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british athletics

PAULA DUNN APPOINTED INTERIM HEAD COACH AT UK ATHLETICS

written by Hugh

UK Athletics have announced that Paula Dunn has been appointed interim Head Coach and will lead the Performance programme through the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Dunn, who transitioned out of the Paralympic Head Coach role at the start of 2022 assuming the role of Team Leader for major athletics championships that year, will return to UKA this month following the departure of Stephen Maguire.

UKA CEO Jack Buckner said:

“Paula has a huge amount of experience in leading athletics and her track record in performance means she is the best person to oversee the Performance programme towards Paris. 2024 is a very important year for the sport with a home World Indoor Championships, a Para World Championships, European Championships as well as the Olympics and Paralympics. She is coming in at a critical time for the performance team, but her knowledge and experience will make a huge impact.”

Paula Dunn commented:

“I’m looking forward to working with the performance staff and athletes once more at this incredibly important time for the GB & NI team. The results from Paris and Budapest this summer were excellent, and I want to ensure we keep providing world class support in the approach to Paris and help every athlete perform at their very best. There isn’t a moment to lose, and I am excited to rejoin UKA and help the team to succeed.”

19th October 2023 0 comment

Athletics

UKA AND HCAFS COMMENCE DEVELOPMENT OF ATHLETICS INTEGRITY UNIT FOR THE SPORT

written by Hugh

UKA and the Home Country Athletics Federations have launched the development of a UK based Independent Integrity Unit (IIU) for the sport, issuing a Request For Proposals (RFP) to be submitted from respondents and organisations with relevant experience and expertise to undertake this crucial role.

The intention for the establishment of the IIU, is that it takes over the case management, investigation, and prosecution of all safeguarding and disciplinary cases for athletics in the UK with the RFP reflecting a desire from the NGBs that respondents use their expertise and experience to help shape the IIU.

It further progresses the industry-leading safeguarding work undertaken by the sport following the implementation of a new safeguarding and case management team following the Christopher Quinlan Safeguarding Review recommendations.

It is anticipated that the IIU will be established as an independent legal entity with governance that complies with the Code for Sports Governance and that the NGBs will transfer their caseload and recognise the IIU as having authority to determine cases on their behalf.

The milestone in this essential development for the sport has been reached through the ongoing collaboration between the governing bodies and represents an ambition to replicate the success and independent operation of the World Athletics model of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). Such a body would ensure independent decision-making, and a pooling of resources with a better coordinated system for the sport.

The request for proposal issued today can be read here [PDF attached] – the aim is to identify a preferred bidder by the end of 2023 with a new body operational by Summer 2024.

UKA CEO Jack Buckner said:

“This is a key moment for the sport in ensuring the integrity of process around this crucial subject matter. We have seen internationally the successful introduction of the AIU by World Athletics and how that has revolutionised the management of cases at a global level.

“Like many sports in the UK we have carefully investigated the options available to us around this subject and we are excited to explore the opportunity for an independent integrity unit with this RFP today.

“We look forward to hearing from interested organisations over the course of the next few months, and very much hope this is the first step to a historic development in the progression of case management in the sport.”

England Athletics CEO Chris Jones said:

“Our joint vision for the IIU is to improve on the current processes through avoiding duplication and ambiguity amongst the multiple bodies all working hard in the same space. We also want to ensure greater consistency in the development of policy and process.

“We want to keep the safety of our athletes at the heart of what we do, ensuring the sport is safe and inclusive of all.”

“Independence of process as well as financial efficiency are also hugely important to the sport as a whole, and we are keen to hear from organisations that believe they can be part of this groundbreaking development for safeguarding and other integrity issues in the sport.”

5th October 2023 0 comment

Athletics

GB & NI TEAM SELECTED FOR THE INAUGURAL WORLD ATHLETICS ROAD RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS

written by Hugh

A team of 12 athletes has been selected to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia on Sunday 1 October.

The athletes have been selected to compete in the one mile, 5km and half marathon races at the first staging of these Championships.

Calli Thackery (Hallamshire) leads the women’s half marathon quartet after her Trial victory at the Big Half last week. She will be joined by Abbie Donnelly (Rob Lewis, Lincoln Wellington), Clara Evans (Pontypridd) and Samantha Harrison (Vince Wilson, Charnwood) in the women’s race where individual and team medals are up for grabs.

Meanwhile, Trials winner, Jack Rowe (Tim Eglen, Aldershot Farnham & District), Mahamed Mahamed (Idris Hamud, Southampton) and Jonny Mellor (Liverpool) will take on the men’s half marathon around the streets of Riga.

Following the UK Road Championships in Newcastle / Gateshead on Friday, Scott Beattie (Mike Bateman, Morpeth) and Tom Mortimer (Chris and Sonia McGeorge, Stroud) take the spots in the men’s 5km race, while Verity Ockenden (Swansea) assured her place in the team after a road 5km personal best of 15:26 at the trial.

In the shorter distances, Callum Elson (Cambridge & Coleridge) will represent GB & NI in the men’s one mile race, while Sarah McDonald (Andrew Walling, Birchfield) is called-up for the women’s contest.

Team Leader, Mark Pollard, said, “The World Athletics Road Running Championship is an excellent opportunity for these athletes to gain valuable experience at the global level. After two competitive trial events over the past week, we are pleased to be selecting several athletes to represent the country in Latvia next month.”

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia on Sunday 1 October:

Senior women

One Mile

Sarah McDonald (Andrew Walling, Birchfield)

5km

Verity Ockenden (Swansea)

Half Marathon

Abbie Donnelly (Rob Lewis, Lincoln Wellington)

Clara Evans (Pontypridd)

Samantha Harrison (Vince Wilson, Charnwood)

Calli Thackery (Hallamshire)

Senior men

One Mile

Callum Elson (Cambridge and Coleridge)

5km

Scott Beattie (Mike Bateman, Morpeth)

Tom Mortimer (Chris and Sonia McGeorge, Stroud)

Half Marathon

Mahamed Mahamed (Idris Hamud, Southampton)

Jonny Mellor (Liverpool)

Jack Rowe (Tim Eglen, Aldershot Farnham and District)

Team Staff

Mark Pollard – Team Leader

Tom Craggs – Team Coach

Liz Yelling – Team Coach

Laura Moss – Physiotherapist

12th September 2023 0 comment

Athletics

SILVER FOR HODGKINSON & 4X400M BRONZE DOUBLE SEALS BEST EVER WORLD CHAMPS FOR GB&NI

written by Hugh

Keely Hodgkinson (coach: Trevor Painter, club: Leigh) added another superb silver medal to her major medal collection on the final night in Budapest as brilliant bronze medals for both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relay quartets powered the Great Britain & Northern Ireland team to their best World Athletics Championships to match the record medal haul from 1993.

Hodgkinson’s bid in the women’s 800m has slowly built up to the final night in Hungary and it was worth the wait as she surged to silver down the home straight – storming past reigning world and Olympic champion Athing Mu (USA) – clocking a time of 1:56.34 minutes, just 0.31 seconds off Kenyan gold medallist Mary Moraa. British teammate Jemma Reekie (Jon Big, Kilbarchan) competed with the three medallists throughout and placed fifth in 1:57.72.

In the penultimate event of the Championships the British men’s 4x400m relay team of Alex Haydock-Wilson (Benke Blomkvist, Windsor Slough Eton Hounslow), Charlie Dobson (Benke Blomkvist, Colchester), Lewis Davey (Trevor Painter, Newham & Essex Beagles) and Rio Mitcham (Leon Baptiste, Birchfield) powered to a brilliant bronze – the latter running a storming leg as they guaranteed a podium place in 2:58.71.

Then in the very final event, the British women’s 4x400m relay team of Laviai Nielsen (Phillip Unfried, Enfield & Haringey), Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove), Ama Pipi (Linford Christie, Enfield & Haringey) and Nicole Yeargin (Boogie Johnson, Pitreavie) claimed their own bronze medal after an all-round strong performance – the quartet clocking their second quickest time ever in the event in 3:21.04.

In the only other individual final on the closing night, Morgan Lake (Robbie Grabarz, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) produced the best performance of her career as the former world junior champion finished a superb fourth in the women’s high jump final – coming so close to a maiden global senior medal but finishing her series with a best height of 1.97m, that an outdoor personal best.

Hodgkinson’s superb silver in the women’s 800m final and the brilliant bronze medals from the men’s and women’s 4x400m relay quartets gave the Great Britain & Northern Ireland team three fantastic medals on the final night in Budapest and pushed the overall total to an impressive ten – two gold, three silver and five bronzes – their equal best ever World Athletics Championships after the same haul was achieved in Stuttgart 30 years ago in 1993.

