Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2023 i AW - Athletics Weekly Magazine

OCTOBER 2023 AW Editorial Director Tigst Assefa crossed the line and the running world changed completely. Again. We have become accustomed to records tumbling, but not quite like this. Thanks to her performance of 2:11:53 in Berlin, over two minutes were scythed from the women's marathon world record. Not since Paula Radcliffe reset the clock 20 years ago, without a single super shoe in sight, has there been such a seismic shift in the event. Assefa went through the familiar delirium after her historic run, falling to her knees before celebrating with her support crew. Then she did something rather curious. She removed one of the shoes she was wearing and celebrated with that, too, waving it in the air before giving it a victory kiss. That was the moment…

DIGEST PETER MATTHEWS The death of Peter Matthews last month marked the end of an era. The 78-year-old was one of a vanishing breed of super-statisticians who chronicled the sport for years via the painstaking compilation of ranking lists and athlete profiles. A few hardcore “stattos” now plan to take up the baton to continue the brilliant work that he helped pioneer. They are a dwindling group battling to remain relevant in the age of the internet. Matthews’ passing follows that of fellow track and field stats giants Roberto Quercetani and former AW editor Mel Watman, who died in 2019 and 2021 respectively. Together they possessed some of the most authoritative voices in athletics. They did not go out of their way to be needlessly negative, which meant their criticism packed…

MY GREATEST RACE TOM BOSWORTH The British record-holder put life on hold to peak at his debut Olympics but he was stunned when he found himself leading the field and forced to deal with a rapid change to his own expectations I came so close to qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics but I felt that was a blessing because it was such an epic Games and I think being part of that might have cost me a bit of motivation. I was very motivated for Rio because my dream was to go to all major championships, and I'd done everything else. January 1 rolled around and I was just living like a nun. Not going out. Sleeping in an altitude tent. No socialising. I never got to see Harry, my…

The 2023 Diamond League Final has, with good reason, gone down as the best standalone two-day meeting ever in terms of quality. It was a fitting culmination to five months of competition across four continents and 13 events. I was doing the in-stadium announcing at Hayward Field and I knew we were in for a good weekend when the first event, the men's 400m hurdles, saw Rai Benjamin break the Diamond League record and set a world lead of 46.39, beating Karsten Warholm into the bargain. Before the event, I don't think I'd have been alone in wondering if standards might slip a little, given that this final was coming at the end of a very long World Championships season, but the athletes were absolutely amazing. Again. The world records…

Saga Vanninen FIN Age: 20 Event: Heptathlon PB: 6391 The two-time world U20 champion has long been expected to become a force to be reckoned with at a senior level in the women's heptathlon – and that certainly looks set to be the case. She was seventh in the women's pentathlon at the European Indoor Championships but it was her first full heptathlon of the year where arguably the most significant result of her summer unfolded. The quality of the Hypomeeting in the Austrian town of Götzis is such that it is effectively another major championships event in itself and the Finn placed fourth amongst some top quality company with a personal best of 6391. She carried that momentum into the European U23 Championships, taking the gold medal with a…

SPOTLIGHT TOBY MAKOYAWO Toby Makoyawo was working shifts at Nando's during his post-school gap year when the offers from the other side of the Atlantic started coming in. The University of Michigan were interested in having a conversation with him about a potential track and field scholarship to study at the institution. So, too, were Florida State University, Ohio State University, Harvard University, the University of Iowa, the University of Alabama, Boston University and others. Although still early in his athletics career – after belatedly focusing on the sport when he put his previous footballing aspirations to one side – the sprinter was in demand with personal bests of 10.66 over 100m and 21.45 over 200m. The American colleges knew a good thing when they saw it and, soon after he…

Nutrition has improved hugely and could be why athletes are surging through the closing stages instead of bonking out JASON HENDERSON, Head of Digital Apart from their muchpublicised propulsive properties, super shoes help save your legs in the final miles. Whereas marathon runners from yesteryear had minimal cushioning and sore limbs in the latter stages, modern footwear leaves you feeling relatively fresh. Given this, runners are maintaining their pace, or even – in cases like Tigst Assefa – speeding up in the final miles. Marathon runners are no longer crashing into The Wall at 20 miles, either, but maybe it's not completely down to the footwear. Mid-race nutrition has improved hugely in recent years and perhaps this is largely why athletes are surging through the closing stages instead of bonking out. I…

