NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge won't be back with the New York Yankees anytime soon. It's a further blow to an injury-decimated team with a mediocre record three-plus weeks into the season.

New York's biggest offensive threat and the heart of its clubhouse went on the injured list for the third time in four seasons on Sunday, one day after he strained the oblique muscle on the left side of his abdomen while hitting a sixth-inning single against Kansas City.

"Pretty significant strain in there," manager Aaron Boone said. "These next couple of weeks will kind of be a lot of just the healing process, so I think once we get through these first couple of weeks, then we'll have a better timeline."

Judge broke his right wrist when he was hit by a pitch by the Royals' Jakob Junis on July 26, and he did not return until Sept. 14. The Yankees were 65-36 when Judge went on the IL, they went 25-20 while he was out, and they won 10 of their final 16 games en route to a second-place finish in the AL East.

Judge became the Yankees' major-league-high 13th player on the injured list and the 14th overall this season, joining left fielder Giancarlo Stanton (strained left biceps), center fielder Aaron Hicks (strained left lower back), catcher Gary Sanchez (strained left calf), shortstop Didi Gregorius (Tommy John surgery), third baseman Miguel Andujar (torn labrum in right shoulder) and first baseman Greg Bird (torn plantar fascia in left foot).

Those six and Judge accounted for 175 of the team's record 267 homers last year, 515 of their 851 runs and 515 of their 821 RBIs. In addition, new shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has a strained left calf.

"Especially tough times like this, when a lot of guys are beat up. I wanted to be out there in the trenches with the guys every single day,'' Judge said after the Yankees' 7-6, 10-inning win over Kansas City on Sunday.

New York's starting lineup for the series finale against the Royals would have pushed the spring training rule requiring four regulars to make the trip for road games, as the Yankees resembled a Broadway show stocked with understudies near the end of a lengthy run. DJ LeMahieu was at second, followed by designated hitter Luke Voit, center fielder Brett Gardner, right fielder Clint Frazier, left fielder Mike Tauchman, third baseman Gio Urshela, first baseman Mike Ford, catcher Austin Romine and shortstop Tyler Wade. New York gave second baseman Gleyber Torres the day off.

"You feel like this is a great opportunity for us," Boone said. "I feel like it can make the end all that much more sweet."

New York entered the day 10-10 and was trying to get above .500 for the first time since it was 5-4.

"The guys that have been pressed into more regular roles than certainly any of us expected at this point have been productive and have been shown to be good players," Boone said. "And some of our young players that have very bright futures have stepped up and performed at a really high level."

Judge suffered a season-ending right oblique strain while fouling off a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 13, 2016.

The Yankees called that a Grade 2 strain, but Boone said Sunday that there is no grade on this injury: "With obliques, they don't grade. It's not like that."

Said Judge: "I don't think it's as bad as the one I did in '16, but it's a different side.''

He will be treated with ice until the inflammation and pain subside. Then he will work to regain mobility and strength.

Infielder Thairo Estrada, the only remaining healthy position player on the 40-man roster, was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Estrada, recovered from an early 2018 gunshot wound sustained in Venezuela, has never played in the major leagues, though he was on the bench for an April 4 game at Baltimore.

Sanchez, out since April 10 with a strained left calf, is scheduled to play a rehabilitation game Monday with Class A Charleston and could be activated before Wednesday's game at the Los Angeles Angels. Hicks, Andujar and Tulowitzki were headed to the team's Tampa, Florida, complex on Sunday to continue their rebab. Hicks felt pain while taking batting practice on March 1, Andujar got hurt March 31, and Tulowitzki got injured on April 3.

Stanton, injured on March 31, will be evaluated in the next few days, "and then it could potentially move fast," according to Boone.

New York's sidelined pitchers include ace Luis Severino (strained latissimus dorsi muscle), reliever Dellin Betances (right shoulder impingement) and Jordan Montgomery and Ben Heller (both recovering from Tommy John surgery).

Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury has not played since 2017 because of a variety of ailments.

"I don't view him as being close," Boone said. "He's had different things that have popped up that haven't allowed him to kind of break through and really get to that point to where we start thinking about heavy baseball activities."

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Matt Shoemaker had to choke back tears after tests revealed a torn ACL in his left knee Sunday, cutting short yet another promising season for the Toronto Blue Jays' oft-injured right-hander.