Hodgkinson said: “To be consistently up with the best in the world is all I want from my career. [It is] another podium, another medal so that is definitely a positive, but I did think I was going to come through on the inside. The line just came quicker than I thought it would.

“I gave it my all, like I always do. I don’t think I put a foot wrong – I’ll have to go watch it back again – but consistency. Another silver – it’s not bronze, it’s not gold – we’re still on the podium.”

In one the most anticipated finals of the entire Championships – scheduled for the very last night in Budapest – the women’s 800m final involving Hodgkinson and Reekie certainly delivered a race for the ages.

Hodgkinson, Mu and Moraa all set off from the gun to get to the front and it was the American world and Olympic champion – unbeaten in the distance for over three years – who got there. Hodgkinson settled into second with Moraa on her shoulder and Reekie placing herself fourth.

Through the bell – the first lap was run in 56.01 – Hodgkinson was fourth and Reekie third while Moraa went about pushing in front of Mu. Immediately around the bend of the last lap Mu appeared to start stretching the field out but with 300m to go it was well and truly a four-way battle for the medals.

Hodgkinson and Reekie set about chasing Mu and Moraa before it all changed on the home straight. Mu faded with 50m to go with Moraa surging ahead for the eventual gold medal in a personal best 1:56.03 while Hodgkinson dug deep and got in front of the American for silver in 1:56.34.

“I do love it. I was really looking forward to today. I was really up for it. I really did believe I was going to win again – you’ve got to believe, that is half the battle. It is a different order to last year, who knows what order it will be next year. One of these days I will get the top spot, today was just not meant to be.

“Olympic year – everyone brings even more of their A game than they usually do. There is no stone left unturned. Like I say, we’ll aim for gold again and see what happens.”

Reekie meanwhile gave it her all in the women’s 800m final, boldly going – and sticking with – the three favourites for the podium. She was in fourth coming into the final 100m and pushed all the way to the line to eventually finish fifth in 1:57.72.

She said: “I am proud of the way I ran it. I was brave and I went out, it was probably just a bit hot in the first lap. I am proud of the way I’ve run this season. I went to Jon [her coach] in an absolute mess and our goal was always to run under two minutes again consistently. To be here in the final is exciting for next year.

“It was always going to be hard [change of coach]. I was in the set up before for a long time. You build those relationships up but Jon has made it as smooth as he can for me and we are excited for the future. I am loving working with him.

“I really wanted to be up in those medals today but those girls are strong. I have got a lot of work to do but I reckon we can do it for next year.”

In the men’s 4x400m relay final, Haydock-Wilson – the individual 400m bronze medallist from last year’s European Championships – led the continental champions out on the opening leg and ran superbly to get the British team into second, right on the shoulder of the eventual winners America.

He handed over to Dobson, who at the cut in placed himself fourth with nothing separating the entire field at this stage. Dobson went wide down the home straight and produced a fine finish for a rapid overall leg to hand over with the team in second.

Davey kept it that way after the changeover with Dobson and kept France at bay in third for much of the first 200m. He faced a battle down the home straight but hung on brilliantly to keep the team in medal contention in third.

Mitcham, the only member of the team not part of the European Championship winning quartet last year but like Davey a silver medallist in the mixed 4x400m relay on the opening day of the Championships, had the task of keeping the team in the medals and he did that supremely well despite the chase of Jamaican world 400m Antonio Watson.

The Jamaican arrived on Mitcham’s shoulder with 200m to go but the Briton kept extremely strong and simply would not allow Watson to pass, surging ahead over the final metres to ensure bronze in 2:58.71, just 0.26 away from France in silver in the end.

Haydock-Wilson: “We come out here and we know that these are the worlds best. In fact it wasn’t long ago that all of us were just watching them on TV thinking ‘man, where would I be in a race like that?’ – and here we are on the podium in a race like that.”

Dobson said: “That [his 43.7 split] is unreal. I’m speechless. I am even more speechless than I was two minutes ago. Everything I had to do was for the team. I just had to get in a good position to hand off to Lewis so he could get around again and get to Rio and get around again and get a medal. That’s exactly what we managed to do.”

Mitcham said: “I don’t doubt these guys one bit. When he [Watson] came up on my shoulder, I didn’t doubt myself a single, single, single, single centimetre. I just knew I had it in us. Haydock’s the guy, Charlie 43.7 – we already know he’s the guy – Lewis he is the guy. I can’t say anything else, I’m too happy. I love these boys, this is what we do it for. That’s it.”

The women’s 4x400m relay final closed the entire Championships in Budapest and the experienced Nielsen – like Davey and Mitcham part of the silver-medal winning mixed quartet – led the British team out superbly.

There was not much between the entire field after the first 200m and she hung close to Jamaican Candice McLeod to hand over to Anning in second. Anning had to contend with a fast first 100m of the second lap but cut in with the team in second.

Jamaica pulled away with Anning battling with the Dutch and Canada but she held strong on that second leg. Pipi received the baton from Anning with there now nothing between herself, Jamaica in the lead and the Dutch behind.

Anning stalked leader Nickisha Pyrce down the home straight and passed in second to Yeargin for an extremely eventful final lap. Jamaican Stacey Ann Williams went out very hard and Yeargin – under pressure from Dutch world 400m hurdles champion Femke Bol – kept with her.

The final metres would be packed with drama as Bol surged to take gold for the Dutch while Yeargin battled to reel in the slow finishing Jamaican Williams. Yeargin just missed out but did more than enough for bronze in a rapid 3:21.04, 0.16 off Jamaica in silver.

Anning said: “I knew the second leg was going to be the strongest. I wanted to go out there and run similar to how I did in the heats. I wanted to get us in a good position and help Nicole and Ama. It was fun. Watching the boys get the bronze gave me so much energy. I knew we could do it and I am just so proud of the girls who brought it home.”

Yeargin said: “I was happy to be in the position I was. All the ladies did so well. I held my own. I tried my best. The last two metres got real loud and it was good entertainment at least. I was swimming for the line.”

Lake was the last British athlete to compete individually at these Championships and what a competition it was for the world junior champion in both the high jump and heptathlon from nine years ago.

She started the women’s high jump final at the earliest opportunity, 1.85m, going clear first time and doing the same at 1.90m. Lake was put under extreme pressure thereafter but dealt with it incredibly well in what would be the best performance of her senior career.

That’s because she was drinking in the last chance saloon at 1.94m, remaining composed to clear at the third and final attempt before having to do the same all over again at the next height of 1.97m.

Lake got better at each attempt at 1.97m and meticulously visualised her final effort, getting it spot on and producing a great leap, which would secure her a place in the top four with only four athletes remaining.

As the bar moved to 1.99m, Lake’s first attempt looked great but was a foul and she was then so close next time only to knock the bar again. At this point the three other athletes had cleared which meant a clearance would have kept her fourth.

She opted to pass and attempt 2.01m and just narrowly failed to clear with the only chance she was allowed. Still fourth at the World Championships with an outdoor personal best 1.97m represents arguably the best performance of her career.

Lake said: “It is a bittersweet moment right now, but I think in a few weeks’ time I will look back at this moment and be really proud of this. Fourth in the world is something I am very happy with. I was so close to a medal which stings a bit. But I am so grateful with how the season has panned out.

“Third attempt at 1.94m, third attempt at 1.97m – I think after clearing 1.94m it gave me that confidence for the next jump. Obviously, it is not fun to do third attempts which is something I need to get better at. But I just had that feeling of just staying in the fight. It’s good to know I can perform under pressure as well.

“My coach Robbie Grabarz has been there and done it. We’ve been working on keeping very calm. If I get a bit overexcited, the run-up goes a bit quick and I miss my mark, everything is rushed. So, every jump I take a breath and relax. It sounds so easy, but I have to trust that is the right thing to do.”

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland medal tally:

Gold (2): Katarina Johnson-Thompson – Women’s Heptathlon, Josh Kerr – Men’s 1500m

Silver (3): Mixed 4x400m Relay, Matthew Hudson-Smith – Men’s 400m, Keely Hodgkinson – Women’s 800m

Bronze (5): Zharnel Hughes – Men’s 100m, Ben Pattison – Men’s 800m, Women’s 4x100m relay, Men’s 4x400m Relay, Women’s 4x400m Relay

27th August 2023 0 comment

Athletics

GLORIOUS GOLD FOR RELENTLESS KERR IN 1500M FINAL KEEPS TITLE IN BRITISH HANDS

written by Hugh

Olympic bronze medallist Josh Kerr (coach: Danny Mackey, club: Edinburgh) delivered another performance of a lifetime to claim the World Championship title in the men’s 1500m, keeping the crown firmly in British hands as he repeated the feat of a teammate from a year ago in leaving pre-race favourite Jakob Ingebrigtsen trailing in his wake.

