The teenager takes nearly four seconds off her personal best and wins in some style over two laps
Jess Lark continued her fine start to the season after securing a second consecutive victory in this year’s British Milers’ Club Grand Prix series.
The 17-year-old, who is coached by Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows at M11 Track Club, backed up her 1500m win in Bury (4:11.36) last month with a fine run over 800m in Birmingham (June 7).
Lark took almost six seconds off her 1500m best in Bury and, in equally impressive fashion, she decimated her 800m mark in Birmingham, running well below the 2:06.21 she ran in January to clock 2:02.43.
Only Keely Hodgkinson, Phoebe Gill, Abbie Ives and Shaikira King have gone quicker at British 800m under-20 level this decade. It was also a time that qualified Lark for this year’s European Under-20 Championships in Finland (August 7-10).
In what was a pulsating battle down the home straight, Lark came home the strongest and overtook both Lucy Armitage and Khahisa Mhlanga, who clocked respective times of 2:03.10 and 2:03.49.
Sarah Wilson and Madeleine Casey claimed victories in the women’s B and C races with 2:07.40 and 2:10.21 respectively.
Callum Dodds, who has a best of 1:44.79 over two laps, opened up his outdoor campaign with a win over 800m, running 1:45.33 to beat David Race (1:45.68) by just over half a second.
Back February, Dodds was also agonisingly close to breaking Tom Staines’ British indoor 600m record of 1:15.31, with the middle-distance runner clocking 1:15.81 at the Keely Klassic.
Tom Waterworth and Robert Shipley secured wins in the men’s B and C races with 1:47.44 and 1:48.66 respectively.
Hollie Parker starred in the 1500m and, in a tight tussle, triumphed in 4:10.25, with Sarah Calvert just over a second behind with 4:11.26. King, one of Great Britain’s finest teenage middle-distance talents, was third in 4:11.78 and broke Gill’s UK age-16 record for the distance.
One of the highlights of the BMC Grand Prix came in the men’s 1500m, with Sam Charig backing up his win at last week’s IFAM Outdoor Meet in Brussels with victory in Birmingham.
The Brit produced a third personal best over 1500m in as many weeks – following times of 3:37.54 and 3:37.28 – running 3:37.21. Tom Bridger placed second with 3:37.95, while Harry Wakefield took another lump off his British M35 record after clocking 3:38.57 for fourth.
Aron Gebremariam, the current English Schools 3000m champion and a winner at this year’s Inter-Counties, continued his fine 2025 season with a personal best in the 5000m of 13:36.71.
The teenager, who is from Eritrea, improved his 5km best to 13:31 last month and will no doubt be confident of taking more time off both his track and road marks as the summer unfolds.
Emily Parker was also in a league of her own in the 5000m and recorded a best of 15:33.85, beating Charlotte Dannatt (15:38.72) by almost five seconds.
