PBs for Abbie Ives and Justin Davies highlighted a fantastic afternoon of racing at the Irish Milers Meeting in Belfast on Saturday (10 May).
If you put the words Belfast, mid-May, a Saturday afternoon, and 800m together, you get something special. That has certainly been the case in recent years at the Belfast Irish Milers Meeting. Alex Bell, Ciara Mageean, Callum Dodds, Phoebe Gill. They have all benefited from fast races (and amazingly favourable conditions) in prior editions.
This year’s meeting, which took place yesterday at the Mary Peters Track, was no different. As always, the best two races were left till last – the international 800m. The grand finale, the women’s race. Could the sub-two minute tradition continue? Yes, it could. This year, the honours went to Abbie Ives, thanks to her time of 1:59.49.
It is Abbie’s second time inside two minutes, her first coming at the same meeting in 2023. This time, however, it came with the added bonus of a race victory. That time moves her to third on the British U23 all-time list – impressive for a season opener. As a nice bonus, the race was paced by training partner Issy Boffey (who had earlier raced over 400m). It led to some lovely celebrations afterwards.
Photo: James Rhodes
Behind, Grace Vans Agnew finished second in 2:00.45, improving on her previous best of 2:01.21. Finishing third was Jenna Brommell, also in a PB of 2:00.53.
Shaikira King finished fourth and just four hundredths shy of her PB of 2:01.65, in her opening race of the season.
Men’s Excellence Also
After an excellent indoor season which included reaching the semi finals of the European Indoor Championships, Justin Davies’ outdoor opener could not have gone much better. Entering the race with a PB of 1:45.37, he rewrote that to 1:44.35 in winning the international 800m.
That time is a Welsh Record and moves him into the top-twenty on the British all-time list. He becomes the 33rd British athlete to join the sub-1:45 club for 800m. It is also inside the qualifying standard for September’s World Championships in Tokyo. Justin will next race in Zagreb (24 May), with the European U23 Championships his current primary focus.
Photo: James Rhodes
The British sub-1:45 club gained two further members yesterday. Henry Jonas (1:44.72) and Tiernan Crorken (1:44.98) both had the best races of their careers. Both are inside the UKA ‘consideration’ standard for Tokyo.
Longer Distances
A close finish in the men’s international 1500m saw the top-three separated by one second. Irishman Darragh McElhinney took the win in 3:37.86, with the fast finishing Ryan Martin second (3:38.23). That time is the Stirling University Athletics runner’s first under 3:40.00. Alex Melloy (3:38.98) was third and just shy of his PB.
Photo: James Rhodes
The women’s race saw Eleanor Strevens take victory in 4:14.61, less than one week after winning silver in the BUCS 800m. Zoe Gillbody (4:22.76) was the next best non-Irish athlete (note: a detailed round up of Irish performances will feature in Monday’s Irish Round Up).
Photo: James Rhodes
Gabriela DeBues Stafford was a clear winner of the first race of the day, the women’s 3000m. The Canadian, now based in Edinburgh and co-coached by Mark Rowland (the former steeplechaser and British Record holder), finished over half a minute before the rest of the field. Her closing kilometre was particularly impressive as she finished in 8:39.35.
The men’s race over seven and half laps provided Tomer Tarragano with a win. His time of 7:47.32 was a PB and also a University of Birmingham Club Record – their first of two during the competition. Behind, Italian Mohad Abdikadar Sheik Ali (7:54.65) and Zak Mahamed (7:58.44) both ran inside eight minutes. A further ten athletes finished in under 8:20.00, including Liverpool Harrier Jack O’Farrell and Oscar Schofield, who trains with the M11 Track Club.
Photo: James Rhodes
Pacers Not Racers
It would be remiss to not mention the pacemaking efforts of Jack Gray and Josh Elston-Carr. Alongside promoting their FLYCARB products, the pair paced multiple races – sometimes separately and sometimes together. Josh doing so less than two weeks after running the London Marathon!
Photo: James Rhodes
