Champions of the Road: next stop Ipswich 5k
The England Athletics Champions of the Road series moves east to Ipswich on Saturday evening with the Ipswich Twilight 5k hosting the third race in this series of six. This well-established 5k races takes place along the waterfront at Ipswich and welcomes runners of all abilities. The club and elite field races will take place early evening following a festival afternoon of running for runners of all abilities and ages.
With the 5k race distance appealing to track, road and cross-country specialists, the distance can be both a test of strength endurance for the middle-distance runner or a test of speed endurance for the long distance runner - and as such looks set to provide some great competition.
The women’s elite field features Commonwealth Games 5000m bronze medallist Laura Weightman (Morpeth Harriers) with a best of 15:25:84 on the track. Weightman has already demonstrated her strengths on the roads this year with a 31:40 at 10k set in the Netherlands in March. Jessica Judd (Blackburn Harriers, Mick Judd) also been enjoying some success on the roads this spring and was runner up at the Armagh 3k in February and has a best on the track of15:34:82. Road specialist Gemma Steel (Charnwood, Liz Nuttall) an England Championship medalist on many occasions in recent years will also be looking to get amongst the challengers on the day - along with a whole of host of women of have been strong on the country and roads in recent weeks.
Nick Goolab (Club: Belgrave Harriers, Coach: Craig Winrow) stole the show at the England Champs and BM10k last month with his winning performance of 28:22 and with a superb track pedigree he will most certainly be one to watch. However, with the likes of Phil Sesemann (Leeds City, Andrew Henderson), Lewis Moses (Darlington Harriers), Alex Teuten (Southampton AC, Roderick Lock) and local man Kieran Clements (Shaftesbury Barnet) all capable of sub 14 minutes for 15k will ensure this is a high-quality competitive race.
There will also strong competition for the team honours on the night.
The 5kis the third race in the England Athletics Champions of the Road series 2019 (BM 10k and London Marathon have taken place). In addition to individual titles at each of our England Athletics road running championship races, it offers individuals and club teams competing in three or more championship events the opportunity to become the outright England Athletics Champion of the Roads.
Races still to come: City of Preston 5 miles: 11 August, Great Birmingham Run (half marathon): 13 October, Great South Run (10M): 20 October.