Highlights from a busy weekend of road race action, both in the UK and overseas

Volkswagen Prague Marathon, Czech Republic, May 5

European 10,000m champion Lonah Chemtai Salpeter of Israel broke the course record with 2:19:46 to move to third on the European marathon all-time list.

Only world record-holder Paula Radcliffe with 2:15:25 and Germany’s Irina Mikitenko with 2:19:19 have gone faster and it is the quickest time by a European athlete in more than 10 years.

Bahrain’s Shitaye Eshete was second in 2:22:39 and Ethiopia’s Genet Yalew third in 2:24:34.

A group of five including Salpeter, Eshete, Yalew, Lucy Cheruiyot of Kenya and Kellyn Taylor from the USA followed a pacemaker through 5km in 16:42. By 20km Salpeter had gapped the other women and passed half way in 70:12 with a lead of a few seconds.

By 30km she had moved over one minute clear and was heading under the former event record of 2:21:57.

Although the wind increased in the latter stages of the race Salpeter continued to increase her pace in the second half for a negative split of 69:33.

Morocco’s Almahjoub Dazza won the men’s race in 2:05:58 for the event’s second-fastest ever time. Ethiopia’s Dawit Wolde ran a PB of 2:06:18 for the runner-up spot, while his compatriot Bantiye Aychew was third in 2:06:23.

The first European finisher was Spain’s Hamid ben Daoud in sixth with 2:08:14, while another Israeli national record fell to Amare Girmaw, who finished eighth in 2:09:54.

With the event being an IAAF Gold Label race, the top five men and women finishers are now qualified for the Tokyo Olympics subject to selection by their national federations.

Simplyhealth Great Bristol 10k, May 5

Chris Thompson and Kate Reed both continued to put their past injury struggles behind them to claim 10km victories in Bristol.

AFD’s Thompson, the 2010 European 10,000m silver medallist, broke the course record with his time of 29:35, ahead of Exmouth’s Tom Merson who crossed the line in 29:52.

They were followed by Jonathan Cornish from Hercules Wimbledon in third with a time of 30:34.

Local athlete Reed, who runs for Bristol & West AC, took first place in the women’s field in 33:11 and was followed by Annabel Gummow from Winchester & District AC in 34:16 and Laura Gent from AFD in 35:18.

Participants were set off by five-time Olympian and world, European and Commonwealth medallist Jo Pavey.

Pavey set the thousands of runners on their way before taking part in the Simplyhealth Great Bristol Family Run.

She attended the event as title sponsor Simplyhealth’s new active ambassador, to encourage other families to enjoy being active together.

Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon, Northern Ireland, May 5

New route, new day but the same story as Kenyan athletes claimed the top prizes at the Belfast City Marathon, with Joel Kositany leading home a Kenyan 1-2-3 in the men’s race, Malcolm McCausland reports.

Kositany, a 2:09:50 man at his best, proved the strongest over the closing miles to claim a record fourth victory. He ran 2:18:41 to see off the challenge of 2018 winner Eric Koech by 1o seconds, with Bernard Rotich third in 2:18:55.

Caroline Jepchirchir made it back-to-back wins in the women’s race with a new record of 2:36:39. Ethiopia’s Shewaye Wolde Meskel occupied the runner-up spot in 2:37:35 after running shoulder-to-shoulder with Jepchirchir for most of the race. Ukraine’s Vira Ovcharuk took third in 2:38:59.

It was the first time the race had been held on a Sunday, as it had previously been a May bank holiday Monday fixture, increasing the entry by 60%. Feedback was also positive regarding the route which the vast majority of runners felt was a huge improvement on its predecessor.

What no-one liked was the extra distance added to the course when the field were misdirected after just two miles, missing out a left turn in east Belfast and adding 0.4 miles to the trip. It also meant that all the subsequent mile markers were out by that amount, adding to consternation as many like to pace themselves by the clock.

ABP Newport Wales Marathon, May 5

Chris Bird flew to victory in Newport, smashing the course record with his time of 2:31:34, James Candy reports.

The Chichester runner triumphed by two clear minutes ahead of Otley AC’s Scott Harrington.

“I was three seconds outside my PB in the Brighton Marathon three weeks ago and I wish I had waited for the Newport race to try to break it,” said Bird.

“When I ran in Brighton I went off at 2:26.00 pace, but I had a bit of a cold and I suffered as a result. I was hoping to go even faster here, but I felt a little bit tired.

“Adam Holland went off hard, but I finished hard. I hit the front at around 21 miles and, even though I was tying up a bit in the end, I was able to stay clear of the rest.”

ABP Newport Wales Marathon Podium

? Chris Bird 02:31:34
? Scott Harrington 02:33:34
? Gwylym Gibson 02:36:28

? Carla Swithenbank 02:45:48
? Alaw Beynon-Thomas 02:58:07
? Francesca Rawlings 03:05:18 pic.twitter.com/rwAcLHvzti

— ABP Newport Wales Marathon (@NewportWales262) May 5, 2019

Carla Swithenbank won on her own doorstep as she moved up from third last year to triumph in the women’s race with a time of 2:45:48.

The 28-year-old former Police woman led from gun to tape as she knocked 24 seconds off her previous best time and made it a double for the Mickey Morris Racing Club as she followed in the footsteps of the inaugural champion, Natasha Cockram.

“I’m bouncing after that,” admitted Swithenbank. “I’m so proud to have won my local marathon.

“I’m from Newport, I live in Newport and I wanted to win this more than anything. It’s great to have gone from third last year to winning it this time.

“Last year’s race was my marathon debut and I nearly didn’t bother entering. But then I thought, this is in my home town, so I had to give it a go.”

