© Copyright – 2020 – Athletics Illustrated
From Spain to Kaduna to Canada, some notable performances took place this weekend.
Spain’s Fernando Carro ran his first serious race since the pandemic took hold. On Sunday, he clocked an impressive 27:46 in a 10K road race in Alcobendas (Madrid). The performance is faster than the national record. Carro ran two seconds quicker than the current record holder Antonio Abadia, however, the course was downhill and will not be recognised.
“My goal is to try to get through the first five kilometres as fast as possible and then hold the second half. I’m nervous,” said Carro at the online press conference on Friday.
The 28-year-old’s official 10,000m best is 28:28.68 on the track and 29:18 on the road. He is a three-time national champion in the 3000m steeplechase and shares a European Team Championships gold medal by helping Team Spain win in 2019. He also owns a silver from the 2018 European Championships.
Social distancing protocols were practised. Athletes were separated into 10 groups in corrals based on their ability. The groups started in one-minute intervals. Masks were used prior to the start, and shortly after finishing.
La grandeza está en los detalles. @SUBETEALCARRO echa mano a la mascarilla nada más lograr la mejor marca española de la historia en 10K tras un sprint agónico. Ejemplo. pic.twitter.com/ep26m7WSff
— Maikel G. Prieto (@maikelgprieto) November 22, 2020
The Inuagural Karduna Half Marathon
The state capital of Karduna, Nigeria, hosted the first ever Karduna Half Marathon on Saturday. The race was won by Kenyans — no surprise there.
John Mburu finished first overall in the time of 64:02 and won $10,000 for his efforts. Phillip Taurus finished second in the time of 65:78. While Josphat Kiptanui crossed the finish line in the time of 65:78 in a virtual tie.
Caren Maiyo took the women’s win with a 72:43 performance. She was nearly three minutes ahead of Cheptoeck Mwetick at 75:26. Lilian Chemweno stopped the clock at 75:32 for third.
Kaduna was founded by the British in 1900. It is now a major transportation hub for the area and is home to 1.3 million people.
The purpose to hosting the half-marathon was to promote tourism, health and sports. According to Mburu, he expects the Nigerian athletes to world-class competitors in a few years.
Football (soccer), boxing, rugby, basketball and the sprints and field events of athletics are popular sports in Nigeria. Distance running is a growth sport.
University of Victoria 5K
In Victoria, BC, a few University of Victoria Vikes and Athletics Canada West Hub athletes took in a 5K road race under strict social distancing protocols.
Due to the protocols, no media was on-site at the time of the race.
Mariah Kelly won the 5K and finished in the time of 16:45.8, which was a 51-second improvement on her personal best. She runs for Vic City Elite (as her club) and trains with the west hub. Kelly is a 1500m specialist who owns a best of 4:09.38.
“I have only ever run two 5ks in my life, both on the track in 2014. So, I had zero expectations. I just went and ran,” said the 29-year-old. “I was surprised at how comfortable and relaxed I was. It didn’t even feel like a race effort until the final km.”
“It was fun to compete for the win again,” added Kelly.
Kelly’s teammate Erin Teschuk, a 3000m steeplechase specialist with a best of 9:40.07, finished the 5K in the time of 16:56.5. The 26-year-old’s 5K best is 16:18 from San Jose last year. She has run 15:41.35 on the track. Katelyn Ayers clocked a 17:34.5 for third.
The men’s winner was Vike Brandon Vail with a 14:59.6 clocking. He was followed in 5.1 seconds later by Nate Riech and then Liam Dwyer in the time of 15:08.1.
10,000m bests in Vancouver
Lucas Bruchet of Vancouver entered this weekend’s 10,000m effort with a best of 28:36.74. The Rio Olympian ended up running a 28:17.33 performance in Swangard Stadium on Saturday night. Four athletes were close after 24 laps. See bell lap video below.
Kieran Lumb ran a personal best of 28:17.55, while John Gay finished close behind in the time of 28:18.10.
Bell lap @Chuck_PT @lucabruca @JohnGay96 @kieran_m_lumb @HuntTheo pic.twitter.com/RiMl7v19OK
— Justin Kent (@jkent_) November 22, 2020
Quebec’s Charles Philibert-Thiboutot finished fourth in the time of 28:45.42. Thiboutot specializes in the 1500m distance and owns a best of 3:34.23 from the prestigious 2015 Monaco Diamond League meet. He is a three-time national champion at the distance.
