MANCHESTER REGIONAL ARENA – MANCHESTER
Ged Noonan enjoyed the athletics weekend in Manchester please look at his review:-
Keely Hodgkinson (coach: Trevor Painter, Leigh) and Neil Gourley (Stephen Haas, Giffnock North) delivered confident performances to win their respective heats on day four of the European Athletics Championships in Rome (Monday 10 June) as six British athletes progressed through the rounds.
Hodgkinson was joined by Alex Bell (Andrew Henderson, Leeds) and Erin Wallace (Trevor Painter, Giffnock North) In the women’s 800m semi-finals after all qualified through the heats.
Gourley was belatedly joined in the men’s 1500m final by compatriot Adam Fogg (Cory Leslie, Coventry) after the latter was advanced after been Impeded by a fall at the bell.
There was more British qualification success for Lina Nielsen (Tony Lester, Shaftesbury Barnet) who set a personal best on the way to the women’s 400m hurdles final, while there was frustration for Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) and Alastair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey) who missed out on their respective finals.
Olympic and world silver medallist Hodgkinson made light work of qualification with a confident performance in round one of the women’s 800m. Controlling the race from the front, the 22-year-old looked incredibly relaxed as she took the win in 2:02.46.
“Heats are always a bit of a reality check to be honest because you never really feel that great, but I am just really happy to get through, so it’s all good,” said the British record holder. “It’s just hard because some people are trying to run their best race ever and you are trying to conserve energy, so it’s just a case of don’t get complacent, don’t get caught out at the wrong moment, don’t get tripped up, and also try and save as much energy for the next round, but it was a clean race so I can’t complain.”
Alex Bell got the Great Britain and Northern Ireland middle-distance women off to a solid start with a third-place finish and automatic qualifying spot for Tuesday’s semi-finals with 2:00.98. Despite the frustration of having a competitor’s number stuck to her spikes from an earlier race, Bell ran a steady first lap and kept out of trouble. As the leaders came off the final bend a gap opened up and she took advantage to move through into the top three.
“The smile is more of a relief than anything,” she said. “Going in the first heat is difficult as you don’t know how fast the next heats are going to be, so I just fought to get in the top three. I usually get through championships as the fastest loser, so I was quite nervous going into the first heat today, but I’ve got it done and in essence I can have a longer recovery now.”
In the fourth and final 800m heat of the morning, Erin Wallace (Trevor Painter, Giffnock North) knew what she had to do to guarantee qualification and duly delivered to ensure three from three Brits advanced to the semi-finals. In her first 800m at a major championship she tucked in towards the back of the pack through the opening lap, but as the field strung out over the final 100m she ran strongly to finish fifth in 2:00.90 – outside of the automatic positions but quick enough to go through.
“It probably wasn’t my finest race, but I am relieved that it did end up being quite fast so I’m through to the semi-finals and I can just start again tomorrow,” she said, admitting she was so nervous beforehand that she could barely eat her breakfast.
The 29-year-old – who missed the indoor season due to injury – proved he was in incredible shape with a superb mile personal best at the Prefontaine Classic on 25 May (3:47.74), his first significant outing since the 2023 World Championships.
The opportunity to experience championship racing in Rome presented a different challenge for Gourley and he passed the test with ease, staying out of trouble in the early stages of a slow heat before putting himself in a good position to kick as Spain’s Adel Mechaal pushed the pace. He eventually pulled away with ease to take the win in 3:44.05.
“It went fine today so I can sleep between now and the final,” he said. “That was the last thing coach said, ‘Don’t fall asleep’; it was an interesting choice of words, but I definitely could have.
“Tactically I’m happy with where I put myself. It was really about just being ready to respond when somebody inevitably went – it was just a case of being aware of anyone making a big move. Whilst the Diamond League circuit is really valuable, this is somewhere where I can experience proper racing, which I just did, and to make sure I execute tactically.”
Adam Fogg ran a good tactical race early on in the second heat of the men’s 1500m, but as the athletes went through the bell a group of four crashed to the track causing chaos for those around them. Fogg did well to stay on his feet but lost momentum and faded to 10th (3:40.83). He was later confirmed as securing a spot in the final after the race referee watched back the footage and advanced him due to the impediment.
