Manchester Sportcity Grand Prix – 19 May 2012 – Results

Races: 27
Finishers: 281
PB’s: 84 (30%)
Power of Ten: Here

Qualifying

Olympics
Jo Pavey – 5000m – 15:14.19 – UKA “A” standard (15:20.00)
Ross Murray – 1500m – 3:36.69 – UKA “B” standard (3:38.00)

European Championships
Jo Pavey – 5000m – 15:14.19 (Standard: 15:25.00)
Ross Murray – 1500m – 3:36.69 (Standard: 3:39.00)

World Junior Championships
Charlie Grice – 1500m – 3:42.87 (Standard: 3:44.00)
Jessica Judd – 1500m – 4:15.12 (Standard: 4:18.00)

Video
Available at athleticos.org – HERE

Photos
Pictures were taken on the night and can be seen at darkstarphotos.com – HERE

Also Harry Shakeshaft photos HERE .

Report

ROSS Murray produced a stunning performance at the opening Grand Prix meeting at Sportcity in Manchester last night.
The Gateshead Harrier, who is a student at St Mary’s College in west London and coached by Craig Winrow, smashed his personal best and set a new British Milers’ Club record, eclipsing Anthony Whiteman’s 1997 best, as he won the A race in a time of 3mins 36.68secs.
That carved almost four seconds from the time he set at the BMC meeting in Stretford at the end of last month and lifted him to third in the UK Rankings behind Mo Farah (3:34.66) and Andy Baddeley (3:35.19).
More significantly from Murray’s point of view is that the time is inside the Olympic Games B qualifying standard of 3mins 38.0secs and only 1.19secs off the A standard.
“I still can’t believe it, I’m in shock with that time!” said a delighted Murray.
Hitting the bell in 2:40.58 after good pacemaking from Chris Warburton (400m in 57secs, 800m in 1mins 55secs) Murray exploded away from Nick McCormick and powered his way around the final circuit to finish well clear of the field.
The women’s A race didn’t generate quite the same excitement but Laura Weightman did what she had to do to win in her first outing of the season over the distance.
“I wanted a run-out and I came here to win which is what I did,” said Weightman, who finished comfortably ahead of teenager Jessica Judd
The Morpeth Harrier immediately goes top of the UK Rankings but that won’t concern her too much at this point in time as her sights are firmly fixed on peaking for the trials and trying to win a place in the British tem for the London Olympics.
Judd was just outside her PB of 4:14.21 as she clocked 4:15.12 to finish just head of Irish runner Ciara Mageean (4:15.75).
“There was a lot pushing and shoving in that race and I have the spike marks on my shins to prove it,” said Judd. “But it was a good experience and I can take a lot out of that.”
The top female performance of the night came from three-times Olympian Jo Pavey, returning to the track for the first time in two years.
After missing out on selection for the marathon the Exeter Harrier has switched her focus back to the track and immediately put down a marker with her winning time of 15mins 13.8secs.
In what ultimately proved to be a solo time trial once the pacemaker dropped out after the opening 1k Pavey, showing her trademark concentration, not only ran the fastest time of the year so far in the UK, edging ahead of Barbara Parker and Steph Twell but also dipped inside the Olympic Games A qualifying standard of 15mins 15secs. Like Murray, the time was also a new BMC record.
“It is a bit of a shock to the system being back on the track again for the first time in two years but I’ll take that tonight,” said Pavey.
“I didn’t set out with the target of running the A standard but sometimes you have to grasp these opportunities when they come along.”
In her first race since her promising debut in the London Marathon Freya Murray worked hard early on to stick with Pavey and probably paid for that effort as she was eventually swallowed up the chasing pack and finished eighth.
Likewise Aldershot, Farnham & District’s Emelia Gorecka led that pack for long stages with her focus on finishing top junior as the race also incorporated the UK Athletics trials for the World Junior Championships. There was never any doubt she would finish top junior but the effort in leading the pack took its toll in the closing stages as she drifted back to finish a disappointed sixth in 16:05.29.
“That wasn’t a great run but I am disappointed no-one else in that group helped out with the pace,” said Gorecka. “On top of that I didn’t feel great, actually a bit flat which may be something to do with the fact that I am revising a lot for exams at the moment.
“I put myself out and wanted to take it on but it wasn’t happening for me tonight. But I gave it a go.”
It was Shildon’s Kate Avery who came through strongest to claim the runner-up spot almost 30 seconds behind Pavey in a time of 15:43.78 with Gloucester AC’s Gemma Turtle third in 15:44.09. Both women ran personal bests as did Eilish McColgan, Elle Baker and junior Calli Thackery.

