ยฉ Copyright – 2022 – Athletics Illustrated
Men’s race
Since Mo Farah was knighted and arose Sir Mo Farah, some of the British press have treated him like royalty. For example, at least two major publications declared that Farah’s career is in doubt over a road loss to an unknown club runner this morning. Reading that sort of headline one would think he ran 31:00 for the 10K. He didn’t.
At age 39, 11 months after his last race due to a foot injury, the multi Olympic and World Champion acquitted himself well with a second-place finish in the time of 28:44. He ran in the kit for the Essex & Kent Beagles.
๐ฅ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ก!๐ฅ@elliscross96 produces a stunning performance to win the Vitality London 10,000 beating Sir @Mo_Farah in the home stretch.#London10000 #CelebrateYou pic.twitter.com/wisIV9KHPU
— Vitality London 10,000 (@London10K) May 2, 2022
The so-called unknown winner was Ellis Cross (Aldershot Farnham & District) who broke the finish tape in the time of 28:40. Finishing third was Mohamud Aadan (Thames Valley) in 28:48. The first 40-plus master was Chris Thompson (Aldershot Farnham & District) in fourth place.
Cross isn’t really unknown. Perhaps not world famous and certainly not royalty, but he has run 28:47.51 on the track as well as a 5000m in the time of 13:50.56.
Twelve years ago, Farah ran his fastest road race in London with a 27:44 performance. His personal best over the track version, the 10,000m is 26:46.57. He is a four-time Olympic gold medallist and six-time World Championships gold medallist. No one (except for perhaps the frothing British press), expects much more out of him. His career has been long and successful.
Fifteen athletes clocked under 30-minutes in the road race. There were 7,217 men in the race.
Women’s race
Eilish McColgan ran a great race demonstrating strong fitness with a win in the time of 30:23. The Scot internationally represents Great Britain, however, in this race she ran for the Dundee Hawkill club.
Eilish McColgan and Ellis Cross celebrate winning the London 10km. ๐ทMarkShearman @EilishMccolgan @elliscross96 @dundeehawks @AFDACofficial @AthleticsWeekly pic.twitter.com/mskVasC0Cf
— Mark Shearman MBE (@AthleticsImages) May 2, 2022
Jess Piasecki (Stockport) finished in second place in the time of 31:28, while Samantha Harrison (Notts AC) clocked a 31:44 for third.
Wendy Macdougall (Saffron Striders RC) was the first 40-plus master across the line, but she runs in the 55-59 age group. Her time was a stunning 34:32 for ninth place. Macdougall’s performance improved upon Fiona Matheson’s 55 British age record of 36:16.
For McColgan, she had run the road 10K event as fast as 30:52. She currently holds eight national bests or national records from 3000m steeplechase (9:35.82) to the half-marathon at 66:26. In this race, she missed Paula Radcliffe’s British and European record by just two seconds but improved upon her mother and coach’s (Liz McColgan’s) record of 30:38 which had stood since 1989.
Ten women ran under 35 minutes, 6,316 competed.
Full results are available here>>
