Thursday 11th March 2010

LEICESTERSHIRE and Rutland will be well represented at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the USA this weekend as the county duo of Rory Fraser (OWLS) and Felicity Milton (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies) chase podium places at the Randal Tyson Track Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (12th-13th March).

Fraser in his second season on the NCAA circuit goes in the 5,000m and 3,000m representing the University of New Mexico Lobo’s team, whilst, Milton (5,000m) makes her debut in the championships running in the bright orange vest of the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls’ team.

The championships will be streamed live on the internet via the following link – the time difference between the UK and Fayetteville is -6 hours (GMT) so be prepared for a late night/early morning if you wish to follow the action.

www.ncaa.com/sports/c-itrack/champpage/c-itrack-div1-index.html?SPSID=30837&SPID=2430&DB_OEM_ID=6100

Sunday 7th March 2010

FORMER Loughborough student Joe Macdonald representing the Butler University ‘Bull Dogs’ team was in sparkling form winning the men’s mile run in 4:13.36 and the men’s 3,000 metre run in 8:31.29 at the Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Macdonald also anchored Butler’s winning distance medley relay team (10:08.93) to be named the men’s Most Outstanding Running Performer of the meeting.

Saturday 27th February 2010

THE 2009 NCAA champion Lee Emanuel edged out team mate and compatriot Rory Fraser to win complete the mile and 800m double title victory for the University of New Mexico at the Mountain West Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships.

On the track of the Albuquerque Convention Center Emanuel (City of Sheffield) seized the initiative from the gun with Fraser (Owls) for company as the duo ran shoulder-to-shoulder of the race, before Emanuel pulled clear over the final lap to secure a convincing victory with a championship record time of 4mins 05.85secs, which converts to a 4:00.53 time at sea level.

Fellow Brit’s David Bishop (Bristol & West) finished third in 4:12.06 with Ross Millington (Stockport) fourth (4:13.94).

Fraser went on to finish 7th over 3,000m with an altitude adjusted time of 8:18.85.

Loughborough graduate Ashley Gibson (Elswick) finishing third in the mile having led for most of the way, clocking a time of 4:58.53. Fellow Loughborough Alumni Ruth Senior (City of Norwich), the reigning BUCS steeplechase champion finishing seventh (altitude adjusted 4:58.74).

Saturday 27th February 2010

CHARLOTTE Browning (AFD) captured the 3,000 metre and Mile titles at the 2010 SEC Indoor Championships hosted by the University of Arkansas with a new lifetime best over 3k of 9mins 21.77secs.

On the track the Randal Tyson Track Center the European Cross Country Championship U23 team gold medallist became the first Florida female athlete to win the 3,000m title over the distance since 1997.

A delighted Browning commented: “At the beginning of the race, I wanted to move to the front of the pack because I started on the outside,

“I also wanted to run as a team and try not to make it too easy for anyone. I was kind of hoping for an NCAA qualifying time, but I was thinking about helping the team first.”

Compatriot Stacey Johnson (Cannock & Staffs) finished sixth in 9:47.51.

Browning began the opening day's action by winning the mile event in a NCAA provisional-qualifying time of 4:37.29.

Saturday 27th February 2010

FELICITY Milton (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies) representing the Oklahoma State University Cowgirl’s team clocked a provisional NCAA championship qualifying mark over 3,000m at the Big 12 Indoor Championships held in Ames, Iowa.

The 23-year-old Rutland athlete, a World cross country championship representative for Great Britain in Mombasa 2007, finished in fifth place on the track of the Lied Recreation-Athletic Facility with a season’s best of 9mins 28.03secs in the race won by American collegiate 10,000m record-holder Lisa Koll (Iowa State) in 8:56.09.

Saturday 20th February 2010

A quartet of Great Britain’s top American-based athletes have gained honours for their performances on the NCAA circuit.

Florida’s Charlotte Browning (AFD) leads the way with the award of Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Week.

Browning was named the SEC’s Female Runner of the Week when the 21-year-old European cross-country U23 team gold medallist won the women’s mile at the Husky Classic in Seattle in a lifetime best and NCAA automatic-qualifying time of 4:31.24.

New Mexico seniors Lee Emanuel (City of Sheffield) and Ashley Gibson (Elswick Harriers) have been selected as the Mountain West Conference Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week.

Emanuel placed fourth overall in the men's invitational 3,000 metre run at the Husky Classic taking more than five seconds off his previous-best time under the NCAA provisional qualifying standard.

Former Loughborough student Gibson also broke her own University of New Mexico record after clocking the league's fastest mile time of the season at the Husky Classic to finish 10th in the invitational section with an NCAA provisional-qualifying time of 4:43.78, taking eight-tenths of a second off her previous best in the event.