Men’s 800 metres

Sweden’s Johan Svensson was rewarded or making the trip to Manchester with victory in the A race, finishing strongly off the final bend to catch early leader David McCarthy and then holding off the challenge of local favourite Niall Brooks of Sale Manchester Harriers.
“I last ran in a BMC event in Watford two years ago and it is a great opportunity to try and get a decent time as we don’t have races like this in Sweden,” said 23-year-old Svensson.
“It was only my second race of the season so I’m pretty pleased with that and my target now is to try and get the qualifying time of 1:47.80 for the European Championships.”

In a very competitive B race Sam Ellis and then Rory Graham-Watson had spells in the lead before 17-year-old Jordan Bransberg of Skyrac emerged from the pack with a terrific sprint finish to claim victory in a time of 1:50.78.
That’s a personal best outdoors for the Leeds-based athlete and just outside the PB of 1:50.31 that he set during the indoor season – and which lifted him to fourth on the UK All-Time Indoor Rankings for under 20 men – and will give him confidence that he can make a serious stab at the 1:48.5 qualifying mark for the World Juniors.
“I tried slightly different tactics tonight by sitting in the pack and I’m pretty pleased with that,” said Bransberg, who is coached by Andrew Medley, a former training partner of that former great Yorkshire runner Peter Elliott.
In the C race Cardiff AC’s Elliot Slade stayed off the early pace set by Sale Manchester Harriers pair of Thomas Atkinson and Josh Oguntayo and burst clear down the home straight for victory in a personal best of 1:50.26,
“That’s my first proper 800m of the season and I’m delighted to beat my PB of 1:51.8,” said Slade, who is coached by Arwen Davies.
“I felt really strong with 200 metres to go after sitting back and I now feel I can go a lot faster this season. There is definitely more to come.”
Atkinson dug in to run a PB of 1:50.74 in second and there was also a PB for Myles Edwards in third (1:52.57).
Juniors Chris Youell (Chelmsford) and Peter Loudon (Edinburgh) were pushed into second and third respectively in the D race by Rasamus Terp of Denmark (1:51.54) but both youngsters were rewarded with PBs and it was good see BMC regular James Thie, who now coaches a good group of athletes in Cardiff, still racing in fourth before switching to pacemaking duties.

Cardiff AC’s James Mills, who trains with Joe Thomas, won the E race in 1:53.20 as he overhauled Liverpool’s Steven Morrow down the home straight.
“I am pleased with that being my first 800m of the season,” said Mills. “Last year I seemed to take a backward step as I started full-time work for the first time and only ran 1:54. I’m hoping to go a lot better this summer.”
Further success from the large contingent of runners from Scandinavia came in the F race with Norway’s Elias Ottosen just missing his PB by one one-hundredth of a second with 1:53.65.
Stockport’s Stuart Cameron, who looked an odds-on winner with 50 metres to go, was close behind (1:53.88) in second and City of Sheffield’s 16-year-old Joseph Lancaster was third in a PB of 1:55.03).

A strong second lap from Severn AC’s Tim Dalton saw him run out an emphatic winner of the G race in 1:55.51.
“It is well outside my PB of 1:52 but it is a win and I’m pleased with that as that was my first 800m for a while,” said Dalton. “Now I have to kick on from that.”
Jamie Webb was a delighted winner of the H race as the 17-year-old Liverpool Harrier breaking two minutes for the first time with 1:57.44.
“I am delighted with that,” beamed Webb. “I started the season with a PB of 2:04 and brought that down to 2:00.2 and now broken two minutes for the first time. Hopefully I’ll go even quicker by the end of the season.”