Standing in the clubhouse following a 5-4 win over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, Shoemaker's voice quivered and he paused a few times while discussing the injury. At one point he was asked if he needed time to compose himself but declined.

"You can't put words to it,'' Shoemaker said. "Extremely frustrated but at the same time I just have to stay positive. I know I'm really upset right now, I just got the news. But stay positive, keep fighting, get this thing right and be back when it's ready to go.''

Shoemaker was hurt at the end of a rundown Saturday, and Toronto announced the diagnosis and placed him on the 10-day injured list a day later. He will undergo surgery but no date has been set.

The 32-year-old is 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA in five starts after signing a $3.5 million, one-year deal with Toronto in December. He was limited to seven starts last year with the Los Angeles Angels because of a strained right forearm. In 2016, he sustained a skull fracture when he was hit in the head by a line drive, and he has had lingering forearm trouble for a while.

"He was one of the best pitchers in baseball for the first month,'' manager Charlie Montoyo said. "I feel bad for him. I feel bad for all of us, worse for him because he was doing so great.''

Shoemaker's latest injury occurred while he was chasing Oakland's Matt Chapman in the third inning. Shoemaker applied the tag and spun around to avoid contact. The injury happened as he twirled.

Shoemaker hopped around before falling to the ground as a team trainer rushed out. He was down for several moments and sat with his head in his hands before being helped to his feet and off the field.

"I was really hoping for a knee sprain,'' Shoemaker said. "I knew what I felt. It didn't feel right, but I was just hoping for a knee sprain.''

Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak called it a big loss for a team that just completed a 6-1 road trip.

"He's been awesome and he's pitched well so far,'' Smoak said. "It's a freaky thing. It's tough for him, tough for us.''

Before Sunday's game, Shoemaker walked slowly through the clubhouse with the aid of a single crutch. He didn't need it when talking to reporters but had a noticeable limp.

Although it's admittedly difficult, Shoemaker said the key to his recovery will be keeping an optimistic outlook.

"The biggest thing is that it's frustrating,'' Shoemaker said. "I can deal with this stuff. I know I seem pretty upset right now, which I am. But I've had bumps in the road before and I'm just going to fight through it. That's just who I am. It's just really upsetting right now."

Infielder Richard Urena was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo.

Every week deeper into the season adds extra meaning to where teams are. Get a month in and you can start to wonder if a hot start is an opportunity and if a slow start is a season-derailing stumble. But so far, the Astros can take some satisfaction in having lived up to expectations, nailing down another No. 1 ranking by appearing first on three of five ballots from our voters.

The other two first-place votes went to the Rays, whose hot start places them atop the new wave of contenders looking to unseat the Red Sox as the reigning champs, along with the Phillies and the Brewers.

The biggest move up this week was achieved by the Pirates, who make an eight-spot leap to crack the top 10. Joining them as newcomers to the top 10 are the Indians, who made an almost-as-impressive seven-rung climb. But where some teams made big gains, others took big hits. The Braves fell furthest, declining by seven slots to tumble from the top 10. The injury-wracked Mets dropped six spots and also fell from the top 10.

For Week 3, our panel of voters was composed of Bradford Doolittle, Christina Kahrl, Eric Karabell, Tim Kurkjian and David Schoenfield.

Previous: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2

1. Houston Astros

2019 record: 13-8
Week 2 ranking: 1

Bullpens are struggling across baseball, but that's not a problem for the scorching Astros. Houston's relief staff ranks second overall in ERA (2.47) and first in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.7), has blown just one save opportunity and has allowed just four inherited runners to score. Roberto Osuna, Ryan Pressly, Hector Rondon & Co. have been airtight so far. -- Bradford Doolittle

2. Tampa Bay Rays

2019 record: 14-8
Week 2 ranking: 2

For a team that doesn't rely on a traditional rotation, the Rays' starters have been pretty damn good this season. The group has an MLB-best 1.92 ERA and ranks in the middle of the AL in quality starts, even though that stat has less relevance for them (thanks to the opener) than any other club. Only Baltimore's starters have seen fewer batters beyond their first two trips to the dish in a game. -- Doolittle

