With the Armagh International 5k just weeks away, this is the place to follow the build up. We will be bringing you pre-race interviews with the leading entrants, a race preview and much, much more. Results, race coverage and post race interviews will also be online as soon as possible after the race. Tell your friends where we are, and why not follow us on twitter while your at it; @ArmaghIntl5k

Race Preview

With just over 24 hours to go the excitement is really building with the 2012 edition of the Armagh International 5k having the potential to be the best in history. As usual, we have a truly international line-up, with American, English, Finish, Irish and Polish athletes all likely to be in the mix.

Christian Hesch leads the way in 2008


Sub-4 miler and 3 times winner Christian Hesch leads the American charge in this year’s race, as he aims to regain the title he last won in 2008 when clocking 13.57. It will surely take something in the sub-14 region to take the title this year, so it is only fitting that he is joined by 3 other American’s with sub-14 minute pb’s; Michael Crouch, Landon Peacock and Lex Williams.



Jonny Mellor


Meanwhile, a multi-pronged English assault on the Armagh crown shall be lead by last year’s runner-up Jonny Mellor. The Liverpool Harrier went from strength to strength following last year’s race, posting big pb’s of 13.36 and 28.50 for 5/10k. His good form has followed on into this winter, and having improved every year at Armagh, finishing 18th, 8th and 2nd over the last 3 years, is he destined to take the title this year? Alongside Mellor, James Walsh also had somewhat of a breakthrough summer, again posting 5k and 10k pb’s (13.39/28.37). His winter season has had many highlights so far, including 15th place at the European XC Championships in Slovenia and retaining his Midlands XC title, and he will be looking to add to these tomorrow night. Another athlete who shone at the European XC Championships was James Wilkinson, who will be running for Team Puma. He took u23 silver with a terrific run, and definitely has un-tapped potential over 5k, so certainly one to watch out for. A couple more athletes likely to be to the fore are Ashley Harrell and Andy Wiles. The former took bronze at the BUCS XC Champs last weekend and has a 10k best of 30.18 from December, whilst the later has a great mix of speed and endurance with 2011 pb’s of 3.43 and 29.46 for 1500m and 10k receptively.


Luke Cragg

Last, but by no means least, is one of our feature athletes, Luke Cragg. His video interview was very insightful and off the back of a 65 minute half-marathon in Spain, and a victory at the Alsager 5 just days ago, he will be looking to keep the momentum going. His new training base in Loughborough clearly seems to be working for him, and he puts this down to the fact “it’s just a group of like-minded guys training hard”. Cragg’s 5k and 10k pb’s stand at 13.41 and 29.10, and like Hesch, Mellor and Walsh, he most definitely deserves the label as one of the pre-race favourites.