UK's fastest parkrun time set in Hastings - again

For the second consecutive weekend, the fastest parkrun time in the UK this year was clocked in Hastings.
New Hastings parkrun course record holder Adam Clarke (right) with local triathlete Jamie Larkin.New Hastings parkrun course record holder Adam Clarke (right) with local triathlete Jamie Larkin.
New Hastings parkrun course record holder Adam Clarke (right) with local triathlete Jamie Larkin.

Great Britain international Adam Clarke carved 30 seconds off Ross Skelton’s course record set only the previous Saturday with a superb time of 14:23.

Clarke, whose talent was forged with Hastings Athletic Club and who still has family in the locality, now lies sixth on the all-time UK parkrun list.

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To complete a fabulous day, Hastings parkrun’s attendance record was broken for the third time already in 2017 with 243 runners taking part.

While Hastings Runners as usual provided the most participants (46), the parkrun welcomed tourists from all over the South East, including a trio from 26.2 Running Club in Surrey, who boasted more than 950 parkruns between them.

No fewer than 40 juniors (under-18s) took part, which is another record, and to complete the stats, when Mags Balch crossed the line in 146th place, this took the total distance run since Hastings parkrun started in April 2015 to a whopping 75,000km.

Event director Nick Brown said: “It has been a privilege to see two such quality athletes as Adam Clarke and Ross Skelton in action on the seafront, and hopefully this will really cement our place on the South East parkrun map.

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“Following the success of both Hastings clubs in the recent Hastings Half Marathon (Hastings AC provided four of the top seven finishers including runner-up Rhys Boorman and Hastings Runners had two of the top nine), I can divulge that there are plans afoot to stage a “mob match” between the two clubs in the near future at the parkrun.

“Both clubs will be encouraged to field as many runners as possible, as every runner who takes part will score points for the inaugural trophy.”

Clarke, who these days lives in London, has been on overseas training trips with the great Sir Mo Farah.

See our comprehensive sports coverage in the Observer every Friday.

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