Clare Elms breaks world W60 mile record
Written by I Dig SportsBritish masters runner clocks 5:26.13 in the Dave Clarke Mile Night in Wimbledon on July 17
In an exciting finish Ben Reynolds, just 21 years old, improved his mile PB from 4:06.32 at the Bannister Mile to 3:58.65 as he produced a fast last lap to edge Jack Higgins.
Higgins, who ran 1:46.58 for 800m last month in Vienna, reduced his mile PB by six seconds to 3:58.81.
The fastest womens time was by India Weir with 4:39.93 and she and Reynolds received awards from Clarke, who, apart from being a World Championships representative at 5000m and one of Britains greatest ever cross-country runners, was also a 3:56.95 miler.
While most eyes were on the 14th and final mile of the Dave Clarke Mile night, they arguably were overshadowed in race three by Clare Elms, whose 5:26.13 run on Instagram and shared by AW racked up over 43,000 views in the next five days.
Britains most prolific age group mile setter already held the British age group outdoor records as a W45, W50, W55 and W60 on track and road as well as the W55 and W60 indoor marks. The latter had also been a world record of 5:30.89 in February but that had since been beaten by Sue McDonalds 5:30.73 the following month.
In May at the Bannister event she had set an European mark of 5:30.88 but had fallen short of World Masters athlete of the year McDonalds 5:28.02.
After a good months training having recovered from a bad hip injury and Covid, she decided to try and better the Americans mark and in the race she tried to run a series of laps around 81 seconds as she chased the steady pacing of Claire Grima, who had been the first W40 in the 2019 London Marathon.
She passed Grima in the closing stages and kicked strongly to take almost two seconds off of the previous world mark and almost five seconds off her European best.
There was also electrical timing at 1500m and there Elms set a European and British mark of 5:05.04.
There might have been another over-60 world record had this meet been a week later as former European Masters 800m champion Andrew Ridley ran 4:43.56 a week before his 60th birthday when the world mark is 4:47.69 and that looks a formality should he stay fit and healthy.
McDonald, was one of the first to congratulate Elms on breaking her record but the American did quickly respond with a record of her own at a much shorter event.
In the American Championships 400m, she ran a W60 world record of 61.73, which is also a lifetime PB and achieved her aim of a 61-second 400m at age 61!