In the 3000m steeplechase, Peter Bradshaw and Niamh Kearney impressed, the pair clocking respective bests of 8:46.50 and 10:08.66.
The next BMC Grand Prix on the calendar is in Loughborough on June 21, before the series heads to Watford on July 12 and ends in Trafford on August 9.
Men: 800: A: 1 C Dodds (E&H) 1:45.33; 2 D Race (Gate) 1:45.68; 3 B Gardiner (Ton) 1:46.39; 4 J Wigfield (Wirr) 1:46.62; 5 E Savage (Sale) 1:46.69; 6 P Copeland (P’pridd R) 1:46.75; 7 A Thompson (Sale) 1:46.79; 8 W Rabjohns (Poole, U20) 1:46.98. B: 1 T Waterworth (Hunts, U20) 1:47.44; 2 J Morrison (W Ches) 1:47.79; 3 R Elston (Charn) 1:48.47; 4 S Idiens (NZL) 1:48.82; 5 J O’Brien (Sale, U20) 1:49.42; 6 J Kinrade (Shrews, U20) 1:49.48; 7 H Ware (BMH) 1:49.51; 8 R Hewison (IRL) 1:49.57; 9 J Organ (Brec, U20) 1:50.29; 10 T Cheesbrough (Norw, U20) 1:50.47. C: 1 R Shipley (Shef/Dearn) 1:48.66; 2 J Sohna (Bir, U20) 1:48.74; 3 N Smith-Mills (Notts) 1:49.47; 4 J Magnusson (SWE) 1:49.57; 5 J Rogers (Hale) 1:49.81; 6 J Sispal (Leam) 1:49.98; 7 C Hurley (IRL) 1:50.35; 8 S O’Loughnane (BMH) 1:51.74. D: 1 F Hutchinson (Notts) 1:49.47; 2 B Åberg (SWE) 1:50.51; 3 S Davey (Worc) 1:50.52; 4 F Goddard (Sale, U20) 1:50.52; 5 A Lawson (York) 1:50.60; 6 B Nolan (Wig D) 1:50.67; 7 L Cotterill (WSEH) 1:51.24; 8 D Smith (St Alb, U20) 1:51.78; 9 O Kelly (IRL) 1:51.92. E: 1 A Glew (Chor ATC) 1:50.66; 2 T Ronchetti (M&M, U20) 1:50.83; 3 E Hagberg (SWE) 1:51.54; 5 C Chambers (Soton, U17) 1:52.59; 10 T Cross (AUS, U20) 1:55.32. F: 1 R Crowley (NEB) 1:51.12; 2 O Denson (WSEH, U20) 1:51.43; 3 H Parker McLain (Vale R, U20) 1:51.54; 4 T Loynes (Neath, U20) 1:51.75; 8 S Stapley (Phoe, U20) 1:54.43. G: 3 C O’Neill (IRL, U17) 1:54.12. Ht: 1 A Pinder (Chilt, U20) 1:54.10; 2 L Starr (R&N, U20) 1:54.48; 4 T Scrivens (Nun, U20) 1:54.98. I: 1 W Percival (Norw, U20) 1:53.34; 3 J Ryan (Mans, U20) 1:53.62; 7 L Rogers (Kett, U20) 1:55.23; 9 L Salvage (Newp, U17) 1:55.46. J: 3 H Klein (AFD, U17) 1:54.50; 9 E Gwyer (Soton, U17) 1:59.83. 1500: A: 1 S Charig (Ports) 3:37.21; 2 T Bridger (C&C) 3:37.95; 3 A Ludewick (Herne H) 3:38.12; 4 H Wakefield (Salf, M35) 3:38.57; 5 R Martin (Falk) 3:38.86; 6 J Higgins (Ton) 3:39.55; 7 J Tuffin (BRAT) 3:39.74; 8 T Tarragano (B&H) 3:39.84; 9 T Higgins (Ton) 3:40.07; 10 A Goddard (AUS) 3:40.42; 11 B Kebede (Clay) 3:40.57; 12 D Holman (B’burn) 3:40.72; 13 J Cann (Western Tempo) 3:40.93. B: 1 R Miell-Ingram (Rad) 3:40.10; 2 A Riley (B&H) 3:40.73; 3 S Mills (Leeds C) 3:40.90; 4 B Gebrebrhan (Anna) 3:40.97; 5 T Chamberlain (Jer) 3:41.12; 6 L Mallon (Lag V) 3:41.15; 7 T Shaw (York) 3:41.76; 8 I Rothwell (C&C) 3:42.61; 9 I Hirshman Chandler (SB) 3:42.97; 10 B Potrykus (WG&EL) 3:43.12; 11 J O’Farrell (Newry) 3:43.44; 12 O Murray (IRL) 3:44.20; 13 O Patton (Kilb, U20) 3:44.22; 14 T Moorcroft (AUS) 3:44.92; 15 R Harvie (Brack) 3:45.70. C: 1 F Daly (IRL) 3:47.24; 2 S Cronin (IRL, U20) 3:47.97; 3 L Conway (C&C, U20) 3:48.03; 4 A Milligan (Harrow) 3:48.07; 5 A McMillan (York) 3:48.16; 6 D Brookling (WSEH) 3:48.23; 7 D Nolan (Croy) 3:48.41; 