A look ahead to the MK5000 PB Special and 5000m Track Challenge

Strong fields are expected for the England Athletics 5000m, which will be held as part of the MK5000 PB Special this coming Saturday (July 27) at Milton Keynes.

Entries include Jess Judd (pictured), Jenny Nesbitt, Claire Duck, Mhairi Maclennan, Louise Small, Hayley Carruthers, Adam Hickey, Richard Allen and Jack Gray.

READ MORE: Jess Judd wins World University Games gold

Judd is the defending champion, having won at last year’s edition in 15:37.23 ahead of Emily Hosker Thornhill (15:58.31) and Emelia Gorecka (16:06.30).

“I think I’ll probably do Milton Keynes as a training event now,” Judd told AW after her 15:16.47 PB at the recent Anniversary Games in London. “I think it will be nice to keep in there and keep British fields competitive.”

Interview with a delighted @jessjuddxx following her 5000m PB and @IAAFDoha2019 qualifying time of 15:16.47 in London, which came after a 5000m win at the World Uni Games. “I still can’t quite believe I got a time. I think my dad’s probably right that I can be a 5km runner!” pic.twitter.com/2T7MQM3t2m

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) July 22, 2019

Jack Crabtree won the men’s race in a PB of 14:07.74, with Oliver Fox second, also in a PB time of 14:11.20.

Last year organisers announced that 59 per cent of athletes ran a PB, including 40 per cent of athletes in the elite races.

The volunteer-run event offers prizes of £250, £150 and £100 for men and women.

In the lead-up to the main event there are 10 races with around 30 athletes in each race and organiser Elliot Hind tells AW the popular meeting sold out months ago.

A race timetable and further information can be found at mkac.org.uk/mk5000, while an entry list is here. The elite women’s race is at 20:10, while the men’s is at 20:35.

Over at Nottingham’s Harvey Hadden Stadium, fast times will again be the aim as the 5000m Track Challenge is also taking place on Saturday.

GB international Sam Stabler is among the organisers and will also be racing as part of an elite men’s field which features 19 athletes with sub-14 minute personal bests.

READ MORE: Sam Stabler’s double with a difference

Luke Caldwell, Dewi Griffiths, Philip Sesemann, Emile Cairess, Kristian Jones, Mahamed Mahamed, Petros Surafel and Alex Teuten are also among those set to race.

The women’s entry list includes 13 sub-16 minute runners, including Kate Avery, Charlotte Arter, Sarah Inglis, Elinor Kirk, Calli Thackery, Verity Ockenden and Hosker Thornhill.

Elite entry lists can be found here, while further details on the meeting are at 5ktrackchallenge.co.uk. The elite women’s race is at 19:40, while the men’s is at 20:05.