A Flurry Of Fast 5Ks
Fastest UK women's parkrun was among the outstanding New Year results...
Hot on the heels of yesterday's analysis of average 5K times, runABC reporter Alan Newman was impressed by some remarkable results at the ubiquitous distance over the New Year...
Innes Fitzgerald (Exeter AC) set a parkrun 'British record' 15:27 at Exmouth parkrun on New Year's Day. The 19-year-old triple European Under-20 Cross Country Champion was the first finisher overall from 773 at Exmouth. One week earlier, on Christmas Day at Seaton parkrun, the Devon teenager had finished second overall in 15:47 – the first time she had ever run a parkrun in less than 16 minutes!
Meanwhile, on New Year's Eve, competing in the Cursa Dels Nassos 5K in Barcelona, Gemma Reekie (Kilbarchan AC) made a terrific debut at the distance on the road. The GB international middle-distance track star impressed with 15:21 in her first race since the Tokyo World Championships 800m last September.
In a cold Battersea Park, on New Year's Eve, there was more fast running in the Mizuno Friday Night Under The Lights NYE 5K. The top eight men were under 14 minutes, and the first three finished within a second! Joe Wigfield (Wirral AC, 13:37 PB) - pictured above #447 - snatched victory from Ted Higgins (Tonbridge AC, 13:38 debut) and 2024 and 2025 European Cross Country Championships mixed relay gold medal winner, Sebastiano Parolini (Italy, 13:38).
Former Olympian at 800m, Alexandra Bell (Pudsey & Bramley AC, 15:24) took 12 seconds from her previous best 5K time to win the women's elite race at Battersea. Hannah Irwin (Cambridge & Coleridge AC, 15:27 PB) and Alexandra Millard (Invicta East Kent AC, 15:27 PB) were almost inseparable as they fought for the runners-up spot.
The Battersea Park event featured nearly 300 athletes with times ranging from 13:37 to 21:44, in a late flurry of fast times that will trim the average for 5K in the UK!
Results from Exmouth parkrun on New Year's Day are here.
Results from Battersea Park on New Year's Eve are available via runABC here.
Photo of elite men's race at Battersea Park courtesy of Mark Hookway, Tonbridge AC