8 N Whittaker (TVH) 3:48.47; 9 O Schofield (Sale, U20) 3:48.77; 12 F Buchanan (St. Michael’s Enniskillen, U20) 3:49.18; 13 C Gorham (IRL) 3:49.29; 14 J Gomez (USA) 3:49.69. D: 1 J McCrae (Hallam) 3:48.04; 2 C Bain (Guern) 3:48.96; 4 D Thompson (B’burn) 3:49.48; 5 R Gardiner (Cors) 3:49.52; 6 B Sandilands (Fife) 3:49.64; 7 O Davis (IRL) 3:49.70; 10 A Lennon (Sutt, U20) 3:52.39. E: 1 B Rushman (Herts P) 3:48.15; 2 J Keir (Inv EK) 3:48.36; 6 S Moran (IRL) 3:49.84; 8 K Fulton (Moorf, U20) 3:50.30; 11 L Lyons (IRL, U20) 3:52.42. F: 1 G Mastrolonardo (York) 3:49.96; 6 O Sumba (AFD, U20) 3:51.96; 10 L Doran (Chilt, U20) 3:53.20. G: 1 J Marwood (Salf, U20) 3:49.73; 5 C McFadden (Cran, U20) 3:52.31; 6 O Wallek (Phoe, U20) 3:53.40; 7 J Ali (Mans, U20) 3:55.93. Ht: 4 J Starvis (B&B, U20) 3:54.75; 7 G Noble (Sale, U20) 3:56.77; 8 O Ulfig (W&B, U20) 3:57.51. I: 4 L Dunham (Herts P, U20) 3:55.90; 5 M Revier (Soton, M35) 3:56.07; 7 A Starvis (B&B, U20) 3:57.23; 8 C Dick (Giff N, U17) 3:58.08; 12 T Moore (BMH, U17) 4:01.96; 15 D Bradford (Shett, M35) 4:03.55. 5000: A: 1 A Gebremariam (Bir, U20) 13:36.71; 2 R Slade (Chilt) 13:59.32; 3 C O’Reilly (IRL) 14:04.04; 4 L Minale (VP&TH) 14:04.96; 5 D James (Western Tempo) 14:06.00; 6 F Grierson (High) 14:06.10; 7 L Small (Ashf) 14:06.99; 8 P Molloy (Camb U HH) 14:07.42; 9 D Gillett (Western Tempo) 14:08.17; 10 D Casey (Ireland) 14:09.30; 11 J Patton (Kilb) 14:12.48; 12 M Ruby (Poole) 14:12.65; 13 A Penney (HW) 14:13.29; 14 A Darood (Sky) 14:13.62; 15 A Barber (Harb) 14:14.37; 16 J Small (Ashf) 14:17.48; 17 M Pickering (AFD, U20) 14:18.92; 18 H Johnson (Hal) 14:21.46; 19 C Benyan (C&C, U20) 14:21.61; 20 R Warner-Judd (B’burn) 14:21.98; 21 J Noblett (Lut) 14:28.60. B: 1 R Tuck (Chelm) 14:19.72; 2 F Ward (R&N) 14:23.66; 3 T Webb (Wells, U20) 14:27.36; 4 N Howlett (Edin) 14:27.81; 5 M Campion (B&W) 14:28.69; 6 B Robinson (B&W, M35) 14:29.64; 7 S Loughlin (Liv PS) 14:37.31; 8 B Conway (IRL) 14:39.29; 9 T Preston (PNV, U20) 14:45.07; 10 A Burgess (Bir, U20) 14:46.52; 11 A Rawley (AUS, U20) 14:47.95; 12 M Fraser (Prest, U20) 14:49.86; 18 M Morgan (C&C, U20) 15:00.12; 19 I Morgan (C&C, U20) 15:08.23; 22 T Kavanagh (AUS, U20) 15:43.20. 3000SC: A: 1 P Bradshaw (I’clyde) 8:46.50; 2 W Aitken (Donc) 8:48.92; 3 J Stafford (IRL) 8:55.13; 4 S Costley (Soton) 8:57.40; 5 T Fawden (High) 8:57.74; 6 S Kerfoot (Unsanctioned) 8:59.41; 7 D Millard (Taun, U20) 8:59.69; 8 J Croft (Hunts) 9:03.72; 9 G Phillips (Donc) 9:05.27; 10 B Andrews-Callec (Jer, U20) 9:07.14; 11 A Sproston (Phoe) 9:10.24; 12 A Stewart (B&W) 9:14.18; 13 A Budding (Leeds C, U20) 9:18.05; 14 J McGraw (BRAT) 9:20.35; 15 L Hamblen (AFD, U20) 9:25.71; 16 M Nicolle (MKDP) 9:27.23; 17 W Nuttall (Chelm) 9:29.35; 18 M Knak (Giff N, U20) 9:31.53; 19 B Hall (Horw, U20) 9:34.50