Just over a year on from Jake Wightman’s sensational global gold ahead of Ingebrigtsen in Eugene, Kerr went for the Norwegian with 200m to go in an exhilarating world men’s 1500m final and had a far superior kick in the final few metres as he won in a season’s best time of 3:29.38 minutes, 0.27 seconds ahead of the favourite.

Kerr was joined in the men’s 1500m final by teammate Neil Gourley (Stephen Haas, Giffnock North) who placed ninth in 3:31.10 while there was drama elsewhere in the stadium on the fifth night as Molly Caudery (Stuart Caudery, Thames Valley) soared to a huge personal best to place a brilliant fifth in the women’s pole vault final on the biggest occasion of her career.

All the while Kerr was winning a sensational gold and Caudery was flying to fifth, Anna Purchase (Mohamed Ali Saatara, Notts) was quietly going about her business on her World Championship debut in Budapest to advance to the women’s hammer final from qualification Group B after a best throw of 71.31m.

There was no denying who the night belonged to on the banks of the Danube though as Kerr became the second British world champion in Budapest after Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s (Aston Moore, Liverpool) gold in the heptathlon while it pushes the team’s medal tally to four overall after five days – two gold, one silver and one bronze.

Kerr said: “It has been a long time coming. It is quite an overwhelming experience but I am so proud of myself. I am so proud of my team and my family – they got me here. I didn’t feel like I ran the best race either so I just threw my whole 16 years of this sport at that last 200m and didn’t give up until the end.

“It was fast from early and I kind of got bumped back into sixth or seventh but I stayed calm and I just wanted to execute a race that I would be proud of and I knew that I was capable of a World Championship gold medal for the team so I am very proud to be able to add to that medal count today.”

Kerr and Gourley were placed in the middle of the bunch as the men’s 1500m final got underway with the latter on the inside. The British pair had to jostle around the bend before the bell went for two laps to go with Kerr starting to make his move as he moved wide.

He moved to second behind Ingebrigtsen with 600m and was right on the Norwegian’s shoulder as the last lap began. The two started to stretch away from the field down the back straight before Kerr decided it was time to push for the lead with 200m to go.

Kerr always looked confident even as Ingebrigtsen responded but try as the Norwegian might to prevent him from coming through – in a near repeat of the final from a year ago that saw Wightman triumph – the Brit powered through in the closing metres to take a sensational gold.

Kerr roared away in celebration as Ingebrigtsen looked completely stunned. The new world champion’s time a season’s best of 3:29.38 – 0,26 quicker than he has gone all year – and he added: “There is a very big reminiscent of Wightman in there [over the last 200m]. I was battling with Jakob pretty hard – you could see by my face that I was throwing everything I could at this guy. We were both hurting – I was just like ‘I have wanted this for my whole life and I am not letting anyone get in the way of that’.

“I looked up at the screen, didn’t see anyone coming and I made sure I pumped all the way home. I am so happy. With 50m to go, I kind of broke him and it was just about holding form at that point. I’d be proud – giving everything in that situation – if it was gold, silver or bronze. I’ve had the bronze and the gold is sweeter.

“This is a lot for our family. They have put a lot of time and effort and money into me and I just couldn’t be more proud to represent the Kerr family name today. I gave everything for them, myself and my fiance. This is the life I want to lead for them.”

Gourley meanwhile was competing in his second outdoor World Championship final after an 11th in 2019 and, after finishing ninth in 3:31.10, he said: “I tried to hang on but it didn’t quite happen in the last 200m, it was a hard pace. I tried to go and there wasn’t a whole lot left – I gave it my all.

“I don’t think it’s that complicated how to win these things, it’s just holding on for the last 200m. If you have enough left you can go by but it’s just very hard to hold on and feel fresh at 200m to go the way Jakob pushes on from the front.

“It’s [Josh beating Jakob] not maybe as big a shock as some people think. Jakob hasn’t been beaten this year in any Diamond League races but this isn’t a Diamond League race so it’s a lot different.”

Caudery may not have medalled but she arguably produced one of the best British performances at these Championships so far, more than stepping up to the occasion of a first global women’s pole vault final for the 23-year-old.

She started with a challenge however after failing with her first effort at 4.30m – but composing herself to clear second time – Caudery was then into her rhythm as the bar moved to 4.50m and then 4.65m.

That height of 4.65m matched what Caudery achieved in qualifying for the final and was at that time the second best performance of her career so far. It was no issue in the final as she cleared without a mistake with the bar then moving to a personal best of 4.75m.

In qualifying Caudery would need three attempts to clear 4.65m and she had to drink from the last chance saloon in the final at 4.75m. But with everything on the line on the third attempt – including a four-centimetre personal best – Caudery stepped up to clear comfortably.

By now there were only five athletes remaining – an impressive achievement for Caudery – who would fail first time at the next height of 4.80m before making the decision to pass and move onto 4.85m, which if cleared would likely give her a medal.The British champion gave the height her absolute all but just narrowly failed to clear with her two attempts as she would indeed place fifth from her first World Championship final outing.

Caudery said: “A PB, Olympic qualifier, fifth in the world – my emotions are all over the place. It is just not settling in – what a night. I don’t have words for it. It is pure joy [clearing 4.75m] and all the hard work, effort – I have had two surgeries this last year – I didn’t think I would be at worlds and now I have just come fifth. It is just pure joy.

“I came in really wanting to make the final. If I made the final, anything else was a bonus – top eight would be great – but top five is amazing. I had an OK attempt at 4.80m and two run throughs at 4.85m – I was just a bit tired by then.

“To be competing with those girls that I was watching a couple of years ago was so amazing. Hopefully I will start getting into a few more higher competitions now, and mixing with them more.”

Amidst the drama of Kerr’s glorious gold and Caudery soaring to a personal best, Purchase was quietly slicing her own piece of history as she made her maiden World Championship final on her global debut. Purchase had the benefit of knowing what qualification Group A had achieved and put herself well and truly in contention for a finals place after an opening throw of 70.99m. Not content with that, she threw out further to 71.31m to really cement her place.

She landed all three qualifying throws with a 67.76m third attempt with her best of 71.31m – her third best mark this season – ranking her fourth overall in Group B and 11th overall going into the final.

She said: “My goal was to show up for myself and make sure I performed and I was trying to keep it together. A big thing I have tried to keep over the last year, and this season, was to mentally prepare. So I was really happy with the way I showed up and it came down to the wire but I made it to the final

“Talking to my coach – a big switch for me was like ‘this is fun’. We get to show the world what we do on a huge stage rather than being intimidated by such a large stadium. I train with such a good group that I’m really not intimidated by the big throwers that I used to watch on tv and I think it’s so cool to be in that environment.”

Charlotte Payne (Paul Dickenson, Reading) finally made her World Championship bow, starting the British action on the fifth night in Budapest as she attempted to make it a debut to remember by advancing out of qualification for the women’s hammer. Placed in Group A, meaning she had the honour of being the first Brit competing on the night, Payne opened up with an effort of 64.56m before throwing ever so to close to 70m with a 69.32m registering second time into the circle.

Payne improved further with her third and final attempt, throwing 69.57m, which would place her tenth overall from Group A and with a wait to see whether the standard of Group B would not be as good and she might sneak a place in the final. Unfortunately that wasn’t to be the case as Payne eventually ranked 20th overall. She said: “It was amazing. It was my debut on that stage so to come out with a solid set of throws, I’m pleased with it. It’s boiling hot out there and it’s a totally different environment to what I’m used to. I’m quite pleased to come out with 69.57 and a solid set of throws.”

Aimee Pratt (Thomas Dreißigacker, Sale Harriers Manchester), seventh in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the last World Championships in Eugene last year, faced different circumstances this time around in Budapest with only the first five in each heat qualifying.

Pratt went in the first of three, which started at a fairly steady pace with the Briton making sure she was in the mix in and around fifth in those early laps. She would move down to seventh as the laps began counting down but would soon make a move for ta qualification spot. She moved up to sixth with two laps to go and the last lap essentially became a chase down of Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani, who was occupying fifth. Unfortunately Pratt couldn’t find the legs to reel in the Tunisian and would eventually place seventh in 9:26.37.

Pratt said: “It was a weird one because the pace was up and down so I think we were doing more like a fartlek session. I just couldn’t pick it up at the end. I felt quite heavy today. I am not really sure why but sometimes that happens.”

Cindy Sember (Chris Johnson, Woodford Green Essex Ladies) was the only British athlete in semi-final action on the night and unfortunately would miss out on a place in the women’s 100m hurdles final despite a valiant performance in the first of three races.

Sember produced a solid run to clock 12.97 for sixth with only the top two from the three semi-finals and the next two fastest progressing. She said: “I am very disappointed with that. I’ll have to go back and look. It wasn’t a good race, from the gun I knew it wasn’t going to be a good race.

