I hope you’ve had a great week so far & been enjoying the abundance of sport happening right now.
News
Monaco Diamond League
Athletics fans were treated to another exciting instalment of the Diamond League this week. Here are some of the British highlights:
In the men’s 400m, Matthew Hudson-Smith finished fourth in 44.22, while Botswana’s Collen Busang Kebinatshipi claimed victory in a national and Diamond League record of 43.44.
The men’s 1000m produced two impressive British performances, with Jake Wightman running a personal best of 2:12.77 and Ben Pattison also recording a PB of 2:14.11 to finish fifth. Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi won the race in a world record time of 2:11.83.
In the National Men’s 1000m (technically separate to the DL meet) , David Proctor finished 10th in a season’s best of 2:26.76, while Raphael Lough recorded a season’s best of 2:33.79. France’s Youssef Benzamia won the race in 2:20.32.
In the men’s 5000m, Alex Yee clocked a season’s best of 13:27.79 to finish 12th. Switzerland’s Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu took victory in a season’s best of 12:52.54.
In the field events, Jack Kimani cleared 2.30m in the men’s high jump, finishing a close second behind Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk.
Next weekend sees the return of the London Diamond League, with an even deeper British field expected to line up on home soil.
London Marathon
The results of the 2026 London Marathon ballot were released this week. Congratulations to anyone who secured a place. For those who weren’t successful, there are still opportunities to gain a place through charities, Good For Age or Championship places – which the organisers will announce the criteria for in the Autumn.
Volunteers’ appeal
Finally, we are once again appealing for more licensed officials and volunteers to support our StoneX fixtures.
If you are interested in getting involved and would like to find out more, please speak to James or Helen, or contact us at info@shaftesburybarnet.co.uk. Your support makes a huge difference in helping us continue to deliver successful events.
Insights
Dealing with Injury
It’s every athlete’s nightmare. Training is going well, consistency is building, and then injury strikes. Sometimes it starts as a quiet niggle that you dismiss as fatigue. Other times it arrives completely out of the blue. Either way, the emotional impact is often the same. Suddenly, you can’t do the thing you love, your plans for the season feel as though they’ve disappeared overnight, and the inevitable question creeps in: What did I do wrong?
Having dealt with several significant injuries throughout my running journey, I’ve learnt that the answer is rarely straightforward. Injury is a psychological challenge as much as a physical one, and everyone experiences it differently. Personally, I know I’m not the easiest person to be around when I’m injured. Running is such a big part of my routine that when it’s taken away, I can quickly find myself overthinking every symptom and searching for the fastest route back to training. With that in mind, here are a few things that have helped me.
Don’t panic. Most injuries improve with the right amount of rest. If, like me, you struggle to slow down, try reframing it as an opportunity to do the things you usually don’t have time for. Spend time with friends and family, read a book, or finally tackle those jobs you’ve been putting off. For me, that usually means cleaning or organising my flat. If I’m spending more time at home, I’d rather enjoy the space I’m in.
Don’t rush your return. It’s tempting to chase fitness because you have a race planned, but there will almost always be another opportunity. I’ve missed two London Marathons, yet the race was still there when I was healthy enough to return. Coming back too soon often leads to a longer recovery or more frustration than waiting a little longer. Trust that your body will tell you when it’s ready.
Seek professional advice. Over the years, I’ve built a trusted network of professionals and friends whose advice I value. If something doesn’t feel right, getting it assessed can provide reassurance and help guide your recovery. Where possible, I find scans particularly useful for understanding what’s going on and creating an appropriate rehabilitation plan, even though they can be expensive. One thing I’ve also learnt is that seeking too many opinions can sometimes become counterproductive. Every professional is likely to have a slightly different approach, so once you’ve found someone you trust, it’s often best to follow their guidance and commit to the rehabilitation plan.
Find another outlet. If your injury allows it, explore alternative forms of exercise. Not only can they help maintain fitness, but you might discover something you genuinely enjoy. After a stress fracture last year, I took up cycling and eventually bought a road bike—something I never would have done without being forced to step away from running.
Don’t neglect your nutrition. This is something I still have to remind myself of. My instinct when I’m injured is often to eat less because I’m training less. In reality, a healing body still needs plenty of energy and nutrients to recover. Good nutrition is just as important during recovery as it is during training.
Keep perspective. This is often the hardest part, but it’s also the most important. I try to see injury as an opportunity to rebuild, recover and address the things I might otherwise overlook. Rest allows your whole body—not just the injured area—to recover. I’ve also learnt that fitness comes back quicker than you think, and every setback teaches you something new about your body, your training and what works best for you.