Women: 800: A: 1 J Lark (W Ches, U20) 2:02.43; 2 L Armitage (Sale) 2:03.10; 3 K Mhlanga (Herts P) 2:03.49; 4 A O’Neill (IRL) 2:03.68; 5 M Grant (Linc W, U17) 2:04.84; 6 B Trow (Shrews, U20) 2:05.33; 7 C Buckley (TVH) 2:05.58; 8 S Vidak (Falk) 2:05.71; 9 A Testar (Bir) 2:05.92. B: 1 S Wilson (Bath) 2:07.40; 2 A Bennett (Kett, U20) 2:09.49; 3 K Devereux (N Som, U20) 2:10.32; 4 G Langdon (Read, U20) 2:10.95. C: 2 Z Gilbody (Tel, U20) 2:10.84; 4 H Sanigar (B&W, U20) 2:11.29; 5 E Norris (New FJ, U17) 2:12.07. D: 1 D Allford (BMH, U17) 2:10.97; 2 G Tuesday (Phoe, U20) 2:11.95; 3 M Cossins (Stroud, U17) 2:12.99; 4 A Brady (Newp, U20) 2:13.00; 6 L Horton (D&S, U17) 2:13.69. E: 3 F McFadden (Stroud, U20) 2:13.81; 4 K Mcbride (AFD, U17) 2:13.94; 5 C Vickers (BMH, U20) 2:14.36. 1500: A: 1 H Parker (Phoe) 4:10.25; 2 S Calvert (Living) 4:11.26; 3 S King (W&SV, U20) 4:11.78; 4 H Dixon (Camb H) 4:12.98; 5 E Strevens (E’bne, U20) 4:13.41; 6 I McGowan (Banb, U20) 4:15.97; 7 A McAndrew (B’burn) 4:16.42; 8 E Simpson (Shef/Dearn) 4:19.76; 9 M Harris (Chelm) 4:19.78; 10 M Andorra (SUI) 4:20.18; 11 E Powell (Abing, U20) 4:20.78; 12 R Flanagan (Omagh) 4:21.29. B: 1 O Martin (Abing) 4:19.52; 2 S Tooley (Herne H) 4:19.57; 3 K Brady-Jones (Wirr) 4:21.33; 4 R Vinton (Chelm, U20) 4:21.47; 5 E Powell (Western Tempo) 4:21.84; 6 E Brooks (Linc W) 4:22.41; 7 I Padfield (Western Tempo) 4:24.24; 8 S Livingstone (Exe) 4:24.79; 9 J O’Leary (IRL, U20) 4:29.60; 10 I Porter (Linc W, U17) 4:29.79. C: 1 M Marchant (Western Tempo) 4:27.17; 2 M Dickinson (Phoe) 4:27.80; 3 J Ridley (WSEH) 4:28.70; 7 L Foster (Willow, U20) 4:30.78; 10 E McKee (Willow, U17) 4:33.02; 11 M Bellwood (Keigh, U20) 4:37.73. D: 1 E Inch (Shef/Dearn) 4:25.20; 4 K Booth (Taun, W45) 4:33.50; 8 R Clutterbuck (WSEH, U20) 4:38.19; 11 O Garcia Davis (AFD, U17) 4:43.99. E: 2 A Stewart (Storn, U20) 4:35.18; 3 K Shaw (Herts P, U20) 4:36.24; 4 O Avery (Glouc, U17) 4:37.27; 7 G Burge (Stoke, U17) 4:42.65; 11 R Street (WSEH, U17) 4:44.33; 12 L Smith (Stoke, U17) 4:44.76; 15 Z Doyle (Wyc P, W45) 4:56.56. 5000: A: 1 E Parker (Poole) 15:33.85; 2 C Dannatt (C’ley) 15:38.72; 3 T Simpson (Shef/Dearn) 15:55.93; 4 H Weedall (Vale R) 16:00.27; 5 B Wood (Salis) 16:05.68; 6 E Nicholson (B&B, U20) 16:05.70; 7 M Waldmann (Read) 16:07.35; 8 G Kersey (Bas) 16:07.69; 9 C Alexander (Ton) 16:10.10; 10 I Barwell (Linc W) 16:14.40; 11 K Pye (AFD, U20) 16:20.17; 12 L Wellsted (Col H, U20) 16:20.77; 13 S Tarver (Wirr) 16:24.14; 14 M McClelland-Brooks (I’clyde, U20) 16:24.31; 15 S Tucker (Cambus) 16:32.09; 16 K Hawkins (Salf) 16:33.27; 17 E Broms (SWE) 16:35.63; 18 M Laidlaw (E&E, U20) 16:36.13; 19 R Flaherty (Bing) 16:37.15; 20 M Wilmer (Lough S) 16:44.02; 21 E Carroll (TVH) 16:50.99; 22 S Bourne (Der) 17:20.80. 3000SC: A: 1 N Kearney (IRL) 10:08.66; 2 A Joyce (IRL) 10:14.50; 3 R Treacy (IRL) 10:19.65; 4 O McGhee (R&N, U17) 10:22.15; 5 A Greene (IRL) 10:28.23; 6 M Gold (Swan, U20) 10:28.89; 7 D Allen (IRL, U20) 10:29.51; 8 C Flannery (IRL, U20) 10:35.38; 9 R Le Fay (Ton, U20) 10:37.83; 10 A Sheriden (IRL) 10:40.95; 11 M Collings (Woking) 10:45.60; 12 S Duval (RSC) 10:53.48; 13 A James (B&H, U20) 10:55.45; 14 A Michalec (THH) 11:05.48