“It wasn’t even a mental thing – I am not really sure. I felt ready to go and it just didn’t click when I wanted it to. I’m disappointed, I knew I had more, I knew I am capable of more. I just wasn’t healthy enough earlier this year and I thought I had enough time but I didn’t. I’m quite sad.”

The second of the women’s 5000m heats, involving Amy-Eloise Markovc (Rob Denmark, Wakefield), was run extremely differently to the first with no runaway athlete but Dutch Olympic champion in the distance Sifan Hassan controlling from the front. Markovc was towards the back as the field stretched out at the halfway stage and would not be part of a train of 11 that kicked on thereafter. The Briton didn’t let that impact her though and, as those at the back of that 11 were dropped themselves, Markovic managed to make up a lot of metres in the closing laps to finish 11th in a season’s best 15:13.66

Only the top eight from each heat would reach the final and Markovic said: “It’s complicated because my gut reaction is to be disappointed with that based on my previous performances.

“But on the other hand I have gone through a lot of changes over the past year and I have dealt with a lot of physical and mental stuff on and off the track. I am actually proud of myself which I know might sound a bit cheesy after a sub-par performance, but only we as athletes can know what we have dealt with.”

Megan Keith (Ross Cairns, Inverness) was the first British athlete in action on the track in the first of two women’s 5000m heats, which began at an absolute crawl. The Briton settled at the back and then went wide as part of a chase group after Latvian European junior champion Agate Caune blasted away completely on her own.

Caune had a good 20m lead after 600m and would at one point extend that to nearly 150m as the pack was never tempted to chase until it absolutely had to. Keith kept herself in the mix on the outside of the pack and with five laps to go, the Briton decided to edge towards the front.

Keith was at the front with 1600m to go as it became clear that not everyone in the pack wanted to reel in Caune. Unfortunately for Keith she was dropped as the chasers upped the pace, eventually placing outside the top eight needed for qualification for the final in 14th in 15:21.94.

She said: “It was quite a slow race but it felt like the fastest a 5k has ever gone because there was not a dull moment in that race. It was non-stop with the surges. She [Caune] is incredible and had I seen her move I would have gone with her.

“I know that is a pace I am capable of but I missed it as I got caught up in the whirlwind of it all. She was incredibly brave so hats off to her. It has been quite an incredible season. I have a lot to work on so I can come back and improve upon that.

“I am so happy with how I did but I have some work to do to try and compete better next time. It is quite the turnaround for me. A year ago my family and I were playing the fantasy predictions game for Oregon where you could try and win tickets to come and watch these Championships!”

Results

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland medal tally:

Gold (2): Katarina Johnson-Thompson – Women’s Heptathlon, Josh Kerr – Men’s 1500m

Silver (1): Mixed 4x400m Relay

Bronze (1): Zharnel Hughes – Men’s 100m

24th August 2023 0 comment

Athletics

FINAL ADDITIONS TO GB & NI TEAM FOR WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS BUDAPEST 2023

written by Hugh

Following the confirmation of the World Athletics Road to Budapest ranking positions, four athletes have been added to the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary (19-27 August).

Athletes considered in this round of the selection process were required to have achieved the UKA qualification standard, and satisfy the criteria outlined in the selection policy including the requirement to demonstrate current form.

Olympic bronze medallist Holly Bradshaw (Scott Simpson, Blackburn Harriers) will join the women’s pole vault field in Budapest alongside Molly Caudery (Stuart Caudery, Thames Valley) who had already been selected.

Furthermore, Scott Lincoln (Paul Wilson, City of York) will compete in the men’s shot, while Charlotte Payne (Paul Dickenson, Reading) and Anna Purchase (Mohamed Ali Saatara, Notts) are both selected for the women’s hammer.

The four athletes join the 51 athletes already named to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland later this month.

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the 2023 World Athletics Championships:

Women

100m:

Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley)

Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Ryan Freckleton, Sutton & District)

Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)

200m:

Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley)

Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)

Bianca Williams (Linford Christie, Thames Valley)

400m:

Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham and Essex Beagles)

Ama Pipi (Linford Christie, Enfield & Haringey)

800m:

Isabelle Boffey (Luke Gunn, Enfield & Haringey)

Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter, Leigh)

Jemma Reekie (Jon Bigg, Kilbarchan)

1500m:

Melissa Courtney-Bryant (Rob Denmark, Poole)

Laura Muir (Dundee Hawkhill) *coached by World Class Plan Endurance Performance Manager Steve Vernon and the wider WCP Endurance team at UK Athletics.

Katie Snowden (Stephen Haas, Herne Hill)

5000m:

Megan Keith (Ross Cairns, Inverness)

Amy-Eloise Markovc (Rob Denmark, Wakefield)

10,000m:

Eilish McColgan (Liz Nuttall, Dundee Hawkhill)

Jessica Warner-Judd (Mick Judd, Blackburn)

3000m Steeplechase:

Aimee Pratt (Thomas Dreißigacker, Sale Harriers Manchester)

100m Hurdles:

Cindy Sember (Chris Johnson, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

400m Hurdles:

Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

4x100m Relay:

Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley)

Alyson Bell (Anne Scott, Glasgow Jaguars)

Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Ryan Freckleton, Sutton & District)

Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)

Asha Phillip (Amy Deem, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Annie Tagoe (Vince Anderson, Thames Valley)

Bianca Williams (Linford Christie, Thames Valley)

4x400m Relay:

Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove)

Yemi Mary John (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

Laviai Nielsen (Phillip Unfried, Enfield and Haringey)

Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham and Essex Beagles)

Ama Pipi (Linford Christie, Enfield & Haringey)

Nicole Yeargin (Boogie Johnson, Pitreavie)

High Jump:

Morgan Lake (Robbie Grabarz, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

Pole Vault:

Holly Bradshaw (Scott Simpson, Blackburn Harriers)

Molly Caudery (Stuart Caudery, Thames Valley)

Long Jump:

Jazmin Sawyers (Aston Moore, City of Stoke)

Hammer:

Charlotte Payne (Paul Dickenson, Reading)

Anna Purchase (Mohamed Ali Saatara, Notts)

Heptathlon:

Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Aston Moore, Liverpool)

Marathon:

Natasha Cockram (Robert Hawkins, Micky Morris Racing Team)

Men

100m:

Eugene Amo-Dadzie (Steve Fudge, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Reece Prescod (Marco Airale, Enfield & Haringey)

200m:

Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)

400m:

Matthew Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield)

800m:

Max Burgin (Ian Burgin, Halifax)

Ben Pattison (Dave Ragan, Basingstoke and Mid Hants)

Daniel Rowden (Jon Bigg, Woodford Green & Essex Ladies)

1500m:

Elliot Giles (Jon Bigg, Birchfield)

Neil Gourley (Stephen Haas, Giffnock North)

Josh Kerr (Danny Mackey, Edinburgh)

110m Hurdles:

Tade Ojora (Joanna Hayes, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

4x100m Relay:

Eugene Amo-Dadzie (Steve Fudge, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

Jeremiah Azu (Marco Airale, Cardiff)

Jona Efoloko (Clarence Callender, Sale Harriers Manchester)

Adam Gemili (Marco Airale, Blackheath and Bromley)

Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Reece Prescod (Marco Airale, Enfield & Haringey)

4x400m Relay:

Joe Brier (Matt Elias, Swansea)

Lewis Davey (Trevor Painter, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Charlie Dobson (Benke Blomkvist, Colchester)

Alex Haydock-Wilson (Benke Blomkvist, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Matthew Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield)

Rio Mitcham (Leon Baptiste, Birchfield)

Shot Put:

Scott Lincoln (Paul Wilson, City of York)

Discus:

Lawrence Okoye (Zane Duquemin, Croydon)

Mixed 4x400m Relay:

All athletes involved in the women’s and men’s 4x400m relay squads.

World Athletics Championships – Budapest Team Staff:

Team Leader: Stephen Maguire

Team Coaches: Leon Baptiste, Jon Bigg, Benke Blomkvist, Zane Duquemin, Robbie Grabarz, Chris Jones, Aston Moore, Martyn Rooney, Scott Simpson, Steve Vernon

Team Support Staff (Medical / Sport Science): Jon Alty,Paul Brice, James Brown, Sarah Connors, James Hedger, Satveer Kang, Milly Pamment, George Polglass, John Rogers, Ali Rose, Jen Savage, Andy Shaw, Laura Street.

Team Operations and logistics: Lorna Dwyer, Maddy Ibbett, Cerys Miller, Tina Ryan.

7th August 2023 0 comment

Athletics

GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND SQUAD SELECTED FOR THE 2023 WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

written by Hugh

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary (19-27 August) has been announced today by UK Athletics.