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

2019 record: 15-9
Week 2 ranking: 6

In a big series win in Milwaukee over the weekend, the Dodgers took three of four and handed Josh Hader two losses in the process on late-game home runs from Enrique Hernandez and Cody Bellinger. Joc Pederson and Bellinger continued their early power streaks, as Pederson hammered his ninth and 10th home runs on Sunday and Bellinger's blast off Hader in the ninth was his 11th (he's batting a neat .424/.500/.882). -- David Schoenfield

4. Milwaukee Brewers

2019 record: 13-10
Week 2 ranking: 3

In a bizarre bit of early scheduling, the Brewers have already faced the Dodgers twice and the Cardinals twice, and on Monday, they begin their third series against St. Louis this season. That's good news for Redbird killer Christian Yelich, who already has eight homers and 19 RBIs against them this season. -- Doolittle

5. Philadelphia Phillies

2019 record: 12-8

Week 2 ranking: 9

The Phillies head back east after a tough weekend series in Denver, with right-hander Jake Arrieta scheduled for a pair of starts this week. Where would the rotation be sans Arrieta, who's 4-for-4 in quality starts? Aaron Nola gets the Marlins this week. That should help. -- Eric Karabell

6. New York Yankees

2019 record: 11-10
Week 2 ranking: 10

Aaron Judge became the 13th player on the Yankees' 40-man roster to head to the IL, with an oblique strain that manager Aaron Boone said on Sunday was "pretty significant." That's now six of the nine position players from the Opening Day lineup out with injuries. The Yankees still managed to go 5-1 in the week against the Red Sox and Royals, rallying Sunday after the bullpen blew a 5-0 lead in the eighth inning. -- Schoenfield

7. Cleveland Indians

2019 record: 12-9
Week 2 ranking: 14

Just when you start thinking the Tribe's fortunes were improving now that Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor are both back from the IL, problems are starting to multiply in the rotation. Mike Clevinger is out until at least June, and Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco have allowed six runs in four of their nine combined starts. -- Christina Kahrl

8. St. Louis Cardinals

2019 record: 12-9
Week 2 ranking: 7

The Cardinals have already lost five of seven games against the Brewers this season but now face their division rivals at home for the first time. Marcell Ozuna has been carrying this red-hot offense with eight home runs in his past 13 games, but the team will need more pitching performances like Miles Mikolas' on Saturday to produce a stronger outcome in the rematch. -- Tristan Cockcroft

9. Seattle Mariners

2019 record: 16-9
Week 2 ranking: 5

After a dreadful 0-6 homestand against the Astros and Indians, the Mariners went to L.A. and their bats suddenly came alive again, as they hit 11 home runs in the first three games against the Angels to take the four-game series. The Mariners hit 53 home runs in their first 24 games. The 1979 Astros hit 49 home runs all season (and still won 89 games). -- Schoenfield

10. Pittsburgh Pirates

2019 record: 12-7
Week 2 ranking: 18

Strong pitching has propelled the Pirates into first place. From April 10 to April 21, the team limited its opponents to three runs or fewer in every game. Even fifth starter Jordan Lyles has gotten into the act, with consecutive quality starts and a 0.53 ERA through his first three turns of the season. -- Cockcroft

11. New York Mets

2019 record: 11-10
Week 2 ranking: 4

This week starts with lefty Steven Matz on the mound, seeking revenge after one of the worst starts in history against the Phillies last week. Matz allowed eight runs while retiring nary a Phillie. The concern with Matz in the past has rarely been ability but his durability. At least he appears to be healthy. -- Karabell

12. Chicago Cubs

2019 record: 10-10
Week 2 ranking: 16

The Cubs' bullpen had an ERA over 9.00 in its first eight games, then under 1.00 for its next nine. What's the real number? As we wait to find out, the Cubs can take solace in having weathered their early struggles even though neither Kris Bryant nor Anthony Rizzo has really gotten things going at the plate early in the season. -- Doolittle

13. Washington Nationals

2019 record: 10-10
Week 2 ranking: 11

The Nationals avoided a sweep in Miami when Stephen Strasburg pitched one of the best games of his career on Sunday with a line of 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 SO. The Game Score of 87 matched the third-highest of Strasburg's career. Now the Nats need to get Max Scherzer back on track after he allowed 14 runs his past three starts. (He's fine -- mostly some bad luck on BABIP in those games.) -- Schoenfield