Mixed events: Mile: r1: 7 L Woolhouse (Vets, W60) 6:04.47; 8 V Filsell (THH, W55) 6:06.80; 14 A Garnier (THH, W65) 6:36.21. r2: 1 D OBrien (Kent, W45) 5:34.89. r3: 7 C Elms (Kent, W60) 5:26.13 (World W60 record); 9 C Grima (HW, W45) 5:32.33. r4: 5 A Tharmakulasingam (Sutt, U15W) 5:07.58. r5: 2 H Calvert (AFD, M45) 4:55.01; 3 C Upson (Cambus, M60) 4:59.27; 5 M Harrison (HW, U13) 5:04.19; 8 P Pryke (G&G, M50) 5:07.95; 9 G Moyse (Herne H, M60) 5:23.09. r6: 1 O Van Zyl (Soaks, M55) 4:49.31; 3 R Berry (W4H, M45) 4:52.44; 6 M Tanner (HW, M45) 4:57.46. r7: 7 K Estlea-Morris (AFD, W) 4:48.97; 12 I Harrison (HW, U15W) 4:59.93. r8: 1 J Skinner (Hay H, M50) 4:43.84; 5 D Lipscomb (E&E, M45) 4:47.60; 9 M Gazzelloni (E&E, M45) 4:52.30. r9: 1 J Brierly (Herne H, M35) 4:32.26; 3 M Huntley (K&P, M35) 4:37.97; 6 A Ridley (Vets, M55) 4:43.56; 8 L Hall (AFD, W) 4:44.47; 9 N Shasha (Orion, M50) 4:46.58; 10 A Haines (Phoe, M55) 4:54.29. r10: 2 N Browne (Serp, M40) 4:32.16; 4 T Creed (HW, U15) 4:35.78; 6 J Hiorns (Walton, M35) 4:39.81; 7 I Weir (TVH, W) 4:39.93; 8 N Besson (Serp, M40) 4:40.68. r11: 3 J Ramm (Dulw, M35) 4:25.13; 9 J Hotham (VP&TH, M35) 4:34.48. r12: 1 O Sumba (Havant, U20) 4:12.48; 3 H Bell (Herne H, U20) 4:16.83; 9 C Holmes (Herne H, U15) 4:28.68. r13: 1 S Gebreselassie (Belg) 4:09.30; 2 J Reynolds (Card) 4:09.70; 6 A Hincksman (AUS, U20) 4:13.58; 11 B Street (HW, U20) 4:18.94. r14: 1 B Reynolds (Card) 3:58.65; 2 J Higgins (Ton) 3:58.81; 3 J Kavanagh (Holl S) 4:02.68; 4 M Heyden (Belg) 4:05.26; 5 C Jones (Corn) 4:06.39; 6 B Murphy (Ton) 4:06.63; 7 J Young (High) 4:07.34; 8 L Shaw (Ports) 4:07.76; 9 J Woods (Worth) 4:09.39
1500m splits: r1: 6 L Woolhouse (Vets, W60) 5:41.17; 8 V Filsell (THH, W55) 5:42.56; 14 A Garnier (THH, W65) 6:09.29. r2: 1 D OBrien (Kent, W45) 5:12.65. r3: 7 C Elms (Kent, W60) 5:05.04 (European and UK W60 record); 8 C Grima (HW, W45) 5:09.24. r5: 3 C Upson (Cambus, M60) 4:41.77; 6 M Harrison (HW, U13) 4:45.63; 9 G Moyse (Herne H, M60) 5:01.53. r6: 1 O Van Zyl (Soaks, M55) 4:30.26. r7: 11 I Harrison (HW, U15W) 4:39.13. r8: 1 J Skinner (Hay H, M50) 4:25.54; 5 D Lipscomb (E&E, M45) 4:29.39. r9: 1 J Brierly (Herne H, M35) 4:13.99; 5 A Ridley (Vets, M55) 4:23.97; 7 L Hall (AFD, W) 4:25.38; 8 N Shasha (Orion, M50) 4:27.27; 10 A Haines (Phoe, M55) 4:36.55. r10: 2 N Browne (Serp, M40) 4:14.19; 3 T Creed (HW, U15) 4:16.26; 7 I Weir (TVH, W) 4:21.50. r11: 3 J Ramm (Dulw, M35) 4:08.54. r12: 1 O Sumba (Havant, U20) 3:55.63; 9 C Holmes (Herne H, U15) 4:08.57. r13: 6 A Hincksman (AUS, U20) 3:55.76. r14: 1 B Reynolds (Card) 3:43.57; 2 J Higgins (Ton) 3:43.79; 3 J Kavanagh (Holl S) 3:45.24; 4 C Jones (Corn) 3:48.47
BMC REGIONAL RACES, Loughborough, July 17
Men: 800: B: 1 T Scrivens (Nun, U20) 1:54.89; 2 D Wilson (Darl, U20) 1:55.35; 3 E Withnall (Burt, U15) 1:55.69; 7 L Ward (Sport W, U17) 1:57.23; 9 M Holden (Harm, U17) 1:57.92. C: 2 C Thurstan (Bir, M45) 1:58.23; 4 F Dobson Emmas (Traff, U17) 1:58.90; 5 S Collins (W&SV, U17) 1:59.43; 9 J Adkin (Charn, U17) 1:59.95; 11 C Lamb (R&N, M35) 2:01.15. D: 1 H Hemmings (Burt, U17) 1:58.58; 2 M Bacon (Roth, U17) 1:58.67; 9 I Thornton-Bott (Cov, W) 2:06.25. 1500: A: 2 F McGrath (WSEH, U20) 3:54.01; 6 H Evans (Newp, U20) 3:56.79. B: 1 W de Vere Owen (Morp, U20) 3:57.62; 2 A Budding (Ilkley, U20) 3:57.68
