27 Ferbuary 2016

James Dasaolu (coach: Steve Fudge, Croydon) stormed home to secure his third British indoor sprint title on the first day of competition (Saturday 27 February) at the 2016 Indoor British Championships in Sheffield.

The 28-year-old European 100m champion had to work hard to catch early leader Andrew Robertson (Daniel Cossins, Sale Harriers) who enjoyed a sensational start out of the blocks in the men’s 60m.

Dasaolu secured himself a place on the GB & NI team set for the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, USA, in March as he crossed the line in a season’s best 6.53 seconds, just one hundredth of a second ahead of Robertson.

“I am so pleased, honestly, it was so tight I didn’t know if I had got it. The win means so much to me after the season I had last year. I am happy to return to winning ways with a season’s best and cement my place in Portland,” said Dasaolu.

“I’m feeling confident and will go in (to the World Indoor Championships) looking to pick up a medal. We have a good bunch of 60m runners and the goal will always be to win a medal now.”

Sean Safo-Antwi (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo, Enfield & Haringey) followed up his formidable win at last week’s Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix with a bronze medal at the city’s EIS venue.

Asha Philip (Fudge, Newham & Essex Beagles) sped out of the blocks and held off the British 100m and 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley) to take the win in the women’s 60m.

Philip clocked a season’s best 7.10 – just 0.02 seconds shy of the national record and well inside the qualification time required to line up at the IAAF World Indoor Championships. Asher-Smith finished 0.05 seconds behind with Louise Bloor in third (Tony Minichiello, Trafford).

“I am happy to get the win. I didn’t do any indoors last year so I was a bit rusty but I am getting faster, so it is going well for the World Indoors. I am hoping for better than fourth (at the 2014 World Indoors),” said Philip.

A terrific run by Andrew Pozzi (Malcolm Arnold, Stratford) secured the 23-year-old victory in the men’s 60m hurdles – and a place on the Great Britain & NI World Indoor Championships team.

Pozzi clocked a season’s best 7.61 to get the better of 2015 indoor champion Lawrence Clarke (Samba-Koundy Giscard, WSE) who finished second with 7.65. David Omoregie (Benke Blomkvist, Cardiff) secured bronze in 7.71.

“That one was really hard for me, just in terms of preparation so I am absolutely delighted,” said Pozzi.

“To run a respectable time is even better.  It is nice to be back after injury and it makes you appreciate it so much more. I knew that Lawrence (Clark) and the two Davids (Omoregie and King) were going to be really strong.  It means a lot to me.” 

Lee Emanuel (Joe Franklin, Sheffield & Dearne) notched up his second indoor 3,000m title and a seat on the plane to Portland after taking to the front with just over one lap to go.

The 2015 European Indoor silver medallist was clearly delighted with his win, saluting the crowd as he powered home to gold in a season’s best 7:55.61 ahead of 5,000m British outdoor champion Tom Farrell (Mark Rowland, Border).

“British Champion sounds wonderful,” said a delighted Emanuel. 

“I felt good coming into the race but there were so many good runners in that race.  This is a dream.  I am delighted to have won, it was a very hard race. I came here last year and did the same so to come here and double up is a dream and I get to run at the World Championships. I love running for the British team.”

Multi-eventer Morgan Lake (Eldon Lake, WSE &H) improved on her second place finish a year ago as she cleared 1.90m in her first attempt to take the win in the women’s high jump ahead of British outdoor record holder Isobel Pooley (Fuzz Cann, Aldershot, Farnham & District).

Victory in the men’s long jump went to defending champion Dan Bramble (Frank Attoh, Shaftesbury Barnet) who held on to his British title with a new personal best of 7.94m. Daniel Gardiner (Mike Stayman, Sheffield & Dearne) took silver (7.67m) while Chris Tomlinson (Newham & Essex Beagles) picked up the bronze medal courtesy of his opening jump of 7.52m.

Bramble, who achieved automatic qualification for the IAAF World Indoor Championships, said:

“Indoor British champion sounds pretty good especially second year in a row and an indoor PB. I felt good going into this, I was a little bit nervous after last week’s five no-jumps so to get six on the board this week is very good and a real confidence booster.” 

There was a new Scottish junior record for pole vaulter Anna Gordon (Eamon Fitzgerald, Pitreavie) as the 19-year-old cleared 4.00m in her second attempt to finish third behind the eventual winner, the defending champion and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Sally Peake (Scott Simpson, Birchfield) who cleared 4.20m.

Nigeria’s Tosin Oke managed a season’s best 16.48m to take the top spot in the men’s triple jump, with the British title going to Nathan Fox (Attoh, Shaftesbury Barnet) for the second year running with a season’s best 16.21m.

Rachel Wallader (WSE & H) broke the stadium record in the women’s shot put as she notched up her third indoor title with a second round throw of 17.23m.

In the women’s 800m British outdoor champion Lynsey Sharp (Rana Reider, Edinburgh), who set a new Scottish indoor record earlier this month, cruised through the heats to tomorrow’s final alongside the other automatic qualifiers Adelle Tracey (Craig Winrow, Guildford & Godalming) and Jenny Meadows (Trevor Painter, Wigan).

Nigel Levine (Linford Christie, WSE & H) will be hoping for an impressive sixth consecutive British indoor 400m title after winning his semi-final. Alex Boyce (Mike Sweeney, Liverpool Harriers) was first over the line in the first semi-final.

Montene Speight (Chris Johnson, Thames Valley), Phillipa Lowe (Dacorum & Tring) and former British indoor champion Meghan Beesley (Nick Dakin, Birchfield) won their 400m heats to lead the way through to tomorrow’s final.

Defending champion Charlie Grice (Jon Bigg, Brighton Pheonix) heads up the field in Sunday’s 1,500m final after qualifying fastest in today’s heats. Michael Rimmer (Bigg, Liverpool Pembroke Sefton) also makes it through, having been disqualified for a lane infringement in the 800m earlier in the day.

Alison Leonard (Bud Baldaro, Blackburn) leads the way in to Sunday’s women’s 1,500m final.

To watch day two of the Indoor British Championships live, please go to BritishAthleticsTV.