CITY of Salisbury Athletics and Running Club’s Bea Wood ran a sensational 16 minutes 56seconds at her home parkrun course to become the UK’s first ever under-15 (and under-17) girl to beat 17 minutes for the 5k event, writes JOHN RUSKIN.

The flying 14 year-old’s run was on the Churchill Gardens twisting three lap course over uneven tarmac and grass not designed for speed.

In all of 2018’s weekly parkruns to date countrywide, her time has been bettered by only a handful of women, including seniors.

Wood ran 17:21 on the course in September which was the previous fastest time among the under 15’s.

Last month in London she won the British Athletics 3mile under 15’s road championships finishing on the Mall.

At the Casterbridge half marathon in Dorset, Steve Mitchell defied the warm conditions to clock 1hour 52min 47sec. Then came Lizzie Guasch 2.02.04, Linda Robson 2.09.00, Elly Mills 2.21.56, Denise von Roretz 2.30.14.

At the Neolithic half marathon on Salisbury Plain, Charlotte Ingram was first among the women with 1.44.01, while husband Reece made it a winning double with 1.25.13. Pete Harris completed the full marathon version in 4.13.17.

In the Dorchester marathon, Phil Smith was the club’s fastest with a good 3.38.23 and he was followed by Phil Perry 4.09.24, Heather Hitchins 4.24.40, Chrissy Gorham whose fine 4.30.41 won her age category, Marie Shone 5.08.14, Di Cross 5.23.34, Liz Roberts 5.23.38, and Lesley Brown 5.35.19.