19th June 2015

England Athletics U23 & U20 Championships Head To Bedford

19 June 2015

European Indoor Pentathlon Champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson (coach: Mike Holmes) will be one of the headline names at the England Athletics U23 and U20 Championships in Bedford this weekend, competing in both the 100m hurdles and javelin on Sunday.

Athletes will descend on the Bedford International Stadium to take part in the annual England Athletics U20 & U23 Championships (20-21 June). The event acts as the trials for the European Junior Championships and European U23 Championships which are due to take place in Eskilstuna and Talinn respectively next month. 

In the U23 event David Omoregie (Benke Blomkvist) who reached the European 60m hurdles indoor semi-finals in March, will be targeting a strong outdoor performance in Bedford. The Welshman will take on David King (James Hillier) with the duo both possessing the European U23 qualifying standard. 

The men’s and women’s 800m races should deliver two of the most exciting contests of the weekend. With Theo Blundell (Eddie Cockayne) leading the way in 2015 and holding the U23 qualifying standard, he will be working to book his seat on the plane to Estonia. Similarly, Adelle Tracey (Craig Winrow) is the quickest in the women’s field but will have a battle with a number of athletes aiming for GB & NI selection. 

Shannon Hylton (John Blackie) will lead the U20 competition as she aims for the double in the 100m and 200m. The latter has been the stronger event for the Blackheath and Bromley athlete, recording a PB of 22.94 last month which is incidentally the 2015 European junior lead. She will face Charlotte McLennaghan (David Hourd) over the 200m and have an intriguing battle with Daryll Neita (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo) for the 100m crown. 

Other highlights include the men’s 100m which has five athletes already holding the European Junior qualifying standard with Ojie Edoburun (Tawiah-Dodoo) currently leading the 100m junior rankings this year, and Adam Hague (Trevor Fox) who broke the British junior pole vault record three times this season (5.60m).

Additional European U20 leaders include Bobby Clay (Peter Mullervy) in the 1500m, Reece Prescod (Tawiah-Dodoo) over 200m and Taylor Campbell (Paul Dickenson), the British junior record holder in the hammer. Double World Junior gold medallist Morgan Lake (Eldon Lake) will contest the long jump as she aims to replicate a fine 2014 season. 

The Championships will also act as an opportunity for 16-17 year old athletes to meet the standards set for the IAAF World Youth Championships which will take place in Cali, Colombia next month. Cameron Tindle (Henry Gray) will focus on the U20 200m with Wales’ Hannah Brier (Neal Merry) contesting the sprints double in Bedford. Both have already achieved qualifying standards for the World Youth’s next month, as has Catherine Reid (Di Shimell) in the 400m. The Manx athlete will be aiming to deliver a surprise on Sunday in a strong women’s U20 400m field. 

For full information on selection policy and team announcements for the Age Group Championships, please visit this page: http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/world-class/2015-selection-policies/ 

A full report will be available on both Saturday and Sunday on the British Athletics website.