Runners are Smilers

2024 GB 50Kilometre Rankings

Mens

The 2024 GB 50 Kilometre rankings are led by the two stand-out performances at Perth in March by Ronnie Richmond (Bideford RR) and Andrew Davies (Stockport).

Ronnie Richmond,(Right) and Andrew Davies on thier way to both running, sub 2 hours 50 minutes at the sri chinmoy 50km at Perth , — Ronnie Richmond,(Right) and Andrew Davies on their way to both running, sub 2 hours 50 minutes at the sri chinmoy 50km at Perth ,

Their dual in the Sri Chinmoy event, which incorporated the British Championships, saw them finally separated by just 8 seconds as Richmond recorded 2:48:25 to Davies’ 2:48:33.

Both dipped under the previous British road 50km record of 2:49:01 set by Dan Nash in 2019.

By working together, they were able to maintain a good pace throughout the race, narrowly missing the absolute British 50km mark of 2:48:06 set in a track race in Manchester by former Olympic marathon runner Jeff Norman in 1980.

2024 GB and NI Men's 50km Rankings — 2024 GB and NI Men’s 50km Rankings

Davies had the consolation of setting a new Welsh record!

Third in the rankings was Henry Hart (Belgrave), who ran 2:50:33 at the Goodwood event on 1st December, to also claim a new Scottish Record. Thomas Charles (Chorlton) made it four runners under 3 hours in 2024, with his 2:57:45 for third place at Perth.

Illustrating that 50km at the sharp end is more and more the domain of fast marathon runners, Richmond improved his marathon PB at Valencia to 2:15:02 at Valencia on 1st December.

You can read an interview with Ronnie after the Perth race HERE

Women

The fastest stand-alone 50km time for 2024 was run by Jennifer Wetton (Central AC) when winning the women’s 50km race at Perth in 3:29:03.

Jennifer Wetton, on her way to victory in the Sri Chinmoy 50km race at Perth.

Her time was eclipsed by some incredible split times in longer races. Sarah Webster and Melissah Gibson ran 50km splits of 3:26:01 and 3:26:42, respectively, in the 100km race at Perth.

Webster was to surpass this in August at Gloucester, recording 3:24:13 on the way to narrowly missing the World 40-mile best time.

Carla Molinaro ,world 50km champion from 2023, went even better, with her 3:19:17 split when placing 4th at the two Oceans race in South Africa in April.