Men’s 1500 metres

Elswick Harriers’ 21-year-old Philip Hurst was left a little frustrated after winning the B race even though he shaved 0.9secs off his personal best with a time of 3:42.64 after destroying the field with a terrific burst in the final 100 metres.
“I feel a bit disappointed with that as I really wanted to be in the A race as I know I can go quicker but I guess I have to show my credentials first as the standard is so high tonight,” said Hurst.
“It was a fast first lap (57.2secs) and I then got boxed in at 800 metres but it is good to know that I can keep that pace going and I felt strong. There is definitely a lot more to come this season.”
Sale Manchester Harriers’ David Proctor did enough to hold off Liverpool’s Harry Harper for second as the pair clocked 3:44.59 and 3:44.65, a new PB, respectively. The top eleven runners all broke 3mins 50secs and AFD’s Johnny Hay, who later finished runner-up in the 5000m, was 14th in 3:54.95.
New father Matthew Bowser may have had his life turned upside down but he hasn’t forgotten how to win on the track as he raced to victory in a very competitive C event in 3:47.62.
“We had our first baby girl, Philippa, only eight weeks ago so it has been a busy couple of months and there have been a few sleepless nights,” said Bowser.
“I was hanging on early on but what I have got is speed and in the last 100 metres there aren’t many who can match me. My PB of 3:43 dates back to 2010 and I only managed 3:47 last year so my goal is to get into shape to break 3mins 40secs.”
Irishman Ruari Finnegan was leading with 200 metres to go but he was devoured by the pack and slipped seventh, just behind Shildon junior Cameron Boyek who also led earlier in the race.
Bowser had the fast last 100 metres to snatch victory from the Ireland pair of Conor Bradley (City of Derry) and Mark Hanrahan (Leevale) with Cardiff’s Ieuan Thomas fourth.

But in the D race the Irish held sway with Michael Mulhare of North Laois clocking a PB of 3:47.47 to edge out Southport Waterloo’s James Tartt (also a PB of 3:47.95) with Stroud’s Ben Coldray clocking a PB of 3:47.98 in third as he broke 3:50 for the first time.
Durham’s Dan Garbutt won the E race in 3:51.54 with Bristol & West AC’s Dan Studley slicing three seconds off his PB with 3:52.20 in second and 16-year-old Matt Shirling of Liverpool third in a PB of 3:52.38.

The depth in the men’s 1500m was no better illustrated than in the F race in which the top six broke 3mins 55secs and the top ten all dipped under 3mins 58secs with six of those runners clocking PBs.
English Schools’ champion Will Paulson of Stroud & District AC didn’t waste the opportunity of good pacemaking as he hit the front with 500 metres to go and powered around the final circuit to clock 3:50.79 and smash his personal best by almost five seconds.
“I went with 500 metres to go as I just felt the pace drop and I didn’t want to get boxed in,” said Paulson. “I wasn’t sure whether I could hold that pace for so long but I felt strong tonight and just kept going.
“I’m delighted to knock off such a big chunk from my personal best. My first 1500m had been in the BMC meeting at Millfield but the weather was dreadful that night so I knew I had a fast time in me.
“Now I’ll be looking to break 3mins 50secs and if all goes well try and make the final of the trials for the World Juniors.”
Behind Paulson Edinburgh AC’s 17-year-old Jake Wightman, being watched by proud dad Geoff, smashed his PB with 3:51.74 for second place while there were a host of further PBs down the field

