Grgec and Magnusson win at Podium Home Nations 5km
Bute Park was at its picturesque best as the series came to a close and saw a 5km victory for the Adidas- sponsored Baldvin Magnusson in 13:47.
The 25-year-old Iceland-born athlete, who won European under-23 5000m bronze in 2021, won by a second from Jack Kavanagh and Matthew Ramsden.
Magnusson’s time was outside his track best for the distance of 13:20.34, set in Spain in April, but was enough to see off the challenge from his rivals after the trio had broken away.
There was a breakthrough for Holland Sports’ Jack Kavanagh who had three victories this summer in the National Athletics League Premiership.
That was for Woodford Green with Essex Ladies and his effort here moved him up from a 14:21 time and 17th in this event last year, to hack 15 seconds from his previous best with 13:48.
This was one second to the good of third placed Matthew Ramsden, whose 13:49 helped his sports goods company sponsor to a team victory and was half-a-minute inside his own previous best.
The women’s race was taken by Herne Hill Kiwi Georgie Grgec with 15:34, some 13 seconds to the good of Jess Gibbon, who just got the nod for second ahead of Wales’ Beth Kidger.
Grgec’s time was 11 seconds inside her previous best set back in May in another Podium race, which came after a 41st place in the World Cross-Country Championships.
The previous week, Jess Gibbon, the South of England cross-country champion, had posted a personal best 5km of 16:03 at Colchester, but went 16 seconds quicker here with 15:47. Kidger was also in new territory with the same time after moving up from ninth here last year.
Behind, Holly Dixon and Poppy Tank were also inside 16 minutes and, as in the men’s race, there were a plethora of other personal bests.
Very deep in the women’s field and in her umpteenth race of the year, top ranked and multiple age group champion Olivia Forrest improved her best to 16:34. The 15-year-old was not too far ahead of Reading’s Lizzie Sheridan’s 16:48, whose own new mark put her second on those under-15 rankings.
Overall (5km): 1 B Magnusson (Adidas) 13:47; J Kavanagh (ENG) 13:48; 3 M Ramsden (Adidas) 13:49; 4 J Escalante-Phillips (BLT) 13:53; 5 J Cann (Adidas B) 13;56; 6 F Curtin (P’pridd) 13:58; 7 J Ward (Oxf U) 14:00; 8 A McMillan (SCO) 14:00; 9 P Norman (Adidas) 14:01; 10 J Gray (BLT) 14:01; 11 A Fife (SCO) 14:01; 12 B Moore (Adidas B) 14:03; 13 C McLean (NI) 14:04; 14 F Ross-Davie (SCO) 14:04; 15 D Nash (P’pridd) 14:05; 16 A Lepetre (ENG) 14:06. 