14. Atlanta Braves

2019 record: 11-10
Week 2 ranking: 8

One of the best surprises for the Braves has been the early production of shortstop Dansby Swanson, who ranks third in the NL in RBIs while already more than one-third of the way to his 2018 total of 14 home runs. The biggest development for him so far: He has cut his chase rate from 30.8 percent to under 20 percent. -- Schoenfield

15. Boston Red Sox

2019 record: 9-13
Week 2 ranking: 12

So the defending champs aren't dead yet. After a three-game sweep of the Rays, the Red Sox are at Fenway for a 10-game homestand that includes three more against Tampa Bay. The surprising hero this weekend? Catcher Christian Vazquez, who hit a two-run homer Friday, picked Tommy Pham off first to end Saturday's win and knocked in the winning run Sunday with an 11th-inning sac fly. -- Steve Richards

16. Minnesota Twins

2019 record: 12-7
Week 2 ranking: 17

Twins third basemen, led by free-agent acquisition Marwin Gonzalez, have been a bit disappointing, but at least Miguel Sano is on the mend and should help by early May. The word "disappointing" describes Sano's recent seasons, as well, but he has slugged .477 in his career. Meanwhile, Gonzalez returns to Houston this week. -- Karabell

17. Oakland Athletics

2019 record: 11-13
Week 2 ranking: 15

Pitching was the big question for the A's, and despite strong encores from Brett Anderson and Blake Treinen, it hasn't been great. They lost all five of Marco Estrada's starts before he landed on the IL, and Estrada and Mike Fiers have combined to allow 42 runs in 48⅔ IP across 11 starts. Beyond Treinen, the pen has allowed an MLB-worst 50 percent of inherited baserunners to score. -- Kahrl

18. San Diego Padres

2019 record: 12-11
Week 2 ranking: 13

A six-game losing streak cooled some of the buzz that surrounded this team early, but top prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. continues to reward the team for putting him on the Opening Day roster and ignoring the service-time debate. On Friday, Tatis became the youngest player in history to homer and steal three bases in a single game. -- Cockcroft

19. Texas Rangers

2019 record: 12-8
Week 2 ranking: 24

It was a big week in Texas, as the Rangers went 5-1 to wrap up their homestand. They did it by swinging the big sticks, averaging 7.3 runs per game (including 20 the last two games against the vaunted Astros staff), or nearly 2.5 runs more than their average entering the week. -- Richards

20. Colorado Rockies

2019 record: 8-13
Week 2 ranking: 26

A five-game winning streak during the past week spared the Rockies from the depths of last place, and Charlie Blackmon's weekend resurgence gave hope of an impending move up the standings. The Rockies' leadoff hitter was 9-for-14 with his first two home runs of the season, snapping what had been a .219/.266/.301 opening three weeks. -- Cockcroft

21. Arizona Diamondbacks

2019 record: 11-11
Week 2 ranking: 23

Arizona's biggest short-term concern is the health of first baseman Christian Walker, who sat out Sunday with a hip pointer. Walker has come out of nowhere to rank in the top 10 in OPS (1.127), slugging (.706) and wOBA (.461). He also has a hard-hit rate of 73.3 percent, with just 4.4 percent soft contact, which is best in baseball. Walker said he's OK; the D-backs sure hope so. -- Richards

22. Los Angeles Angels

2019 record: 9-13
Week 2 ranking: 19

Right-hander Matt Harvey should start twice this week, against the Yankees and Royals, as he attempts to alter his rough start of 20 earned runs through 18⅔ innings. Harvey's work in March/April in his first five seasons added up to a 3.66 ERA over 24 starts. The Angels already lack rotation depth, but Harvey is on watch. -- Karabell

23. Toronto Blue Jays

2019 record: 11-12
Week 2 ranking: 25

Business ought to be picking up in Toronto sometime this week with the much-anticipated arrival of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. This on the heels of a strong 6-1 week for the Jays. Enough to divert attention from the Maple Leafs' Game 7 against the Bruins on Tuesday night? Let's not get crazy -- but some April baseball excitement nonetheless. -- Richards

24. Detroit Tigers

2019 record: 10-10
Week 2 ranking: 21

The Tigers' respectable start owes much to a solid staff-wide performance from their pitching. Detroit is one of just five teams to get quality starts in 50 percent or more of their games, and the bullpen -- keyed by closer Shane Greene's recording a save in all 10 Tigers victories this season -- ranks fourth in the majors in ERA (3.29). -- Kahrl