“I felt alright going into it,” he said, before he knew he was advanced to the final. “I just needed to go in relaxed as I knew I wasn’t highly ranked in that heat. I didn’t want to go out super aggressively and put myself at the front end early on. I tried to work myself up so I could go at the bell, and I did an ok job of that.”
Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen stayed out of trouble throughout the race, running right off the back of the pack in the early stages before casually working his way through the field to clock a 53.05 last lap and win in 3:37.65.
There were mixed fortunes for GB & NI’s 400m hurdlers as Lina Nielsen (Tony Lester, Shaftesbury Barnet) progressed through to Tuesday’s final while Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) and Alastair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey) missed out.
World Indoor relay medallist Nielsen – having looked like she was out of contention with 50m to go – finished brilliantly to take second place in the first of the women’s semi-finals in a 54.43 personal best, sixth all-time among Brits.
“That was so fast!”, said the 28-year-old whose previous best was set in the same stadium. “It’s always my finish and my second half of the race. My final hurdle is literally my super-power but its hurdle six, every single race…I mess it up every single time. I need to be running 15 strides to seven, but I am only making it to five so I need to figure it out. I start off well, then I switch off and then I come through well. If I can get that middle part fixed it should be a good time, but I am happy with a PB, that’s alright.”
Knight finished seventh in semi-final three (56.01), so did not progress to the final on Tuesday.
Despite running a fantastic personal best of 48.76 from lane eight, Alastair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey) was unfortunate to miss out on qualification for the men’s final after finishing third in the second of the semi-finals. It was an agonising wait for the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist as his performance was confirmed, but his initial delight turned to disappointment as the results of the third semi-final filtered through.
“I ran it perfectly, I wouldn’t change anything about it,” said Chalmers whose time moved him to tenth on the British all-time list. “Coming off hurdle eight in first pretty much is crazy. My back was giving in, everything was giving in, but I was fighting for my life. When I saw the time, I was thinking ‘I could have run the Olympic standard’ [48.70], and to miss out by six hundredths is heart-breaking. And then for the final semi to be world class is crazy. It is really bittersweet and a shame, really.
“I’ve known this year I am in ridiculous shape. I am one of those guys who steps up when needed. If I was in semi-final one, I would have cruised through to the final, so it is just typical that the semi I was in was a ridiculous standard. I ran the fastest time of my whole life so I have got to take a lot of honour from that. I am happy with that, but it was so close.”
Great Britain & Northern Ireland medal tally:
GOLD: [2]: Women’s Half Marathon Team, Dina Asher-Smith – Women’s 100m
SILVER [2]: George Mills – Men’s 5000m, Georgia Bell – Women’s 1500m
BRONZE [3]: Lizzie Bird – Women’s 3000m steeplechase, Romell Glave – Men’s 100m, Calli Hauger-Thackery – Women’s Half Marathon
Results: https://live.european-athletics.com/ECH2024/lrs/home
UK Athletics (UKA) has today announced the team selected to represent Great Britain & Northern Ireland at the European Athletics Championships in Rome 7-12 June 2024.
The team comprising 70 selected athletes and two wildcard entries for reigning European Athletics Champions includes reigning 2023 World Heptathlon Champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Aston Moore, Liverpool), World Silver medallists Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter, Leigh) – 800m and Matthew Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield) – 400m, and World 100m Bronze medallist Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet).
Hodgkinson and Hudson-Smith receive wildcard entries, whilst Hughes, although eligible for a 200m wildcard, wishes to compete over 100m in Rome.
Johnson-Thompson received automatic selection through her status as a 2023 World Champion. Subject to receiving confirmation of her ‘Road to Rome’ ranking eligibility this week, Jade O’Dowda (John Lane, Newham & Essex Beagles) is also selected for the Heptathlon.
Head Coach Paula Dunn commented:
“I am really pleased with the team we have announced today that will compete in the European Athletics Championships. It is incredibly strong with a high number of athletes feeling that Rome will form an important part of their preparations for Paris.
“For some athletes, winning a medal in Rome will be the perfect preparation for the Olympics, for others competing here will provide a benchmark as to where they are knowing that their peak performance needs to come at the start of August.
“There is also a good blend of athletes who can use this championship to step up and fuel their aims of qualifying for Paris and onto Tokyo World Championships in 2025.”
