Early 2022 overseas action includes US records in Houston, world 5km records in Valencia and hot indoor action in the USA

Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half-Marathon, January 16

Houston has the nickname ‘Space City’ and the city lived up to its reputation when its marathon and half-marathon saw some stratospheric performances.

Keira D’Amato ran an American record of 2:19:12 in the Chevron Houston Marathon, while Sara Hall set a US record of 67:15 in the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon almost 15 years to the day after her husband, Ryan, set a US men’s half-marathon record in the same city.

It was a great day for British runners, too, with Jess Judd going No.4 on the UK all-time rankings for the half-marathon with 67:52 on her debut at the distance. In the marathon, Alice Wright and Luke Caldwell completed their first-ever marathons in an impressive 2:29:08 and 2:11:33 respectively.

D’Amato broke Deena Kastor’s American record of 2:19:36 which was set in the London Marathon in 2006. The 37-year-old’s progression has been far from standard either. She did not run from 2009-2016 and then returned as a fun runner initially, although her performances improved to the extent that she clocked 2:22:56 at the Marathon Project event in Arizona in 2020.

On Sunday D’Amato found herself going toe-to-toe with three-time Houston Marathon winner Biruktayit Eshetu Degefa of Ethiopia but by halfway (69:40) D’Amato had cut loose and, helped by pacemaker Calum Neff, maintained her pace in the second half.

Wright finished runner-up with USA’s Maggie Montoya clocking the same time of 2:29:08 in third, whereas Emily Kearney of Wirral AC ran 2:34:28 on her marathon debut.

From Worcestershire originally, Wright was a fine teenage runner in the UK but overshadowed by Judd in many national events. However in recent years she has been based in the US as part of a Hoka-sponsored squad and made a few aborted attempts at a marathon debut before finally coming good in Houston.

As for the winner, D’Amato said: “I’ve had a very unique running career and my running has evolved throughout my life. I have experienced high school running and college running, I tried post-collegiate running a little bit and got injured. Then I quit running for a while and came in as a hobby jogger, a recreational runner, and somehow I got this second opportunity.

“It had been wild. I just can’t believe I’m sitting here as the American record-holder in the marathon.”

D’Amato added: “With the pacers, we went out at American record pace and I really believed in my heart and in my legs, in my soul and in my brain, that I was capable of breaking the American record. It never really felt that good, but I just tried to hang in there.”

This is how Keira D'Amato set a US marathon record of 2:19:12 at the Houston Marathon ??

? @FloTrack pic.twitter.com/cUnmnFFX9V https://t.co/xQJ9TZ3oTY

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) January 16, 2022

This was the 50th staging of the Houston Marathon and during that time the Brits have made their mark with Veronique Marot winning the women’s title three times, while Charlie Spedding and Colin Moore won the men’s race in the 1980s and 1990s.

Ethiopia has dominated the event hugely in recent years, though, with the last 14 women’s winners prior to 2022 being from that country, whereas Ethiopians have won 11 of the last 14 men’s titles too.

But on Sunday James Ngandu of Kenya won the men’s race in 2:11:03 on his marathon debut after making his break with a little over a mile to go to beat Bahrain’s Abdi Abdo by seven seconds.

In seventh, Caldwell was just outside the World Championships qualifying standard of 2:11:30 but made a fine first attempt at the distance.

The half-marathon was also full of eye-catching performances with the women’s winner, Vicoty Chepngeno of Kenya, setting a North American all-comers’ record as she went No.11 on the world all-time rankings with 65:03.

Hall, 38, finished runner-up and in doing so took 10 seconds off Molly Huddle’s American record, which was also set in Houston in 2018. With her husband Ryan Hall also running a US men’s record of 59:43 in Houston in 2007, it’s clear the course and conditions are ideal for fast times.

Another record for @SaraHall3 after clocking 1:07:15 at @HoustonMarathon and breaking the US and area women's half marathon record of @MollyHuddle from 2018 ??

Hall did this 15 years after husband @ryanhall3 set the men's half marathon record on the same course ? pic.twitter.com/JdUx3UELWe

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) January 16, 2022

“I thought it would be really special to do it today, with it being 15 years since Ryan set the record here,” said Hall. “That day changed our lives forever. It launched his career and our lives were never the same after that day. Fifteen years later, to be able to do that, it also shows the story of our careers.