25. Cincinnati Reds

2019 record: 8-13
Week 2 ranking: 20

Jesse Winker's bat has started to catch fire with six home runs in his past 43 trips to the plate, but the rest of the offense needs to follow suit soon. The Reds can't keep expecting Luis Castillo and his 1.47 ERA to single-handedly carry them to victory every fifth day -- ask Jacob deGrom how that worked out in 2018. -- Cockcroft

26. Chicago White Sox

2019 record: 8-12
Week 2 ranking: 27

Lost in the back-and-forth of the Brad Keller-Tim Anderson incident was that the White Sox missed a golden opportunity to build some momentum. First, they lost that game against the Royals in extra innings. Then they blew a late lead in Detroit. In a division that might not require 90 wins to win it, these are the kinds of games that could haunt an improving ChiSox squad later. -- Doolittle

27. San Francisco Giants

2019 record: 9-14
Week 2 ranking: 22

The middle infield might have been one area in which the Giants entered the season thinking they were in solid shape, but slow starts from veterans Joe Panik and Brandon Crawford have the Giants dead last with a .479 OPS from their second base/shortstop combo. Will they reach a point where they feel the need to shake things up? -- Kahrl

28. Kansas City Royals

2019 record: 7-15
Week 2 ranking: 29

Royals Opening Day starter Brad Keller, scheduled to pitch twice this week, made news last week for a retribution plunking of Tim Anderson and earned a suspension, but he deserves notice for his numbers. Keller is among the qualified leaders in batting average against, with 19 hits permitted in 30⅔ innings. The Royals need myriad things, but they might have a surprising ace. -- Karabell

29. Baltimore Orioles

2019 record: 8-15
Week 2 ranking: 28

We knew those heady days floating near .500 couldn't last, and a 1-5 week sunk the O's to their expected spot in the AL East cellar. On the bright side, Chris Davis is on fire -- relatively speaking. Since April 12, when Davis' record hitless streak reached 0-for-54, his slash line is .333/.364/.619 and he has almost as many RBIs (six) as strikeouts (seven). Progress, such as it is. -- Richards

30. Miami Marlins

2019 record: 6-16
Week 2 ranking: 30

With Marlins outfielders dead last in offensive production with a .502 OPS, the Fish turned back to last year's most frequently used right fielder last weekend after starting five other players there (in just 20 games), moving Brian Anderson back from third base. It helped Miami win its series with the Nationals -- including handing Max Scherzer a drubbing. -- Kahrl

A look ahead to this weekend’s multi-day endurance events taking place on the Isle of Man and Guernsey

The always popular Isle of Man Easter Festival has a reputation as a students’ jolly, but the three-race series from April 19-21 always attracts good athletes and performances.

Manx Harriers’ Ollie Lockley and Rachael Franklin are back to defend their festival titles, which are decided on aggregate positions over the weekend. Last year’s festival represented the first time in the event’s 57-year-history that both champions were locals.

Both have been warm-weather training in Portugal in preparation, with Lockley recently showing good shape by becoming the first Isle of Man athlete to run below 30 minutes for 10km on the road.

Cambridge University’s James Hoad, who ran 14:27 at the Armagh 5km recently, is another who could figure.

Edinburgh University’s Neil Renault is still showing good form as an M35, having run 15:18 and 32:04 last year for 5km and 10km. Keele University’s Felix McGrath is looking to continue in the shape that saw him run a 10km PB of 30:51 last month.

Alan Corlett, who has run 31:23.4 for 10,000m on the track this year, is another Manx Harrier looking to do well on home soil.

Among those looking to challenge Franklin on the women’s side will be Cambridge University’s Ruby Woolfe, recently under 37 minutes for 10km.

Edinburgh University’s Laura Stark, who was 16th in the under-20 race at the Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships last month, is joined by Cambridge University’s Polly Keen, who ran 2:49 at the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon this month, plus Edinburgh’s Naomi Lang and Amy Frankland.

Races

Good Friday April 19: Bushy’s 10km road race, Port Erin
Saturday April 20: Peel hill race Easter
Sunday April 21: 5km road race, Douglas

See Easterfestival.info

Over in Guernsey, the Intertrust Guernsey Easter Running Festival from April 19-22 sees Ryan Burling (pictured below), who was last year’s overall winner, return. Last year’s runner-up, Dan Galpin, is also set to race.