GB & NI Team:
Women
100m
Dina Asher-Smith (Edrick Floréal, Blackheath & Bromley)
Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Ryan Freckleton, Sutton & District)
Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)
200m
Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)
400m
Laviai Nielsen (Tony Lester, Enfield & Haringey)
Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex Beagles)
800m
Alex Bell (Andrew Henderson, Leeds)
Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter, Leigh)
Erin Wallace (Trevor Painter, Giffnock North)
1500m
Georgia Bell (Trevor Painter, Belgrave)
Jemma Reekie (Jon Bigg, Kilbarchan)
Katie Snowden (Stephen Haas, Herne Hill)
5000m
Izzy Fry (Sonia McGeorge, Newbury)
Amy-Eloise Neale (Rob Denmark, Wakefield)
Hannah Nuttall (Helen Clitheroe, Charnwood)
10000m
Megan Keith (Ross Cairns, Inverness)
Eilish McColgan (Liz Nuttall, Dundee Hawkhill)
Jessica Warner-Judd (Mick Judd, Blackburn)
100mH
Cindy Sember (Chris Johnson, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)
400mH
Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)
Lina Nielsen (Tony Lester, Shaftesbury Barnet)
3000m SC
Lizzie Bird (Pat McCurry, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Pole Vault
Holly Bradshaw (Kate Rooney, Blackburn)
Molly Caudery (Scott Simpson, Thames Valley)
High Jump
Morgan Lake (Robbie Grabarz, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)
Hammer
Charlotte Payne (Paul Dickenson, Reading)
Anna Purchase (Mohamed Ali Saatara, Notts)
Heptathlon
Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Aston Moore, Liverpool)
Jade O’Dowda (John Lane, Newham & Essex Beagles) – selection subject to confirmation of Road To Rome rankings eligibility.
4 x 100m
Dina Asher-Smith (Edrick Floréal, Blackheath & Bromley)
Desiree Henry (Steve Fudge, Enfield & Haringey)
Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood)
Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Ryan Freckleton, Sutton & District)
Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)
Asha Phillip (Amy Deem, Newham and Essex Beagles)
Mixed 4x400m – In addition to athletes selected for Men’s 4x400m
Hannah Kelly (Les Hall, Bolton)
Emily Newnham (Nick Dakin, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Half Marathon
Abbie Donnelly (Rob Lewis, Lincoln Wellington)
Clara Evans (Chris Jones, Pontypridd)
Calli Hauger-Thackery (Hallamshire)
Lauren McNeil (Hallamshire)
Men
100m
Jeremiah Azu (Marco Airale, Cardiff)
Romell Glave (Michael Afilaka, Croydon)
Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)
200m
Jona Efoloko (Ryan Freckleton, Sale Harriers Manchester)
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Ryan Freckleton, Newham and Essex Beagles)
Jeriel Quainoo (Ryan Freckleton, Blackheath & Bromley)
400m
Charlie Dobson (Leon Baptiste, Colchester)
Alex Haydock-Wilson (Earl Herbert, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)
Matthew Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield)
800m
Callum Dodds (Matthew Yates, Enfield & Haringey)
Elliot Giles (Jon Bigg, Birchfield)
Thomas Randolph (Craig Winrow, Tamworth)
1500m
Adam Fogg (Cory Leslie, Coventry)
Neil Gourley (Stephen Haas, Giffnock North)
5000m
George Mills (Thomas Dreißigacker, Brighton Phoenix)
Jack Rowe (Tim Eglen, Aldershot Farnham and District)
James West (Helen Clitheroe, Tonbridge)
10000m
Patrick Dever (Andy Bibby, Preston)
Rory Leonard (Andrew Hobdell, Morpeth)
Zakariya Mahamed (Idris Hamud, Southampton)
20k Race Walk
Callum Wilkinson (Robert Heffernan, Enfield & Haringey)
110mH
Andrew Pozzi (Stratford-upon-Avon)
Tade Ojora (Joanna Hayes, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)
400mH
Alastair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey)
3000mSC
Mark Pearce (Luke Gunn, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Zak Seddon (Geoff Wightman, Bracknell)
Long Jump
Jacob Fincham-Dukes (Matt Barton, Leeds)
Discus
Lawrence Okoye (Zane Duquemin, Croydon)
Hammer
Jake Norris (Paul Dickenson, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)
Shot Put
Scott Lincoln (Paul Wilson, City of York)
4 x 100m
Jeremiah Azu (Marco Airale, Cardiff)
Jona Efoloko (Ryan Freckleton, Sale Harriers Manchester)
Romell Glave (Michael Afilaka, Croydon)
Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Richard Kilty (Gateshead)
Jeriel Quainoo (Ryan Freckleton, Blackheath & Bromley)
4 x 400m
Charlie Carvell (Stewart Marshall, Telford AC)
Lewis Davey (Trevor Painter, Newham & Essex Beagles)
Toby Harries (David Sadkin, Brighton Phoenix)
Alex Haydock-Wilson (Earl Herbert, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)
Michael Ohioze (Craig Cox, Shaftesbury Barnet)
UK Athletics (UKA), The Great Run Company (GRC) and London Marathon Events (LME) today (Monday 15 April) announced the creation of a new joint venture, Athletic Ventures, which is set to transform the future and growth of athletics in the UK and to deliver major athletics events.