Rob Mullett (Lewes) became the first athlete in Butler University track history to record a sub-four minute mile, and has been named Horizon League Male Track Athlete of the Week.

The 22-year-old crossed the finish line in 3:59.37 at the Husky Classic to break the previous record set by compatriot Scott Overall in 2006. The sub-four minute mile also topped the qualifying standard for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championship.

Thursday 18th February 2010

FELICITY Milton representing the Oklahoma State women’s track and field team on her US debut clocked an automatic and provisional NCAA Indoor Championship qualifying mark in the 5,000 metre race at the Husky Classic in Seattle, Washington.

The British Under-23 international from Exton in Rutland, a new addition to the Cowgirl track team for 2010, ran a time of 15mins 58.34secs finishing fourth in the race won by Oregon’s Nicole Blood (15:51.59) securing the provisional and automatic qualifying standard. 


Friday 12th February 2010

RORY Fraser representing the University of New Mexico Lobos clocked a career-best and strong NCAA provisional qualifying time of 13mins 48.24secs to finish sixth in the 5,000 metres at Washington's Husky Classic meeting.

On the track of the Dempsey Indoor Arena, Fraser (Owls), all but secured his second straight trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships with his performance on Friday night (12th February) and was just over two seconds off former All-American Matt Gonzales' 2005 university record in the 5,000m.

Former Loughborough student and reigning BUCS 2,000m steeplechase champion Junior Ruth Senior (City of Norwich) moved into third on New Mexico's all-time performers list with a time of 16:39.02 to finish 22nd in the women’s 5,000m.

Fellow Loughborough Alumni Ashley Gibson (Elswick Harriers) also broke her own Lobo’s record with a time of 4:43.78 to finish 10th in the women's invitational mile.

Full results are available on the following link: www.gohuskies.com/sports/c-track/stats/2009-2010/huskyclassiccomplete.html

Saturday 13th February 2010

BRITISH Under-23 international Charlotte Browning competing in her first mile race of the American indoor season claimed victory at the Washington Husky Classic with a University of Florida record-breaking time of 4mins 31.24secs moving to equal fifth on the UK all-time indoor list.

The performance by the 21-year-old former Loughborough resident on the track of the Dempsey Indoor Arena surpassed her previous-best time of 4:36.09 and the 12-year-old record of 4:33.04 set by Becki Wells.

Gator’s assistant track coach Todd Morgan commented: “Charlotte has been tremendous all year in her training level and consistency,

“This was her first mile of the season and she was really excited to get out there and see what she could do. I’m really proud of her,

“We’ve been seeing some very special things from Charlotte in training, we expect that type of performance from her and we’re very pleased with her progression this season.”

Full results are available on the following link: www.gohuskies.com/sports/c-track/stats/2009-2010/huskyclassiccomplete.html

Sunday 7th February 2010

JOE Macdonald posted an NCAA qualifying mark at the prestigious Meyo Invitational, hosted by Notre Dame University (February 5th-7th).



Loughborough Alumni Macdonald (Trafford) secured a championship ribbon and ran a personal best of 8:00.73 in the men’s 3,000 metre. The 24-year-old finished ahead of former Michigan All-American Lex Williams in the runner-up position and finished more than six seconds ahead of the next collegiate finisher, Spencer Beatty of Michigan State.

Macdonald’s time surpassed the NCAA qualifying standard and ranks him 13th on the NCAA list for the men’s 3,000m.



Fellow Loughborough graduate Andy Baker (Yeovil) finished 15th in the men’s 5,000m in 14:28.58.

Saturday 30th January 2010

RORY FRASER was in sparkling form over 3,000m at the Albuquerque Convention Center as the 22-year-old Leicester Owls athlete competing in the colours of the University of New Mexico raced down the final 60 metres edging past Team USA Minnesota's Patrick Smyth to win with a new track record and gain a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 8mins 08.29secs. Fraser's altitude adjusted time of 7:56.31 eclipsed compatriot Lee Emanuel's 2009 school record in the event by four-hundredths of a second.

Fraser and Smyth had a compelling back-and-forth throughout the race with Smyth - a seven-time All-American at Notre Dame - holding the lead through the first 11 laps. Fraser then made a strong move with 800 metres to go, bringing the crowd to its feet before Smyth took control again with around 300 to go.

Fraser refused to fold, however, and stayed within striking distance on the bell lap before surging into the lead down the final stretch and holding off Smyth by 0.98 seconds. He defeated a stellar field of distance runners, particularly for a high altitude venue, that included seven former All-Americans.

Fraser qualified for both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships in the 5,000 last year and his set to run his specialty in two weeks in Seattle.

