Gregson fights for third at Müller Indoor Grand Prix
Published Mon 26 Feb 2018
Ryan Gregson (NSW) continued his build up for the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships with third place in the 1500m at the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Glasgow early on Sunday.
Gregson (3:38.00) was just edged at the finish line by Kenyan pair Bethwell Birgin in 3:37.76 and Vincent Kibet in 3:37.88.
"Today was close, only a couple of tenths from the win, but still, no cigar," said Gregson. "The Kenyan boys were just too good. I've had a few good hit outs this week and I'll be better for today's trip. I'll recover well and be ready to go again Saturday."
The 27-year-old will now prepare for the world indoors in Birmingham with the heats of the 1500m beginning on Saturday evening, Australian time. Last Wednesday, Gregson won the mile at the AIT International Grand Prix in Athlone, Ireland, fresh off the plane from Australia having secured a fourth national 1500m title at the Australian Athletics Championships & Nomination Trial.
Zoe Buckman (Vic) was the other Australian competing in Glasgow, running eighth in the women’s 1500m in a time of 4:10.52 – a new PB. Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech took out the race in 4:02.21.
In Japan, Kurt Fearnley (NSW) finished a valiant fourth at the Tokyo Marathon just edged for a spot on the podium.
Fearnley, winner of the event in 2016, crossed the finish line in a time of 1:31.30, just over five minutes behind winner and local favourite Hiroyuki Yamamoto, who along with compatriot. Tomoki Suzuki, established an early gap on the rest of the field and led for much of the race. It was Yamamoto’s third win at the Tokyo Marathon, repeating his success in 2012 and 2014.
Tough run for a 4th in Tokyo Marathon. Now it’s time to get back to the grind. 7 weeks till I get a long awaited crack at the Commonwealth Games Marathon. Home stretch. 💪
— Kurt Fearnley (@kurtfearnley) February 25, 2018
Results from the men’s wheelchair event at the Tokyo Marathon can be found here.
Fearnley (29pts) is now ranked second in the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series, behind Switzerland’s Marcel Hug (91pts) who didn’t make it to Tokyo due to a cancelled flight.
Nina Kennedy (WA) began her European campaign overnight at the All Star Perche elite pole vault meet in France. Kennedy, just 48 hours after arriving on the continent, vaulted a solid 4.62. The USA's Katie Nageotte won the competition with her 4.86m.
Also over the weekend, Steve Solomon (NSW) set a new Australian 400m indoor record in South Carolina.
You can read more about Solomon’s effort, here.