17 G Watson (Adidas C) 14:07; 18 J Goodwin (ENG) 14:09; 19 M Bostock (North) 14:11; 20 T Chandler (Eng U20) 14:12; 21 A Penny (ENG) 14:12; 22 R Slade (Adidas C) 14:1; 23 A Kinloch (SCO) 14:12; 24 J O’Connell (AFD, U20) 14:14; 25 S McCullum (T’smith) 14:16; 26 A Melloy (BLT) 14:16; 27 J Carr (BLT) 14:16; 28 J Cornish (T’smith) 14:17; 29 K Taylor (Adidas B) 14:17; 30 J Heneghan (WAL) 14:18; 31 L Minale (North) 14:20; 32 F Proffitt (Birm U) 14:21; 33 C Lewis (Les C) 14:21; 34 C Fielding (NI) 14:22; 35 S Halsted (Brack) 14:22; 36 J Butler (Wales) 14:23; 37 R Allen (Adidas) 14:23; 38 J Morrow (Oxf U) 14:23; 39 R James (Soton) 14:24; 40 D James (W Tempo) 14:28; 41 J Sagar (Adidas C) 14:30; 42 J Woods (T’smith) 14:31; 43 N Campion (Eng U20) 14:32; 44 A Roberts (Merr’d) 14:33’ 45 M Weatherseed (Oxf U) 14:34; 46 C Stewart (NI) 14:35; 47 J Bancroft (W Tempo) 14:36; 48 L Kelly (NI) 14:37; 49 R Miell-Ingram (ENG U20) 14:37; 50 J Reader 14:37
M40: 1 B Price (W Tempo) 14:59; 2 B McWhirter (Swan) 15:15; 3 E Jolly (Read) 15:21
M45: 1 P Matthews (P’Bryn) 15:01; 2 P Whylie (W Tempo) 15:11; 3 S Lewis (P’pridd) 15:45
M50: 1 M Couldwell (Charn) 16:31; 2 H Evans (P’Bryn) 16:43; 3 M Hurford (Les C) 17:25
M55: 1 L Aherne (P’Bryn) 16:26; 2 J Mower (W Tempo) 18:07
M60: 1 P Thomas (SWRR) 18:17
TEAM: 1 Adidas 55:58; 2 England 56:13; 3 Scotland 56:17; 4 BLT 56:25; 5 Oxford University 57:55; 6 N Ireland57:36; 7 Pontypridd 58:19; 8 Tracksmith 58:10; 9 England I20 58:24; 10 W Tempo 58:40; 11 North 59:09; 11 Les Croupiers 62:10
Women (5km): 1 G Grgec (Adidas) 15:34; 2 J Gibbon (Adidas) 15:47; 3 B Kidger (WAL) 15:57; 4 H Dixon (ENG) 15:51; 5 P Tank (Podium) 15:53; 6 L Huxley (Preston) 16:00; 7 J Nesbitt (WAL) 16:07; 8 M Davies (Adidas) 16:11; 9 A Davies (WAL) 16:14; 10 M Marchant (W Tempo) 16:14; 11 A Bracegirdle (WAL) 16:15; 12 H Archer (Podium) 16:16; 13 A Eykelbosch (Dac) 16:18; 14 M Millar (SCO) 16:19; 15 A Gummow (Herts P) 16:23; 16 K Estlea-Morris (ENG) 16:24; 17 I Barwell (ENG U20) 16:30; 18 G Palmer (Chelt) 16:30; 19 N Brown (Podium) 16:30; 20 E Tait (ENG) 16:31; 21 H Weedell (ENG U20) 16:32; 22 B Gunn (ENG) 16:33; 23 O Forrest (B’wood, U15) 16:34; 24 S Tucker (SCO) 16:35; 25 J Morgan (Liv) 16:42; 26 K Walker (SCO) 16:42; 27 R Flaherty (North) 16:43; 28 Y Lock (Adidas) 16:46; 29 L Armitage (ENG U20) 16:47; 30 M Porter (W Tempo) 16:47
W40: 1 D Morris (Builth) 17:35
W50: 1 T Jenkins (P’cawl) 18:53
U15: 2 L Sheridan (Read) 16:48
TEAM: 1 Adidas 64:17; 2 Wales 64:21; 3 England 65:17; 4 Podium 65:28; 5 Scotland 66:28; 6 Western Tempo 67:06; 7 England U20 67:59; 8 North 68:28
ANTRIM COAST HALF-MARATHON, Larne, Northern Ireland, August 25
Kenya’s Alex Nzioka Matata ran 59:37 for the distance in Padova, Italy, in April and the 27-year-old was again under the hour in Northern Ireland with 59:46.
This ensured a 41-second margin over compatriot Hillary Kipkoech, who also has a best of 59:37 but who here found 60:27 enough to just squeeze out double Tokyo Marathon winner Birhanu Legese.
The best of the UK runners was Swansea’s Dewi Griffiths, in 12th spot and a 63:17 clocking as next home was Ben Alcock with a 65:03 personal best.
Further back still and down in 19th, Bideford’s Ronnie Richmond matched his personal best 65:36 to go to the top of the UK M40 rankings for the year and confirm his ninth spot on the all-time veterans’ lists.