Do what feels right for you. This is probably the most personal piece of advice I can give. If you feel like being around people, embrace it. If you need some time to yourself, that’s okay too. There isn’t a right or wrong way to navigate injury. Sometimes staying connected to the running community and celebrating other people’s successes can be motivating. Other times, it’s healthier to switch off completely. Whether that means taking a break from Strava or checking it every day, do whatever genuinely helps you. I’ve done both over the years, and I’ve learnt there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.
Injuries still suck, but they don’t define your season or your progress. Recovery takes patience, but you’ll come back stronger—not just physically, but mentally too. Hopefully my above experiences and coping mechanisms can help some of you now or in the future.
If you have any insights, experiences or anecdotes you’d like to share in a future newsletter, I’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch!
Calendar
Here’s what’s happening over the next few weeks other than your usual coached training sessions.
July
19/07/26 SBH Jumpfest – StoneX Stadium (Open) T&F
26/07/26 MYAL – Parliament Hill (Juniors – Team Selection) T&F
August
02/08/26 YDL – Finsbury Park (Juniors – Team Selection) T&F
09/08/26 SBH Showcase – StoneX Stadium (Open) T&F
16/08/26 EYAL – Barnet (Juniors) T&F
22/08/26 NAL Championship – StoneX Stadium (Seniors – Team Selection) T&F
23/08/26 North London 10km – StoneX (Open) R
31/08/26 SBH Open & Club Champs – StoneX Stadium (Open) T&F
September
12/09/26 NAL Championship final – Oxford [TBC] (Seniors – Team Selection) T&F
Further ahead
10/10/26 Met League – Claybury (open) XC
14/11/26 Met League – Trent Park (open) XC
05/11/26 Met League – Uxbridge (open) XC
16/01/27 Met League – Welwyn Garden City (open) XC
13/02/27 Met League – Horsenden Hill (open) XC
*Where possible club events should be prioritised, however I have included other local events which may be of interest.
Key: T&F = Track, R= Road XC = Cross Country
Full Results
*All results featured in the newsletter are taken from Power of 10. Occasionally, there may be a slight delay between a competition taking place and the official results being published. If you think I’ve missed your result or achievement, please do let me know and I’ll make sure it’s included in the next newsletter.
Latest Results
Sunday 12 July
Stratford Speed GP
Womens 400H: Hayley Mclean R1 56.76 (1), Womens 100m: Angelina Johnson R1 13.20 (3) R2 12.92 (2), Naylah Adeeko R1 12.81 (3) R2 12.78 (5), Renee Regis R1 11.39 (4), R2 11.19 (2) Mens 100m: Bryan Ogbebor R1 11.07 (2) R2 11.21 (7), John Otugade R1 10.05 (1), R2 10.12 (3), Lorrell Smith R1 10.96 (5) R2 11.07 (7), Modebayo Akin-Agunbiade R1 11.23 (1) Mens 200m: Decarie Davies Rt 21.74 (3), Modebayo Akin-Agunbiade 24.10 (5)
London 10km
Jamie Dee 30:56 (8), Luke Flatley 41:20 (719), Bradley Singer 45:11 (1,444)
Saturday 10 July
Park Run Highlights
Paul Lewis 20:18.(2) – Aldenham parkrun # 505,
Tristan Lee 17:35, (26) – Battersea parkrun # 76,
Daniel Nichols 17:35, (6) – Bushy parkrun # 1098,
Harrison Henderson 19:27, (8) – Oak Hill parkrun # 707,
Chloe Wilkinson 21:21, (7) – Wormwood Scrubs parkrun # 707l
