Chelsea eyes international vest after PB in London Marathon
CHELSEA Baker is knocking on the door of an international vest after smashing her personal best in the TCS London Marathon.
The Bristol & West AC runner finished third British runner in the massed start in a time of 2hrs 36mins 06secs, carving more than six minutes off her previous best set when winning the Marines Corps marathon in America last year.
Baker is aware her time is only 10 seconds slower than club-mate Hannah Alderson ran last year, which has earned her an England senior vest for the Copenhagen marathon two weeks on Sunday (May 14).
“I have run quicker than two of the other girls on that England team for Copenhagen and that is encouraging,” said Baker, who serves with the Royal Navy. “It definitely makes me think that the dream is possible and I definitely want to win an international vest.”
Baker’s progress since running 3:13.55 on her debut in London four years ago has been impressive. In 2021 she broke three hours for the first time, again in London, with 2:57.11 and then last year twice bettered that time with 2:46.57 in Wrexham and then 2:42.38 in Washington DC.
“Sunday was definitely my best marathon so far,” added Baker.
“London was my first marathon, where I broke three hours and now this. It is definitely a course for results and I feel there is still more improvement to come.
“I’m still building up my training and it is a case of just making a few more tweaks here and there.
“My next marathon will be Berlin in September so that gives me the summer to prepare, which I think will be better.”
If Baker can then slice another chunk off that PB, she can certainly expect a call from the selectors.
Behind Baker there was a fantastic run by club-mate Annabel Granger, who finished 23rd and second veteran over 45 in a time of 2:45.21, a remarkable personal best by 2mins 03secs on the time she recorded in Chester last year.
Leading Bristol & West AC male runner was Jonny Suttle in 2:31.09, just outside his PB of 2:30.26, while Aled Anderson, carving more than six minutes from his PB and Adam Stokes, who helped pace his partner Baker, all finished under 2hrs 40mins. On her marathon debut Laura Skinner did well to break three hours.
B&W – senior men: 2:31.09 Jonny Suttle; 2:35.13 Andrew Drake; 2:35.51 Aled Anderson; 2:36.05 Adam Stokes; 2:43.39 Richard Boyes; 2:52.19 Nick Tuftnell; 2:54.50 Nicko Brooke (M40); 2:55.48 Gareth Clements; 3:00.06 William Carter; 3:03.23 Sam Appleton; 3:06.03 Steven Puetz; 3:11.09 Greg Chance; 3:54.29 Mark Jackson; 4:01.27 Matthew Brydon; 4:09.31 Will Jones.
Senior women: 2:36.06 Chelsea Baker; 2:45.21 Annabel Granger (W45, 2nd); 2:58.55 Laura Skinner; 3:18.30 Hannah Plunkett-Cole; 3:35.53 Verity Potts.
» In the London Mini Marathon, Ewen Sparey continued his excellent form this year with fifth place in the under-13 boys’ race.
» In America, Tia Jackson, equalled Emily Wright’s 2012 U23 long jump club record of 6.21m – and is edging ever closer to the 34-year-old senior record.
Jackson, who is on a scholarship at Morgan State University, is now only slightly behind Joanne Willoughby’s overall club best of 6.38m.
» Nick Pestell (2:07.64), Sam Johnson (2:10.92 PB) and Oliver Draper (2:13.07) took the top three places in the British Milers’ Club Mixed 800m C race at Exeter on Tuesday night. Holly Sanigar sixth (2:15.08). Amelia Honor (2:27.17), Holly Massey-Joes
(2:31.87) and Vince NagyKovacs (4:58.02 1500m PB) also competed.
» At Gloucester, teenager Gabriela Ritter Sherratt moved to fourth in the South West U15 Rankings for 3000m with a PB of 10:56.96. Marcus Dunsford won the 5000m in a PB of 16:03.36 with Nick Kennedy runner-up (16:11.83).
Teenagers Daniel Webb (U15s
80H, 13.17secs) and Kezia Tarzey (U15s 75H, 11.99secs) both won their sprint hurdles events, with Webb adding a PB of 13.43secs in the 100m and Tarzey running 13.57secs. Euco Lima ran 12.15secs.
M40 veteran George Daly ran a PB of 2:06.92 in the 800m with M55 club-mate Daniel Thornton recording 2:25.99. Aaron Bruce PB of 4:32.93 in the 15000m.
» Former English Schools’ medallist Sophie Hamilton opened her season with a throw of 48.49m for victory at the Loughborough Open meeting.
» David Milner was the leading Bristol & West runner in the Corsham St George’s Day 10k in 29th (38:20), while Sarah Everitt was sixth woman and second W50 in 42:28.