“For him, he just knocked it out of the park from the beginning and then for me it has taken 15 years of grinding and persevering to get to this point.”

Dominique Scott of South Africa ran a PB of 67:32 with American Fiona O’Keeffe fourth in 67:42. Then came Judd who, like Wright is also sponsored by Hoka, with a performance that means the only Brits who have run quicker over 13.1 miles are Paula Radcliffe, Liz and Eilish McColgan.

The men’s half-marathon was won by Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha in 60:24. The 2019 world junior cross-country champion is only 21 and he surged away from John Korir of Kenya in the closing stages.

Men: HM:
1 Milkesa Mengesha ETH 60:24
2 John Korir KEN 60:27
3 Wilfred Kimitei KEN 60:44
4 Kirubel Erassa 60:44
5 Shadrack Korir KEN 60:53
6 Patrick Tiernan AUS 60:55
7 Abbabiya Simbassa 663
8 Rory Linkletter CAN 668 NR
9 Sydney Gidabuday 669
10 Scott Fauble 61:11
11 Alberto Gonzalez Mindez GUA 61:20 NR
12 Ben Flanagan CAN 61:38
13 Colin Mickow 61:41
14 Zouhair Talbi MAR 62:01
15 Mohamed Hrezi LBA 62:08 NR
16 Julio Ortiz MEX 62:16
17 John Dressel 62:23
18 Reid Buchanan 63:11
19 Matthew Leach GBR 63:29
20 Afeworki Zeru 63:41
30 Josh Lunn GBR 64:54

Mar:
1 James Ngandu KEN 2:11:03
2 Abdi Ibrahim Abdo BRN 2:11:11
3 Elisha Barno KEN 2:11:16
4 Kenta Uchida JPN 2:11:19
5 Kelkile Gezahegn ETH 2:11:20
6 Frank Lara 2:11:32
7 Luke Caldwell GBR 2:11:33
8 Josh Izewski 2:12:45
9 Augustus Maiyo 2:13:17
10 Rodgers Gesabwa KEN 2:14:47
11 Tyler Jermann 2:14:58
12 Steven Martinez 2:15:54

Women:
HM:
1 Vicoty Chepngeno KEN 65:03
2 Sara Hall 67:15 NR
3 Dominique Scott Efurd RSA 67:32
4 Fiona O’Keeffe 67:42
5 Jessica Judd GBR 67:52
6 Emily Durgin 67:54
7 Caren Maiyo KEN 68:41
8 Dakotah Lindwurm 69:36
9 Nell Rojas 69:42
10 Anne Frisbie 70:27

Mar:
1 Keira D’Amato 2:19:12 (US rec)
2 Alice Wright GBR 2:29:08
3 Maggie Montoya 2:29:08
4 Roberta Groner 2:32:02
5 Atsede Baysa ETH 2:32:38
6 Brittney Feivor 2:32:41
7 Katia Garcia MEX 2:32:54
8 Christina Welsh 2:33:08
9 Molly Bookmyer 2:33:19
10 Andrea Pomaranski 2:33:38
11 Kate Sanborn 2:33:41
12 Kelli Smith 2:34:14
13 Emily Kearney GBR 2:34:28
14 Kelsey Pontius 2:34:35
15 Rachel Hyland 2:34:46

Arkansas Invitational, Fayetteville, AR, USA, January 14

The 400m hurdler Shamier Little won the 600m in 1:29.12 just ahead of Lithuanian Gabija Galvydyte’s 1:29.19.

Former Olympic hurdles finalist Cindy Sember won the 60m hurdles in 8.19.

Men:
60: 1 Demek Kemp 6.65

Mile: 1 Ryan Schoppe OklahomaSt 3:58.71

Women:

60: 1 Jada Baylark Arkansas 7.29

400: 1 Shafiqua Maloney VIN Arkansas 52.33

600:
1 Shamier Little 1:29.12 j
2 Gabija Galvydyte LTU 1:29.19

60H: 1 Cindy Sember GBR 8.19

TJ: 1 Tikeisha Welcome VIN Oklahoma 13.13

BYU Indoor Invitational I, Provo, UT, USA, January 13-15

Women: SP: 1 Gretchen Hoekstre BYU 17.10

Clemson Invitational, Clemson, SC, USA, January 14-15

60:
1 Don’drea Swint FloridaSt 6.53
2 Dedrick Vanover Florida 6.60

h2: 1 Swint 6.58

200: 1 Matthew Boling Georgia 20.49

300:
1 Jacory Patterson VATech 31.99
2 Ryan Willie Florida 32.91
3 Cameron Rose Clemson 33.03

f2
1 Cameron Miller Florida 33.19
2 Matt Nortje RSA Texas 33.38

400: 1 Randolph Ross NC A&T 45.37

600:
1 Kameron Jones 1:15.27
2 Jonathan Jones BAR Texas 1:15.61
3 Samuel Austin Florida 1:15.96
4 Tarees Rhoden JAM Clemson 1:17.16

60H:
1 Trey Cunningham FloridaSt 7.57
2 Rasheem Brown CAY NC A&T 7.71

h1: 1 Brown 7.70

h2: 1 Leonard Mustari NC A&T 7.71

h3: 1 Cunningham 7.56

LJ:
1 Matthew Boling Georgia 8.25
2 Steffin McCarter Texas 8.10
3 Brandon Hicklin NC A&T 7.85

SP: 1 Adrian Piperi Texas 20.71

Women:
60:
1 Talitha Diggs Florida 7.26
2 Kynnedy Flannel Texas 7.26
3 Danielle Williams JAM 7.29
4 Semira Killebrew Florida 7.30

h1: 1 Diggs 7.24

300:
1 Talitha Diggs Florida 36.37
2 Rhasidat Adeleke IRL Texas 36.87
3 Kennedy Simon Texas 37.22

f2:
1 Stacey-Ann Williams JAM Texas 36.95
2 Taylor Manson Florida 37.48

f5: 1 Latasha Smith CenFlorida 37.81

600: 1 Sarah Hendrick KennesawSt 1:28.49

1000: 1 Natoya Goule JAM 2:41.03

60H:
1 Kendra Harrison 7.81
2 Grace Stark Florida 7.86
3 Paula Salmon NC A&T 7.91
4 Chanel Brissett Texas 8.04
5 Milan Young LSU 8.14

h2:
1 Stark 8.11
2 Young 8.14

h3:
1 Danielle Williams JAM 7.92
2 Salmon 7.96

h4: 1 Brissett 8.07

h5: 1 Harrison 7.91

HJ: 1 Amina Smith 1.85

LJ: 1 Jasmine Moore Georgia 6.58

Colorado Mines HS Indoor Series #2, Golden, CO, USA, January 6

Women:
60: 1 Marybeth Price 7.11

Commodore Challenge, Nashville, TN, USA, January 14-15

Divine Oladipo improved her indoor shot PB by over a metre to 17.92m to go sixth in the UK all-time indoor lists.

Second was Jessica Ramsey with 17.90m.

Women:
HJ: 1 Abigail Kwarteng GHA MidTennSt 1.83

SP:
1 Divine Oladipo GBR OhioSt 17.92
2 Jessica Ramsey 17.90

Cougar Classic, Spokane, WA, USA, January 14-15

The 2021 NCAA 60m champion Micah Williams won the 60m in a PB 6.48.

In the women’s 60m Jamaican Kemba Nelson won in 7.19.

60: 1 Micah Williams Oregon 6.48

h1: 1 Williams 6.60

Women:
60:
1 Kemba Nelson JAM Oregon 7.19
2 Destiny Smith-Barnett 7.19
3 Jadyn Mays Oregon 7.27

h1: 1 Nelson 7.25

h2: 1 Smith-Barnett 7.29

Dick Small Invitational, Defiance, OH, USA, January 14

Women: SP: 1 Felisha Johnson 17.22

Friday Night Axe ’em Open, Flagstaff, AZ, USA, January 14

Turner Washington won the shot with a 21.33m throw.

