Solihull Grand Prix – 22 Aug 2015 – Results

Races: 24
Finishers: 239
PBs 82 (34%)
Power of Ten results: Here

Video
Stream of the meeting, via VINCO, can be seen HERE

Photos
Photos of the meeting, via Adrian Royle, can be seen HERE

Report
MEN’S 800 A-B RACES
The return of Jake Wightman to something approaching his best form was one of the highlights of the final Grand Prix of the season.
The 21-year-old admitted he has had a below-par season struggling to overcome some minor injury problems and the knock-on effect of two ill-fated trips to train at altitude.
While he may consider his victory in the men’s A race in a PB of 1:47.36 as coming too late in the season with all the major championships over it will give him a huge boost in confidence, especially the manner of his win as he finished powerfully kicking hard with 250 metres to go.
“I am feeling much better now and will be looking to get in a few more fast races before the end of the season, including a 3000m at Tipton,” said Wightman.
Behind him Rory Graham-Watson ran a season’s best and Dale Clutterbuck came through strongly for third to maintain his good Grand Prix record this summer.
There was also a PB for Vale of Aylesbury’s Christian Von Eitzen who qualifies to represent Germany, of 1:49.15 in fifth.
David Dempsey’s verdict on his win in the B race summed up his feelings succinctly.
“Finally a PB!” said Dempsey.
“I ran my PB last year when I was still a 400m hurdler and since switching events to the 800m I have had to wait until now to go quicker which has been very frustrating.
“But that was a good race and I had to work so hard.”
David Proctor chased him all the way down the home straight to clock a season’s best and there was a PB for Glasgow City’s Stephen Mackay in fourth.

MEN’S 1500 A-B RACES
At Watford coach Steve Vernon reckons Tom Lancashire kicked too early and then died in the home straight allowed Ross Murray to overhaul him.
This time the 2008 Olympian was more measured when he turned on the after-burners hitting the bell in 2:41.66 gradually easing clear of his pursuers with a strong last lap for victory in 3:38.35, just a fraction outside his season’s best of 3:38.07secs set in Watford.
“I think Tom is in shape to run 3mins 35/36secs but he is not yet ready for 3:33,” said Vernon. “That is what we are working towards for next year to qualify for Rio.”
European U23 1500m finalist Cameron Boyek showed good form – and obvious delight on crossing the line – to finish second in a PB of 3:39.15 while in third Adam Clarke also set a best time of 3:40.29.
Further back Andy Vernon put aside his disappointment of not running the 10,000m in Beijing to run his second fastest time ever of 3:43.02 for fifth place – just 0.04secs off his PB – while in seventh there was a World Age 43 best of 3:43.99 for the amazing Tony Whiteman.
The B race saw a one-two for the Norway pair of Mads Taersbol and Peter Glans, who were both delighted to clock PBs and fully justify their trip.

WOMEN’S 800 A-B RACES
The best race of the night was a fantastic duel between Alexandra Bell and Emily Dudgeon in the A race. There was barely a stride between the pair, both aged 22, as they fought around the second lap having reached the bell in a shade under 60 seconds.
Dudgeon seemed perfectly placed to strike coming off the bend but Bell is a tremendous competitor who has improved immeasurably this summer and has performed at a consistently high level all season.
Try as she might Dudgeon couldn’t get by and Bell dug in to win in 2:01.96, her second sub 2:02 time this season, with Dudgeon 0.32secs behind.
“I have had some really good races with Alex this summer and she just got me once again,” said Dudgeon.
“But I have been racing much more consistently as well and so I have to be pleased with that.”
There was another overseas winner of the B race with Finland’s Sara Kuivisto timing her finish to perfection. Megan Edwards and Amy Griffiths were battling for honours at 600m but maybe they burnt each other out as Kulvisto came through late to clinch victory in 2:04.78.
With Edwards and Griffiths fading 17-year-old Carys McAulay, who is going to the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, and 21-year-old Sally Smith both also finished strongly as the top three all clocked personal bests.

WOMEN’S 1500 A-B
The prize for the most impressive last lap must surely go to Ireland international Ciara Mageean. Had the 23-year-old’s season run more smoothly – injuries have interrupted her campaign – she would have been in Beijing but she declined to travel feeling she wouldn’t do herself justice.
On the evidence of her final lap, when she put almost three seconds on Madeleine Murray and five seconds on Jess Judd, she may have been too modest in her ambitions.
“It was a slight PB but I was hoping for more, something like sub 4mins 06secs,” said Mageean who picked up a £500 bonus for winning in under 4mins 08secs.
“I started my season late due to injury and while I was selected for Beijing I didn’t think I was ready for it.”
Scottish cross country champion Murray, who was contesting her first Grand Prix, should be delighted with her best performance in a Grand Prix field but Judd was left a little deflated and admitted the summer hadn’t gone as well a she had planned.
“I feel it is time to end my season and get ready for winter,” said Judd.
Racheal Bamford admitted she felt her campaign hadn’t gone as well as she would have liked but a PB in fourth was a nice consolation. There were also a further six PBs in the race including a time of 4:18.38 for 17-year-old Harriet Knowles-Jones.
The B race was won by Claire Duck of Leeds City in a season’s best of 4:22.39.
“It has been a tough season for me with a lot of ups and downs so I am really pleased to win that in a season’s best,” said Duck.

Results