Mixed events: 800: F: 3 Z Redmond (Kilb, U17W) 2:11.74; 7 M Mullett (W&SV, U15W) 2:14.35. 1500: C: 4 I Fry (Newb, W) 4:10.95; 10 R Laing (VPCG, U15) 4:12.81. D: 13 S Long (Notts, M45) 4:29.94
BMC REGIONAL RACES, Eltham, July 17
Men: 800: A: 1 J OHara (Bexley) 1:51.54; 5 F Shepherd (M&M, U20) 1:53.74. B: 1 T Ronchetti (M&M, U17) 1:54.01; 4 J Scanes (B&B, U17) 1:55.02. C: 2 J Pursey (Phoe, U17) 1:58.58; 3 S Bryan-Gray (S Lon, U17) 1:58.67; 4 H Verster (B&B, U17) 1:59.24. 1500: A: 1 A Riley (B&H, U20) 3:45.12; 8 J Hill (B&B, U17) 4:02.66; 11 K Kyereme (SB, M45) 4:26.37
Mixed events: 800: D: 1 P Davis (Lut, M45) 2:02.31; 4 H Parker (Phoe, W) 2:06.45. 1500: B: 3 G Kersey (Bas, W) 4:19.44; 4 L Hawkins (Soton, W) 4:22.68
AVON/YATE AC MASTERS OPEN, Yate, July 21
V40 mixed events: DT: r1: 1 M Wyndham-Jones (Norw, M70) 35.46; 2 B Scott (Mil K, M70) 31.44; 3 T Richards (High, M70) 28.73
Men: 100: r1 (0.2): 1= R Whiting (Worth, M55) 12.13; 3 M Collins (Soton, M50) 12.23; 7 N Tunstall (Corn, M60) 13.19. r2 (-0.4): 2 I Broadhurst (Wrex, M65) 13.72. r5 (1.2): 4 M James (Les C, M80) 16.82. 200: r1 (-1.3): 3 R Whiting (Worth, M55) 25.32; 5 N Tunstall (Corn, M60) 26.85; 7 B Marsden (Wyc P, M60) 27.48. r2 (-0.3): 3 I Broadhurst (Wrex, M65) 27.57. r3 (3.1): 4 B Merron (Swin, M70) 31.06; 5 C Palmer (Ryst, M70) 31.16. r5 (1.7): 4 M James (Les C, M80) 35.98. 800: r1: 1 O Williams (Les C, M35) 2:04.97; 3 B Brodie (Bella H, M50) 2:12.42. r2: 4 B Davis (Newp, M60) 2:29.51; 5 P Mountain (B&W, M65) 2:40.02; 6 D Bedwell (B&W, M70) 2:47.41. r3: 3 K McDonnell (Les C, M65) 2:44.40. 1500: r1: 1 O Williams (Les C, M35) 4:09.73; 2 M Rees (Swan, M35) 4:14.33; 3 A Glover (Yate, M45) 4:19.97; 5 B Brodie (Bella H, M50) 4:27.28. r2: 1 S Gardner (N Wal RR, M60) 5:09.56; 2 D Bedwell (B&W, M70) 5:26.69; 3 P Mountain (B&W, M65) 5:28.62. 3000: 3 D Lloyd (Wyc P, M50) 9:45.54; 6 D Gill (Warr, M65) 11:54.35; 7 D Bedwell (B&W, M70) 11:58.40. 5000: 7 P Parry (B&W, M60) 18:17.71. HJ: 1 S Faulkner (Yeov O, M70) 1.26; 2 S Harger (SW Vets, M70) 1.21. LJ: 1 S Nash (TVH, M50) 5.29/0.0; 8 S Faulkner (Yeov O, M70) 3.62/0.0
Mixed events: 400: r1: 1 J Williams (Lnelli, M35) 53.74; 5 B Davis (Newp, M60) 61.51. r2: 2 B Merron (Swin, M70) 70.18; 3 C Palmer (Ryst, M70) 72.68. r3: 2 K McDonnell (Les C, M65) 65.60. r4: 4 C Lavis (Yate & Sodbury, W75) 91.08. 5000: 2 N Davies (Weston, W50) 20:05.10; 5 D Cundy (Les C, M75) 21:25.64; 8 A Dockery (Wbury, W75) 24:17.88. 80H: r2 (0.4): 1 N Buckwell (Newp, W65) 17.16. 100H (0.2): 1 B Marsden (Wyc P, M60) 15.28; 2 N Tunstall (Corn, M60) 15.38. 300H: 1 R White (Worc, M60) 46.25; 2 B Marsden (Wyc P, M60) 46.74; 3 I Broadhurst (Wrex, M65) 48.77. HJ: 2 M Garland (Worc, W60) 1.26; 6 N Buckwell (Newp, W65) 1.06. TJ: 2 K Newton (WG&EL, M55) 10.38/0.0; 3 A Cook (Wrex, W45) 9.05/0.0; 4 M Garland (Worc, W60) 8.84/0.0
