Callum and Steph in fine form ahead of Doha

Monday 9th September 2019

Photo by Mark Shearman

Callum Hawkins will head for the World Champs in Doha in a couple of weeks full of confidence after a strong performance at the Great North Run.

Callum came home in fourth place as Mo Farah won the event for the sixth time with the Scot’s 60.39 time less than 40 seconds outside his PB for the distance.

It was a good day for the Hawkins family as also posted an excellent time in 14^th place – with his 64.13 run his best for a half for three years and second in the Scottish rankings for 2019.

Completing a trio of Kilbarchan AAC performances, Steph Twell ‘warmed up’ for her 10,000m track assignment in Doha with a half marathon PB of 70.52 to finish in tenth place.

That’s a run that elevates Steph to third on the Scottish all-time list in terms of half marathon times (setting aside any issue over ‘downhill’ courses etc).

Scottish wheelchair racer, Sean Frame, took sixth in the wheelchair race with a big PB of 48.37.

Congrats @StefApril – a PB ?!! Well done! Looking good for @IAAFDoha2019 10,000m and Frankfurt! Keep up the great work ??????!! https://t.co/0u5gSqJdLb

— Mara Yamauchi (@mara_yamauchi) September 8, 2019

In characteristic fashion, Callum ran boldly in the early stages and went with the early pace but found things too hot when Ethiopian Tamirat Tola began to surge at around the halfway mark.

However, the Scottish runner, who is targeting the marathon at the IAAF World Championships in Doha, kept his composure and ran a strong final few kilometres to run within 39 seconds of his PB.

‘It’s my fastest half-marathon during marathon training and I don’t think you can really compare it to my half-marathon PB,’ said Hawkins, who was pleased with his effort.

‘It has been quite a heavy training period with two full sessions last week and then 130 miles or so the week prior to that. So I have to be pretty happy with the time when, previously when I ran 60 dead in Japan, I was fully focused on the half itself.’

.@callhawk a strong 4th in 60.39 at today's Great North Run with brother @DelH1989 running 64.13 for 14th on his return from injury @Great_Run pic.twitter.com/1ke6XSJC11

— Moyo Sports (@Moyo_Sports) September 8, 2019

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Chris O’Hare was just edged out of the win in the New York Fifth Avenue mile as he finished in the same time as Nick Willis.

Three stripe domination!
The amazing team at @nyrr once again deliver one of the best meets on the circuit. It’s always fun to race your mates down 5th Avenue to end the season. Fun end to a rollercoaster season. @adidas @Xendurance @Flynnsports @3fiftysixmedia https://t.co/VLHODr8mvo

— Chris O'Hare (@chrisohare1500) September 9, 2019

Tags: Callum Hawkins, Chris O'Hare, Derek Hawkins, Great North Run, Sean Frame, Steph Twell