Other challengers include Luke Williams of San Domenico, who has a recent 10km PB of 32:12, and City of Portsmouth’s Jacob O’Hara, who has run 15:32.90 for 5000m.

Guernsey’s twice Commonwealth representative Sarah Mercier heads the women’s line-up.

Other top women include locals Mel Nicolle and Jenny James, while Louise Perrio may defend her title depending on constraints connected with the organisation of the event.

Races

Good Friday April 19: 5km road race
Saturday April 20: Keith Falla Memorial Cross Country
Easter Sunday April 21: 4×1-mile cross country relay
Easter Monday April 22: 10km road race

See guernseyathletics.org.gg/easter

Three-time world 1500m champion maintains his innocence but is suspended following a positive test for EPO

Kenya’s 2008 Olympic 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop has been handed a four-year ban after testing positive for the banned substance erythropoietin (EPO) in an out-of-competition test in November 2017, the Athletics Integrity Unit has announced.

Kiprop has maintained his innocence but on Saturday the Athletics Integrity Unit published its decision on the case stating that the 29-year-old would be banned for four years from the date of his provisional suspension on February 3, 2018, with any results from November 27, 2017, to February 3, 2018, to be disqualified.

The @iaaforg Disciplinary Tribunal has banned former Olympic and world 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop of Kenya for four-years starting 03 Feb 2018. #CleanSport #antidoping #AIUNews @ADAK_KE @athletics_kenya @SportRes_UK
Find all the details here: https://t.co/cBkQOqSHT4 pic.twitter.com/LYNutaHUvi

— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) April 20, 2019

In its decision document the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), acting on behalf of the sport’s world governing body the IAAF, wrote that “at various times and in various formats he (Kiprop) has proposed a number of possible explanations for the adverse analytical finding” but after considering each of those points the panel said “the case against the athlete is convincingly made out”.

Among Kiprop’s claims were that the sample may have been tampered with and that he was notified about the doping test in advance, which is in breach of anti-doping rules.

The AIU response to each of Kiprop’s claims can be found in its decision document (available in full here), which confirms that the athlete had been given advance notice of the planned test. “The panel was … unable to conceive of any link between such advance notice and the adverse analytical finding in this (or any other advance notice) case,” added the AIU.

As well as his Olympic gold from 2008, which he claimed after his silver medal was upgraded to gold following the disqualification of winner Rashid Ramzi due to a doping offence, Kiprop won his three world titles in 2011, 2013 and 2015, while his PB of 3:26.69 recorded in 2015 puts him third on the world 1500m all-time list.

He also placed sixth at the Rio Olympics and ninth at the London 2017 World Championships.

“The panel … is aware that its order will interrupt and may even terminate the athlete’s sporting career and cast a shadow over his impressive competitive record,” added the AIU decision document in part.

“But in its opinion the laboratory results viewed in the context of the evidential record and the regulatory framework admit of no other conclusion than that the case against the athlete is convincingly made out.”

Kiprop has the right to appeal the decision.

It’s been a long road back from injury for the GB distance runner, but she still has bigger aims

As Kate Avery continues to prove that her patience is paying off, Britain’s top senior athlete at last month’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships is relishing having two global track targets to aim for in the next 16 months.

The 27-year-old admits her comeback after injury was tougher than she initially anticipated, but a strong winter season has set her up well, ahead of a summer which she hopes will end with a place on the GB team for the IAAF World Championships in Doha. After that, her target is Tokyo.

“It’s the most frustrating thing as an athlete to have to be patient,” says Avery, whose 2015 10,000m PB of 31:41.44 places her ninth on the UK all- time list.

“After the past couple of years, I’m still not back up to the sort of training I was doing before but I’ve got to see it as a process. Track is my main aim because I want to make the Olympic Games. I’ve kind of seen this season as a huge step forward, but I still want to do more.”

After starting her season with second at the Cardiff Cross Challenge, Avery went on to win in Milton Keynes and finish fifth in Liverpool to secure her spot for the European Cross Country Championships in Tilburg – the first time she had pulled on the GB vest since January 2016, and she did so as team captain.

There she placed 15th to help the senior women to secure silver – the ninth Euro Cross medal of her career – despite having a heavy cold.

