An excellent display of distance running is coming your way in less than a month’s time. Orion Harriers host FAST FRIDAY, an evening of 5000m and 10,000m races, also incorporating the England Athletics 10,000m Championships.
England Athletics are excited to yet again be a part of this event, specifically geared towards distance athletes, saying “Since 2014, the event has grown and provided an important opportunity for athletes looking for a good quality 10,000m race”.
The event will take place at Walthamstow Track, North London on 7th June, with action kicking off at 6:30pm for the 10,000m D Race.
RACE PROGRAMME:
6.30pm 10000m D Race
7.15pm 10000m C Race
8.00pm FAST 5000m
8.20pm FLAT OUT 5000m
8.40pm The England Athletics 10000m Women’s championships
9.20pm The England Athletics 10000m Men’s championships
Last year saw Amy Clements of Kent clock the fastest time amongst the females in the 10,000m, with a time of 35:35.8, a 6 second improvement on her previous best. Paul Martelletti of Victoria Park Harriers and Towers Hamlets AC topped the leaderboard for the men, clocking 30:32.23 in the fastest race of the evening. For the 5000m, it was 2018 south of England silver medallist, Andrew Penney, who secured the win in a time of 14:38.17 in the A race, just shy of his PB of 14:31, demonstrating the fast nature of the event.
Entries for this year’s event so far include Manchester International 10,000m and Great Ireland Run champion Ollie Lockley. Just last month he competed at home in the Isle of Man for the Easter Running Festival, which saw him win overall men’s title, after a 10km, gruelling 4 mile hill race and a 5000m, all in 48 hours. With a personal best time of 29:15.45 set last summer, he’s quickest in the field so far. Hot on his heels though is Cambridge & Colderidge athlete Jack Gray, who recently ran 28:57 on the road at the Brighton 10k. His track 10,000m time of 30:44 is back from 2014, so it’ll be interesting to see his transition onto the track on FAST FRIDAY.
Fifteenth at the European Championships in Berlin last year, marathon runner Tracey Barlow of Thames Valley steps down to the 10,000 and is one of the fastest athletes entered so far. Her 10km time of 33:21 was set this time last year on the roads at the Vitality London 10,000. Just ahead of her however is St.Mary’s University student Phoebe Law with 30:00 set in 2017. More recently, her most noticeable times have been 33:11 at the Brighton 10k last year. She’s no slouch over the 5000m on the track either, finishing 10th at the British University Championships in 16:40.57.
Also during the evening will be a series of 5000m races, with the fastest times entered so far coming from Matthew Crehan, with a 5km time of 14:22 set last year. He was recently crowned the Northern 5000m champion over the weekend, setting a new lifetime best of 14:51. He’ll be up against Salford 10k winner Norman Shreeve, who also set a lifetime best earlier this year of 14:44. For the ladies, it’s Georgie Grgec of Herne Hill who looks to be the fastest in the field, setting her lifetime best of 16:18.9 at this very event this time last year.
For more information, head to the events page.
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