Wokingham Half Marathon rebounded after missing 2021, with 2693 finishers and a 66-minute winning time on Sunday (27 February). The medals (pictured) glinted in the winter sunshine and the athletes rose to the occasion to post some scintillating times.

The revised course from Cantley Park was hailed as a winner on social media and the fully closed roads were also praised by competitors. Wokingham Half has been producing super fast times since 1984 and the race records are held by Phil Wicks (1:03:14) and Liz Yelling (1:11:09). 

The last race in 2020 was won by Jonathan Cornish (Hercules Wimbledon, 1:07:13) and Louise Damen (Winchester, 1:16:23) and there were 2,632 finishers in 3:14:44. The race has a 3,000 runner limit and a 3:15:00 cut-off time for safety reasons.

This year's champions were faster and there were 61 more inside the time limit for recording finishers. Joshua Grace (Aldershot, Farnham & District, 1:06:06) – who ran 14:10 earlier this month for 5K – was the overall winner and Naomi Mitchell (Reading AC, 1:11:52 PB) put Liz Yelling's outstanding women's course record under intense pressure to win her race.    

The top five men beat 68 minutes and the 2022 champion was followed by Tom Merson (Exmouth Harriers, 1:07:05), M45 Nick Torry (Serpentine RC, 1:07:23), Alex Milne (Hercules Wimbledon, 1:07:40) and Ronnie Richmond (Bideford AAC, 1:07:47).

Four women went under 75 minutes and the runners-up to Naomi Mitchell were Becky Briggs (City of Hull AC, 1:13:51), Kirsteen Welch (Sidmouth RC, 1:14:42 PB) and Rebecca Duxbury (Oxford Tri, 1:15:18 PB) – the latter chopping more than four minutes off her previous best.

One of the notable features of the race was just how far athletes were prepared to travel to participate, although a few did stay on after competing in the National Cross Country at Parliament Hill the previous day. Some people are just gluttons for punishment! 

Wokingham Half Marathon is sponsored by David Cliff Estate Agents and race management is by Racesolutions     

Full results can be studied via runABC South race listing here

Image courtesy Wokingham Half Marathon on Facebook