Davies tops South West list
Runner continues best season to date
JUSTIN Davies is celebrating arguably the best season of his young career after joining the 1min 45secs club.
The 21-year-old British junior international clocked a brilliant personal best time of 1min 45.37secs to win the 800m in the British Milers Club Gold Standard meeting at Watford.
That was Davies’ first time under 1min 46secs and saw him surge to tenth in the UK Rankings – third at U23 level – and first in the All-time Lists for the South West.
That’s right, Davies, a former winner of the Running Bath/chron competition, has just run the fastest 800m in history by an athlete from the South West.
“I didn’t know, that’s nice though,” said Davies, who is coached by Martin Rush at Team Bath AC.
Perhaps more of an achievement to reflect upon later but for now Davies is clearly delighted at improving his PB for the third time this season and securing a huge leap forward from the 1:47.70 that was his best in 2023.
“I’m really happy with my time at Watford,” added Davies.
“I was hoping for it but not expecting it at all.
“I had a couple of 1min 46secs already this season so it was nice to finally run a 1:45.”
Davies was taken to the bell at Watford in 51.6secs by the pacemaker and then kept his form well on the second lap to finish over a second clear of Thomas Keen.
“I felt good and I think there is still a bit more to come,” said Davies, who was racing in Poland last night (Wednesday) in his final competition of the season.
“But if the season was to end now I would be more than happy with what I have achieved. I’m so pleased at how it has turned out.”
For the record Davies has progressed from 1:47.70 last year to 1:46.71 in June, then 1:46.05 in July and now 1:45.37. A remarkable summer indeed.
■ TEAM Bath’s Gertie Blewitt is also celebrating after winning her first national medal at the weekend. Blewitt, who is coached by Mark Thomas, turned out for Team Avon at the England National Relay Championships at the Alexander Stadium, Birmingham.
Contesting the event for the first time the team finished third in the 4x300m race in a time of 2mins 51.29secs, which was just a fraction outside the Team Avon record.
Earlier this season Blewitt, representing Avon, ran in the heats of the 300m at the English Schools’ Championships.
■ JAMES Reeder smashed his personal best in the Podium Home
Nations 5K race at Bude Park, Cardiff on Saturday evening.
Lining up in a very strong field Reeder battled to 50th overall in a time of 14mins 37secs, slashing 20 seconds off the PB he ran at Odd Down in July, which was his first sub 15 minutes time.
Team Bath clubmate Aidan Daniel ran 15:29, clipping three seconds off his PB while there were also strong runs from Lester James (15:41) and
Eoin Cremen (16:20).
■ MEANWHILE, in Sweden, Jenny Carter was representing Great Britain in the half marathon at the World Masters Championships in Gothenburg.
Carter finished ninth overall in the W50 age group in a time of 1:31:06 and was part of the squad who won the bronze team medals.
■ The athletics coverage in the Bath Chron is sponsored by Running Bath.