The women’s section saw Yalemzerf Yehualaw of Ethiopia take the honours with 65:31 to go fifth on the world rankings for the year and this was from seventh ranked Loice Chemnung, who ran 66:47, as seven women broke the 70-minute barrier.
Overall: 1 A Matata (KEN) 59:46; 2 H Kipkoech (KEN) 60:27; 3 B Legese (ETH) 60:27; 4 A Gobena (ETH) 61:28; 5 L Kibet (KEN) 61:37; 6 H Chekwony (KEN) 61:56; 7 S Debognies (BEL) 62:01; 8 H Tonosa (IRE) 62:46; 9 A Masai (KEN) 62:54; 10 R Gregson (AUS) 63:00; 11 D Boulvin (BEL) 83:08; 12 D Griffiths (Swan) 63:17; 13 B Alcock (Bed C) 65:03; 14 D McGlynn (IRE) 65:04; 15 K Tadese (ERI) 65:06; 16 R Thompson (SCO) 65:15; 17 Y Yehualaw (ETH, W) 65:31; 18 B Koreman (HOL) 65:34; 19 R Richmond (Bide, M40) 65:36; 20 R Skelton (Hy R) 66:17; 21 E Mulder (USA) 66:29; 22 L Chemnung (KEN, W) 66:47; 23 J Bell (SCO) 66:54; 24 C Duffey (NI) 66:54; 25 J Mitchell 66:55; 26 M Ferguson (SCO) 66:55; 27 J Kepkosgai (KEN, W) 67:04; 28 M Hashi (ESM) 67:08; 29 G Forde (IRE) 67:13; 30 E Zeray (ETH), W) 67:15; 31 B Gebrebrhan (ETH) 67:34; 32 P Whittaker 67:38; 33 M Roberts 67:43; 34 T Roberts 67:50; 35 J Carnelly 68:12; 36 T Muluat (ETH, W) 68:16; 37 Y Lidove (FRA) 68:52; 38 G King (P’dowm, M40) 68:53; 39 G Mallett 69:04; 40 V McMeechan (N Down) 69:11
Women: 1 Yehualaw 65:31; 2 Chemnung 66:47; 3 Kepkosgai 67:04; 4 Zeray 67:15; 5 Muluat 68:16; 6 R Dereje (RTH) 69:35; 7 J Gaughan 69:58; 8 N Phillips (SCO) 72:31; 9 A Heffernan 73:51; 10 F Ross (NI) 74:16; 11 C Arnell (MK Dist) 74:29; 12 L Small (AFD) 74:53; 13 E Haggard-Kearney 75:06; 14 K Oldin g (TVH) 75:35; 15 A Evans (WAL) 75:39; 16 V Barrand (SCO) 76:27; 17 S Forbes-Smith (Clap) 77:26; 18 S Green (SCO) 77:50; 19 A Hackett 78:19; 20 J Storm (NI) &8;45
HEADINGTON 5, Oxfordshire, August 25
Overall: 1 A Ede (Abing) 25:35; 2 M Marshall (Head RR) 25:44
M50: 1 J Bolton (W’stock) 27:06
M60: 1 A Leach (NHRR) 27:45
M70: 1 N Hoult (Read RR) 36:25
Women: 1 S Giles (Alch) 29:42; 2 E Butcher (High) 30:11; 3 S Lane (Chelt) 30:12
W55: 1 K Streams (Read RR) 31:34; 2 K Allred (Abing) 33:58
W65: 1 J Noad (SC Vets) 40:21; 2 W Millett (Abing) 41:09
W75: 1 K Williamson (Eynsh) 45:12
WATERGATE 5km, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, August 22
Overall: 1 L McConnell (Birt) 15:40
M50: 1 S Hamil (Durh) 17:24
TEAM: 1 Sunderland 40
Women: 1 I Bungay (Elsw, U20) 17:37
W45: 1 H Bough (Elsw) 19:19
W55: 1 W Chapman (Sund St) 21:17