“Track is my main aim because I want to make the Olympic Games. I’ve kind of seen this season as a huge step forward, but I still want to do more”

The new year began with a ninth place at the Simplyhealth Great Stirling XCountry, seventh in Dundonald and then a road 3km PB of 9:11 to finish fourth at the Armagh International Road Races. She matched that placing at the World Cross trials in Loughborough, where she is based, to win another GB team place for Aarhus.

With an impressive 30th-place finish, Avery led her senior women’s squad to fourth in the team standings.

“It was an experience, to say the least,” she reflects. “I’m really pleased – I think it was another step forward in getting back to where I want to be performing. It was also awesome to be part of such a strong team and finish fourth in the world.”

On her Euro Cross experience, she adds: “I would have liked to have performed better when I was there, but actually, on reflection, just making the team and being captain was a huge honour.

“My speech was quite emotional. You do think about those points when I doubted that I would be back here (running at that level).

“Just being back on the team, competing at that level again, was a huge moment for me.”

Now she is eager for more.

“Making championships is, to me, the best part of the sport,” says Avery, whose main aim after a warm-weather training camp in Portugal will be to race at the Highgate Night of the 10,000m PBs as she sets her sights on Doha.

“I thrive off it and generally I have my best runs at championships. That’s where I want to be, that’s the level I want to be competing at.

“I’d probably be more nervous for a lower-level race or the qualifying race because everything is geared towards making the team or a championship and that’s probably where I feel more pressure.

“If I don’t enjoy that bit (the major stage), I’m not going to enjoy any of it.”

American moves to equal fourth on the world all-time list with 43.45 in California, while Ollie Lockley and Rachael Franklin retain their Isle of Man Easter Festival titles

There were some impressive performances over the Easter bank holiday weekend, as a number of athletes enjoyed strong starts to their seasons.

Mt. SAC Relays, Torrance, California, April 20

Making his 400m season opener, Michael Norman stormed to a time of 43.45 to move from sixth to equal fourth on the world all-time list.

That time puts the NCAA indoor and outdoor champion behind only Wayde Van Niekerk (43.03), Michael Johnson (43.18) and Butch Reynolds (43.29) on the all-time rankings, with the mark matching the best time of 2004 Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner.

It is the fastest ever 400m season debut and saw him win ahead of his training partner and hurdles specialist Rai Benjamin with 44.31.

4️⃣3️⃣.4️⃣5️⃣ in April for @michaelnorman22 ?
⠀

Watch the @TheMtSACRelays men’s 400m (+PLUS) ? https://t.co/nmXBALN9h7 pic.twitter.com/Z6wTtNODgt

— RunnerSpace.com (@RunnerSpace_com) April 21, 2019

Keni Harrison won the 100m hurdles in 12.63, while Vashti Cunningham won the high jump with 1.97m.

Brazil’s Paulo Camilo won both men’s sprints in 10.21 (-1.6m/s) and 20.30 (+0.5m/s) ahead of Ameer Webb with 10.33 and 20.64.

Britain’s Alice Wright finished fourth in the 5000m, clocking a PB of 15:45.51.

Long Beach Invitational, California, April 20

Olympic shot put champion Ryan Crouser also had a superb start to his season as he threw 22.74m for the best mark in the world since 1990.

After starting with a throw of 21.53m he improved to 22.73m in round four and then 22.74m in round five.

Payton Otterdahl was second with an outdoor PB of 21.37m.

In the men’s triple jump, Omar Craddock leapt a 17.68m (0.0m/s) PB to beat Christian Taylor with 17.18m (+1.6m/s).

Michael Johnson Invitational, Waco, Texas, April 20

Divine Oduduru completed a sub-10 and sub-20 100m and 200m double on the same day, becoming just the 10th male athlete to ever achieve the feat.

Nigeria’s NCAA indoor and outdoor 200m champion first ran a 100m PB of 9.94 (0.8m/s) and then clocked 19.76 (0.8m/s) for a 200m PB less than an hour later.

Phyllis Francis ran 23.01 (+1.2m/s) to win the 200m ahead of hurdler Sharika Nelvis with 23.70.

Asian Athletics Championships, Doha, April 21

The first day of the championships saw world champion Gong Lijiao win the shot put with 19.18m ahead of Noora Salem Jasim’s Bahrain record throw of 18.00m.