Saturday 30th January 2010

CHARLOTTE BROWNING produced a stellar performance to set a superb new personal best to take victory in the women’s 800 metre when representing the Florida Gators team at the Texas A&M Challenge at Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium with a time of 2:05.50 and gain an NCAA provisional-qualifying time just 50 seconds off the NCAA automatic-qualifying standard.

Former Loughborough resident, Browning, an Under-23 team gold medallist for Great Britain at the European Cross Country Championships in Dublin last month competing in her first indoor competition of the 2010 season, improved her previous indoor personal best 800m time of 2:12.30. She now ranks in the top-six on two of Florida’s all-time indoor lists, as she also is second all-time in the indoor mile.

The women’s distance medley relay turned in an NCAA provisional-qualifying time of 11:19.67 to place fourth in the event. The quartet of Brit Stacey Johnson, American Lanie Whittaker, Charlotte Browning and Kaitlin Shiver of the USA clocked the eighth-fastest time in that event in Florida Gator history and the school’s best since the 2002 campaign.

Monday 25th January 2010

RORY Fraser and Ashley Gibson completed fine individual victories for the University of New Mexico Lobos squad at the Cherry and Silver Invitational meeting held at the Albuquerque Convention Centre.

Fraser, fresh from winning the Leicestershire county cross country championship title at the beginning of the month, having qualified for the NCAA finals both indoor and outdoor in 2009 dropped down in distance to run the mile, whilst, NCAA 1500m qualifier Gibson moved up to 3,000 metres.

Fraser, who was paced early by teammate Matt Everett, held off unattached runner Atencio Martinez by four-hundredths of a second to win with an altitude adjusted time of 4:04.99. Loughborough University graduate Gibson also received pacing help from teammate and compatriot Nicky Archer, but ran away with her race, finishing with an altitude adjusted time of 9:55.93.

Loughborough graduate and reigning BUCS steeplechase champion Ruth Senior clocked the second-fastest mile time in New Mexico history, finishing second in the race with an altitude adjusted time of 4:54.87 - just one-hundredth of a second behind Arizona's Margaret Callahan.

Lee Emanuel finished third in a high quality 800m field, with an altitude adjusted, NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:50.31 in his 2010 debut. Emanuel, the defending NCAA mile champion, picked up a strong early pace from teammate, fellow Brit David Bishop and had the lead entering the bell lap.

However, Arizona’s Abdi Hassan and former Mississippi State All-American Golden Coachman were able to reel in Emanuel over the final 30 meters. Hassan winning with an altitude adjusted time of 1:49.92 - 0.34 seconds ahead of Coachman. The top four finishers all ran under the NCAA provisional qualifying standard.

Friday 15th January 2010

BRITISH U23 international Andy Baker has been selected Horizon League Cross Country Male Athlete of the Year in the USA by a vote of league cross-country coaches. This marked the third straight year that Baker has captured the league’s top individual honour representing Butler University Bulldogs team.

Loughborough University graduate Baker, captured the Horizon League individual championship for the third straight year this season, while helping Butler’s to their 12th consecutive team championship. He became the first runner in league history to win the individual title in three consecutive years.



A two-time cross country All-American, Baker qualified for the NCAA National Championship for the third consecutive year with an eighth place finish at the Great Lakes Regional. He went on to place 78th at the NCAA national meeting in Terre Haute.


This was the eighth straight year that a Butler runner earned the Horizon League Cross Country Athlete of the Year award. The Bulldogs have captured the league honour in every year that it has been awarded.



The female league award went to British compatriot Katie Clark, a freshman from Hull.

She earned first team All-League recognition at the conference championship and Butler’s top finisher in five of six meets this fall. She place first at the Purdue Great American Legends Meeting and fifth at the Indiana Intercollegiate Meeting. She also became the first Butler freshman to earn All-Great Lakes Regional honors at the women’s regional meeting.

Sunday 13th December 2009

FORMER Loughborough student Charlotte Browning recorded a fourth-place finish at the 2009 European Cross Country Championships in Dublin the Women’s Under-23 race.

The Florida Gator clocked a time of 21:30, only 16 second shy of the first-place finisher, as the Aviva Great Britain team finished first overall. Browning was the second team member to cross the finish line.

Photo: Charlotte Browning pictured with team mate Loughborough University student Stevie Stockton.

Saturday 3rd October 2009

BRIT’s Stacey Jonhson and Charlotte Browning were in action for the University of Florida Gators leading the Gainsville team to third place overall at the Notre Dame Invitational on Friday (2nd October) in the event won by Washington with Princeton second.

On the campus of the ‘fighting Irish’ Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, Stacey Johnson (Cannock & Staffs) made her Orange and Blue debut having transferred from Birmingham University with a sixth-place finish in the 5km race clocking a time of 16:41, the fourth-best time in Florida record books as former Loughborough resident Charlotte Browning (AFD) was the second Gator to cross the finish line in the top 10, placing ninth overall and also breaking the 17-minute mark. Her new personal-best time of 16:59 ranks eighth in UF history.