W60: 1 C Page (Alnw) 20:55
TEAM: 1 Morpeth 17
OLD CLEEVE & AVON COUNTY RELAYS, Somerset
Men (4x5km): 1 Bristol & W 66:09 (S Kerfoot 16:28, A Grigg 16:57, T Swinn 16:49, A Matheson 15:55); 2 B&W B 69:10
Fastest: Matheson 15:55
M40 (4x3km): 1 Weston 70:49. Fastest: M Ellis (W’bury) 16:19
M50 (3x5km): 1 B&W 56:26. Fastest: K Summers (Weston) 17:04
M60 (3x5km): 1 Clevedon 62:12. Fastest: P Parry B&W) 18:21
U20 (3x5km): 1 B&W 52:39. Fastest: T Darton (W’bury) 16:34
Women (3x5km): 1 B&W 58:10 (A Ford 19:27, J Lynch 18:54, K Bamford 19:49). Fastest: Lynch 18:54
W35 (3x3km): 1 Weston 58:59. Fastest: L Fricker (Weston) 19:13
W45 (3x5km): 1 Westbury 60:02. Fastest: J Sanzo (B&W) 18:50
W55 (3x5km): 1 Westbury 68:49. Fastest: S Andrews (W’bury) 21:33
W65 (3x5km): 1 Westbury 87:53. Fastest: F Russell (W’bury) 24:39
PERTH 10km FESTIVAL, Perth, August 25
Overall: 1 I Jordan (Perth S, U20) 33:50; 2 D Mcnamara (P’bello, M40) 34:42; 3 K Fleming (Kirkin) 34:51
M60: A Gibson (Fife) 39:18
Women: 1 L Gibson (Fife) 37:46; 2 K Gibson (Fife) 39:48
W60: J Heilbronn (Dund R) 46:59
W70: E Johnston (Fife) 54:49
DOONHAMER 10km, Dumfries, August 25
Overall: 1 G Turner (Ayrod) 33:38; 2 A Wright (PHRC, M50) 34:07
M60: C Phelan (Eden) 39:15
Women: Hayley Sim 45:49
W60: Alison Scott 48:19
W70: J King (Eden) 52:58
KIRKCALDY PARKS HALF-MARATHON, Kirkcaldy, August 25
Overall: L Hutson (Fife) 1:15:40
M40: M Maciocia (Metro) 1:17:36
M50: R Wells (Sedb Sc) 1:22:51
M60: G Parker (Perth R) 1:27:59
Women: A McNeilly (Dund R, W40) 1:29:07
W50: J Dickson (Fife) 1:29:31
W60: M Taggart (Dund R) 1:43:91
BUTE HIGHLAND GAMES 10km, Rothesay, August 24
Overall: 1 J Downey (Kil’k) 33:56; 2 J Wallace (Giff N) 34:01
M40: D McLure (Kil’k) 35:55
M50: S Campbell (G’nock) 37:23
Women: N Mulholland (I’clyde) 36:11
JIM YOUNG MARYMASS 10km, Irvine, August 21
Overall: 1 W Ewens (Ayr S) 32:53; 2 G Turner (Ayrod) 34:29
TEAM: 1 Kil’k 65; 2 Ayr S 136; 3 Troon 143
Women: K Wright (Cambus) 42:08
W60: E Waughman (Fenw) 46:37
W70: S Boyd (Kil’k) 55:37
TEAM: 1 Cambus 14; 2 Kil’k 32; 3 Ayr S 61
CAMBUS QUARTER-MARATHON, Alloa, August 25
Overall: Callum Little 35:49
Women: A Berwick (RTCW) 44:27
Multi-terrain
LOCH NESS 24-HOUR TRAIL RACE, Aldourie nr Inverness, August 24
Overall (7km laps, age not declared): 1 Grant Thompson 23:25:48 (26 laps); 2 John Logan 24:22:21 (26); 3 Angela Davidson (W) 23:33:14 (24); 4 Charles Gillanders 24:10:21 (24); 5 John McDermott 21:58:50 (23); 6 Dougie Hill 23:10:21 (23)
