Organisers of Highgate Harriers Night of the 10,000m PBs are promising that their event this Saturday 19th May will be a ‘celebration of 25 lap racing’.
The schedule, which has previously included trials for major international tournaments such as the 2016 Olympic Games and the IAAF World Championship London 2017, integrates the European 10,000 Cup this year.
All the action from London can be followed live on runjumpthrow.com from 1pm on this page, in partnership with runnerspace.com for viewers in North America.
The night is well-known throughout the British athletics community for the unique way in which supporters are invited onto lane three of the track to cheer on runners in the championship races. There will even be a live DJ, circus entertainment and a flypast by a typhoon jet to build the atmosphere.
Former 10,000m world record holder Dave Bedford supporting the event. Photo: Ben Pochee.
In terms of selection, 99 athletes have been chosen to represent 25 countries in the European 10,000m Cup. Among the notable entries picked out by European Athletics are reigning champion Antonio Abadia and European indoor 3000m champion Adel Mechaal, who are both from Spain.
Also watch out for last summer’s European under-23 5000m champion Yemaneberhan Crippa, who recently ran 13:18.83 in Stanford. The fastest entrant going by personal best – and the only one who has clocked a sub-28:00 time – is Brit Ross Millington who managed 27:55.06 in 2016 to gain qualification for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Other Brits on the team include BUCS cross country champion and triathlete Alex Yee, Claire Duck, who claimed a great win in the Women’s 5000m A Race at the British Milers’ Club Grand Prix in Sportcity last weekend, and BUCS 5000m medalist Jenny Nesbitt, who is back from Australia after competing in the Commonwealth Games.
European 10,000m champion Jo Pavey being cheered on by lane three supporters in Highgate. Photo: Andy Waterman.
The fastest female runner in the field this year is Lonah Chemtai, who recently broke the Israeli national 5000m record to win her national championships.
The women’s line-up also includes two-time winner Sabrina Mockenhaupt from Germany, who has a lifetime best of 31:14.21, and former European cross country champion Sophie Duarte from France.
You can watch back last year’s races here and here’s a throwback to two years ago when Jess Martin pulled off a stunning surprise victory in the Women’s A Race.
See the event website for more infomation.