The team has been selected to fulfil the aim of the policy for these championships; to optimise medal success and the number of top eight placings. The full team will be finalised once UK Athletics has received World Rankings invitations from World Athletics next week. Subject to invites being received, those athletes who have met the UKA qualification standard and demonstrated current form will be selected.

Several athletes are in top form heading into the Championships with British records being achieved in 2023 by Keely Hodgkinson [800m], Zharnel Hughes [100m and 200m], Morgan Lake [High jump] and Laura Muir [one mile]. All four athletes have been selected for the squad heading to the 2023 edition of the Championships.

Athletes were required to meet the criteria outlined in the selection policy which included the requirement to demonstrate current form; this included evaluating the athlete’s performances and trajectory from 1 May.

The 50 athletes announced today join Natasha Cockram – who was previously confirmed as the sole marathon selection earlier this year – in the team for Budapest. There are no other individuals selected for the marathon at Budapest with a number of key athletes focusing on their Olympic qualification and opting for alternative qualifying opportunities in 2023.

Stephen Maguire, Technical Director at UK Athletics said.

“I am pleased to confirm those athletes selected for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest next month. They have demonstrated the form and ability to compete successfully on the global stage and we are looking forward to working with them as we commence preparation camp in a couple of weeks.

“There are athletes who may not have made the team this year who I know will be challenging next year where we have both a European Championships and Olympic Games less than six weeks apart.”

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the 2023 World Athletics Championships:

Women

100m:

Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley)

Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Ryan Freckleton, Sutton & District)

Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)

200m:

Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley)

Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)

Bianca Williams (Linford Christie, Thames Valley)

400m:

Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham and Essex Beagles)

Ama Pipi (Linford Christie, Enfield & Haringey)

800m:

Isabelle Boffey (Luke Gunn, Enfield & Haringey)

Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter, Leigh)

Jemma Reekie (Jon Bigg, Kilbarchan)

1500m:

Melissa Courtney-Bryant (Rob Denmark, Poole)

Laura Muir (Dundee Hawkhill) *coached by World Class Plan Endurance Performance Manager Steve Vernon and the wider WCP Endurance team at UK Athletics.

Katie Snowden (Stephen Haas, Herne Hill)

5000m:

Megan Keith (Ross Cairns, Inverness)

Amy-Eloise Markovc (Rob Denmark, Wakefield)

10,000m:

Eilish McColgan (Liz Nuttall, Dundee Hawkhill)

Jessica Warner-Judd (Mick Judd, Blackburn)

3000m Steeplechase:

Aimee Pratt (Thomas Dreißigacker, Sale Harriers Manchester)

100m Hurdles:

Cindy Sember (Chris Johnson, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

400m Hurdles:

Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

4x100m Relay:

Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley)

Alyson Bell (Anne Scott, Glasgow Jaguars)

Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Ryan Freckleton, Sutton & District)

Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)

Asha Phillip (Amy Deem, Newham and Essex Beagles) *subject to fitness.

Annie Tagoe (Vince Anderson, Thames Valley)

Bianca Williams (Linford Christie, Thames Valley)

4x400m Relay:

Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove)

Yemi Mary John (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

Laviai Nielsen (Phillip Unfried, Enfield and Haringey)

Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham and Essex Beagles)

Ama Pipi (Linford Christie, Enfield & Haringey)

Nicole Yeargin (Boogie Johnson, Pitreavie)

High Jump:

Morgan Lake (Robbie Grabarz, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

Pole Vault:

Molly Caudery (Stuart Caudery, Thames Valley)

Long Jump:

Jazmin Sawyers (Aston Moore, City of Stoke)

Heptathlon:

Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Aston Moore, Liverpool)

Marathon:

Natasha Cockram (Robert Hawkins, Micky Morris Racing Team)

Men

100m:

Eugene Amo-Dadzie (Steve Fudge, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Reece Prescod (Marco Airale, Enfield & Haringey)

200m:

Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)

400m:

Matthew Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield)

800m:

Max Burgin (Ian Burgin, Halifax)

Ben Pattison (Dave Ragan, Basingstoke and Mid Hants)

Daniel Rowden (Jon Bigg, Woodford Green & Essex Ladies)

1500m:

Elliot Giles (Jon Bigg, Birchfield)

Neil Gourley (Stephen Haas, Giffnock North)

Josh Kerr (Danny Mackey, Edinburgh)

110m Hurdles:

Tade Ojora (Joanna Hayes, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

4x100m Relay:

Eugene Amo-Dadzie (Steve Fudge, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

Jeremiah Azu (Marco Airale, Cardiff)

Jona Efoloko (Clarence Callender, Sale Harriers Manchester)

Adam Gemili (Marco Airale, Blackheath and Bromley)

Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Reece Prescod (Marco Airale, Enfield & Haringey)

4x400m Relay:

Joe Brier (Matt Elias, Swansea)

Lewis Davey (Trevor Painter, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Charlie Dobson (Benke Blomkvist, Colchester)

Alex Haydock-Wilson (Benke Blomkvist, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Matthew Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield)

Rio Mitcham (Leon Baptiste, Birchfield)

Discus:

Lawrence Okoye (Zane Duquemin, Croydon)

Mixed 4x400m Relay:

All athletes involved in the women’s and men’s 4x400m relay squads.

28th July 2023 0 comment

Athletics

WORLD’S BEST SHOW UP IN STYLE AT SOLD-OUT LONDON ATHLETICS MEET

written by Hugh

Led by Zharnel Hughes’ (GBR, coach: Glen Mills, club: Shaftesbury Barnet) astonishing take down of the long-standing British 200m record, the world’s best showed up in style on a day of world-class athletics at the sold-out London Athletics Meet in Stratford, London.

On a day which once again showed that London helps athletes bring their very best, continent records also fell in the women’s 400m hurdles, men’s 200m, women’s 5000m and women’s 800m ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest next month.

And as one of the most-discussed races pre-meet, the men’s 200m lived up to its billing in some style, with each of the top three producing astonishing runs of their own.

Coming out on top, reigning world champion Noah Lyles (USA) showed all of his class to slingshot off the 200m bend and produce a scintillating 19.47 (+1.6m/s), a huge meeting record and the quickest time of 2023 as yet.

In an impressive run from lane eight, Letsile Tebogo (BOT) ran an African Record and huge personal best of 19.50 to take second, with Hughes then following over in 19.73 to send his home crowd into raptures and claim the second of two iconic British sprinting records.

Reflecting on a history-making period of his career, Hughes said: “I did it again – I predicted it I wrote it down that exact time this morning, at about 9.30am. I wanted to get the British record here on home soil and I did it. I don’t care about winning, as long as I execute the time that my coach wanted and get the British record. We’ve got things I can work on, but I executed my race and that was to get to 60m as fast as possible then just maintain from there. I think Noah (Lyles) was playing off me slightly; he was ready to chase me down!”

Straight after on the track – and also starring huge home interest in global medallists Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley) and Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers) – came a stacked women’s 100m.

In an exciting run just shy of her own British 100m record, Asher-Smith produced a brilliant season’s best run of 10.85 (+1.2) to claim second behind the fast-finishing Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV) and her meeting record time of 10.73.

Asher-Smith got out brilliantly from the gun, leading at half-way before being run down by the Ivorian. Holding her form and running through the line, her time is the quickest outside of a major championship and serves as a hugely positive marker heading into Budapest.

After claiming the British 200m title two weeks ago, Daryll Neita stepped back down in distance to clock 10.96, a season’s best of her own, to finish fourth and also lay down yet another impressive time ahead of aiming to double up in Hungary.

Post-race, Asher-Smith said: “I am always disappointed not to win but this shows I am building and, given, I have had two races in one weekend then it bodes really well. Patience is something I am not very good at. I thought I was getting better at it but maybe not! But it is all about the end of August and Budapest which isn’t a long way away, so I am excited. I managed to see the end of the men’s 200m and I am so pleased for Zharnel (Hughes). British sprinting is doing so well but also look at Jemma (Reekie), Keely (Hodgkinson), Jaz (Sawyers). The team is looking good.”

Bringing the curtain down on the meeting, Jemma Reekie (Jon Bigg, Kilbarchan) toppled a world class field to take a memorable victory in the women’s 800m.

Timing her move beautifully, Reekie kept something in reserve and struck with 80m to go, driving past both Natoya Goule-Topping (JAM) and Halimah Nakaayi (UGA) and then surging to the line in a meeting record time of 1:57.30, the third quickest of her career, and delighting a raucous home crowd.

Reekie’s decisive move may well have played a part in helping many athletes in the field to best-ever performances, one of those being Britain’s Katie Snowden (Dan Stepney, Herne Hill), the British champion setting a huge personal best of 1:58.00, revising her previous best of 1:58.72. The event was unfortunately without Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) after the Olympic silver medallist fell unwell and withdrew earlier in the day.