National Athletics League, Stevenage
Womens Long Jump: Alannah Fashanu 5.37 (2, A), Leshawn Clifford 4.73 (2, B), Womens Hammer Throw: Stacey Gonzalez 34.99 (3, A), Jo Blair 21.32 (3, B) Mens 400m Hurdles: Jubril Adeniji 55.02 (2, A), Womens 400m Hurdles: Rebecca Hurley 1:15.52 (2, A), Womens Pole Vault: Rebecca Wheeler-Henry 1.65 (2,A), Mens 800m: Thomas Butler 1:57.69 (2, A), Adam O’Gorman 2:02.39 (1, B), Mens 100m: Sydney Mendes 11.44 (3, A), Micah Forbes-Agyepong 11.52 (3,B) Womens 100m: Shereen Charles 12.79 (4, A), Rebecca Wheeler-Henry 14.11 (6, B), Mens Long Jump: Paul Ogun 6.67 (1, A), Sydney Mendes 5.82 (2, B), Mens 2000m SC: Steven Garrett 6:12.38 (1, A), Thomas Butler 8:33.55 (1, B), Womens Discus Throw: Stacey Gonzalez 28.64 (4, A), Jo Blair 19.40 (4, B) Mens 110m Hurdles: Jubril Adeniji 17.44 (1, A), Steven Garrett 16.95 (1, B), Womens Triple Jump: Rosalind Zeffertt 7.71 (5, A), Womens 100m Hurdles: Nia Forbes-Agyepong 14.90 (2, A) Mens Discus Throw: Greg Thompson 55.12 (1, A), Reuben Vaughan 51.69 (1, B), Mens 400m: Jay Palmer 50.02 (2, A), Micah Forbes-Agyepong 54.45 (3, B) Womens Pole Vault: Genoa Howat 3.85 (1, A), Stacey Gonzalez: 2.67 (1, B), Mens High Jump: Reuben Vaughan 1.62 (4, A), Womens 400m: Vanessa Ansuaa 57.03 (2, A), Mens 1500m: Luca Stubbs 3:59.28 (1, A), Thomas Butler 4:37.59 (5, B), Womens Javelin Throw: Jo Blair 38.67 (2, A), Mens Shot Put: Greg Thompson 15.43 (2, A), Reuben Vaughan 12.76 (1, B), Mens 200m: Decarie Davies 21.71 (2, A), Sydney Mendes 23.10 (2, B) Womens 200m: Nia Forbes-Agyepong 26.05 (3, A), Mens Triple Jump: Paul Ogun 13.60 (1, A), James Davis 9.68 (2, B) Mens 3000m: Thomas Butler 8:51.39 (1, A), Adam O’Gorman 8:57.95 (1, B) Mens 4 x100m relay: Eugene Riza, Decarie Davies, Micah Forbes-Agyepong, Sydney Mendes 44.00 (1), Mens Javelin Throw: Greg Thompson 42.26 (4, A), Reuben Vaughan 35.73 (1, B), Womens Shot Put: Nene Harrison 10.52 (2, A), Jo Blair 9.17 (2, B), Womens 4x100m relay: Rebecca Hurley, Vanessa Ansuaa, Nia Forbes-Agyepong, Shereen Charles 50.33 (2), Womens 3000m: Jessica Hurley 10:53.65 (5, A)
BMC Watford Grand Prix
Womens 800m: Lily Beckford 2:05.83 (2), Mens 1500m: Rafi Gayer 3:53.17 (5)
Friday 9 July
Meeting International d’Athlétisme Herculis EBS – Wanda Diamond League
Mens High Jump: Kimani Jack 2.30, (2)
Wednesday 8 July
Tracksmith 5000m, London
Thomas Butler 14:24.53 (2)
Cork City Sports, Cork
Mens 200m: Ebuka Nwokeji 20.56, (1), Mens 3000m: Henry Dover 8:18.58, (11)
Watford Harriers Open Graded Meetings, Watford
Mens 400m: Thomas Cadwallader 52.18 (4) PB, Mens 800m: Matthew May 2:06.16 (1) PB, Adam O’Gorman 1:58.81 (6), Josiah Williams-Ollivierre 2:10.04, (13)
Womens 800m: Emilia Economu 2:29.92 (11)
Tuesday 7 July
Míting Internacional Ciutat de Barcelona, Spain
Womens 200m: Renee Regis 23.32, (5), Womens 400 Hurdles: Emily Newnham 54.20, (1)
Sunday 5 July
BMC Regional Meeting, Gillingham
Mens 800m: Steven Garrett 1:56.25, (5) PB
Saturday 4 July
The Mile End Miles, Mile End
John-Michael Diracles 4:38.41, (11) PB
Friday 3 July
England Athletics U20, Senior Track & Field and Events Championships, Bedford
*Republishing due to some missing results
