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LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY GRAND PRIX PREVIEW
A quick glance at the quality line-up for the men’s 800m A race left meeting organiser Bill Foster purring with anticipation.
“Who would be your money on to win that race?” asked Foster.
It’s not a bad question for what looks to be one of the highlights of the third Adidas/sportsshoes.com British Milers Club Grand Prix of the season at Loughborough University this weekend.
“The men’s 800m has a very strong line-up,” explained Foster. “We have Thomas Keen, who is a 1:46 man and Arlo Ludewick who is on fire this season.
“And it is great to see two Loughborough University guys in there. Dave Race won the last Grand Prix at Birmingham University and we also have one of our former students James McMurray, who ran a fantastic 1500m PB of 3:34 last month.
“Given the right conditions this could be a 1:45 race.”
Ludewick, who is coached by BMC President Norman Poole, warmed up for the meeting with a PB of 1:46.49 to win the 800m at the Trafford Gold Standard meeting on Tuesday.
He won the 1500m in a PB of 3:37.48 at the opening Grand Prix meeting at the same Manchester venue and only missed the Birmingham University GP because of illness.
Clearly he has now recovered and will be one to watch on Saturday as will Keen, who is coached by Mark Vile. Keen has already clocked a fabulous PB of 3:34.40 for 1500m this season and after a season’s best of 1:46.63 at Belfast last month will be confident of improving his lifetime best of 1:46.18.
Race boasts a season’s best of 1:46.82 set when winning his first Grand Prix A race at Birmingham University and will also have his eye on his PB of 1:46.41.
As for McMurray his PB of 1:46.92 dates back to 2022 and while this is his first outing over two laps this summer that 3:34.90 PB in Brussels will have given him a huge confidence boost.
“Obviously some of the runners are stepping down a distance ahead of the British Championships the following weekend looking for a sharp work-out,” added Foster.
“I would say that overall the fields are looking stronger than last year.”
The women’s 800m A race also looks intriguing with the winners of the opening two GPs in the line-up. Khahisa Mhlanga won at Trafford in a season’s best of 2:03.0 with U20 Bethany Trow chasing her home in a PB of 2:03.37.
Mhlanga had to pull out of the Birmingham University meeting and in her absence Trow claimed an impressive victory in 2:03.42. Who will have the edge this weekend?
Of course, the likes of U23 Ava Lloyd, racing 800m for the first time this season, Holly Dixon, Helen Braybrook and teenager Mollie Grant, who was sixth at Birmingham University and is No 2 in the UK U18 rankings, will have a say in that.
And it is good to see Lily Beckford rewarded with a place in the A race after her impressive win in the B race at Trafford when he recorded a PB of 2:04.99.
Biruk Aduna Kebede was originally down to run the men’s 3000m but a late withdrawal opened up a spot in the 1500m and he eagerly made the switch.
It was at this meeting a year ago that Kebede launched a stunning finish to overhaul leader Max Shervington, of Australia, in the home straight for a thrilling victory in 3:39.44.
That remains the 20-year-old’s PB and a time he will be looking to challenge having so far posted a season’s best of 3:41.69 for seventh place at the Birmingham University Grand Prix.
Dan Galloway won the race at Birmingham in lifetime best of 3:40.02 to back up his victory at the BUCS Championships in a strong start to the season. The 21-year-old will have his sights on going sub 3:40 for the first time.
Ethan Newell ran a PB of 3:40.28 behind Galloway to go No 1 in the UK U20 Rankings so should be up there as will super consistent veteran Harry Wakefield.
Australian Luke Shaw shouldn’t be discounted with a PB of 3:39.74 at this year’s Australian Championships and while Niall Murphy of Ireland may only have a PB of 3:45.90 he recently clocked a 5000m PB of 13:37.35 at the IFAM meeting, Brussels, so is in top form.
“We have a very strong entry from Ireland and it is good to see their athletes coming over to support the meeting,” said Foster.
On paper Ellie Leather, who has been racing in America, is the fastest athlete in the women’s 1500m with a 2024 PB of 4:06.12. She has posted a 2:02.40 for 800m in the States last month and is targeting a fast time this weekend ahead of the trials.
Molly Hudson has already notched up a PB of 4:07.27 at Belfast last month while Beth Ansell and Lucy Jones are also in the field.
From overseas Annemarie Nissen of Denmark is clearly a contender having already run a PB of 4:10.54 this summer and Australian Zoe Toland is a 4:15.11 runner.
There are also large and very competitive fields for the men’s and women’s 3000m races so the hours there are all to play for.
“We are sold out again with 400 entries and could have taken even more so I am delighted with the response,” explained Foster.
Now let the action begin!
The first race is at 5pm with another 30 to follow in an action-packed evening the finishes with the men’s 3000m A race at 8.50pm.
Spectator tickets available on the gate and if you can’t make it in person then check out the live coverage provided by our partner Vinco.