M40: DT: r2: 1 M Bourne (Yate, M45) 32.83
M50: SP: r1: 1 P Evans (Woking, M55) 10.65. DT: r2: 1 P Evans (Woking, M55) 35.64
M60: SP: r1: 1 A Leiper (AFD) 13.26; 2 S Dobson (Bmth) 10.41. DT: r2: 1 A Leiper (AFD) 39.31. HT: 1 A Leiper (AFD) 36.88. JT: 1 K Baker (B&H) 33.87
Women: 100: r1 (0.4): 1 E Jones (Newp, W40) 13.10; 2 P Williams (Strat, W50) 13.42; 3 M Thomas (Bir, W50) 13.44; 5 J Sidney (Newp, W55) 13.92; 6 J Quinn (R&N, W50) 14.10; 7 M Garland (Worc, W60) 14.71. r3 (2.0): 2 A Bryant (Worc, W60) 15.44; 3 N Buckwell (Newp, W65) 16.50; 4 I Holder (Worc, W80) 20.60. 200: r1 (1.0): 1 E Jones (Newp, W40) 27.14; 2 M Thomas (Bir, W50) 27.82; 4 J Sidney (Newp, W55) 29.07; 5 J Quinn (R&N, W50) 29.49; 7 C Powell (B&W, W70) 31.81. r2 (1.4): 3 A Bryant (Worc, W60) 32.44; 5 N Buckwell (Newp, W65) 34.76. 800: r1: 3 S Everitt (B&W, W55) 2:46.59; 5 L Jeffries (Bath, W65) 3:02.85; 7 M Derrick (Yate, W65) 3:10.03; 8 M Grace (Yate & Sodbury, W65) 3:17.27. r2: 6 C Lavis (Yate & Sodbury, W75) 3:28.54. 1500: 1 C Nicholas (Yate & Sodbury, W40) 5:01.62; 3 T Chick (Wbury, W45) 5:12.77; 7 S Masters (Wbury, W65) 5:54.76; 8 J Fabes (Abing, W65) 6:13.28; 9 M Grace (Yate & Sodbury, W65) 6:23.15. 3000: 2 C Jolliffe (B&W, W55) 12:04.23; 3 S Andrews (Wbury, W55) 12:17.33; 4 J Hudson (Caer, W55) 12:24.36; 5 L Jenkins (Wbury, W70) 14:49.70. LJ: 1 K Morgan (Amman, W40) 4.64/1.4; 3 M Garland (Worc, W60) 4.32/1.5; 7 N Buckwell (Newp, W65) 3.16/0.0
W50: SP: r2: 1 P Williams (Strat) 12.44; 2 R Jansen (WMA) 9.85; 9 N Buckwell (Newp, W65) 6.25. HT: 1 K Jones (Yate, W60) 36.17. JT: 1 P Williams (Strat) 33.65; 2 W Thomson (Worc, W60) 21.62; 3 L Franklin (Lnelli, W55) 21.44; 4 M Price (Yate & Sodbury, W65) 15.13
BIGGLESWADE TRACK FEST, Sandy, July 17
U15 mixed events: 300: 1 L Fowler (Mil K, U15W) 42.42
Mixed events: 10000: 2 A Jordan (St Alb S, M60) 37:45.13
NIGHT OF 200M PBS, Nuneaton, July 17
Mixed events: 200: A10 (0.0): 1 J Carrott (Charn, U20) 21.22; 2 C ODonnell (NEB) 21.37; 3 E Blackman (Corby) 21.53; 4 P Shand (Bir) 21.55; 5 W Dean (Npton) 21.58. A2 (0.0): 2 G Knight (R&N, W40) 27.48. A3 (0.0): 1 J Moss (Gate, W) 24.43; 2 R McGuckian (Lisb, W) 24.53. A4 (0.8): 4 P Mould (B&R, M70) 28.03. A5 (-0.5): 2 C Christian (R&N, M45) 24.74; 3 P Corcoran (Cov, M50) 24.88. A6 (-0.3): 4 R Hingley (B&R, M45) 24.53. A8 (-0.3): 6 D Mould (B&R, M35) 23.30. A9 (-0.1): 4 J Kirby (C&S, M35) 22.98. B1 (0.3): 1 C Christian (R&N, M45) 24.91. B3 (-0.2): 1 C ODonnell (NEB) 21.51; 7 J Kirby (C&S, M35) 22.97