China’s Lyu Huihui threw a championship record of 65.83m to win the women’s javelin, while Iran’s Ehsan Hadadi threw a 65.95m championship record to win the men’s discus.

Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser was a dominant 400m winner, clocking 51.34.

Scottish 10,000m Championships, Glasgow, April 19

Shettleston Harriers claimed three of the six medals on offer, with Lachlan Oates and Fionnuala Ross retaining their titles in respective times of 29:40.79 (PB) and 33:50.86.

Dundee’s James Donald was second in the men’s race in a PB of 30:14.18 ahead of Cambuslang’s Ryan Thomson with a 30:19.54 PB, while Kilbarchan’s Elspeth Curran was second in the women’s race in 34:47.82 and Avril Mason of Shettleston third in a 35:07.28 PB.

Isle of Man Easter Festival, April 19-21

Ollie Lockley and Rachael Franklin successfully defended their overall titles after a weekend of action.

Lockley, of Manx Harriers, scored 5 points to Jack Leitch of Edinburgh Uni’s 7 points and Max Milarvie of Edinburgh Uni’s 18.

Franklin, also of Manx Harriers, scored 3 points ahead of Naomi Lang of Edinburgh Uni with 7 points and Amy Frankland of Edinburgh Uni with 11 points.

Edinburgh Uni won the men’s team title and Manchester Uni the women’s.

Lockley and Franklin started their title defences with convincing wins in the Bushy’s 10km road race at Port Erin. Lockley won in 30:40, with Franklin exactly 5 minutes behind in 35:40.

This year’s men’s four-mile Full Factory Peel Hill Race saw some of the fastest ever times recorded, with Felix McGrath of Keele Uni winning in 20:34 ahead of Leitch in 20:39 and Lockley in 20:46. The women’s three-mile race was won by Franklin in 16:38 as she broke the course record ahead of Lang with 16:50 and Frankland with 17:42.

The final event was Sunday’s Outback 5km, won by Lockley in 14:44 and Franklin in 17:18.

Intertrust Guernsey Easter Running Festival, April 19-22

Report to follow…

Tonbridge, April 22

Clare Elms ran 4:48.65 for 1500m to take over two seconds off the world W55 record in her first outdoor race of the year.

She finished second to Phoebe Barker who clocked 4:39.60.

Clare Elms runs 4:48.65 1500m to take over two seconds off World W55 record in her first outdoor race of the year at Tonbridge finishing second to Phoebe Barker pic.twitter.com/n79YhvPxsh

— Athletics Weekly (@AthleticsWeekly) April 22, 2019

IAAF Race Walking Challenge and  Pan American Race Walking Cup, Mexico, April 20-21

Sweden’s Perseus Karlstrom won the men’s 20km race walk in 1:23:40 ahead of Spain’s Diego Garcia with 1:23:59 and Mexico’s Carlos Sanchez with 1:24:01.

Brazil’s Erica de Sena won the women’s race in 1:29:22 ahead of Peru’s Kimberly Garcia with 1:29:33 and Spain’s Maria Perez in 1:31:11.

Mexico’s Isaac Palma and Peru’s Evelyn Inga won the 50km events the following day, clocking 3:49:39 and 4:22:57 respectively.

Eldoret City Marathon, Kenya, April 21

Valary Aiyabei won the women’s title in 2:27:17 ahead of Vivian Kiplagat (2:28:06) and Elizabeth Rumokol in 2:33:00, while Matthew Kisorio won the men’s race in 2:12:38 ahead of David Kiplimo (2:12:51) and Kenneth Kemboi (2:15:43).

Rabat Marathon, Morocco, April 21

Kenya’s Olympic and world 5000m medallist Sylvia Kibet set a course record and PB of 2:25:52 to win the women’s race ahead of her compatriots Shelmith Muriuki (2:33:29) and Priscah Cherono (2:34:27).

Sammy Kigen completed a Kenyan double as he ran 2:08:12 to win from Morocco’s Othmane El Goumri (2:08:20) and Ethiopia’s Chele Dechase (2:08:25).

Nagano Marathon, Japan, April 21

Uganda’s Jackson Kiprop took the men’s title in 2:10:39, while Meskerem Hunde won the women’s race in 2:33:32.

Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon, China, April 21

Kenya’s Perine Nengampi won the women’s race in 68:04, while Ethiopia’s Berehanu Tsegu won the men’s title in 59:56.