Swithenbank has gone from strength-to-strength since her marathon debut a year ago. She won the European Police women’s title in Dublin in 2018 in 2:46:13 and is getting faster and faster.

A former Wales international footballer, she quit Cardiff City Ladies when she was 21 and has since been concentrating on running.

Swansea Harrier Alaw Beynon-Thomas came home second in 2:58:07 on her marathon debut.

ABP Newport Wales 10km, May 5

Matt Clowes claimed victory as he returned to racing after injury

The English international had been struggling with a hamstring injury since pulling out of the Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay Run at the end of March and headed to Newport to assess his fitness.

He clocked 29:43 to equal the course record.

“The first 5km was slower than the second, but I’m happy with the result. I’m a racer and that’s what I do best, so winning was nice,” said Clowes.

“I knew I wasn’t going to be able to run a personal best time. My hamstring went at 9km in the Cardiff Bay race and this was my first chance to test it out after my rehab.

“I could feel it a little bit coming back, but it was okay in the end. I’m going to have a little run around in the Whitchurch 5K tonight and then I’ll be running in some more local races this summer as I build up to the Berlin Marathon.

“I made my marathon debut in London last year and it was a bit of a car crash. I finished in 2:43:16, but the goal is to run around 2:14 if I can get to Berlin in good shape.”

Bideford’s Shaun Antell also cracked the 30-minute barrier with 29:46 in second.

Our 2019 10K Champions / Ein Ennillwyr 10K 2019

? Matt Clowes 29:43
? Shaun Antell 29:46
? Daniel Rothwell 30:38

? Charlotte Taylor-Green 34:44 (Course Record Y Cwrs)
? Rachel Felton 35:02
? Lucy Marland 36:34 pic.twitter.com/Jf8YMGIkC6

— ABP Newport Wales Marathon (@NewportWales262) May 5, 2019

The women’s race had a new champion as Bristol & West AC’s Charlotte Taylor-Green proved her switch from track to road looks to be a good one. A week after acting as a pacemaker in the London Marathon she held off the 2018 winner, Rachel Fenton, to win in a course record 34:44.

“That was only two seconds outside my personal best, which isn’t bad after running to half-way in London last week,” said Taylor-Green.

“Because I’d run in London last week I wasn’t sure how my legs were going to feel so I just wanted to come out and enjoy myself today. I felt pretty good and, having run my 10km PB in Brighton three weeks ago, I’m starting to become consistent on the roads.

“My coach, James Thie, suggested the switch from 800m and 1500m to the roads this year and it is all very new at the moment.”

Run and Become Sri Chinmoy 5k, incorporating the Scottish 5km Championships, Silverknowes, May 3

Wales’ Kris Jones won for the second time in three years, leading a Dundee Hawkhill Harriers 1-2 ahead of James Donald, 14:26 to 14:31.

Central’s Morag Millar broke the course record with a PB of 15:49 ahead of Mhairi Maclennan with 15:55.

#CHAMPION @Thekrisjones takes the win @runandbecome1 @scotathletics 5km champs 14.26 followed by @JamesDonald_1 @Dhh_Official
Lachlan Oates @ShettlestonHarr Hamish Armitt @gnaac1 & @cstrachan91 @MetroAberdeenRC @AthleticsWeekly @FastRunning pic.twitter.com/f3d5Z5Tcd9

— Run and Become (@runandbecome1) May 4, 2019

Cardiff 5K 2019 Race For Victory, incorporating the Welsh 5km Championships, Whitchurch, May 5

Adam Hickey won the men’s race in 14:14 from Ieuan Thomas, who claimed the Welsh title after his time of 14:18.

Clara Evans won the women’s race and Welsh title in 16:04 from Jade Williams in 16:22.

ABP Southampton Marathon, Half and 10K, Hampshire, May 5

Local athlete Richard Waldron ran 2:39:43 to win the men’s title ahead of Frome RC’s Joseph Donworth in 2:43:04.

Denmead Striders’ Kirsty Aked won the women’s title with 3:08:15 ahead of RAF’s Sam Rose with 3:10:15.

Richard Lovejoy (75:35) and Cassie Thorp (85:17) won the half-marathon, while 10km titles were claimed by Isaac Farnworth (33:32) and Alice Burch (41:43).

Wings for Life World Run, worldwide, May 5

The fifth annual Wings for Life World Run saw 120,000 participants take part in 76 countries across the globe. The race raises awareness and much-needed funds for spinal cord research.

The UK hosted an organised app run in Chiswick Park, which was won by Owen Edwards with the virtual ‘catcher car’ finally catching him after he ran 33km. The women’s race was won by Sophie McKeeman who covered 32.1km.

In the global race, Ivan Motorin of Russia achieved 64.37km in Izmir, Turkey, to clinch the men’s title, while Nina Zarina of Russia took the global women’s title in Zug, Switzerland, covering a distance of 53.72km.

?2019 Global Champion is Ivan Motorin, RUS in #Turkey with an incredible distance of 64.3 km! ?
#WingsForLife #WorldRun #WingsForLifeWorldRun pic.twitter.com/25wMNKCQfi

— WFL World Run (@WFLWorldRun) May 5, 2019

You can watch back live stream footage of the event here.

USATF Half Marathon Championships, Pittsburgh, May 5

Leonard Korir won the men’s title in 61:53 ahead of Stanley Kebenei (61:57).

Stephanie Bruce claimed the women’s win in 70:43 from Sara Hall (71:04).

Kenya’s Boniface Kongin (2:10:34) and Ethiopia’s Bizuwork Getahun (2:35:42) won the full marathon.

BMO Vancouver Marathon, Canada, May 5

Yuki Kawauchi won the men’s title in 2:15:01, while the women’s title was claimed by his partner Yuko Mizuguchi in 2:41:28.