EMA BEST MASTERS AWARDS 2019 in the category „Long Distance“
Said Boudalia (M50, ITA) and Clare Elms (W55, GBR)
Both awarded 2019 European Master‘s Athletes of the Year for Long Distance Running were successful in both road races and on the track.
Clare Elms
Clare Elms is a highly decorated athlete. At the beginning of the year 2019, she came into record mode and set W55 indoor world records in 1500m, 1 mile and 3000m. On 22nd April 2019 she ran 4.48.65sec to break her own W55 World 1500m outdoor record. She lost this record just two weeks later to the Irish athlete Anne Gilshinan, who clocked 4.45.65sec at a meeting in Greystones on 4 May. Anne Gilshinan is awarded 2019 EM’s Female Athlete for Middle Distance.
In March, Clare Elms won four gold medals (1500m, 3000m, 8km Cross, 8km Cross Team) at the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland. Half a year later she became European Champion five times (1500m, 5000m, 10000m, 4km Cross Country, 10km Road Race) at EMAC in Veneto, Italy. In the 800m races, she was second in both Poland and Veneto behind her compatriot Mitchell Virginia.
Said Boudalia
The Venetian of Moroccan origins Said Boudalia became twice M50 European Champion (5000m, 10km) at EMAC 2019 in Veneto. He is M45 5000m world record holder. After the EMA Championships, he prepared for the Venice Marathon in three half-marathons (29 September, 6 and 20 October). His marathon finish time 2h26’56 ” meant a new Italian M50 record.
Clare Elms (W55, GBR)
W55 World Records in 2019
1500m indoor (4:50.75) – London, GBR
1 mile indoor (5:15.44) – London, GBR
3000m indoor (10:13.40) – London, GBR
W55 World Champion at WMACI Toruń, POL
1500m (4:54.97)
3000m (10:31.69)
8 km Cross (32:51)
8 km Cross Team GBR (1:43.41) – ELMS Clare, WOOD Caroline, WOOLHOUSE Lucy
In the 800m race (2:23.10) she became second behind Virginia Mitchell, the world record (2:22.34).
W55 European Champion at EMAC Venice, ITA
1500m (5:03.71)
5000m (19:00.30)
10000m (39:19.51)
4 Km Cross Country (14:33)
10 Km Road Race (37:56)
Vice European Champion: 800m (2:28.10)
Said Boudalia (M50, ITA)
M50 European Champion 2019
5000m (14:59.70) – European Champion EMAC Eraclea ITA
10 Km Road Race (31:20) – European Champion EMAC Jesolo ITA
A.H