Jarret Eaton won the 60m hurdles in 7.60 ahead of British Olympian David King’s 7.67.
Men:
60: 1 Kirk Wilson 6.62

h6: 1 Wilson 6.63

60H:
1 Jarret Eaton 7.60
2 David King GBR 7.67

h1: 1 King 7.68

h2:
1 Freddie Crittenden 7.66
2 Eaton 7.71

SP: 1 Turner Washington ArizonaSt 21.33

Women:
60H: 1 Vanessa Clerveaux HAI 8.15

Gamecock Opener, Columbia, SC, USA, January 15

Women:
60: 1 Melissa Jefferson CoastCar 7.29

400:
1 Wadeline Jonathas 52.21
2 Aliyah Abrams GUY SCarolina 52.22

PV: 1 Alina McDonald 4.57

Graduate Classic, Lincoln, NE, USA, January 14-15

Men:
60H: 1 Jaylan McConico 7.74

SP: 1 Alex Talley NDakotaSt 19.88

Hawkeye Invitational, Iowa City, IA, USA, January 14-15

Men:
60H:
1 Chris Douglas AUS 7.68
2 Aaron Mallett 7.75

h2: 1 Chris Douglas AUS 7.67

SP: 1 Darius King UNIowa 19.64

Hillsdale Triangular, Hillsdale, MI, USA, January 14

Men:
60H: 1 Trevor Bassitt Ashland 7.75

Jim Green Invitational, Lexington, KY, USA, January 14-15

Men:
PV: 1 Keaton Daniel Kentucky 5.50

Women:
60H: 1 Devynne Charlton BAH 8.02

SF1:
1 Charlton 8.00
2 Masai Russell Kentucky 8.01

HJ: 1 Charity Griffith BallSt 1.84

KU-KSU-WSU Triangular, Lawrence, KS, USA, January 14

Men: PV: 1 Zach Bradford Kansas 5.67

Women: HJ: 1 Rylee Anderson Kansas 1.86

LSU Purple Tiger, Baton Rouge, LA, USA, January 14

Aleia Hobbs won the 60m in 7.10.

Women:
60:
1 Aleia Hobbs 7.10
2 Mikiah Brisco 7.17
3 Briana Williams JAM 7.18
4 Favour Ofili NGR LSU 7.25
5 Khamica Bingham CAN 7.27

h1:
1 Hobbs 7.14
2 Ofili 7.27

h2:
1 Brisco 7.19
2 Bingham 7.28

h3:
1 Williams 7.20

Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational, Houston, TX, USA, January 14

Women: 60H: 1 Alaysha Johnson 8.02

Minnesota State Invitational, Mankato, MN, USA, January 14

60: 1 Kiara Parker 7.23

h4: 1 Parker 7.27

Mondo College Invitational, Winston-Salem, NC, USA, January 15

Men: 60: 1 Jaylan Mitchell 6.63

National Pole Vault Summit, Reno, NV, USA, January 14-15

KC Lightfoot set a world-leading 5.91m with Olympic medallist Chris Nielsen and Jacob Wooten both clearing 5.81m to complete the top three.

Olympic champion Katie Nageotte won the women’s event with a 4.60m.

Men:
PV:
1 KC Lightfoot 5.91
2 Chris Nilsen 5.81
3 Jacob Wooten 5.81
4 Nate Richartz 5.71
5 Sondre Guttormsen NOR 5.71
6 Ethan Cormont FRA 5.61
7 Thibaut Collet FRA 5.61
8 Zach McWhorter BYU 5.61
9 Matt Ludwig 5.61

f2:
1 Tray Oates 5.61
2 Simen Guttormsen NOR 5.61
3 Audie Wyatt 5.51

Women:
PV:
1 Katie Nageotte 4.60
2 Olivia Gruver 4.50
3 Sophie Gutermuth 4.40

HS: PV: 1 Hana Moll 4.47

Nittany Lion Challenge, University Park, PA, USA, January 15

Women:
1000: 1 Allison Johnson PennSt 2:43.12

3000: 1 Grace Moore Temple 9:15.66

SP: 1 Sarah Mitton CAN 17.43

Orange and Purple Elite, Clemson, SC, USA, January 8

Matthew Boling won the 200m in 20.49 on Sunday after a 8.25m long jump PB on Saturday.

Jacory Patterson won the 300m in 31.99 to go seventh in the world all-time.

The women’s 300m was won by Talitha Diggs in 36.37 ahead of Ireland’s European under-20 champion Rhasidat Adeleke’s Irish senior record of 36.87.

There was a world lead in the 400m for Randolph Ross with 45.37 while Don’drea Swint won the 60m in 6.53.

