The winner of last year’s Liverpool Cross Challenge took the victory in dramatic style at the Podium Battersea New Year’s Eve 5k meet
Tomer Tarragano ended his 2024 season in some style with a photo-finish victory over Tom Keen in Battersea (December 31).
At the year-ending Podium Battersea New Year’s Eve 5k meet, Tarragano – winner of last year’s Liverpool Cross Challenge – clocked 13:49.0 to Keen’s 13:49.3.
It marked the end of a memorable few weeks for Tarragano, who trains at the University of Birmingham after he finished 19th in the senior men’s race at the European Cross Country Championships in Turkey.
Not only was Tarragano the third fastest Brit in the field – a race won by Jakob Ingebrigtsen – but he was also part of the British squad that secured a team bronze in the event.
Tomer Tarragano
Tarragano, after claiming a dramatic victory over 5km in Battersea, spoke to AW about how much he’s progressed over the past few months and why 2025 could be even more special.
Tomer Tarragano and Tom Keen (Graham Smith)
“I think all of this is testament to the hard work we’ve put in this year,” the 23-year-old said. “I went to Font-Romeu in March and since then we’ve been stacking up the miles.
“I think I’ve taken a step up and it’s come at an important time. You can get lost coming out of the junior age groups and into the seniors so you have to be prepared when you come up against the big boys. It can be tough to compete but I feel like I’ve hit the ground running.
“It’s great to train [under Dean Miller] at the University of Birmingham. There’s been a lot of success over the past couple of months and it was a big day for the team in Liverpool. We’ve had some successful seasons now and everyone from Dean and Luke [Gunn] to the supporting staff has done an amazing job.”
Revée Walcott-Nolan (Graham Smith)
Revée Walcott-Nolan, who represented Great Britain over 1500m at the Paris Olympics, saw off Poppy Tank to take the plaudits in the senior women’s 5km.
The 29-year-old clocked 15:39 to Tank’s 15:44, with the pair battling it out for most of the race.
It was a memorable season for Walcott-Nolan, who, after clocking 3:58.08 at the Games, became just the ninth British female athlete to run under four minutes for 1500m.
That time saw Walcott-Nolan also place ninth in a high-quality 1500m semi-final in the French capital.
Revée Walcott-Nolan, Georgia Bell and Laura Muir (Getty)
Earlier last year, she finished sixth in the 1500m final at the World Indoor Championships.
Domestically, Walcott-Nolan placed second and third respectively at the national indoor and outdoor championships.
“I learned a lot from the Paris Olympics,” Walcott-Nolan told AW, after her victory in Battersea. “I think I could’ve run better though so I’m kind of on the fence about it in all honesty! I enjoyed competing in that environment though.
“Training has been going well at the moment and compared to this time last year I’m a lot further on. It’s just about staying consistent now. I just want to run faster, make more teams, and win some medals.”
In the Mizuno mile race, Jack Higgins just saw off Tom Dodd in what was yet another close encounter, with the pair clocking 4:37.65 and 4:37.90 respectively.
Holly Dixon was the leading female athlete and ran 4:45.90, while Jorjia March’s 4:50.90 was a British under-15 best over the mile.
All the athletes at the Podium Battersea New Year’s Eve 5k meet ran on a course that combined both the track and the paths in the park.
Hundreds of spectators came out to watch and they lined up just a lane or two away from the athletes by the finish line, creating the exciting atmosphere that is synonymous with Podium 5k events.
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