It was time to complete the circle. Having been born and raised in Wallsend, Newcastle, Sonia Samuels has had a lifelong relationship with the Great North Run. She vividly remembers being taken down to the start line by her father as a young girl to have her Liz McColgan poster signed by the former 10,000m world champion herself. There followed two victories for the then aspiring teenager in the Junior race during the mid-90s, providing the strongest of hints at the lengthy international sporting career which would unfold and take in appearances at the Commonwealth Games, European Championships, World Championships and, ultimately, the Olympics. Despite Samuels having raced in all corners of the globe, however, one significant box had remained unticked – until last month. “A few years back, I…

OVERSEAS DENMARK COPENHAGEN HALF-MARATHON, September 17 Men: HM: 1 E Cheserek KEN 59:11; 2 B Koech KEN 59:13; 3 G Dida ETH 59:31; 4 P Mosin KEN 59:35; 5 B Kiprop KEN 59:40; 6 I Kipkemboi KEN 59:54; 7 G Dibaba ETH 60:10; 8 S Kirwa KEN 60:25; 9 H Gebrselassie ETH U20 60:34; 10 Emile Cairess GBR 60:52; 26 Ellis Cross GBR 64:18; 30 Jamie Crowe GBR 64:48 Women: HM: 1 I Cheptai KEN 65:53; 2 W Moseti KEN 66:40; 3 J Chelangat KEN 67:03; 4 H Feysa ETH 67:18; 5 V Cheptoo KEN 67:24; 6 K Grøvdal NOR 67:34; 7 G Chepkurui KEN 67:52; 8 S Chelangat KEN 67:59; 18 Lily Partridge GBR 70:36; 21 Mhairi MacLennan GBR 71:18; 25 Philippa Bowden GBR 72:39 GERMANY BMW BERLIN MARATHON,…

DIGEST PICTURE THIS Hobbs Kessler won the battle for the line as he landed the men's mile title at the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga. The American blasted through the finish near the city's Freedom Monument in 3:56.13 to set an official world record for the distance, while Britain's Callum Elson clocked a European record of 3:56.41 to secure a fine silver medal and Sam Prakel of the United States finished third in 3:56.43 but at least had the consolation of being inside his own world record of 4:01.21.…

DIGEST CROWDFUNDING Andy Heyes sums up the significance of international selection rather well. “The prestige of being selected for Great Britain is so important in the sport,” he says. It is indeed the most special of things and something the 33-year-old has already been able to experience. His next appearance in a British vest is due to come as part of the team which is tackling the IAU 50km World Championships in Hyderabad, India, next month. It will be Heyes’ first time racing the distance and an opportunity to experience a side of the sport which, as he is finding, is far removed from the World Championships or the Olympics, which get the lion's share of attention – and funding – from UK Athletics. That doesn't make it any less important…

When Plan B gets your heart racing just as much as Plan A, if not more so, good things happen. That's what happened last month when I decided to put all my eggs into the basket of making the British team for the World Road Running Championships, when I didn't have the qualification standard and couldn't get an entry accepted to any of the few fast 5000m races left on the calendar. This put me in the position on Trials day – at the Great North 5km – of knowing there was only one way I was going to run the race. The qualification criteria set out by British Athletics for the 5km in Riga was ruthless; only the winner would automatically qualify, instead of the usual top two (with…

It has been an eventful year for Angus Wilkinson. During the Monument Mile in Stirling in August, the East Kilbride athlete created history when he broke the UK under-15 record for the distance by 10 seconds with a time of 4:11.20. The previous best had been Glen Stewart's 4:21.9 from 1985. Wilkinson's split of 3:53.70 during that race also broke the 1500m mark of 3:54.36 which had been set by Evan Grime earlier this year. Wilkinson now has the world best for the mile, British 3000m best (8:35.47), British 1500m best and Scottish 800m best (1:55.80). How did you get into athletics? I started running at primary school, around primary six, and I took part in a couple of cross country races. There was one where I felt I did…

As temperatures cool, tensions rise. The race to the Paris Olympic marathon gathers pace, one autumn marathon after another leaving the picture of just who will take those final glorious steps along the Esplanade des Invalides that bit clearer. With his fifth Berlin crown Eliud Kipchoge moved one step closer to Kenya's team and the chance to complete an historic Olympic hat-trick. His 2:02:42, though over 90 seconds slower than last year, is still the eighth-fastest time in history. In one earth-shattering world record run, Tigst Assefa has installed herself as the heavy favourite for the women's crown. Run anywhere in the region of 2:11:53 once more and she'd be likely to do well in the men's race. How much the shoes played their part will slowly reveal itself as…