After the race, an ecstatic Reekie said: “I wanted to give it my all today and I just decided to front run it instead.

“I think I’m in the best place I could be, happiness and training wise so I think there’s nothing to lose in Budapest now, I’ll be going there to chase a medal. I’m back to where I should be so I’m definitely going there to try and medal. I know I can go in and shake things up a bit, I’ve got a little bit less pressure as I didn’t medal last year so I’ll just go out there and try to get one.”

On the backstraight, and taking place on a raised runway in front of the backstraight, the USA’s Quanesha Burks had the competition won from round one after going out to a personal best of 6.98m (+0.6), a distance no athlete could get near on the day.

There were notable showings for both British athletes in the event, European indoor champion Jazmin Sawyers (Aston Moore, City of Stoke) producing a best of 6.67m (-1.6) in round four to show decent form heading into Budapest, while Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Aston Moore, Liverpool Harriers) leapt to a season’s best of 6.60 (+1.2) in round four to finish fifth behind Sawyers’ fourth.

The only athlete to go clear at 2.35m, the USA’s JuVaughn Harrison edged out Mutaz-Essa Barshim (QAT) in a fine men’s high jump competition. After being matched up to 2.33m by the Qatar star, American Harrison pulled out a 2.35m to leave Barshim in his wake.

In British interest, Joel Clarke-Khan (Robbie Grabarz, Thames Valley) enjoyed the best competition of his life, feeding off every cheer in the London Stadium to match his personal best and finish joint-third alongside Thomas Carmoy of Belgium.

Capturing the crowd’s attention after needing a third attempt to go clear at 2.24m, Clarke-Khan went over 2.27m at the second time of asking to send the 400m bend stand wild.

In the men’s shot put, world record holder Ryan Crouser (USA) unleashed a monster 23.07m throw in round five to ultimately blow away the competition.

Crouser had enjoyed some entertaining back and forth with Tom Walsh (NZ) in earlier rounds, the duo pushing each other’s distances along as the competition grew. There would be no response to Crouser’s 23m-plus effort, however, with Walsh taking second following his season’s best of 22.58m, while Joe Kovacs was third with 21.87m. Scott Lincoln (GBR, Paul Wilson, City of York) threw a best of 20.48m, finishing ninth.

Despite being the slowest out of the blocks, world record Grant Holloway (USA) hung on for yet another win in the men’s 110m hurdles, his lead one that was challenged brilliantly over the final two barriers by the fast-finishing Shunsuke Izymiya (JPN) but ultimately held good. Holloway’s winning time was 13.01 (+1.3), half a tenth clear of Izumiya’s 13.06

British champion Tade Ojora (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) was agonisingly close to matching his personal best of 13.26, coming home in fifth with 12.37, with fellow Brit Josh Zeller (Adrian Brown, Bracknell) one place further back in 13.82.

In middle-distance action, the men’s 1500m came to a heart-thumping finish, with all to play for coming off the final bend.

Narve Gilje Nordas (NOR) took the reins with 200m to go, trying to fashion himself a strong enough lead among a blur of legs, only to be overhauled by Yared Nuguse (USA). Running wide in a bid to charge through, British champion Neil Gourley (Ben Thomas, Giffnock North) just ran out of a track as Nuguse dipped for the win ahead of Nordas. Gourley was, however, rewarded with a superb personal best of 3:30.60.

Compatriots Elliot Giles (Jon Bigg, Birchfield) and Matthew Stonier (Sonia and Chris McGeorge, Invicta East Kent) got in on the personal best act, too, both setting huge revisions to their previous quickest times with 3:30.92 and 3:31.30 respectively.

Returning to London and the scene of his 400m world title in 2017, world record holder Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) continued to run himself into form ahead of Budapest with victory in 44.37.

Put under immense pressure down the straight by Bryce Deadman (USA), the South African held out to dip over in the nick of time, Deadman clocking 44.40 after a brilliant late charge from inside van Niekerk.

A welcome sight after he was forced to pull up with injury at the national championships, Matt Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield) took two-tenths off his season’s best with 44.72 for fourth behind Vernon Norwood (USA), whilst British champion from two weeks ago, Alex Haydock-Wilson (Benke Blonkvist, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow) ran 45.59 from lane one for an 8th place finish.

The women’s 400m hurdles saw the imperious Femke Bol (NED) blow the competition away on her London debut, streaking away to set a blistering European record of 51.45, the time also the quickest this year. Bol’s margin of victory was some two seconds and came with an assortment of other records, including both a meeting record, and a Diamond League record.

The fight for the second went to the wire, Janieve Russell (JAM) pipping Shamier Little (USA), 53.75 to 53.76. Running from lane seven, British champion Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) produced a brilliant run to match her personal best time of 54.09 for fifth.

The women’s 3000m steeplechase saw records fall and a scorching time needed to take the win, Kenya’s Commonwealth champion Jackline Chepkoech getting the better of her compatriot and namesake Beatrice Chepkoech to run a five-second personal best, clocking 8:57.35 and the quickest time produced this year.

Beatrice followed in for second, crossing over in 9:04.34, with Britain’s Aimee Pratt (Sale Harriers Manchester) producing one of the best showings of her career with 9:16.10 for third, a time narrowly outside of her current personal best of 9:15.64.

Returning to the capital on the back of a phenomenal win at the London Marathon back in May, Sifan Hassan might have thought she had the 5000m wrapped up, only to be reeled in by Ethiopian star and Olympic bronze medallist Gudaf Tsegai, the 26-year-old pulling away for the win while holding off Kenya’ Beatrice Chebet, with both athletes setting personal bests.

For Tsegai, the win came folded in with a meeting record and one-second personal best, her time of 14:12.29 edging out Chebet’s huge new best of 14:12.92, a personal best by over twenty seconds as she took a scalp in fending off Hassan’s attempt to bite back and reclaim a top-two finish.

Hassan’s time for third was a record of her own, however, with 14:13.42 breaking her own European record mark by close to ten seconds. Such was its quality; the race also saw a world junior record for Medina Eisa (ETH) with 14:16.54. British representatives Megan Keith (Ross Cairns, Inverness) and Jess Warner-Judd (Mick Judd, Blackburn) produced performances to proud of, running 14.56.98 (PB) and 15:06.21 respectively.

In the women’s pole vault, the spoils went to Wilma Murto (FIN) on account of a cleaner scorecard over Katie Moon (USA). The winning mark of the day, Murto went clear at 4.80m at the second time of asking, Moon needing all three attempts.

After a sparkling performance in Manchester two weekends ago, Molly Caudery (Stuart Caudery, Thames Valley) finished eighth following a best of 4.51m. Sadly Holly Bradshaw (Scott Simpson, Blackburn) retired after feeling discomfort after a first attempt at 4.36m.

The first Diamond League event of the session, reigning Olympic champion Daniel Stahl (SWE) made the best of his only two legal throws on the day to come out on top with 67.03m.

Stahl was pushed all the way by Matthew Denny, the Australian producing a season’s best of 66.77m in round four to keep Stahl sweating on the win. Having only managed one legal throw of 64.89m from his first threw attempts, Stahl mustered 67.03m, still some distance down on his best so far this year, a mark which ultimately held for the win on the day.

Slovakia’s Kristjan Ceh was third with 66.02m, while Britain’s Lawrence Okoye (Zane Duquemin, Croydon) finished sixth courtesy of a 62.59m in round three.

Offering a last-chance saloon for many of Britain’s athletes to clinch the world qualifying mark ahead of the window closing at midnight this evening, the men’s 800m delivered on its slot in the programme in some style.

Chasing the magic number of 1:44.70, the all-British field were paced through 400m in 49.7 by American Erik Sowinski. Stepping off at 600m to leave the field on a clear charge to home, Max Burgin (Ian Burgin, Halifax) led the field coming into the home straight, the British bronze medallist from two weeks ago one of those chasing the time for Budapest.

Pressured by British silver medallist Ben Pattison (Dave Ragan, Basingstoke & Mid Hants), Burgin kept strong, upright and focused to drive for the line, maintaining a gap of some metres to cross over in 1:43.85, a huge season’s best and a time well within the standard for Budapest. Coming in closely behind him, Pattison ensured he got what he came for, setting a notable half-second personal best of 1:44.02 to also go within the standard.

Behind the pair came a string of season and personal bests, with Alex Botterill (City of York) producing the quickest time of his life with 1:44.75 for third ahead of Guy Learmonth, his season’s best of 1:44.80 good for fourth.

Further down the field, there were personal bests for Thomas Randolph (Craig Winrow, Tamworth) and Ethan Hussey (Andrew Henderson, Leeds City), their times 1:44.88 and 1:44.96 respectively.

