35.
Hereford 10, February 20
Matthew Rees won the men's race by over three minutes in 53:42 with Donna Morris first woman in 62:10.
Rhyl 10, February 20
Scott Nixon was first man for 54:18 while Rachel Shipley was first woman in 66:27.
Open Track Surrey League Division Two, Three and Four, Lloyd Park, February 19
The Surrey Men's League Division 1 and the women's leagues including all the younger age group races were cancelled at Effingham with trees down on the course.
However, the men's Division 2 to 4 races were run at Croydon though some unfortunate runners did finished bloodied after collision with trees.
In a carbon copy of the first three of the opening race at Epsom, England's 10,000m champion Dominic Nolan (27:09) won from Dulwich Runners pair Ed Chuck (27:44) and Jack Ramm (28:06).
Though Epsom and Ewell won on the day, Dulwich were clear winners of the team contest over the season.
The separate division three and four race, which was run in a storm, was won by Ben Chown of 26.2 RRC in 28:02 and there was a team win for Wimbledon Windmilers.
Other events cancelled due to the bad weather included the Metropolitan League, Kent Fitness League, Derby Runner League, the Run London Victoria Park 5km, 10km and Half-Marathon, Bramley 20, Bournemouth 10, Tavy 5km and the Village Bakery Wrexham Half-Marathon.
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