Mens 400m: Ben Rochford, Heat: 48.72 (3, 11), Mens Javelin: Daniel Dubras 61.81 (3) PB, Womens High Jump: Lily Holt 1.70 (1), Evelyne Fonteyne 1.73 (6), Rebecca Wheeler-Henry 1.69 (7), Womens Pole Vault: Genoa Grace Howat 3.90 (5) PB, Womens 400m Hurdles: Hayley McLean Heat: 1:00.36 (1), Semi-Final: 59.55 (1), Final 58.48 (1), Triple Jump: Harley Henry 15.54 (2) Womens Heptathlon: Lily Holt, 200m: 25.82, 800m: 2:14.92 PB, 100m Hurdles: 14.44, High Jump: 1.70 SB, Long Jump: 5.63, Shot Put: 10.93 SB, Javelin: 27.57 PB, Final Score: 5239 PB, Womens 100m: Makayla Brai-Aloye Heat: 12.10 (14, 4), 200m: Makayla Brai-Aloye, Heat: 24.25 (4,2) PB, Final: 24.21 (4) PB, Tami George, Heat: 24.58 (6), Final: 24.24 (5), 5000m: Rafi Gayer 14:58.55 (3), 3000m: Rafi Gayer 8:57.53 (9), Discus: Reuben Vaughan 50.56 (8), 100m: Zachary Bindon-Goss, Heat: 10.78 (12, 4) PB
Prefontaine Classic
Mens 200m: Zharnel Hughes 20.26, (6)
Meeting Premium Stanislas de Nancy, France
Womens 400m: Alicia Regis 52.89, (7)
University of Birmingham Ivy League Match
Mens Mile: Samuel Greenstein 4:38.79, (6) PB
Thursday 2 July
Track Academy Outdoor Competition, Willesden
Womens 100m, Rosalind Zeffertt 16.40, (7), Womens Long Jump: Rosalind Zeffertt 3.47, (11)
Wednesday 1 July
Brig Bash 5, Bridge Of Earn
Bruce Gibb 43:58(182), PB
Saturday 27 June & Sunday 28 June
SEAA Outdoor U14/U16/U18 Championships, Chelmsford
*Republishing due to some missing results
U14 – Womens 200m: Heats: Sienna Darcy 27.03 (2), Dami Adekunle 27.82 (3), Womens 75 Hurdles: Sienna Darcy, Heat: 11.94 (1), Final: 11:36 (1) PB, , Mens 800m: Dennys Pascal, Heat: 2:13.01 (2), Final: 2:05.68 (4) PB, Mens 100m: Zachary Ononye Heat: 11.40 (1), Final: 11.66 (2), Womens Long Jump: Heat: Dami Adekunle 4.88 (1), Final: 4.71 (1) Mens 1500m: Lewis Ward, Heat: 4:37.05 (2) Final: 4:32.24 (9), Womens 100m: Naylah Adeeko, Heat: 13.12 (3), Dami Adekunle, Heat: 13.29 (4), Mens 80 Hurdles: Seth Saunders, Heat: 11.68 (1), PB, Final: 11.44 (2), PB
U16 – Mens 100 Hurdles: Kayden Thomas 12.51 (1) PB, Mens 200m: Kacei Griffith, Heat: 22.77 (4), Louis Xun, Heat: 23.79 (4) , Lani Jaiyeola, Heat: 23.07 (5), Mens 300m: Ben Bamisaiye, Heats: 36.40 (2) PB, Final: 36.50 (3), Mens 800m: Aaron Hidalgo-Hudi, Heat: 2:02.95 (2) PB, Mens Hammer: Jonny Evans 38.64 (9) PB, Mens Pole Vault: Ramsey Gill 4.50 (1), Noah Van Den Bergh 4.00 (2), Xavier Wilkins 3.30 (10) PB, Marko Mankovsky 3.30 (11) =PB, Mens 1500m: Ben Davies, Heats: 4.30.90 (8), Womens Hammer: Erykah-Monae Quartey 40.52 (6) PB, Womens Shot: Erykah-Monae Quartey 9.95 (7)
U18 – Mens 100m: Lani Jaiyeola, Heat: 11.27 (4) SB, Modebayo Akin-Agunbiade, Heat: 11.80 (6) Womens 100m: Shekel Okrah, Heat: 13.81 (7) Mens 200m: Lani Jaiyeola, Heat: 23.07 (5) SB, Modebayo Akin-Agunbiade, Heat: 23.54 (7) PB, Kacei Ramai Griffith, Heat: 22.77 (4), Stanley Hurst, Heat: 22.49 (2), Final: 22.20 (4), Tyler Holden-Aikhomu, Heat: 22.98 (1), Final: 22.43 (6), Womens 400m: Ella Buckley, Heat: 59.36 (2), Final: 58.65 (4) PB, Mens 400m: Dijani Barnor, Heat: 51.25 (3), Final: 53.34 (4), Sam Darcy, Heats: 52.76 (6), Mens 800m: Arthur Phillips: Heat: 2:00.25 (1), Final: 1:55.17 (2), Mens Pole Vault: Isaac van den Bergh 4.00 (5), Thomas Robertson 3.70 (6), Ramsey Jay Gill 4.50 (1) SB Womens Pole Vault: Heat: Amy Hallett 2.40 (10)