Britain’s quadruple medallist at the World Para Athletics Championships last week, Sammi Kinghorn (Rodger Harkins, Red Star) returned to home soil with a flourish as she made a late decisive move to win the women’s mixed classification 800m wheelchair race.

Pushed hard by Belgium’s Léa Bayekula, Kinghorn nipped through for the lead on the home straight and never looked back, clocking 1:46.57 for the win to Bayekula’s 1:46.85.

Behind the pair, double T34 world champion Hannah Cockroft (Paul Moseley, Leeds City) took third in 1:47.11 on a memorable return to the Stadium where she has won so much silverware.

Making up further British interest, Eden Rainbow-Cooper (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy) clocked 1:51.78 for fifth, while Mel Woods (Rodger Harkins, Red Star) was sixth in 1:52.07, and Fabienne Andre (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy) seventh in 2:12.93.

It went down to the wire in the men’s 1500m wheelchair, with Nathan Maguire (Ste Hoskins, Kirkby AC) narrowly edging out world medallist Danny Sidbury (Christine Parsloe, Sutton & District), 3:14.01 to 3:14.02 on the line.

Offering a great opportunity for a further host of para athletics athletes to gain experience racing on the biggest stages, Michael McCabe (Christine Parsloe, Sutton & District) secured third with 3:16.89.

Fresh from medal-winning exploits at the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, Sophie Hahn (Leon Baptiste, Charnwood) took the win in the mixed-classification women’s ambulant 100m, her time of 12.51 (-0.2) seeing her romp home by some margin.

Victoria Levett (Hyndburn) matched her personal best of 13.11 for second, while there was a huge personal best for Maddie Down (Dominic McNeillis, Halesowen) as she ran 13.12 for third.

On the race a returning to the stadium in which she starred five years ago, Hahn said: The London Stadium is incredible, thank you so much to everyone who’s bought a ticket – you guys really get behind us and we’ve put down some good times. I felt nervous because this is the biggest crowd since London 2017, so I tried to find myself some calm and the rest would follow. I absolutely loved it and it’s so nice to be back here.”

In the men’s equivalent, world T47 100m bronze medallist Kevin Santos (Mike Utting, City of Norwich) used the sell-out crowd as fuel to produce his best ever run, clocking a huge personal best of 10.78 (+0.3) for the win ahead of T12 100m world bronze medallist Zac Shaw’s (Leon Baptise, Cleethorpes) 10.88.

Long jumper turned sprinter Zak Skinner (Aston Moore, Loughborough) was third in 11.04, with Thomas Young (Joe McDonnell, Loughborough) fourth with 11.12, enough to pip Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker’s (Nat Senior, Newham & Essex Beagles) 11.13 in fifth.

The opening event of proceedings, the mixed-classification men’s ambulant 1500m saw race leadership change a number of times over the opening laps, before recently crowned T20 world champion Ben Sandilands (Steven Doig, Fife) took control and surged away for the win in 3:52.95

Sandilands’ training partner Owen Miller got up for second in 3:55.54, with Miller followed in by Luke Nuttall (Sonia and Chris McGeorge, Charnwood) in 3:58.55.

The first of two sprint relays on track, and featuring two different Great Britain & Northern Ireland teams, the men’s 4x100m saw Japan come out on top after a fine final handover and anchor leg showing bought their quartet home in 37.80, a world lead.

Great Britain’s two teams made up places two and three behind the Japanese, with the quartet of Jeremiah Azu (Marco Airale, Cardiff)), Zharnel Hughes, Jona Efoloko (Clarence Callender, Sale Harriers Manchester) and Tommy Ramdhan (Bexley) clocking 38.00 exactly ahead of GB&NI’s second quartet of Adam Gemili (Marco Airale, Blackheath & Bromley), Oliver Bromby (Southampton), Richard Kilty (Gateshead) and Joe Ferguson (Lewis Samuel, Sheffield & Dearne), who ran 38.14.

Following on directly after, there were third and fourth place finishes for Britain’s two women’s teams as the Netherlands took the win ahead of USA.

Led round to 42.59, Britain’s A team was made up by Annie Tagoe (Thames Valley), Imani Lansiquot (Ryan Freckleton, Sutton & District), Bianca Williams (Linford Christie, Thames Valley) and Kristal Awuah (Matthew Thomas, Herne Hill). The second quartet – European U23 champions – of Cassie-Ann Pemberton (Clarence Callender, Birchfield Harriers), Amy Hunt (Joe McDonnell, Charnwood), Alyson Bell (Glasgow Jaguars) and Aleeya Sibbons (Coral Nourrice, Newham & Essex Beagles) clocked 42.92.

23rd July 2023 0 comment

Athletics Para Sports

PHENEMONAL PEMBROKE WINS WORLD TITLE AS KINGHORN CLINCHES SILVER AND GREAVES WINS BRONZE

written by Hugh

Superb medals from Dan Pembroke (coach: David Turner, club: Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow) Sammi Kinghorn (Rodger Harkins, Red Star) and Dan Greaves (coach: Zane Duquemin, club: Charnwood) made for a night to remember in the Charlety Stadium in Paris, bringing Great Britain & Northern Ireland’s overall tally to 19with two days of action remaining at the World Para Athletics Championships.

Kicking off the British interest on evening eight of the championships was man-to-watch Dan Pembroke. Throwing in just his fourth competition of the year, the reigning Paralympic and European champion lined up in against stiff competition in the F13 javelin, with six of the thirteen in the field holding personal bests in excess of 60m.

Showing no signs of competition rust, however, Pembroke produced a season’s best of 65.97m with his opener to immediately put the rest of the field under pressure in needing to chase.

He went even bigger with his second throw, knowing he’d done so as he turned away arms aloft, with the throw registering as a huge European record of 70.50m. Truly a cut above on the day, Pembroke went out to 66.85m in round three, with his lead established as close to ten metres at the half-way stage of the competition.

Finding 66.27m before opting to pass his fifth attempt, Pembroke finished up with 63.54m, his winning margin come the end of the competition some seven metres.

Coming as something of an early birthday present ahead of turning 32 tomorrow, Pembroke spoke on the medal and record, saying: “It’s incredible – I’m ticking all the boxes right now and everything seems to be going right.

“I’m staying focused in the competition and getting what I need to do, done. Hopefully I can tick off another one next year which is the big one: trying to get the world record.

“The competition was really long – it took over two hours, so it’s hard to maintain that adrenaline all the way through. I got that second mark in of 70.50m and I didn’t even realise it had gone that far – it felt so easy, so I really feel there’s more in me. Hopefully with a little bit of a shorter competition at the Paralympics and I can get that world record. I think I’ve cracked the code for how I need to train this winter, so I feel confident going into next year,”

On the importance of those directly around him, Pembroke added: “My coach Dave has a really keen eye – which I don’t, pardon the pun – but he sees little things in my run-up and technical faults which I don’t. So thank you very much to Dave, the support team in Loughborough, my friends and family – thank you so much.”

Returning to the track for her third individual event after already notching 100m gold and 800m silver at these championships, the in-form Sammi Kinghorn lined up in the T53 400m.

Racing out of lane six, Kinghorn hit the front down the back straight to put as much early pressure as possible on the imperious Cathine Debrunner (Switzerland), the two having enjoyed a great tussle in last night’s 100m final in which Kinghorn came out on top.

Debrunner found her rhythm, however, coming scorching by with around 250m to go. Extending her lead as the field came off the final bend, Debrunner moved away to come home in a huge championship record of 50.16, with Kinghorn pushing hard down the home straight to clock a time of 52.53, winning silver to bring up her third medal of the week and make Paris her most successful world championships to date.

Still with the 4x100m Universal Relay to come, Kinghorn said: “It’s what I came here for – a medal in each event so far, so that’s good. I found it hard after yesterday – I only had about five hours sleep, so that’s probably not the greatest. My favourite event is the 100m and I did exactly what I needed to in that event.

“I was so close to my personal best in 400m, and that’s really exciting. My start: I’m going to watch that back because I definitely fumbled some of my pushes off the start, but I’m happy with my acceleration and the time, so that’s exciting for next year.

The men’s F64 Discus starred both co-captain Dan Greaves and world championships debutant Harrison Walsh (Nathan Stephens, Swansea). 40-year-old Greaves competed in his first ever World Para Athletics Championships some 21 years ago, also in France, and immediately went down laying a marker this time out, producing 53.41m to slot into silver at the conclusion of round one.

Bumped down the standings and into fourth as America’s Jeremy Campbell and David Blair found their rhythm, Greaves first improved to 54.19m, before bettering his mark to 55.64m with this third attempt to stay rooted in fourth. In what was emerging as a great tussle with fellow bronze medal hopeful Ivan Katanusic, Greaves produced 57.92m in round five to knock the Croatian out of the medals and squeeze himself into bronze.