KINGSTON UPON HULL AC INVITATIONAL THROWS, Hull, July 17
Men: SP: 1 J Taylor (Shef/Dearn, M40) 14.82. DT: 1 E Abara (KuH) 48.31; 2 J Taylor (Shef/Dearn, M40) 45.83. HT: 1 S Kerry (KuH) 62.85; 2 A Mould (KuH) 49.54
U13: SP: 1 L Cowling (KuH) 14.03. DT: A: 1 T Koyuncu (KuH) 29.39. B: 1 L Cowling (KuH) 42.71
M50: SP: 1 J Twiddle (KuH, M55) 13.45. DT: 1 J Twiddle (KuH, M55) 40.04. HT: 1 J Twiddle (KuH, M55) 46.68
Women: DT: 1 H Broadbridge (KuH) 40.58. HT: 1 J Mayho (KuH) 67.07; 2 H Broadbridge (KuH) 55.85
U17: DT: 1 A Fraser (KuH) 31.94. HT: 1 E McIntosh (Hgate) 56.55
U15: DT: 1 L Hope (KuH) 29.69
U13: DT: 1 E Warden (KuH) 24.71
CHARNWOOD AC OPENS, Loughborough, July 17
U17 mixed events: 300: r1: 1 B Ellis (Rush, U15) 38.11; 2 A DCruz (B&B, U15) 38.23
U15: 1500: 12 E Griffiths (Corby, U13W) 5:01.42
Mixed events: 100: r1 (0.5): 7 T Wells (Corby, M75) 16.25. r4 (1.7): 5 M Thomas (Bir, W50) 13.63. r8 (1.0): 5 A Browne (Donc, M45) 11.87. r9 (0.2): 4 A Nelson (Stoke, W) 11.91. 200: r4 (0.0): 7 M Thomas (Bir, W50) 28.46. r7 (0.0): 1 D Hill (Mid M, M40) 23.69; 3 A Browne (Donc, M45) 23.88. r8 (0.1): 1 R Taib (Unatt) 21.32. 400: r2: 1 T Grantham (Shef/Dearn, M40) 54.14. 800: r3: 3 C Smith (C&N, U13) 2:18.20; 4 I Beddow (Warr, U13W) 2:18.95; 6 S Hare (C&N, U13W) 2:20.89. PV: 1 G Card (Leam, M45) 3.92; 2 M Baines (SB, U20W) 3.52; 3 I Crameri (Tam, W) 3.52; 4 E Wilkinson (Leam, U17W) 2.82; 5 N McEachran (Rush, U17W) 2.82; 6 B Bata (Charn, W40) 2.52; 7 M Stevens (Bir, U13W) 2.52; 8 T Webb (Bir, U13W) 2.32
Men: SP: 1 A Williams (W Norf) 13.82; 2 P Williams (Charn, M45) 12.89. DT: 1 M Francis (Burt) 49.27; 4 P Williams (Charn, M45) 33.24
M60: DT: 1 B Scott (Mil K, M70) 30.51
Women: SP: 1 C Aboagye (Croy) 12.05. DT: A: 1 S Merritt-Drew (Shef/Dearn) 44.08; 2 E Beardmore (Harrow, W35) 42.73; 3 C Aboagye (Croy) 38.27
U13: DT: 1 E Ross (Cfield) 26.11; 2 R Arnold (Charn) 25.07
CAMBRIDGESHIRE EVENING OPEN 3, St Ives, July 17
U13 mixed events: JT: 1 J Dines (W Suff) 39.51
Mixed events: 200: r7 (-0.2): 5 J Nottingham (Diss, W60) 32.30; 6 C Anthony (St Ed, W60) 33.53. 800: r1: 1 J Nixon (C&C, M35) 1:59.65. r2: 9 C Anthony (St Ed, W60) 2:45.76. Mile: r1: 4 J Nixon (C&C, M35) 4:31.13; 5 O Park (C&C, M35) 4:31.79; 6 M Sampson (Hunts, M35) 4:33.55; 11 M Amos (Hunts, M40) 4:38.74; 15 A Parmenter (C&C, M50) 4:48.58; 16 K Lowery (C&C, W) 4:51.35. r2: 5 C Richard Jackson (Unattached, M50) 5:03.23
U15 boys: JT: 1 F Dines (W Suff) 49.28
M50: JT: 1 K Digpal (Hunts, M55) 34.55
BORDER HARRIERS EVENING OPEN MEDAL MEETING, Carlisle, July 17
U13 mixed events: JT: 1 A Maddams (Seat, U13W) 26.12
Men: 400: 3 J Tinniswood (Bord H, U15) 55.5
Mixed events: Mile: r2: 6 F Todd (Bord H, W50) 5:45.2
U17 women: LJ: 2 A McVittie-Brangan (Edin, U13) 4.59
U13: 75: 1 A McVittie-Brangan (Edin) 10.1