With the 11th fastest ever time Kameron Jones ran 1:15.27 in the 600m ahead of Jonathan Jones’ Barbados record 1:15.61

The 100m hurdles world record-holder Kendra Harrison won the 60m hurdles in 7.81 ahead of Grace Stark’s 7.86.

Matthew Boling, the 2022 World Leader indoors with 8.25m! ?? pic.twitter.com/sg548nhDhI

— Jumpers World (@jumpers_world) January 15, 2022

Men:
300: 1 Jevon Williams Clemson 33.42

600: 1 Tarees Rhoden JAM Clemson 1:17.81

1000: 1 John Lewis 2:19.91

Potts Invitational, Boulder, CO, USA, January 14-15

Men: 60: 1 Coby Hilton SDakotaSt 6.63

Shocker Prelude, Wichita, KS, USA, January 13

Men: 60: 1 Caleb Jackson ButlerCo 6.65

Simmons-Harvey Invitational, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, January 15

The 2019 European under-20 champion Joshua Zeller improved his 60m hurdles PB to 7.76.

Under-20 Miles Brown won the 600m in 1:16.98 to just miss the US junior record.

Men:
600:
1 Miles Brown U20 Michigan 1:16.98
2 Cole Johnson Michigan 1:17.98

60H: 1 Joshua Zeller GBR Michigan 7.76

Ted Nelson Invitational, College Station, TX, January 14-15

World 5000m medallist Konstanze Klosterhalfen won the 3000m in 8:39.36 just ahead of Jessica Hull’s Australian indoor record 8:39.79.

Olympic 800m champion Athing Mu won her first ever mile race in 4:37.99.

Women:
1M: Athing Mu 4:37.99

3000:
1 Konstanze Klosterhalfen GER 8:39.36
2 Jessica Hull AUS 8:39.79
3 Ella Donaghu 8:48.79
4 Shannon Osika 8:49.32

HJ:
1 Lamara Distin JAM TexasA&M 1.88
2 Nissi Kabongo SFAustin 1.85

LJ: 1 Deborah Acquah GHA TexasA&M 6.43

Texas Tech Corky Classic, Lubbock, TX, USA, January 14-15

A week after leaving the teenage ranks, Terrence Jones surprisingly equalled the collegiate 60m indoor record with 6.45 after a 6.53 in his semi-final.

He had never previously ran 60 metres indoors and his 100m PB was a modest 10.39.

His Bahamian record moved him to ninth on the world all-time list.

A distant second was Jacoby Shelton (6.59) with Liberia’s Emmanuel Matadi third in 6.60

ICYMI, 19-year-old @sprintertj clocked 6.45 in the 60m over the weekend ?

✅ @NCAATrackField joint indoor record
✅ Joint ninth fastest athlete in history
✅ Bahamian national record pic.twitter.com/ia8YlCsY91

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) January 17, 2022

Ruth Usoro added over half a metre to the Nigerian triple jump record with a top class 14.76m, which is also well superior to her outdoor record of 14.50m.

Men:
60:
1 Terrance Jones BAH TxTech 6.45
2 Jacolby Shelton TxTech 6.59
3 Emmanuel Matadi LBR 6.60
4 Mike Rodgers 6.65

sf3: 1 Jones 6.53

60H: 1 Shane Brathwaite BAR 7.73

HJ: 1 Trey Culver 2.22

TJ: 1 Jalen Seals TxTech 16.12

SP: 1 Jordan Geist Arizona 20.59

Women:
60: 1 Ackera Nugent JAM Baylor 7.27

sf3: 1 Nugent 7.30

LJ: 1 Ruth Usoro NGR TxTech 6.48

TJ:
1 Ruth Usoro NGR TxTech 14.76
2 Rūta Lasmane LAT TxTech 13.85

UAB Blazer Invitational, Birmingham, AL, USA, January 14

Olympic 400m champion Steven Gardiner set a Bahamian 300m indoor record of 32.06 which temporarily made him the seventh best all-time performer until Jacory Patterson’s run at Clemson.

European 400m champion Matthew Hudson-Smith made a great return to form after his 2021 disappointments to set a British indoor record of 32.80.

Robert Tobin did run a 32,76 in Manchester in 2006 but his time has been noted as short by Power of 10.

Olympic 100m hurdles champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn showed impressive endurance to win the 300m in a Puerto Rican record of 36.63 ahead of Jessica Beard’s 37.00.