Australian Rebecca Lowe took to the course for the first time since 2007 and made her mark, finishing 22nd overall in a time of 17:11.

She was followed by compatriot Genevieve LaCaze in 26th in 17:18. The final Gator to score was American Julie Northrup in 41st, as the Californian eclipsed her personal-best mark by nearly 20 seconds (17:27).

Saturday 3rd October 2009

KENYAN Jacob Kirwa claimed his second victory of the Autumn cross-country season to lead the University of New Mexico Lobos men's cross country team to a share of third place (151 points) at the Notre Dame Invitational on Friday (2nd October).

Kirwa sprinted past American Brandon Bethke down the final stretch over the 8km course at the Notre Dame Golf Course in South Bend, Indiana, crossing the line in a time of 23mins 44secs - one second ahead of Bethke in a battle of reigning conference 5,000-metre champions on the track.

American Chris Barnicle was 27th (24:21) in his Lobo cross-country debut, whilst, fellow senior David Bishop (Bristol & West) was three seconds behind in 32nd place (24:24). Ross Millington (Stockport) was a surprising 41st (24:24) in his official collegiate debut and senior Rory Fraser (OWLS) was 50th (24:46) in his season debut to cap the Lobo scoring.

In the women’s race, New Mexico placed four runners in the top-40 with former Loughborough student Ruth Senior (City of Norwich) leading the way for the second race running. Senior finished a strong 12th, completing the women's 5km loops in 17:03 - six seconds ahead of senior Nicky Archer (Vale Royal) who was 17th (17:09).

Fellow Loughborough graduate Ashley Gibson (Elswick) and American Lacey Oeding crossed the finish line side-by-side, placing 33rd (17:23) and 36th (17:24), respectively. Janna Mistos of the US was the fifth scorer for the Lobos', finishing 81st (17:51).

Saturday 3rd October 2009

FORMER Loughborough student and All-American Andy Baker placed third in the individual competition as Butler University’s Bulldogs men’s team tied for third in the team race at the 54th running of the Notre Dame Invitational cross country meeting on Friday (October 2nd) in South Bend, Indiana.

Butler’s women also produced a strong performance and placed 13th in the women’s competition.



British Under-23 international Baker led the Bulldogs’ bid for the team title in the elite Blue Division race on the Notre Dame Golf Course. He covered the 8km distance in 23mins 45secs and finished in a virtual tie with runner-up Brandon Bethke of Arizona State, one second behind individual champ Jacob Kirwa of New Mexico.



The Bulldogs also picked up a “Top 25” individual finish from senior Rob Mullett, who finished 23rd in 24:18. Junior Madison Roeder came in 36th in 24:28, Scotland’s Kris Gauson placed 43rd in 24:35 and senior Tom Boardman finished 46th in 24:41. The Bulldogs’ sixth and final runner was senior Steven Lisgo, who placed 107th in 25:29.



Butler’s bid for the title suffered a setback when Loughborough University graduate Joe Macdonald was injured by a fall during the race and was forced to drop out of the competition.

Saturday 17th October 2009

UNIVERSITY of Florida women’s cross-country team finished runners-up in the White Race of the Pre-NCAA Invitational to Washington in Terre Haute, Indiana.

In the 6km race Great Britain’s Stacey Johnson (Cannock & Staffs) finished eighth overall, recording the seventh-best time in the Gators history with a time of 20mins 50.3secs with Australian Rebecca Lowe one place behind in a new personal best (20:51.1) as former Loughborough resident Charlotte Browning (AFD) was the third Gator to cross the finish line, placing 18th overall in a time of 21:07.8.

The teams second-place finish was the highest at the Pre-National meet in program history. The Gators finished fifth in 2008, which was the women’s previous best.

Saturday 17th October 2009

BRITISH Universities 2,000m steeplechase champion Ruth Senior led the New Mexico Lobos women’s squad to a seventh place finish in the elite national field at Indiana State's Pre-Nationals Invitational.

Former Loughborough student Ruth Senior in her first year at New Mexico Ruth Senior led the way finishing 34th and covering the 6km course at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course in a time of 21mins 23.7secs.

American Lacey Oeding was 45th (21:34.0), whilst, fellow Brits seniors Nicky Archer (21:39.7) and Loughborough graduate Ashley Gibson (21:39.9) finished side-by-side in 51st and 52nd, respectively. Delyth James of the USA completed the UNM scoring with a 78th place finish (21:51.8).

Top-ranked Washington won the 37 team White section race with a score of 59 points.