Bishop’s Stortford High School student Luke Dunham becomes fastest under-20 in the UK – and second fastest in Europe – over 3,000m this year

Luke Dunham smashed his personal best to record the fastest 3,000m time run by a first-year under-20 in the UK.

The 17-year-old took a huge 18 seconds off his previous best to cross the line in 8min 0.80sec at the British Milers Club race in London on Wednesday June 18.

As well as setting the new standard for a first-year under-20 (age 17), the Bishop’s Stortford High School student is now the fastest under-20 in the UK this year and the second fastest in Europe.

He is also 10 seconds below the European under-20 standard, meaning he is eligible for selection for the European Athletics U20 Championships being held in Tampere, Finland, from August 7-10, when more than 1,000 athletes from over 40 European countries will compete.

Dunham’s time at the Sir Mo Farah Athletics Track, at St Mary’s University in Twickenham, also puts him 14th on the all-time UK list. The fastest time, 7:48.28, was set by Jon Richards, of Cornwall Athletics Club, in Oslo, Norway, in July 1983.

The teenager, who represents Ware-based Herts Phoenix and is coached by Andrew Hobdell, went into the race on the back of another fine performance in the Comeback 5,000 at Battersea Park, where he set a 5k personal best of 14min 9sec to also achieve the under-20 European qualifying time.

Dunham lives in Carrigans in Bishop’s Stortford with his parents Chris Dunham and Kathryn Chapman.