Middle-distance fans are in for a treat this weekend as Belfast gets set to host one of the sharpest track events on the calendar, the British Milers Club meeting, landing at the Mary Peters Track this Saturday, 14th June.
Backed by the organisers of the Belfast City Marathon, this year’s meet will see over 280 athletes descend on the capital, travelling from across the UK, Ireland, Germany, and Australia. The highlight? The Men’s 1 Mile, boasting 79 entrants and a field so fast it could trigger a nosebleed just reading the start list.
Among them is the returning Nicholas Griggs, making his comeback after illness. The European U23 Cross Country Silver medallist and unofficial parkrun world record holder is coached by Meeting Director Mark Kirk, and all eyes will be on whether the Tyrone teenager can recapture his best form over the fabled mile.
The race also sees the launch of a new accolade, the John Allen MBE Memorial Cup, which will be awarded annually to the first Northern Ireland athlete across the line in the Men’s Mile. Allen, who passed away last year, was a pillar of local athletics and a tireless advocate for grassroots development. His legacy will be celebrated in the most fitting way possible, with speed.
Last year, Callum Morgan became just the 15th Northern Irish athlete to dip under four minutes. Whether anyone joins him in that exclusive club this weekend remains to be seen, but with four sub-4 runners already confirmed, the stopwatch will be sweating
It’s not just about the mile. The Men’s and Women’s 800m A races are stacked, with eight sub-1:50 men ready to go to war, including Germany’s Tim Anslett, Australia’s Max Shervington, and a strong Irish cohort featuring Callum Hurley, Finn Woodger, and Irish Schools Champion Caolan McFadden.
On the women’s side, former Aussie national champion Rebecca Newton lines up alongside Ava Lloyd, who has already worn the GB vest at the European Indoors. Also in the mix is Holly Mills, better known for her exploits in the heptathlon, including a European U23 bronze. but more than capable of mixing it with the specialists over two laps.
It all kicks off Saturday, and if the weather holds and the pacers do their job, we could be in for a few personal bests, and maybe even a headline or two.
Image: Perri Williams