START AS YOU MEAN TO GO ON Q: I'm a new coach. Can you give me some guidance on putting together an effective warm-up? IAIN BROTHERTON An athlete's warm-up is vital – it should be progressive and designed to assist performance during the subsequent workout. In fact, it's best to view the warm-up as an integral part of the workout. RAMP it up Warm-ups should follow what's known as the RAMP protocol: Raise: Body temperature. Activate: Perform some gentle movements to get mind and muscles in gear. Mobilise: Continue with faster, more specific, movements which directly, prepare the body for what's to follow. Potentiate: Step movements up a gear so that they stimulate the central nervous system to increase power outputs and facilitate dynamic movement. I'm surprised by the number…

Selecting the team Relay selection comes down to a few criteria and we must work within the confines of the selection policy. Current form is obvious but choosing the best relay runners is key. Athletes with good relay technical skills and previous relay experience will come into play. For example, if there are two athletes with similar season's bests over the individual 400m but one can run on multiple legs of the 4x400m and has run a really strong relay leg in the last couple of seasons, then they would probably be more likely to be nominated for selection. You'll find that most of the athletes are very similar and it can be difficult to select one over another. Different events have requirements that are needed to compete at a…

OCTOBER 14 ● European Cities Athletics Challenge Glasgow glasgowathletics.org.uk ● North Wales Senior and Junior Cross Country Leagues Bangor welshathletics.org OCTOBER 15 ● AJ Bell Great South Run Portstmouth greatrun.org ● The Cabbage Patch 10 Twickenham cabbagepatch10.com ● Manchester Half Marathon manchesterhalfmarathon.com ● Yorkshire Marathon York runforall.com ● TCS Amsterdam Marathon tcsamsterdammarathon.eu ● TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon torontowaterfrontmarathon.com OCTOBER 21 ● Lindsays scottishathletics National Cross Country Relay Championships Cumbernauld scottishathletics.org.uk ● NI & Ulster and Bobby Rea International Cross Country Belfast athleticsni.org ● North Wales Senior Cross Country League Colwyn Bay welshathletics.org OCTOBER 22 ● Valencia Half Marathon valenciaciudaddelrunning.com ● Leeds Abbey Dash 10km ageuk.org/lad OCTOBER 22 – NOVEMBER 4 ● Pan American Games Santiago santiago2023.org OCTOBER 28 ● North Wales Senior Cross Country League Colwyn Bay welshathletics.org OCTOBER 29…

DIGEST SEPTEMBER 14:00.21 One year after winning the world 5000m title in Eugene, Gudaf Tsegay returned to Hayward Field to smash the world record for the distance on the second day of the Diamond League final. With 14:00.21 the 26-year-old from Ethiopia improved Faith Kipyegon's mark of 14:05.20, set in Paris earlier this summer. She came agonisingly close to becoming the first woman to break the 14-minute barrier for 5000m, but was hardly disappointed as she celebrated and embraced her fellow competitors. 6.23 Mondo Duplantis produced the second world record of the Diamond League final with a 6.23m clearance in the pole vault. With the competition wrapped up following a 6.02m jump, the world and Olympic champion enjoyed a first-time clearance at 6.23m before celebrating wildly at Hayward Field, which is…

SPOTLIGHT KYNISKA ADVOCACY It doesn't just stop. There is no automatic or obvious finish line. For athletes who have been through the trauma of abuse, the physical and emotional ripple effects can spread far and wide. Someone who knows this all too well is Mhairi Maclennan. The British international was one of a number of athletes who were sexually abused by John Lees, whose coaching licence was revoked in 2021 after he was found guilty on five charges by an independent appeal committee and admitted two others. Though the case is now closed, Maclennan admits its impacts are still very much being felt. As she puts it, someone who is subjected to such an ordeal tends to respond in one of two ways – either by going off the rails entirely…

