A look ahead to this weekend’s road race action with Andy Vernon, David Weir and Emelia Gorecka among those involved

Runners will take to the streets of the capital this weekend for the Bupa Westminster Mile and Bupa London 10,000.

Andy Baddeley, Chris O Hare, Charlene Thomas, Julia Bleasdale and Emelia Gorecka are among the entries for the mile event on Saturday, while Andy Vernon and late addition Gemma Steel head the entries for the London 10,000 the following day.

There are around 5800 entrants for the 31 Westminster Mile races on the first day of action. Elite senior races and teenage age-group events will see athletes battle for official British road mile titles, while six-time Paralympic champion David Weir will have an audacious attempt at becoming the world s first sub-three-minute miler in a wheelchair.

The event comes just over a month after the 60th anniversary of Sir Roger Bannister s first sub-four-minute mile and runners in the men s race will also be competing for a newly-commissioned Sir Roger Bannister Trophy.

James Shane, with a 3:36 1500m best, is among those to join UK 1500m champion O’Hare and former Dream Mile winner Baddeley. James Thie and Jonny Hay are also among the entries.

Thomas, who won a season s opener over 1500m in Watford last weekend, will be eyeing the Diane Leather Trophy and British road mile title. Olympic finalist Bleasdale and in-form Gorecka are also among the line-up, while Shelly Woods races in the women s wheelchair event.

Mo Farah had been due to go for his sixth consecutive London 10,000 victory on Sunday, but the double world and Olympic track champion announced his withdrawal from the event earlier this week as he is not yet race-ready following his marathon debut in London.

Vernon, fresh from his 13:11 5000m in America and British 10,000m title victory at Parliament Hill a few days later, heads the men’s field and he faces the likes of Chris Thompson, runner-up at the 10,000m at Parliament Hill. Steel – runner up to Tirunesh Dibaba at the Great Manchester Run last weekend – is a late entry for the women’s race while Louise Damen is also entered.

See this week’s AW for a more in-depth look ahead to this weekend’s Bupa Westminster Mile and London 10,000 action

The Bupa Westminster Mile races get underway at 9:30 on Saturday May 24, while the Bupa London 10,000 starts at 10:00 on Sunday May 25

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