18 June 2016

Sprinters Imani Lansiquot (coach: Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo) and Rechmial Miller (Ryan Freckleton) took the honours in the U20s 100m on the first day of the England Athletics U23 and U20 Championships in Bedford which also doubles as the trials for the IAAF World Junior Championships taking place in Bydgoszcz, Poland in July.

In her heat, Lansiquot ran the fastest junior time this year in 11.25 (+1.6) putting third in the UK all-time U20. In a quality final, the Sutton & District athlete came through to win in 11.49, and secured selection, with Hannah Brier (Neal Merry) second in 11.65.

After her final, Lansiquot said: “It was a fantastic race and it was great to have some good competition in that amazing field. I was really glad to come away with that PB in my heat.  I was happy with my execution in the final. I am so excited thinking about representing my country again.”

In an extremely tight men’s final, World Youth bronze medallist Rechmial Miller improved on his third place last year, winning in 10.47 (-0.8) from Oliver Bromby (Sara MacDonald Gray) in 10.52 and Gerald Matthew (Jane Dixon) in third in 10.53.

Miller, who secured selection with his victory, said: “I was happy to get the win. The race was a bit messy but it’s a championship so these things happen in the final. With heats, semis and final in a day, it is hard to judge but that is something to look at now.”

Following her 800m PB earlier this week, European Junior champion, Bobby Clay (Rob Denmark) comfortably won the U20 1500m in a time of 4:18.25, inside the World Juniors qualifying standard, with Harriet Knowles-Jones (Paul Roden) second in 4:22.08.

Clay said “It was nice to get a run out. I knew the girls wanted a good time so I tried to push the pace along.as I really wanted them to get the time as they work hard. My coach was calling this a ‘sharper-upper’ so it was a bit of blast off. I need to recover then it is all about the worlds. I am so pleased I have my ticket now.”

In the U20 men’s 3000m, Gus Cockle (Mick Woods) took the title in 8:20.38 while third placed Alisdair Kinloch (Mark Hookway) secured a European Youth qualifying standard, crossing the line in 8:29.14.

In the pole vault, Adam Hague (Trevor Fox) regained the U20 title he won in 2014 with a jump of 5.15m with Charlie Myers (Chris Boundy) second. Both have already secured the World Junior qualifying standard of 5.25m.

Hague said: “I had a really good day. I wasn’t expecting much with Bedford’s weather! I am getting back to where I should be, 5.15m isn’t great but it is a good starting point. By the time World Juniors comes around, with my training going well, I’ll be good to go.”

World Youth bronze medallist in the discus, George Evans (Colin McCulloch) won the U20 shot this afternoon with a throw of 18.05m from Daniel Cartwright (Jan Aarre) with 16.66m.

The U20 long jump title went to Jacob Fincham-Dukes (Matt Barton) with a jump of 7.43m (+1.1). Alex Farquharson (Andy Vincent), who already has the World Junior qualifying standard, was second today with 7.37m (+0.8).

Sixteen year old Jake Norris (Paul Dickenson) won the U20 hammer throw with his very last throw of 70.79m.

Norris, who has already qualified for the European Youth Championships in July, said: “It feels great to win it on that last throw as I wasn’t having the greatest competition. It all clicked on that last throw. I have been training with the heavier weight.  Just this week I have changed to the 5k to get a bit more speed. There isn’t too much change in technique. I am hoping I can challenge for a medal at the European Youths.” 

Rebecca Keating (Brett Halter) won the women’s U20 hammer with a throw of 57.58m while Emma Hamplett (David Parker) took the javelin title in the same age group with a throw of 46.21m.

In the final event of the afternoon Harry Hughes (Michael McNeill) won the men’s U20 javelin with a throw of 71.49m securing the World Junior selection.

A notable U18 result came from Jessica Robinson (Ellie Spain) who secured the European Youth qualifying standard with her winning jump of 3.90m in the U20 women’s pole vault.

Earlier in the day, Jazmin Sawyers (Alan Lerwill) won the U23 long jump in a new championship record of 6.61m and is now focusing on next week’s British Championships in Birmingham.

Also, in the U23 women’s 100m Sophie Papps (Stewart Challis) made a welcome return to the track with 11.31 in her heat but withdrew from the final.

The Championships continue tomorrow with the full results available: http://www.englandathletics.org/england-athletics-news/live-events