Leander Forbes won the men’s 500m in 1:01.43.

Men:
300:
1 Steven Gardiner BAH 32.06
2 Matthew Hudson-Smith GBR 32.80

f2: 1 Mason Phillips Northwood 33.09

600: 1 John Rivera PUR OleMiss 1:17.45

PV: 1 Kyle Rademeyer RSA SAlabama 5.56

SP: 1 Isaac Odugbesan NGR Alabama 20.48

Women:
300:
1 Jasmine Camacho-Quinn PUR 36.63
2 Jessica Beard 37.00
3 Christal Mosley Alabama 37.86

F2: 1 Moriah Oliveira Miami (FL) 37.95

UAB Vulcan Invitational, Birmingham, AL, USA, January 15

Women: TJ: 1 Morayo Bhadmos Samford 13.39

Virginia Tech Invitational, Blacksburg, VA, USA, January 14-15

Men:
PV: 1 Keon Howe Charlotte 5.50

LJ: 1 Ja’von Douglas NC State 7.96

TJ:
1 Jordan Scott JAM USC 16.27
2 Owayne Owens JAM Virginia 16.23

Women:
60: 1 Joella Lloyd ANT Tennessee 7.30

500:
1 Lauren Hoffman Duke 1:11.97
2 Star Price VATech 1:12.92

1000: 1 Lindsey Butler VATech 2:43.66

60H: 1 Charisma Taylor BAH WashingtonSt 8.15

h1: 1 Taylor 8.11

Washburn Rust Buster, Topeka, KS, USA, January 15

Men: PV: 1 Zach Bradford Kansas 5.65

UW Indoor Preview, Seattle, USA, January 15

On an oversize track, European indoor 3000m champion Amy-Eloise Markovc won the mile in a PB 4:30.78 ahead of Molly Sughroue’s 4:31.54.

Ben Blankenship won the 3000m in 7:45.92 just ahead of Sam Prakel (7:46.06) and Johnny Gregorek (7:46.17).

Jonathan Shields, the son of former English National cross-country champion Jane, finished eighth in a PB 7:54.23.

Canadian Kieran Lumb won the men’s mile in 3:55.53 ahead of Colton Johnsen (3:55.74).

Men:
IM:
1 Kieran Lumb CAN 3:55.53
2 Colton Johnsen 3:55.74

3000:
1 Ben Blankenship 7:45.92
2 Sam Prakel 7:46.06
3 Johnny Gregorek 7:46.17
8 Jonathan Shields GBR 7:54.23

Women:
1M:
1 Amy-Eloise Markovc GBR 4:30.78
2 Molly Sughroue 4:31.54

San Diego CA, USA, January 8

Men: XC:
1 Shadrack Kipchirchir 30:33
2 Dillon Maggard 30:34
3 Samuel Chelanga 30:34
4 Leonard Korir 30:37
5 Benard Keter 30:49
6 Benjamin Eidenschink 31:07
7 Ben Blankenship 31:37
8 Futsum Zienasellassie 32:03
9 Theo Medrano 32:06
10 Ryan Robinson 32:14

Women: XC:
1 Alicia Monson 34:01
2 Weini Kelati 34:18
3 Emily Infeld 34:36
4 Emily Durgin 34:50
5 Stephanie Bruce 34:51
6 Natosha Rogers 35:24
7 Jaci Smith 35:48
8 Molly Seidel 35:58
9 Carrie Verdon 36:01
10 Maria Mettler 36:21

S.Giorgio Legnano, Italy, January 6

Men: XC:
1 Addisu Yehune ETH 28:39
2 Emmanuel Kiplagat KEN 28:45
3 Amos Serem KEN 28:53
4 Vincent Kipkirui KEN 28:53
5 Aron Kifle ERI 28:59
6 Eyob Ghebrehiwet Faniel 29:15
7 Yohanes Chiappinelli 29:21
8 Iliass Aouani 29:45
9 Mohamed Amine Jihnaoui TUN 29:49
10 Luca Alfieri 29:53,

Women: XC:
1 Dawit Seyaum ETH 18:48
2 Rahel Daniel ERI 18:49
3 Beatrice Chebet KEN 18:51
4 Fantaye Belayneh ETH 18:56
5 Medina Eisa ETH 19:05
6 Nadia Battocletti 19:06
7 Klara Lukan SLO 19:06
8 Lucy Muli KEN 19:15
9 Anna Arnaudo 19:41
10 Eva Cherono KEN 19:58

