British duo Alex Yee and Sophie Coldwell took on the English National Road Relays at Sutton Park, Birmingham, yesterday.
The men’s race consisted of twelve legs of which six were long and six were short. The women’s relays, meanwhile, contained two long legs and four short. Both Yee and Coldwell took on the long course which measured out to 8.65km on an undulating course. The short leg was 5km.
After winning gold and silver medals at WTCS Abu Dhabi, respectively, the relays provided a useful opportunity for the pair to test their legs ahead of their next block of racing.
Representing Kent AC, Yee produced a time of 24:58.
In 2018 he managed 24:57 while in 2019 he ran 25:00. As such he was right on where he has been in previous years. Yee recently withdrew from the upcoming WTCS Yokohama so that compatriot Jack Willis could race. His performance in Sutton Park confirmed that the decision had nothing to do with Yee’s fitness or form.
In the end Yee was denied the fastest split by a mere second. Andy Butchart, a two time British Olympian in the 5000m, ran 24:57 to take that honour. No other man, though, got within 15 seconds of Yee and Butchart.
Wherever Yee resurfaces next in the WTCS, expect his running to be in fine fettle.
Meanwhile Coldwell ran for Charnwood AC and recorded an impressive split of 29:24.
That represented the sixth fastest long leg of all the women racing. For an athlete a little more classically known for their swim and bike in triathlon, Coldwell’s run suggested that her speed on foot is increasingly becoming a facet for her rivals to note. At WTCS Abu Dhabi, she was dominant in the water and one of the strongest members of the breakaway on the bike.
With her run coming along too, further medals will likely be on the cards this season.
Coldwell is due to race at WTCS Yokohama. As it stands, a strong showing there will make her the Series leader in the WTCS. At the rate she is going, it is no stretch to imagine her retaining that Series lead (or at the very least being in the conversation) once the season ends in Pontevedra.