Athletic Ventures will deliver the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham and the annual edition of the Diamond League in the UK. It will also lead the potential bidding process for the World Athletics Championships to return to the UK in 2029.
The new company will also take over the quest to find new commercial partners for athletics in the UK, offering opportunities from grassroots activities to national events and the UK athletics teams at major championships in an innovative ‘playground to podium’ sponsorship programme.
GRC organises The Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon, and an annual programme of running and open water swimming events across the UK. LME organises the London Marathon, the most popular marathon on the planet and the world’s biggest annual one day fundraising event, and RideLondon, the world’s greatest festival of cycling, in addition to a range of running events and Swim Serpentine.
Jack Buckner, CEO of UKA, said: “This is a groundbreaking model for the development of athletics and for major sports events in the UK and we believe our new partnership, which combines the national governing body with the expertise of London Marathon Events and The Great Run Company, will transform the future of athletics in this country.
“Athletics is the most watched sport at the Olympic and Paralympic Games and millions in the UK will be watching the Diamond League at the London Stadium and hundreds of millions across the globe will be following the action from the stadium in Paris, putting our sport and our great athletes – such as Molly Caudery, Hannah Cockroft, Keely Hodgkinson, Matthew Hudson-Smith and Josh Kerr – front of mind. We pledge to build on this huge opportunity to rejuvenate British athletics, working alongside our Home Country partners, to restore our sport to the popularity of the golden days of the 1980s.”
Hugh Brasher, Event Director of London Marathon Events, said: “More than four decades ago, my father co-founded the London Marathon and Paul’s father created the Great North Run. These events have become the most successful marathon and half marathon in the world and inspired millions of people to become active.
“Combining the sport of athletics, which features the basics of all sports in running jumping and throwing, with the greatest road running events in the world is just the start of this journey. We believe that this partnership will, over time, help deliver even more societal change than our combined events have achieved over the last forty years.
“The entrepreneurial spirit that is at the core of this new partnership has the potential to truly deliver for athletics from the playground to the podium.’’
Paul Foster, CEO of The Great Run Company, said: “The partnership is driven not only by a belief in the sport of athletics, but also the belief that there is real commercial opportunity.
“We’re bringing together the best event organisers in our sport to create a new template for international events. We’re combining world class creative, broadcast and event operations with focused commercial and entrepreneurial vision to develop a brighter future for athletics.
“For the first time, major events will be underwritten by commercial organisations, not the public sector. We firmly believe that this model is the future for major events, and that the Birmingham European Championships will be a huge success for Great Britain, on and off the track.”
Lord Coe, President of World Athletics, said: “This is a very exciting time for our sport. We are attracting viewers in the hundreds of millions for our World Championships and with the Paris Olympics mere months away the interest in athletics will only increase. It is innovation and creative partnerships like this joint venture between The Great Run Company and London Marathon Events – with their impressive track record in road running – combined with UKA’s world class athletes, that will keep pushing our sport forward and make it an attractive proposition for fans and commercial partners alike. We applaud this innovative initiative and eagerly look forward to seeing the promising journey ahead.”
Esther Britten, Head of Major Events at UK Sport, said: “The joint venture with London Marathon Events, Great Run Company and UK Athletics is a great example of collaboration and innovation to support the sustainable long-term health of national governing bodies. We know that building the right partnerships will help our sector’s resilience in event delivery, and we look forward to seeing how this evolves over the coming years.”
