Crazy entry list for pro 5k in the UK this weekend

so who will win, wightman?

Is this a road race? I assume yes since it's a 5k and not 5,000m. Heavy favorite in Hagos Gebhriwet.

Is this a joke? With Gebrhiwet on the startlist?

Jake should be happy if he comes on the podium (but can he outsprint Christensen?)

Jake´s PB is 14:19 set at age 22. Christensen ran 14:23 at 14 and 13:44 at16.

Jake has, however, run high 7:38 two years ago. Christensen hasn´t run 3000m since he was 16 (7:59).

Truly an interesting assortment. I'm surprised Gebrhiwet would opt for this over chasing a 10K qualifier in Laredo, but maybe a soft season opener for a race he could win in ~13:10-13:20?

Under 13:30 would be a nice result for Wightman. No idea what to expect from Pattison. Seeing in 2022 he ran 46.76 and 3:39.14 in a year he topped at 1:44.6. So his endurance is pretty good up to 1500. Low-14s?

Hagos Gebrhiwet should win

Kejelcha and Cheptegei compete in Laredo, I imagine they wouldn't have money for another star like Gebrhiwet.

Yes, road race. I can't see past Gebrhiwet for the win with Christensen and Yee probably rounding out the podium.

There's a bunch of interesting domestic elites who could mix it up a bit. Keep an eye on Will Barnicoat. His times aren't impressive but he's been running exceptionally on the XC circuit and won Euro u23

I'd think Gebhriwet wants a tune-up run, before hitting the track for a 10,000 qualifier. Historically, a lot of Ethiopians run the 10,000 at Hengelo, but I wonder a) will there be a track 10k there for 2024 and b) is that still in the qualification window?
In an Olympic year, there has to be some 10,000 qualifying track races available in Europe.

They could alternatively offer a quasi-Trials 10K with pacers/wavelights. They’ve done that in past years.

The named elites are an unusual melee and I agree re barnicoat potential after superb Euro u23xc. Could be first brit.any other UK guys of 13.30 level included? Gebriwot looks a real outlier if he's in any sort of shape; maybe in theory it's a soft and not especially high payday

James West and Jonny Davies should be sub-13:30. West will want the OQT.

Another entry to add to the eclectic mix: Tom Evans, ultra runner, winner of the last Western States

So we have a 1500 world champ, an 800m world medallist, the winner of Western States, and Britain's 5th fastest marathoner ever, and the winners of the u20 and u23 Euro XC all going up against a 12:42 5k guy. Definitely fun time before the season starts properly

I don't think there's much chance of anyone hitting the OQT here. Marc Scott set the 13.20 british record at a podium 5k event, can't see West beating that by 15 seconds ha

not a joke. it sounds like you are more invested in following elites/running in general than me. i've never heard of him.

I understand you if you are not following the sport in Europe.

Christensen is 2 time U20 EC X country winner. First time at age 17 in 2021 when he completely destroyed the field by frontrunning from the gun.

Last year in December he outsprinted the Budapest 1500m finalist Niels Laros (have you heard of him?) in the last meters of the X country race.

I agree, but Scott was on his own in that race. It's likely West will have Gebrhiwet to chase. I still think it's unlikely anyone but Hagos goes sub 13:05 but West will certainly go for it, he's aiming for Paris and he's seen British guys who he's beaten in recent years hit that time (Jack Rowe, Patrick Dever). It looks like decent weather for running fast. Cool, no rain, and wind less than 10 mph. There's at least a chance

here is a list of the male runners I have heard of:

kipchoge

bekele

gebresallasie

wightman

kerr

bolt

paul chelimo

Its a nice field but "crazy" is a bit of an overstatement. I'd say its more of an interesting field that will be exciting with lots of fresh talent who've never tested the distance seriously. But only one guy has established himself as elite at the distance. None of the other guys have ever broken 13:30 on the track or roads according to world athletics. I'm excited to see how they do too. Should be fun. PBs below as far as I know

Nick Griggs 13:36
Axel Veng Christensen 13:42

Callum Hawkins 14:03

Jake Wightman 14:19
Ben Pattison (debut, 3:39 1500 PB)
Alex Yee (debut)

I mean, it's not often you have a field with one truly great runner at that distance, then a bunch of others who rarely, if ever run it. But it's all relative, nothing is actually that "crazy" in distance running.

Btw: this isn't Yee's debut. He's run 13:29 on the track and 13:26 on the roads