Many athletes were in county cross country action, while Laura Muir went second on UK under-23 indoor 3000m all-time list and Dina Asher-Smith started season in style just missing her 60m PB

A number of runners were in county cross country action this weekend but the past week also saw a 3000m PB for Laura Muir in Glasgow, a fine start to the season for sprinter Dina Asher-Smith and a win on the roads in Madrid for Gemma Steel.

Indoor

Metaswitch Games, Lee Valley, January 4

In her first race since injuring herself in the European Championships 200m in August, Dina Asher-Smith showed a fine return, winning her 60m races in 7.25 and then an equal world lead of 7.23 to just miss her personal best of 7.22.

Glasgow AA Metric Miler Meeting, Emirates Arena, January 3

Laura Muir broke 9 minutes for the first time in a race which incorporated the Scottish 3000m Championships. The 21-year-old clocked 8:51.75 to go second on the UK under-23 indoor all-time list and take ten seconds off her previous best for the distance set a couple of years earlier indoors at the same event.

Sean Fontana took the Scottish men s title in 8:18.96.

In the shot competition, discus thrower Angus McInroy threw a PB of 14.79m, while under-20 George Evans set an indoor best of 16.55m.

A full report and photographs will appear in this week’s AW

Sale Harriers Open Series, Sportcity, January 4

Kirsten McAslan ran a 600m PB of 1:26.22 to go second on the UK indoor all-time list behind Jenny Meadows.

Cross country

Surrey Championships, Croydon, January 3

Paskar Owor, who was fifth last year, regained the men’s title he won in 2013 with an one second victory over Henry Pearce in 41:34.

Georgina Bruinvels also regained her title with a a clear women’s victory in 30:24 over former champion Emily Wicks.

A full report and photographs from Mark Shearman will appear in this week’s magazine

Greater Manchester Championships, Bogart Hall Clough, January 3

International Lauren Howarth, in her first cross-country race since the 2013 European Championships, won the women’s race by over a minute in 31:33.

Fell expert Chris Farrell was a clear men’s winner, taking gold by 39 seconds in 42:10

A full report and photographs will appear in this week’s issue

Kent Cross Country Championships, Hythe, January 3

In an exciting women’s race just 4 seconds covered the top three. Amy Clements, who was the first British woman in the New York City Marathon in November, was only fifth last year but she won by two seconds from Mel Frazier with W50 Masters International winner Clare Elms a further two seconds back in third.

Dean Lacy was only seventh last year but the South of Thames and London champion easily won a shortened 9km race by a minute from defending champion John Gilbert who led Kent AC to team victory to match their women’s victory.

A full report and photographs will appear in this week’s magazine

Middlesex Championships, Alexandra Palace, January 3

Mohamud Aadan won the men’s race by 42 seconds in 38:47.

In her first cross-country race for a year, Kate Brown, who had shown previous good form in the USA while at College, won the women’s race easily in 30:47.

A full report and photographs will appear in this week’s issue

South West Championships, Bicton, January 3

Jamie Parkinson, only 21st last year, was a surprise winner of the men’s race in 33:47 as he beat favourite Tom Merson by 11 seconds.

Jess Sanzo was a clear women’s winner in 24:45.

A full report and photographs will appear in this week’s AW

Road

San Silvestre Vallecana 10km, Madrid, Spain, December 31

Gemma Steel clocked 31:52 for a clear win ahead of Morocco’s Malika Asahssah with 32:18 and France’s Christelle Daunay with 32:24.

Kenya s Mike Kigen won the men’s race in 27:51. Spanish athletes Jesus Espana and Antonio Abadia finished second and third with 28:29 and 28:45 respectively.

Brooks Serpentine New Year’s day 10km, January 1

European junior 1500m champion Jake Wightman won the men’s 10km in 31:45.

Former European under-23 cross-country champion Emma Pallant won the women’s race in 35:05.

A full report and photographs will appear in this week’s issue

Xiamen Marathon, China, January 3

Ethiopia s Mare Dibaba and Kenya s Moses Mosop broke the course records when claiming victories in 2:19:52 and 2:06:19 respectively.

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