With Katanusic unable to match or better the mark, Greaves personal history was made as he claimed world bronze and follow Kinghorn’s commanding example as co-captain of the tam.

Feeling his way into the competition, and following a no-mark in round one, Greaves’ compatriot Walsh produced back-to-back throws of 50.12m, 51,18m and 51.06m to keep in touch with the podium places. Needing a mark in the region of 57m – a distance which would be notable personal best territory – Walsh unfortunately followed up with two fouls to box out his competition, his 51.06m best earning him fifth place.

On yet another global accolade, Greaves said: “It feels amazing – I was politely reminded that 2013 was my last world medal, so to miss out on Dubai (2019 world championships) through injury, I was really determined to come home with some silverware this time.

“At the grand old age of 40 to still be getting on a podium – it’s really special. I have my friends and family here so that makes it extra special, and to see my children’s faces when they realised ‘daddy’s won a medal’ – that’s fantastic.

“I improved each round which was good – I wasn’t quite starting off with the distances we had in warm up where I felt smoother and longer in the throw and everything slotted into place more. But I’m proud of myself for going behind and then showing the resilience to come back and throw 57 metres and pick Ivan. I just wished I’d lined it up like I do in training and my throws started with a six to put the American boys under pressure, but it’s not a bad day at the office.”

For Walsh, there are lessons to take from the experience, as he explained: “It was a good learning experience – we came in with a goal of top six, and I achieved that but obviously I think I wish I’d performed a little bit better. But at the end of the day it is my first World Championships, those nerves are something to learn from and I’ll come back better because of it.

“Some of those guys out there have been through nearly eight World Championships, and this is my first. I know I’ve got great potential and I know it’s there; I know I can do what those guys did. I’ve just got to do it on the day.

In the men’s T20 400m, there was a sixth-place finish for Columba Blango (Chris Zah, Shaftesbury Barnet) in a race won by Samuel Oliviera (Brazil) in a rapid championship record.

Running out of lane two and seeking to stay in contention as the field went out swiftly through 200m, Paralympic bronze medallist Blango did everything he could to move himself up the field but just couldn’t keep with the leading five athletes as they streaked away. Testament to his determination, Blango ran hard for every remaining metre, managing to overhaul Spaniard Deliber Rodriguez to drag himself into sixth in a time of 48.90.

Analysing the race after, Blango said: “I can call it an experience, that’s for sure. But it’s one I can learn from, take forward from this point on and just keep going from there. So, I call it a win, because I’ve got more lessons to learn.

“It was pretty tough, especially after the fatigue from the heat, but I guess it’s all a learning process and hopefully by next year I’ll be ready for the next championships. I’ll just take what lessons as they come along anyway.”

In track qualifying, Marcus Perrineau-Daley (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy) was first up in the T52 100m as he aimed to progress to tomorrow’s showpiece final.

On his first ever outing for Great Britain & Northern Ireland, and in personal best form this year following a quickest-ever time of 17.40 back in February, Perrineau-Daley went in the second of two heats, with a top three finish needed for automatic qualification. He clinched the third and final automatic qualifier place with a time of 17.91, recovering from what appeared to be a difficult mid-section of the race to find his rhythm and getting into his pushing. He will now turn his attention to the final at 10:19am local-time tomorrow.

Closing off the Brits in action this evening, Kyle Keyworth (Kes Salmon) lined up in the T35 100m heats.

Fourth place in the 200m final just three days ago, Keyworth ensured safe passage to the final of the shorter sprint tomorrow by taking second in his heat. Getting out well from the gun, Keyworth stayed focus and kept his form to clock 12.80. Only beaten by Paralympic silver medallist Ivan Tsvietov in his qualifier, the Manchester Harrier will now head into tomorrow evening’s final brimming with confidence off the back of his quickest ever time.

Results

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland medallists:

GOLD: [7] Gavin Drysdale [Men’s T72 100m], Jonathan Broom-Edwards [Men’s T64 high jump], Sabrina Fortune [Women’s F20 shot put], Hollie Arnold [Women’s F46 javelin], Hannah Cockroft [Women’s T34 100m], Sammi Kinghorn [Women’s T53 100m], Dan Pembroke [Men’s F13 javelin]

SILVER: [5] Rafi Solaiman [Men’s T72 100m], Sammi Kinghorn [Women’s T53 400m and 800m], Kare Adenegan [Women’s T34 100m], Olivia Breen [Women’s T38 long jump]

BRONZE: [7] Zac Shaw [Men’s T12 100m], Danny Sidbury [Men’s T54 5000m], Maria Lyle [Women’s T35 200m], Sophie Hahn [Women’s T38 100m and 200m], Fabienne André [Women’s T34 100m], Dan Greaves [Men’s F64 Discus]

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16th July 2023 0 comment

Athletics

UK Athletics Championships Manchester Review – GN

written by Hugh

I reported and photographed the UK Athletics Championships in my home city of Manchester, thanks to an invitation from British Athletics.

6000 tickets were sold for this two day family event where youngsters could be seen tiring themselves out running along temporary running lanes or just playing tag with others in the stadium.

Events such as these rely heavily on the goodwill of the event volunteers allied to the professionalism of others. From those who put out the starting blocks and laying the lane identification markers, then have less than 30 seconds to remove them to prevent any obstructions to those with clipboards visible leading out competitors to their starting positions. Sometimes it may just involved a person placing or removing a red cone, signifying to athletes that they have to wait until everything else is ready, but if it’s not done then confusion arises.

With a packed timetable that spanned 50+ events, including heats, with many athletes recording personal or seasonal best or even championship records, efficient organisation is crucial.

There are always instances of those competitors who have spent many months preparing for prestigious events, such as these, yet allow their nervousness to overcome their ability thus resulting in false starts and subsequent disqualification even before the starting gun has fired.

So for one athlete to literally stumble over the winning line, seeing opportunities for a gold medal or even qualification for World Athletics Championships in Budapest later this year pass them by, others in the pack will emerge and pounce.

One element that did not let people down was the infamous Manchester weather. A forecast of heavy rain exceeded itself by bringing along a few friends such as thunder and lightning.

At the close of both days, the black clouds rolled up to the final races, which took place under a curtain of torrential rain. The 100m race may only last 10 seconds or so, but the amount of water that was unleashed from the skies made it difficult to identify athletes until they had passed the winning line. That said, there was no doubting the smile on Zharnel Hughes face at his satisfaction with a time of 10.03s.

The purity and spirit of completion between two athletes spurring each other on to greater heights was evident in the pole vault. As the competition developed, the two main contenders Molly Caudery and Holly Bradshaw moved themselves clear of the field. Holly initially set a height of 4.61 metres, one that Molly had never achieved. Not only did Molly go on to reach that height, she then cleared 4.71 metres to win the competition. Sporting excellence at its best.

The Sunday night storms were even worse than Saturdays, as the lightning took out some of the power supplies to the services and for one person, it destroyed their laptop along with all the data stored on it. The 1500m winner, Neil Gourley, was unfortunate in not being unable to receive the applause from the crowd as it attempted to find the nearest refuge from the flood.

The common factor with the rain on both nights seemed to be the appearance of Steve Cram. As he went to present the medals, it appeared to be a signal for the skies to turn black and the heavens to open

“There is no way that was not going to happen” so declared Alastair Chalmers after he crossed the 400m winning line in first place. The determination and intensity he displayed prior to and throughout the race only subsided once he got to the gold medal position on the podium, when motion then flowed over his body.

If self-confidence is key part of success, then Zharnel Hughes will win many titles. He bagged the 200m title to add to his 100m one with a blistering display of speed. His time of 19.87s in the 200 metres would have been a British record, had it not been for the 2.3 m/s tailwind.

Unlike other team sports where the favourites inevitably will win because they have greater strength in depth, pitting athletes against each other does create raw emotion whereby the outcome is always in doubt. Over in the 1500m women’s final, Laura Muir appeared to be striding to victory when she moved to the front of the pack with around a lap to go. However, Katie Snowden displayed grit and determination along with perfect timing to steal past with a time of four minutes 9.86 seconds.

So the weekend event saw a smorgasbord of non-stop entertainment that culminated in 25 finals on the Sunday alone was eagerly lapped up by the ever supportive audience. Unlike other major sports such as football, where gaps between the crowd and participants are preferred, athletics enjoys the interaction and feedback with a crowd. This is particularly evidence after a final when winners will often greet friends and family with a hug or pose for a picture with their bauble around their neck, all done without the need for “security” to intervene and break things up.

The friendly games indeed

Ged Camera

13th July 2023 0 comment

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