Men’s 5000 metres

American Mohammed Trafeh, who lives in California, was a class apart in the men’s 5000m. Having just arrived from a spell of training in his native Morroco Trafeh was the only man who followed the swift early pace as he sought to break 13mins 30secs.
He was disappointed t fall nine seconds short with 13:39.71 but he rarely races on the track these days preferring to ply his trade on the road circuit in the States.
“I have raced in England before in a 1500m at this meeting four years ago,” Trafeh said. “Since then I raced once more on the track in 2009 but hardly again since then as I prefer the roads and I was just using this race to help sharpen up ahead of the US Championships over the half marathon next month.”
In his second race of the night Jonny Hay used his natural sprint speed to claim second spot in 14:02.10 with Tom Russell, who won this race two years ago, third in 14:02.93.
The top five in the B race all clocked PBs with victory going to Matthew Hynes of North York Moors in 14:09.85,which slashed almost 26 seconds off his previous best.
Bradley Goater continued his fine start to the season with a big PB to win the C race. The 18-year-old Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow athlete had already clocked new bests at 1500m and 3000m so it was no surprise that his 5000m was due an improvement but even he was pleasantly surprised at slashing 31 seconds off his best as he ducked under 15 minutes for the first time with 14:36.93.
“Last year didn’t go well for me on the track so this summer I’m just looking to improve my PBs to set me up for the cross country season where my big target will be to qualify for the European Championships,” said Goater.
“To be honest I would have liked to have gone quicker but I’m happy with that.”
Belgrave Harriers’ Mark Pollard cut out the pace early on and was rewarded with a SB of 14:43.09 in third as Coventry’s Chris Bannon just caught him in the closing stages to clock 14:42.48. Brighton & Hove junior William Gray also broke 15 minutes on his debut at the distance.

The success of the 5000 metres races, which has been a feature of the Grand Prix programme in recent seasons, was again underlined in the D race with winner Richard Brown of Lincoln Wellington slicing five seconds off his PB with 14:53.91 and runner-up Declan Reed also setting a new best.
Indeed, in the four 500m races there were a total of 28 PBs from 51 runners.

Women’s 800 metres

Edinburgh AC’s Lynsey Sharp opened her season with victory in the A race after a good tussle with Rowena Cole of Coventry.
After reaching the bell in 58.86secs Cole led off the bend but Sharp had that bit extra to edge clear down the home straight for victory in 2:02.76 with Cole 0.43secs adrift to clock a PB of 2:03.19.
“It was good to get out there and start racing again and I didn’t really think about times tonight,” said Sharp.
“Training has been going really well and I know I am in much better shape at this stage of the season compared to the same time last year.
“That is very encouraging and everything is geared towards the Olympic trials. The standard of 800m running is very competitive in the UK at the moment and I believe that is helping us all to bring each other on. We are all trying to improve and run faster and that’s what I will be hoping to do in the coming weeks.”
Cole was pleased with her performance a she ran aggressively, determined not to get boxed in.
“It was a competitive race and I really enjoyed it,” said Cole. “But it is still early days and I know there is much more to come.”

In her first race of the season Liverpool Harriers’ Rebecca Linney convincingly won the B race in 2:07.54, almost two seconds clear of Irish runner Claire McSweeney.
“That’s only just outside my personal best so that’s not too bad for my first race,” said Linney.
In third was Stockport teenager Chelsea Jarvis, who did a sterling job as a pacemaker later in the evening, with a solid 2:09.83.
Cornwall teenager Molly Long didn’t waste her six-hour journey from Truro to run in her first Grand prix event as the 15-year-old improved her PB for the second time this season with a winning mark of 2:10.02.
“I was so nervous before the race lining up against these girls,” said Long, who is coached by John Knowles, organiser of the South West BMC races in Exeter.
“John wanted me to do races like this to get more experience and once I got going I really enjoyed it. It was quick with 62 seconds for the first lap but I felt comfortable although that finial 10 metres was tough! With more experience I’m sure I can get well under 2mins 10secs.”
There was also a PB for D race winner Lucy Hayes with the City of Stoke junior clocking a PB of 2:15.59 with a brave front-running performance that saw here finish over a second clear of Guernsey’s Natalie Whitty with Giffnock’s Chloe Cowan third. Both the latter ran new PBs.

Women’s 1500 metres

As far as Philipppa Aukett was concerned it was job done as she won the B race in some style, surging clear down the back straight to finish over two seconds clear of City of Stoke’s Kate Holt with a time of 4:21.36.
“I came here tonight to win and that’s what I did in a pB so I’m happy with that,” said Aukett. “I felt really good.”
Morpeth’s Ashley Gibson was third and 17-year-old Cannock & Stafford teenager Beck Straw, a recent winner at Millfield, finished sixth in a PB of 4:27.44.

The C race went to Scunthorpe’s Sarah Kemshall in 4:33.40 as she enjoyed a two seconds advantage over Exeter Harriers’ Chloe Anderson with Trafford’s Victoria O’Donnell a further two seconds adrift in third as all three ran new best times.

Results