Jack Millar, as he is best-known – although he also answers to his name of John Millar – smashed the course record despite being surprised by the severity of the main climb at the annual Framlingham 10K road race, held last Sunday.
Millar, a member of Ipswich Harriers, has been bang in form this summer, both on the track and on the roads, and the 20-year-old is now looking forward to another fruitful cross country season, down at Bath University, where he is soon to be a third-year maths student.
He has certainly impressed during his summer break back in Suffolk, posting some rip-roaring times in his own quiet, but very quick, way.
The highlight was setting a scorching personal best of 30mins 40secs at the Ipswich Twilight 10K at the start of August, while on the track he registered a PB of 14:23.62 over 5K at Watford in May, and then delighted his home club crowd with a swift 3mins 54.1secs for 1,500m at an East Anglian League meeting in Ipswich just three weeks ago – I was watching from the comfort of my fold-up chair at Northgate Sports Centre that afternoon.
Last weekend, Millar was out on his own at the traditionally tough Framlingham 10K event, re-writing the record books with a cracking time of 30mins 58secs, finishing more than two minutes clear of his closest rivals.
“I’m happy with the time, though I didn’t really know what to expect,” explained Millar, who is also a specialist steeplechaser on the track.
“I knew it was a harder course than Ipswich, and we were also blessed with some very hot weather, while I had no idea how tough the hill was, having not looked at the course before.
“I was quite impressed with the hill. You have to run up it three times during the race (two-and-a-half-lap route).
“I decided to go out hard from the start, so I was running on my own throughout, although I did have the lead cyclist for company!
“The run was very enjoyable and the crowds were great, especially up Market Hill,” added Millar.
This year has certainly been kind to Millar, not least because he was selected to run for England last March, at the SIAB & Home Countries Schools International meeting at Nottingham – he won that race (junior men) by an impressive 24 seconds.
Other 2018 highlights have included being crowned Suffolk County Cross Country champion at Culford School in January, and finishing fourth in the under-20 men’s race at the English National Championships at Parliament Hill Fields in February.
As to the rest of this year, Millar said: “I’ve got one more East Anglian League race, at Bury St Edmunds, before I then go into winter’s training.
“I’m sponsored by Vivobarefoot (running shoes company), so the plan is to see if I can tweak my running technique, by looking at my stride and seeing if I can remove any bad habits.”
Matt Jeffries, of Waveney Valley AC, was an excellent – if distant – runner-up to Millar at Framlingham, in 33:10.
Ben Carpendale, of Felixstowe Road Runners, took third in 33:17, followed by Ipswich Harriers’ Alex Lawrence (33:59) and Ipswich JAFFA’s Ben Turley (35:03).
Sam Lines, of Waveney Valley AC, ran very impressively to win the ladies’ title in 36:58. Lines was 11th overall.
Results
Top 10 men: 1 J Millar (Ips/Harr) 30:58; 2 M Jeffries (Wav/Val) 33:10; 3 B Carpendale (Fel RR) 3:17; 4 A Lawrence (Ips/Harr) 33:59; 5 B Turley (JAFFA) 35:03; 6 A Tripp (Ips/Harr) 35:03; 7 K Hayles (Sudbury Joggers) 35:36; 8 A Howlett (Fram Flyers, first over-40 veteran) 35:40; 9 A Wade (JAFFA) 36:11; 10 T Adams (Ips/Harr) 36:44.
Other male veteran winners, O-50: W Campbell (JAFFA) 37:27. O-60: S Pretty (Stowmarket) 43:21.
Top 10 ladies: 1 S Lines (Wav/Val) 36:58; 2 L Thomas (JAFFA) 39:30; 3 O Robson (Saint Edmund Pacers, first over-40 veteran) 41:42; 4 R Smith (Un) 41:48; 5 A Heather-Hayes (Hadleigh Hares) 42:14; 6 J Gooderham (Pacers) 42:25; 7 C Caiger (Un) 43:19; 8 R Horsfield (Airborne Fit) 44:03; 9 L Cowlin (Sudbury) 44:04; 10 G Clarke (Fram Flyers) 44:22.
Other female veteran winners, O-50: M Narey (Stowmarket) 47:06. O-60: J Morgan (Pacers 50:15.
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