Jemma and Josh win in New York and Sammi superb at Great North Run

Monday 11th September 2023

Photos via Run Blog Run and Jeff Benjamin

Josh Kerr and Jemma Reekie claimed a third successive Scottish double success in the prestigious New Balance 5^th Avenue Mile.

New York proved the perfect backdrop for significant end of season wins by the World Champion at Men’s 1500m World Champion and the Budapest fifth placer Jemma.

Kerr, 25, came home in 3.47.9 seconds – the third quickest time in the event’s history – ahead of fellow British athlete George Mills.

Reekie, 25, was the first women over the line in a time of 4:19.4 seconds. Jemma edged victory from Ieland’s Sarah Healy and fellow GB international Melissa Courtney-Bryant of Wales.

It is remarkably the third year in a row Scottish athletes have won both the men’s and women’s events, with Jake Wightman claiming the past two men’s titles and Laura Muir and Jemma triumphing in 2022 and 2021 respectively.

‘It’s a very different effort to run a mile down the street in flats versus running around the oval with spikes,’ said Josh, after winning the event for the first time.

‘I didn’t have the performance I wanted to have last year, so I wanted to make that right.

‘It is nice to end the season on a high. I’ve been training and racing for a long time this year and I was glad to put on a performance like that today.’

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Winner Sammi is flanked by Eden Rainbow-Cooper (on left) and Mel Woods after Great North Run (photo by Great Run)

Samantha Kinghorn came up with one the best road performances of her career to win the Women’s Wheelchair race at the Great North Run.

The World Para 100m medallist has proved her versatility often in recent weeks with a Diamond League appearance over 1500m on the track and now two half marathons.

And, after winning in a photo finish at the Big Half, this time Sammi was almost two and half minutes clear of the field as she came home in 49:21.

That was a big best for the Great North Run course for the Scot and a PB for the distance.

Melanie Woods, who raced in Brussels over 100m on Friday night, took third place in the Women’s Wheelchair Race with 55:36. That was a PB performance from Mel.

Andy Butchart finished in sixth place in the Men’s race which marked Mo Farah’s farewwell appearance (in fourth).

Andy clocked 64:30 on a warm day in the North-East and less than 48 hours after his Diamond League 10,000m appearance in Brussels.

The Central AC athlete is now looking to New York and his marathon debut in November.

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Stirling 10k Results

The Podfather 10k event on Sunday saw hundreds of club runners take to the streets of Stirling.

Women’s race winner Natasha Phillips recently won her first Senior Scotland vest in Antrim – and here the Dundee Hawkhill Harriers athlete claimed a Course Record with 33:12.

Jamie Crowe gave host club Central AC victory in the Men’s race as he clocked 29:16. It was a PB for Jamie after clocking 29:18 back in 2019.

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Tags: 5th Avenue Mile, Andy Butchart, Jamie Crowe, Jemma Reekie, Josh Kerr, Melanie Woods, Natasha Phillips, Samantha Kinghorn