Women: 1 Davidson 23:33:14 (24); 2 Tracy Philp 23:46:2 (21)5; 3 Sophie Laidlaw 23:49:24 (21); 4 Jodie Ferguson 23:46:54 (19)
Fell running
GRASMERE SENIOR GUIDES, Grasmere, August 25
Overall (1.5M/900ft, age over V40 not declared): 1 Billy Cartwright (Mat) 13:18; 2 E Corden (Dark Pk) 13:19; 3 A Thornton (Howg) 13:33; 4 T Simpson (Amble) 13:45; 5 G Cunliffe (Ross) 13:49; 6 S Bailey (Staffs M, M40) 13:50
Women: 1 C Rawstron (Skyrac) 16:03; 2 A Lane (Wharf) 16:08; 3 N Jackson (Kesw) 16:10; 4 S Taylor (Helm H, W40) 18:12
PENDLETON, Clitheroe, August 24
Overall (5M/1500ft): 1 P Brown (Prest) 38:34; 2 A Cairns (Wharf) 39:38; 3 M Burley (Macc) 40:00; 4 E Hassell (Wharf) 40:26; 5 M Preedy (Ross) 40:38; 6 M Sennett (Wharf, M40) 42:00
M50: P Crabtree (Wharf) 44:06
M60: A Bramham (Horw) 45:37
M70: J Holt (Clay) 53:49
Women: 1 E Weir (THH) 45:21; 2 M Ralphson (Traw, W50) 47:57; 3 C Chisolm (Calder V) 49:52; 4 K Riley (Clwyd) 50:10
W60: B Savage (Clay) 54:31
W70: K Thompson (Clay) 1:10:24
OCHIL 2000s, Stirling, August 24
Overall (33km/1770m): 1 A Douglas (W’lands CC) 2:56:06; 2 A Graves (Ochil) 2:59:06; 3 H Pulham (Shett) 3:01:25
M40: R Wilkins (Ochil) 3:17:41
M60: S Whitlie (C’thy) 3:39:00
Women: 1 L Dozier (C’thy) 3:55:20; 2 N Spinks (Dark Pk, W50) 4:05:39; 3 K-A Speight 4:18:27
W60: M Hetherington (C’thy) 4:31:14
GOLF BALL, Love Clough, Rossendale, August 21
Overall (5.5M/800ft): 1 J Ormrod (Ross) 41:56; 2 M Driver (Holc) 42:29; 3 M Allen (B Combe) 45:07; 4 R Keenan (Roch, M40) 45:09; 5 H Whitfield (Barl, M40) 45:10; 6 S Horrocks (Barl) 45:11
M45: D Ryder (Ach ClC) 45:12
M50: T Harkin (Liv PS) 46:31
M55: C Nevison (Barl) 48:21
M60: M Horrocks (Barl) 49:57
M70: R Bellaris (Clay) 62:45
TEAM: 1 Barl 29; 2 Ross 55; 3 Holc 130
Women: 1 M Hindle (Bing) 47:35; 2 L Waller (Ross) 51:21; 3 J Wells (Ross) 53:14; 4 A Hindle (Ross, W50) 55:04
W60: J Ransome (Roch) 58:01
TEAM: Ross 9
RAS CNICHT (Welsh championships counter), Porthmadog, August 25
Overall (7.2km/564m): 1 R Jones (Hebog) 31:35; 2 W Truner (Mynydd D) 34:38; 3 J Gomes (Mercia, M40) 35:05; 4 J Brown (Buck, M50) 37:42; 5 T Wood (Denbigh) 37:44; 6 T Pape (Dark Pk) 37:55
M60: E Stott (SLO) 51:23
Women: 1 J Henderson (Denbigh, W40) 40:29; 2 Carys James 46:28; 3 A Hockley (Eryri) 47:03
W60: M Kodz (Mercia) 60:23
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