Dobromir Karamarinov, President of European Athletics said: “European Athletics applauds the creation of this joint venture, and we look forward to working with Athletic Ventures for the successful delivery of the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships, which is the most important competition in our events portfolio.
“With Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s historic prominence in both world and European athletics as well as hosting successful athletics events including road races, this is a very important step forward in business and competition models for our sport, nevertheless securing that UK Athletics keeps the full authority and independence on its destiny.”
UK Athletics has today announced those athletes selected to represent Great Britain & Northern Ireland at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 on 4-5 May, in the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m as well as the 4x400m mixed relay.
UKA’s objective for the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 is to qualify all relay teams for the Paris Olympic Games. Following a highly successful campaign at Budapest in 2023 where GB & NI won medals in four out of five relay finals, UKA Olympic Head Coach Paula Dunn is aiming to secure places in all five Paris events:
“The GB & NI team selected is incredibly strong and we are heading to Nassau to secure those vital Paris Olympic slots.
“The performances in Budapest last summer were fantastic but we know each year the other nations are working harder and harder on their relay programmes. We cannot take anything for granted and we are going there with a clear aim to put us on the road to Paris.”
Head of Sprints, hurdles and relays Darren Campbell commented:
“I am really pleased with the strength of the team that will be travelling to Nassau. The 4x400m squads have a 100% medal record from Budapest to uphold and this event is the first step towards that aim. Our lead 4x400m relay coach Martyn Rooney obviously has a lot of experience in bringing the best out of these teams and I’m looking forward to seeing those athletes step up at the Championships.
“The men’s 4x100m team were unlucky not to medal finishing 4th in Budapest but the team did incredibly well and have worked well over the winter. They have had their fair share of challenges in recent years, but I have had my own discussions with each and every member of the squad and know they are motivated, committed and focused on working together to reach Paris.
“The women’s 4x100m squad is incredibly fast and full of talent. I know as well as being focussed on making sure of Olympic qualification, they also want to lay their claim on those team slots for Paris. It’ll be great to see how they perform and with Dina and Daryll joining the squad later in the season, it will make competition for team places even tougher.”
The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24:
Women’s 4x100m
Kristal Ama-Awuah (Linford Christie, Herne Hill)
Alyson Bell (Anne Scott, Glasgow Jaguars)
Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood)
Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Ryan Freckleton, Sutton & District)
Asha Philip (Amy Deem, Newham and Essex Beagles)
Aleeya Sibbons (Coral Nourrice, Newham & Essex Beagles)
Annie Tagoe (Vince Anderson, Thames Valley)
Bianca Williams (Linford Christie, Thames Valley)
Men’s 4x100m
Eugene Amo-Dadzie (Steve Fudge, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)
Jona Efoloko (Ryan Freckleton, Sale Harriers Manchester)
Romell Glave (Michael Afilaka, Croydon)
Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Richard Kilty (Gateshead)
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Ryan Freckleton, Newham and Essex Beagles)
Reece Prescod (Jonas Dodoo, Enfield & Haringey)
Chijindu Ujah (Steve Fudge, Enfield and Haringey)
Women’s 4x400m
Hannah Kelly (Les Hall, Bolton)
Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham and Essex Beagles)
Emily Newnham (Nick Dakin, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Lina Nielsen (Tony Lester, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Laviai Nielsen (Tony Lester, Enfield and Haringey)
Ama Pipi (Linford Christie, Enfield & Haringey)
Nicole Yeargin (Vince Anderson, Pitreavie)
Jodie Williams (Stuart McMillan, Herts Phoenix)
Men’s 4x400m
Joe Brier (Matt Elias, Swansea)
Lewis Davey (Trevor Painter, Newham and Essex Beagles)
Charlie Dobson (Leon Baptiste, Colchester)
Toby Harries (David Sadkin, Brighton Phoenix)
Alex Haydock-Wilson (Leon Baptiste, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)
Matthew Hudson Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield)
Lee Thompson (John Henson, Sheffield & Dearne)
Brodie Young (James McMenemy, Glasgow Jaguars)
Mixed 4x400m
Team from athletes selected for 4x400m squads.
The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24, (1-3 March) 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 confirmation of the World Athletics Road to Glasgow Rankings later this week. Subject to the athletes’ position in rankings, those athletes who have met the UKA requirements outlined in the selection policy will be confirmed. Those athletes in this position have been informed of their current selection status.
