Callum Bowen-Jones started 2025 in style with victory at the Wymondham New Year’s Day 10K – race one in the inaugural Sportlink 10K Series.
The Newham & Essex Beagles AC runner enjoyed a battle with Jack Nixon (Cambridge & Coleridge) before pulling away in the last 3K to win in 32:33, just under a minute ahead of his rival. Robert Dobson (Newmarket Joggers) was third in 34:00.
The event took place in blustery conditions but Bowen-Jones pushed when the rain was in his favour during the second half of the race.
“It was tough, very windy, but there’s pros to the wind! The first 4K was into a head wind and then the last six were a tail wind,” he said.
“There was a bit of a pack then I’d realised that I needed to go a bit quicker so I started to take it on and the guy who came second (Nixon) came with me.
“He stuck with me for 4K and I thought I dropped him but my dad told me he was still there at 7K.
“Luckily I managed to drop him over the last three, but yeah, it was a good race.”
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Bowen-Jones will next be in action at the Norfolk Cross Country Championships next Sunday, an event he won at Earlham Park in 2023.
However, he will then be concentrating on the longer distances in 2025.
“After the cross country championships, I’ll look at a couple of half marathons and I’m back here for the Wymondham 20, so I’ll be doing a bit of the longer distance stuff.
“I’ve done a couple of half marathons in the past, loads of 5 and 10Ks. I’ve done two or three years of track racing but I love road racing. It’s good fun.
“It’s a change from the track and spikes, so it’s good.”
Could a marathon be on the cards in the latter part of the year?
“I’m not sure when yet but it will be marathons in the future.
“It could possibly be this year – we’ll see where we are in the summer and make a decision then.”
Check out the full results here.