Laura signs off in style with new British record
WEIGHTMAN SECOND IN RACE IN USA
WHILE everyone’s attention was focused on the banks of the Tyne and the Great North City Games, Morpeth’s World Championship 1,500 metres six-placer Laura Weightman was bringing her superb season to a close more than 3,000 miles away in New York City.
The Morpeth Harrier lined up in the world-famous 5th Avenue Mile, and it turned out to be a recordbreaking performance as she finished runner-up behind homebased Jenny Simpson, who managed to equal the course record of 4min 17sec set by fellow American PattiSue Plumer 27 years ago.
While Simpson, silver medallist at the recent London World Championships, claimed the title, it didn’t go unnoticed that Weightman pushed her all the way to the line to claim the runners-up award and also, more importantly, set a new British women’s road mile record with a time of 4:18, which is just outside Zola Budd’s British record of 4:17.57 on the track!
It was an impressive way to bring down the curtain on a season which has seen the North East CrossCountry champion deliver on all types of terrain.
In 2014 Weightman had her first taste of the 5th Avenue Mile a month after racing to a 1,500m bronze medal in the European Championships in Zurich.
On that occasion she could only finish 11th in a time of 4:27, but this time round she bettered those figures by nearly 10 seconds with the added bonus of breaking the British record.
Before returning to her Alnwick base, an ecstatic Weightman said: “Really pleased to end the season finishing second to Jenny.
“The 5th Avenue Mile is such an iconic road race when you line up you feel that you have to run well.
“Conditions were ideal so we went off really hard from the off – Jenny, Jess (fellow Brit Jessica Judd) and myself to make it a fast race.
“I felt really strong after the Brussels Diamond League and in a good shape still so wanted to use that and it paid dividends.
“Jess led at the half-way mark and she was still ahead with 400 to go but Jenny, who has been in great form all season, burst through into the lead and went on to win as I managed to overhaul Jess in the closing stages.
“It was a great race and I’m pleased that I was part of it.’’
Weightman plans to take a short break after a long campaign, but even though she has just completed a remarkable track season she is not resting on her laurels and is already looking ahead.
Next year sees the Commonwealth Games taking place on the Gold Coast and the European Championships dated for four months later in Berlin. However, before that Weightman will use the same format that has been successful in the past by taking in local cross-country and road relay events.
“It was amazing to win the NE cross-country title last year in Durham and I’d like to think I’ll be on the start line in December to defend my title at Redcar Racecourse,’’ added Weightman.
“So, more than likely, I’ll try and take in a couple of Harrier League races as well before the turn of the year and then it will be business as usual heading for next year’s track campaign.’’