DESPITE the lack of major athletic competition due to the Covid pandemic, Henry McLuckie produced two outstanding results, including what is believed to be one the fastest 1,500m runs ever by an Islander.
The first was the Night of Fifteen 1,500m, where Belgrave Harriers staged 15 races over a metric mile, at London’s Battersea track.
Henry appeared to be the slowest on paper going into the A race, which included a number of senior internationals, so competition and quality was at a premium.
The race had a designated pacemaker, who covered the first 300m in just over 45 seconds, which saw the two leaders accelerate, believing the pace to be slightly too slow.
McLuckie kept his head and sat mid-pack of the 12 starters, passing 800m in 1min 58secs — maintaining his form as he hit the bell, with 400m left.
On the back straight, Henry passed two athletes and was closing down on the two leaders to finish an outstanding third, in 3mins 42.16secs, covering the final 400m in 57.8secs.
Henry then took on the second of the Milton Keynes 5km PB races — once again earning a slot in the A race which, under Covid restrictions, had a maximum of 12 athletes in each starting wave.
In very windy conditions, Henry’s teammate and GB international, Adam Clarke, went straight to the front to push the early pace, with all 12 passing the first kilometre in just under 2mins 45secs.
Sitting next to Clarke was Australian Olympic runner, Ryan Gregson, who only two nights earlier had competed in the Diamond League 1,500m in Doha, and they soon split the field.
Passing 4km, Henry was in a group of three chasing down Clarke, who was starting to suffer from his effort to stay with Gregson.
In a desperate surge to the line, Henry was just pipped for third spot — but his 14.13 was another PB and a great result.
His 3.42 at Battersea places him as top UK outdoor junior at 1,500m this year, third in Europe and inside the UKA World Junior Championship standard.
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