Feminist activists have slammed a transgender runner who still holds the Parkrun women’s record despite being jailed for attempting to murder a UK Athletics official.
Lauren Jeska, 41, was jailed in 2017 when a dispute with a UK Athletics official over her eligibility to compete as a female athlete when she was born male turned violent.
Oxford-educated Jeska was handed an 18-year prison sentence for repeatedly stabbing UK Athletics’ head of human resources, Ralph Knibbs, then 42.
Mr Knibbs suffered life-threatening injuries when Jeska took two knives to his office at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium and repeatedly stabbed him after being told her titles would be null and void in row over testosterone levels.
But it has emerged that on the Parkrun website, Jeska continues to hold the women’s record for the Aberystwyth Parkrun, with a time of 17 minutes 38 seconds, prompting fury from feminist activists who demand she is stripped of the title.
Jenska – who was jailed in 2017 for attempting to stab a UK Athletics official – pictured at a running event. It emerged she still holds the Parkrun women’s record title
Jeska was jailed for 18 years in 2017 for the attempted murder of Ralph Knibbs
UK Athletics official Ralph Knibbs (pictured) endued life-threatening injuries and described the attack in court as a ‘traumatic, life-changing experience’
Heather Binning, founder of the Women’s Rights Network, told The Telegraph she was ‘lost for words’ that Jeska still retains the record.
She said: ‘I am lost for words that a male is stealing what should be women’s records first of all, and setting these records that will not be broken – these records are frozen, women won’t beat them.’
Ms Binning added it was ‘gobsmacking’ that Jeska was in prison for the attempted murder of a UK Athletics official who questioned her eligibility as a female runner.
Jenska, who transitioned in 2000, studied mathematics at Oxford University before completing a master’s in Gender, Sexuality and Queer Theory at the University of Leeds.
Lauren Jeska, a transgender former champion fell-runner, was jailed for 18 years for the attempted murder of an athletics official
Jeska (pictured) was jailed in 2017 for attempting to stab a UK Athletics official to death
She won a series of titles for her performance in the sport – including the women’s 2010, 2011 and 2012 English fell running champion, and 2012 British champion.
It is believed she had told a handful of people of her sex change, including those at the UK Athletics board.
The dispute arose in 2015 after she failed to provide blood samples to prove her testosterone levels had lowered significantly enough to continue running as a woman.
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As a result, her racing results were to be declared null and void.
A week before the attack on Mr Knibbs, he had gone to meet Jeska at her home to discuss the ‘long-term’ issue with the sporting governing body.
On March 22, 2016, Jeska drove from her home in Wales to Brimingham with two large kitchen knives hidden in a rucksack into the UK Athletics office before launching her attack on Mr Knibbs.
Despite being stabbed in the throat, in a blow which nicked both his carotid artery and jugular vein, the victim managed to grab both Jeska’s wrists while shocked colleagues rushed to his aid.
Two other men – Tim Begley and Kevan Taylor – were also injured as Jeska resisted, before half a dozen workers managed to pin her to the ground until police arrived.
One eyewitness said Jeska looked ‘as though she were trying to skewer meat’.
Mr Knibbs told the court the ‘traumatic, life-changing experience’ had robbed him of his independence, with long-term nerve damage suffered both in the attack and by necessary life-saving surgery afterwards.
He had also suffered a stroke during the assault, resulting in partial permanent sight-loss.
The judge told Jeska her attack had been ‘planned and executed with chilling precision’, calling the case a ‘deeply disturbing and complex one’.
Her lawyer Julia Warburton at the time described Jenska as a ‘woman in crisis’.
She said: ‘She had to have blood tests or she would be removed from the results of her races.
‘Because of these tests, her transgender status would be outed and she had not spoken of it with some people before.
‘She was a woman in crisis who needed assistance. She felt like she was being killed.’
Jeska, of Machynlleth, Powys, admitted attempting to murder former Bristol RFC centre Mr Knibbs, and was jailed for 18 years, in what the judge described as a ‘cool, calculated attack’ which had been ‘wholly unprovoked’.
Parkrun is a global running community which organises 5km races every Saturday for all abilities, encouraging people to run, walk or spectate in the event.
Parkrun was contacted for comment.