PICTURE SPECIAL DIAMOND LEAGUE 2023 Diamond League Champions Men 100m: Christian Coleman USA 200m: Andre de Grasse CAN 400m: Kirani James GRD 800m: Emmanuel Wanyonyi KEN 1500m: Jakob Ingebrigtsen NOR 5OOOm: Jakob Ingebrigtsen NOR 3000m SC: Simon Kiprop Koech KEN 110m hurdles: Hansle Parchment JAM 400m hurdles: Rai Benjamin USA High jump: Sanghyeok Woo KOR Pole vault: Mondo Duplantis SWE Long jump: Simon Ehammer SUI Triple Jump: Andy Diaz ITA Shot put: Joe Kovacs USA Discus: Matthew Denny AUS Javelin: Jakub Vadlejch CZE Women 100m: Shericka Jackson JAM 200m: Shericka Jackson JAM 400m: Marileidy Paulino DOM 800m: Keely Hodgkinson GBR 1500m: Faith Kipyegon KEN 5000m: Gudaf Tsegay ETH 3000m SC: Winfred Mutile Yavi 100m hurdles: Tobi Amusan NGA 400m hurdles: Femke Bol NED High jump: Yaroslava Mahuchikh UKR Pole vault: Katie…

EMERGING FORCES CAMERON MYERS The starting gun fired at Hayward Field and Cameron Myers surged to the front. The 17-year-old looked very much at home, as if he was meant to be there, leading an illustrious Bowerman Mile field which included the likes of Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Yared Nuguse, Cole Hocker, George Mills and Stewart McSweyn. He was, in fact, supposed to be at the head of that queue – but only for 700m. Myers’ appearance on the famous Eugene track was to act as a pacer. He did his job beautifully, too, helping to lay the groundwork for what developed into one of the great races of the summer as Ingebrigtsen destroyed the European record with 3:43.73 in just holding off the American record-breaking charge of Nuguse. Myers might not have…

Andrew Butchart might be one of Britain's most experienced endurance athletes but, when it comes to the marathon, the 31-year-old describes himself as: “The young pup just trying to learn the tricks of the trade.” He will have his first taste of tackling the 26.2-mile distance in New York at the beginning of next month, excited by the element of the unknown. Preparations have been going to plan, judging by his recent and sizeable personal best of 62:15 for the half marathon at The Big Half in London. Butchart will head Stateside with a sense of contentment over his lot in life. Happily married to fellow Olympian Lynsey Sharp, with their son Max having just turned two, the Scot is also convinced he is making the right call in starting…

BROOKS brooksrunning.com CASCADIA 17 £135.00 Brooks’ best-selling trail shoe is now in its 17th generation and continues to provide a great combination of cushioning, traction and durability. Using the same DNA Loft v2 midsole as found on the brand's Ghost and Adrenaline GTS road shoes, you are assured of a comfortable ride, while the segmented bottom aspect of the midsole and multi-piece sole allows it to tackle contours and anything the terrain may throw at it, constantly biting into the ground. The upper is standard Brooks, which means the user will find comfort from the word go with protective overlays that also aid durability. The Cascadia remains a great choice for the trails. BROOKS brooksrunning.com HIGHPOINT WATERPROOF JACKET £165.00 This jacket allows you to be prepared for the worst conditions.…

How up to date is your athletics knowledge? Put it to the test with our topical teasers 1 How many times has Eliud Kipchoge now won the Berlin Marathon? 2 Including her world record-breaking performance, how many times has Tigst Assefa run the marathon distance? 3 How many times has Mondo Duplantis broken the men's world record in 2023? 4 Where will the 2024 World Cross Country Championships now be staged after the original hosts, Croatia, were replaced? 5 Which prize was recently awarded to young British athlete Innes Fitzgerald? 6 The Bowerman Mile in Eugene was one of the most memorable races in the Diamond League final. Who is the famous race named after? 7 In which year did the first Diamond League series take place? 8 Name the four 2023 Diamond League champions pictured above 9…

Plans to introduce new age groups for young athletes are being met with fierce opposition from traditionalists. UK Athletics and the home country federations want to replace the current “odd number” age groups (U13, U15, U17) with the “even number” system that most of the rest of the world uses. This would mean: Years five and six (ages 9-11) would fall into the U12 category; Years seven and eight (1113) would be U14; Years nine and ten (13-15) would be U16; Years 11 and 12 (15-17) would be U18; Years 13 and university students (17+) would be U20. There have been at least three attempts in recent years to bring the change in and the latest consultation process included three webinars last month with a final decision due to be…