Photo: Paul Stillman

Tom Evans and Hayley Carruthers are the fastest male and female runners at UK parkruns this weekend.

Tom Evans, of Lewes AC, ran a 14:45 course record at the Worthing event on the south coast to record the fastest men’s parkrun time across the UK on Saturday (February 16).

The former army officer has been making leaps and bounds in his running in recent years, with this another excellent performance.

The ultra runner is coming back from a disappointing race at the Hong Kong 100k earlier in 2019, but seems in great form with a sub 30 showing at Chichester 10k and an upcoming England vest for the Granollers Half marathon in Spain.

A large part of Evan’s training group, AB Training, made the trip to Armagh international road races where 113 men broke 15 minutes and the best n the ABT group was Paul Navesey with a 14:07 15th place.

Hayley Carruthers publicised an attempt at the global parkrun record today and gave it a strong effort. Working with her coach Dan Robinson just ahead, the Birchfield Harrier steamed around Walsall Arboretum parkrun in 16:14. A valiant effort just after racing in Northern Ireland on Thursday in the Armagh international 3k.

Lincoln Wellington’s Thomas Trimble also broke 15 minutes this weekend for parkrun. The run is a big parkrun personal best for Trimble improving from 15:28 to 14:54. The run is actually better than his 5000m mark of 14:56 so looks like a good year already in 2019.

Another Birchfield Harrier took the second fastest female spot with Chloe Richardson running 17:05. Usually, Chloe is joined by her brother in the top 10 rankings but no sign this week. Unless he forgot his barcode and was the unknown runner finishing first at Cannon Hill?

Third fastest female was Olympian Aly Dixon with a 17:11 at Riverside parkrun. The Sunderland Stroller asked Twitter whether tights or shorts were a good idea before the run and whatever the choice, the marathoner ran well.

Third quickest make was regular Jonathan Cornish at Bushy parkrun. 15:00 minutes flat is a good time for the Hercules Wimbledon man with a 14:36 best for 5k. This comes off the back of a 30:44 at the Chichester Priory 10k where Evans ran sub 30 minutes.

Home of parkrun Bushy park features four times in the ranking and is the most represented event in the top 10.

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: Worthing

Tom Evans, 14:45, Lewes AC

2) parkrun: Belton House

Thomas Trimble, 14:54, Lincoln Wellington AC

3) parkrun: Bushy

Jonathan Cornish, 15:00, Wimbledon Hercules AC

4) parkrun: Dulwich

Bradley Goater, 15:03, Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow

5) parkrun: Bushy

Elliot Dorey, 15:03

6) parkrun: Clapham Common

Alex Milne, 15:16, Enfield & Haringey AC

7) parkrun: Hazlehead, Aberdeen

Cameron Strachan, 15:21, Metro Aberdeen RRC

8) parkrun: Burnley

Chris Holdsworth, 15:21, Ribble Valley Harriers

9) parkrun: Northampton

Dominic Jones, 15:27, Rugby & Northampton AC

10) parkrun: Long Eaton

Joseph Kilgour, 15:30, Derby AC

Women’s top 10

1) parkrun: Walsall Arboretum

Hayley Carruthers, 16:14, Birchfield Harriers

2) parkrun: Cannon Hill, Birmingham

Chloe Richardson, 17:05, Birchfield Harriers

3) parkrun: Riverside

Aly Dixon, 17:11, Sunderland Strollers

4) parkrun: Bushy

Anna Hedley, 17:26, Fife AC

5) parkrun: Castlewellan

Laura Graham, 17:28, Mourne Runners

6) parkrun: Penrith

Kirsty Longley, 17:32, Liverpool Pembroke &Sefton Harriers & AC

7) parkrun: Southampton

Louise Damen, 17:33, Winchester & District AC

8) parkrun: Dulwich

Katie Rowland, 17:39, Kent AC

9) parkrun: Eastville

Charlotte Emily Taylor-Green, 17:52, Bristol and West AC

10) parkrun: Heaton

Laura Hesketh, 17:55, Clayton-le-Moors Harriers

If you enjoy running at parkrun but want to develop and get a bit faster then find a running club near you. Clubs have all the social aspects of parkrun and cater for all levels to help you progress. More information can be found here.

Also if you would like to run faster at parkrun, top tips to help runners of all abilities can be found here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

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