World champion Josh Kerr (coach: Danny Mackey, coach: Edinburgh) [3000m] and Olympic silver medallist Laura Muir (Steve Vernon, Dundee Hawkhill) [3000m] are among the athletes selected to compete in front of a home crowd next month [1-3 March] as the Championships head to Scotland for the first time.
After clearing a world lead of 4.85m in the pole vault at the Microplus UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham last weekend, Molly Caudery (Scott Simpson, Thames Valley) joins the GB & NI team in the best form of her career.
Kilbarchan’s Jemma Reekie (Jon Bigg), who set a Championship record at the Utilita Arena at the Championships, will go in the women’s 800m, while Georgia Bell (Trevor Painter, Belgrave) [1500m], who has been in scintillating form in 2024 so far, is called up to a GB & NI senior team for the first time in her career.
Paula Dunn, Olympic Head Coach, said,
“We are pleased to be announcing such a strong team for World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24, and I am looking forward to seeing how the team perform on the world stage. We had a thrilling National Championships where athletes secured their places for the Team in Scotland, and it was fantastic to see a number of athletes stepping up when it counted.
“This is a really exciting squad that includes global medallists as well as athletes who will be hoping to make an impact on the world stage for the first time.
“Once World Athletics have finalised the final Road to Glasgow rankings later this week, those athletes who have the required ranking and have met the UKA requirements outlined in the selection policy will be announced, and we look forward to confirming our home championship team for next month.”
Women
Georgia Bell (Trevor Painter, Belgrave) – 1500m
Isabelle Boffey (Luke Gunn, Enfield and Haringey) – 800m
Molly Caudery (Scott Simpson, Thames Valley) – Pole Vault
Morgan Lake (Robbie Grabarz, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) – High Jump
Laura Muir (Steve Vernon, Dundee Hawkhill) – 3000m
Laviai Nielsen (Tony Lester, Enfield and Haringey) – 400m
Jemma Reekie (Jon Bigg, Kilbarchan) – 800m
Cindy Sember (Chris Johnson, Woodford Green Essex Ladies) – 60m Hurdles
Revee Walcott-Nolan (Thomas Dreißigacker, Luton) – 1500m
4x400m: Hannah Brier (Matt Elias, Swansea), Hannah Kelly (Les Hall, Bolton), Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow), Laviai Nielsen (Tony Lester, Enfield and Haringey), Lina Nielsen (Tony Lester, Shaftesbury Barnet) and Ama Pipi (Linford Christie; Enfield & Haringey)
Men
Jeremiah Azu (Marco Airale, Cardiff) – 60m
Callum Elson (Nick Aguila, Cambridge & Coleridge) – 1500m
Adam Fogg (Cory Leslie, Coventry) – 1500m
Josh Kerr (Danny Mackey, Edinburgh) – 3000m
David King (Tim O’Neil, City of Plymouth) – 60m Hurdles
Tade Ojora (Joanna Hayes, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow) – 60m Hurdles
UK Athletics is pleased to announce Microplus as the title sponsor for the UK Athletics Indoor Championships on 17-18 February 2024 at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham.
With over 20 years’ experience operating at high profile sports events worldwide, Microplus has worked with UK Athletics on our national Championships since 2022, and also worked at several athletics events and multisport events worldwide (including Commonwealth Games, Mediterranean Games, Universiade Games, EYOF) providing a Central Results System (CRS), Timing & Scoring On Venue Results System (OVR) and Commentator Information System (CIS).
Microplus will provide their service once again for the 2024 edition of the Indoor Championships, as well as being the title sponsor for the prestigious fixture in the athletics calendar.
The Microplus UK Athletics Indoor Championships will see national titles on the line, as well as serving as the Official Trial event for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland on 1-3 March 2024. With the best athletes in the country vying for places on the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for another major Championships on home soil, this will be an event not to be missed.
With 28 disciplines – 14 for both men and women – taking place across the two days, it promises to be a highly entertaining two-days of action to start off the Olympic and Paralympic year.
Cherry Alexander, Strategic Lead for Major Events and International Relations at UK Athletics said,
“We are delighted to announce Microplus as the title sponsor for the Microplus UK Athletics Indoor Championships in February. We have a strong working relationship with Microplus which has developed at our national championships over the last few years, and this is a significant moment in our partnership.