Dhaka, Bangla Dash, January 10

Men: Mar:
1 Vincent Rono KEN 2:09:29
2 Omar Aït Chitachen MAR 2:09:49
3 Gebretsadik Adhana ETH 2:12:24,

Women: Mar: 1 Muliye Dekebo ETH 2:31:39

Valencia, Spain, January 9

Emile Cairess enjoyed the run of his life at the 10km Valencia Ibercaja on Sunday (Jan 9) as he clocked 27:44 to equal Mo Farah’s British record which was set in London in 2010.

A fraction quicker and the 24-year-old Leeds City runner would have become the outright official holder of the record. He would not be “the fastest”, though, as Nick Rose sits atop of UK Athletics’ official all-time ranking lists on the Power of 10 website with 27:34 set on a point-to-point course in New Orleans in 1984.

Such is the confusion over the leading 10km marks on the British rankings, Rose once described it as “muddy waters” in an interview with AW.

Still, this was a terrific run by Cairess, who last year ran a relatively unnoticed 27:53.19 for 10,000m on the track just 3-4 seconds behind Marc Scott and Mo Farah in the Olympic trials in Birmingham.

Running on the super-fast Valencia course this weekend but in slightly windy conditions, he took half a minute off his PB to finish fifth in a race won by Daniel Simiu Ebenyo in 26:58 – a time that places the Kenyan No.7 on the world all-time list.

Runner-up was Chimdessa Debele Gudeta of Ethiopia in 27:10 followed by Jacob Krop of Kenya in 27:23 and Boniface Kibiwott of Kenya with the same time as Cairess of 27:44.

Daniel Simiu Ebenyo takes the 10km men’s win in Valencia in 26:57. pic.twitter.com/PaJHUN6WAo

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) January 9, 2022

The second European home behind Cairess was Carlos Mayo of Spain in 28:11 with Switzerland’s Julien Wanders, who set the European record of 27:13 in this race in 2020, back in 11th in 28:14, just ahead of Britain’s Mahamed Mahamed in 28:16 for 12th place.

Elsewhere, Jonny Mellor ran 28:32, Adam Clarke 28:36 and Phil Sesemann 28:58.

In the women’s race Norah Jeruto of Kenya won in 30:35, just ahead of the European cross-country champion Karoline Grøvdal of Norway, who ran 30:38 to miss her goal of breaking Paula Radcliffe’s European record of 30:21.

Norah Jeruto of Kenya wins the 10km Valencia Ibercaja in 30:34 (TBC) just ahead of Karoline Grovdal of Norway. pic.twitter.com/OPnpAyy4R7

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) January 9, 2022

Gladys Chepkurui of Kenya was third in 30:48 with Britain’s Beth Kidger 11th in 32:53 and Steph Davis close behind in 32:58.

There was anticipation that the world records (Rhonex Kipruto’s 26:24 and Joyciline Jepkosgei’s 29:43) would fall but they survived, as did Farah’s UK record, although he now has to share it with Cairess.

Cairess had not raced on the roads since finishing runner-up to Jack Rowe in the Great South Run over 10 miles in October. His latest run in Valencia puts him in good company, though, as Farah ran his 27:44 shortly before claiming a European 5000m and 10,000m double in Barcelona.

Like Farah back in 2010, Cairess is coached by Alan Storey. The Leeds-based athlete also went to the same school – Bradford Grammar – as Alistair and Jonny Brownlee.

Steadily improving in recent years, Cairess pipped Patrick Dever in a memorably close race to win the British Universities and Colleges cross-country crown in 2019 and later that year he took bronze in the 10,000m at the European Under-23 Championships in Sweden in a race won by Jimmy Gressier of France.

Farah’s record-breaking run in the summer of 2010 came at the Bupa London 10,000 on what AW described at the time as a “dry, grey, still day – perfect for distance running”.

Farah had just come down from altitude and he enjoyed a race-long duel with training partner Micah Kogo before the Briton employed what would soon become his trademark strong finish to claim the win.

His mark was proclaimed a British record at the time but the all-time UK rankings are not so straightforward due to Rose’s time from New Orleans 26 years earlier being 10 seconds quicker.

Rose’s performance came at the Crescent City Classic, which was won by Mark Nenow in 27:23. The American winner’s mark was judged a world record at the time by the IAAF (World Athletics) but the United States never ratified Nenow’s mark because it was set on a point to point course, leading to the possibility of performances being wind-assisted.

For the same reason UKA and the Association of Road Racing Statisticians (ARRS) did not recognise Rose’s mark as the British record.

In an interview with AW a few years ago, Rose said: “If record courses have to start and finish within a certain distance, then my run in New Orleans does not qualify for record purposes. All one could say is that it is the fastest run over the 10km distance!”

Ironically the Crescent City Classic took place on April Fool’s Day in 1984 too.

In addition – and to add to the confusion – there is one British athlete who has run faster than Rose, Cairess and Farah. Jon Brown clocked 27:20 on a downhill course in Pittsburgh in 1995.

Men:
10km:
1 Daniel Simiyu KEN 26:58
2 Chimdesa Debele ETH 27:10
3 Jacob Krop KEN 27:23
4 Boniface Kibiwott KEN 27:44
5 Emile Cairess GBR 27:44
6 Peter Maru UGA 27:58
7 Kelvin Kibiwott KEN 28:01
8 Carlos Mayo 28:11
9 Samuel Barata POR 28:12
10 Mohammed Ben Yattou ALG 28:13
11 Julien Wanders SUI 28:14
12 Mahamed Mahamed GBR 28:16
13 Elias Kipchumba KEN 28:16
14 Yohan Durand FRA 28:19
15 Suldan Hassan SWE 28:20
16 Juan Pérez 28:22
17 Arnaud Dely BEL 28:22
18 Azeddine Habz FRA 28:24
19 Morgan Le Guen SUI 28:26
20 Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad FRA 28:30
21 Jonathan Mellor GBR 28:32
22 Filmon Tesfu NED 28:35
23 Jaouad El Bissis MAR 28:35
24 Adam Clarke GBR 28:36
25 Benjamin de Haan NED 28:36
26 Thijs Nijhuis DEN 28:38
27 Amanal Petros GER 28:38
28 Vidar Johansson SWE 28:40
29 Luís Saraiva POR 28:40
30 Ahmed Ouhda ITA 28:41
31 Jacob Sommer Simonsen DEN 28:41
32 Gavit Murli Kumar IND 28:42
33 Arsène Guillorel FRA 28:42
34 Zakaria Boufaljat MAR 28:44
35 Alejandro Fernández 28:45
36 Abderrazak Charik FRA 28:48
37 Valentin Andre FRA 28:57
38 Phil Sesemann GBR 28:58
39 Adam Maijo 28:59
40 Ahmed El Jaddar MAR 28:59

Women: 10km:
1 Norah Tanui KEN 30:35
2 Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal NOR 30:38
3 Gladys Chepkurui KEN 30:48
4 Anchinalu Dessie ETH 31:01
5 Meraf Bahta SWE 31:22 NR
6 Bezabeh Fitaw ETH 32:07
7 Diana Chesang KEN 32:24
8 Meritxell Soler 32:34
9 Mahelet Mulugeta ETH 32:45
10 Maitane Melero 32:47
11 Beth Kidger GBR 32:53
12 Beatriz Álvarez 32:54
13 Stephanie Davis GBR 32:58
14 Marie Bouchard FRA 33:05
15 Laura Mendez 33:25
16 Hanna Lindholm SWE 33:35
17 Britt Ummels NED 33:42
18 María Luz Tesuri ARG 33:47
19 Cristina Silva 34:16
20 Jennifer Gulikers NED 34:25
21 Famke Heinst NED 34:27
22 Marta Ureña 34:28
23 Julia-Anna Lily Bell CZE 34:30
24 Bo Ummels NED 34:32
25 Cristina Giurcanu 34:44
26 Carla Morgenroth GER 34:49
27 Julia Font 34:56
28 Marijke De Visser NED 35:09
29 María del José De Toro 35:20
30 Irene Lorenzo 35:31
31 Saskia Weinans NED 35:42
32 Eva Van Zoonen NED 35:47
33 Ana Rodulfo 35:52
34 Tara Bage GBR 35:53
35 Vanessa Romero 35:58