“We would like to extend our thanks to Microplus for their support and we are thrilled to be working with them on the Championships in Birmingham in a few weeks’ time.”
Mauro Cedrani, Microplus CEO, said, “As the proud naming partner for the 2024 Microplus UK Athletics Indoor Championships, we are thrilled to join forces with the elite athletes, dedicated organisers, and passionate fans who make this event a celebration of skill, determination, and sportsmanship.
“This partnership further displays our commitment to supporting excellence and fostering a spirit of competition that inspires individuals to reach new heights. Together, in partnership with UK Athletics we look forward to showcasing the championship experience and continuing to strengthen our ties.
“We very much look forward to the upcoming championship and the excitement that will bring for all involved.”
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.”
The true spirit of competition and the ability of athletes to strive for greater success was exemplified at the Manchester regional centre in the hydrogel, as part of the UK Athletics event.
Molly Caudery set herself a personal best of 4.61 metres that was then matched by Holly Bradshaw’s season best.
This in turn forced Molly to push herself on and attain a height of 4.71 metres and win the competition. Third place went to Felicia Miloro.
European Athletics have today announced that Birmingham will host the European Athletics Championships in 2026 following a successful bid process with UKA.
Working in partnership with Birmingham City Council and UK Sport, UKA had high hopes of hosting Europe’s most prestigious European athletics competition, seven years on from staging the hugely successful European Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow in 2019.
Whilst the UK has also proudly hosted multiple Major Championships over the last 15 years including the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the World Athletics and World Para Athletics Championships as well as the World Athletics Indoor Championships, it will be the first time the UK has ever hosted the European Athletics Championships.
The bid win follows on from an exciting summer for athletics in the UK with medal success for GB & NI at the World and European Athletics Championships and for the home nation teams at a hugely successful home Commonwealth Games hosted by Birmingham at the newly renovated Alexander Stadium – which will be the venue for the event in 2026.
UKA’s Chief Executive Jack Buckner said:
“We are delighted and honoured that we have been awarded the privilege of hosting the European Athletics Championships in 2026 in Birmingham. It is wonderful news for athletics and benefits the whole of the UK in demonstrating our ability to host major events across the whole country.
“UKA has held a long time wish to deliver this event and we thank European Athletics for its faith in entrusting us with its most important competition.
“Our vision for the Championships is about record breaking ticket sales and an amazing atmosphere for athletes to be inspired inside and outside the stadium. We have promised to deliver an amazing, innovative and game changing Championships, and we’re excited we can now put this plan into action!”
Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “We are honoured and privileged to be asked to be the first-ever UK hosts of the prestigious European Athletics Championships in 2026.
“Over many years we have demonstrated we are a city that can proudly host major events of this type and scale – and the people of Birmingham and indeed the entire nation have proven time and time again their huge appetite for sport, especially athletics.
“The Alexander Stadium is beyond all doubt the premier athletics facility in the country and we cannot wait to welcome the elite of European athletics for this event, which will also bring a range of benefits for local communities and our economy beyond the programme of track and field activities.”
Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport, said:
“I’m delighted that the UK will be welcoming Europe’s best athletes to Birmingham in 2026. Hosting the European Athletics Championships will be a fantastic opportunity to build on the legacy of the Commonwealth Games earlier this year and I know the British public will get behind the athletes and create a brilliant atmosphere in the Alexander Stadium.
“We’ve seen throughout 2022 the significant economic and social benefits of hosting big sporting events in this country and hosting this mega-event will deliver huge benefits for the city of Birmingham, the West Midlands region and the whole of the United Kingdom. It’s also important to recognise that our continued ability to deliver the very best global sporting events is thanks to the ongoing support of The National Lottery.”
Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said:
“It is fantastic that Birmingham has been chosen to host the first European Athletics Championship on British soil. The city is perfectly placed to put on the event following record-breaking ticket sales for a brilliant Commonwealth Games earlier this year.
“I look forward to seeing Europe’s elite athletes descend on the West Midlands and the Government will continue to work closely with UK Sport, UK Athletics and Birmingham City Council to host another hugely successful event.”
UK Athletics and Birmingham are proud to have been announced as the Host City of European Athletics Championships 2026. Athletics fans from Birmingham and across the UK and beyond will travel to see these championships. For those interested in hearing first about tickets and wider opportunities to get involved in the championships, register on this link www.uka.org.uk/eac-2026-register-your-interest/