20 March 2016

Seven British athletes were in action in the final session of the IAAF World Indoor Championships, at the Oregon Convention Centre in Portland.

In the women’s 3000m, Stephanie Twell (Mick Woods) went with a rapid pace set by Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba and was rewarded with a fine sixth place in 9:00.38. In the same race, Josephine Moultrie (William Parker) placed 13th in 9:29.10 on her British Athletics senior team debut.

Twell said: “I’m happy. It’s different to a diamond league race. It’s a World Championships and you’re here to compete. And I wanted to content everyplace – that’s the sort of competition I need for a major championship final.

“I was really happy with the way I ran it – and it was harder for me at the finish – I couldn’t finish it how I wanted to, because I did the work early on. But now that’s touched something and now I know where I am at.”

Lee Emanuel (Joe Franklin) also ran a great race in the men’s 3000m, moving through the field in the closing laps to secure some notable scalps and finish in sixth place with a time of 8:00.70.

Emanuel said: “It was hard I was trying to stay out the way and not get fallen over. I actually got quite a nice ride, I stayed on the inside all the time and everyone on the outside were pushing around and fighting and I managed to relax and chill.

“I wanted to get a medal but then I just got 6th in the world so it’s a good achievement, that race was incredible. For me to come 6th in that field of champions, I think it’s a fairly good effort so I am happy.”

In a thrilling men’s 1500m final, Chris O’Hare (Terrence Mahon) crossed the line in eighth place in 2:46.50. Nick Willis of New Zealand injected a burst of pace with two laps to go but local favourite Matt Centrowitz emerged from the chasing pack to clinch gold.

In the semi-finals of the of the men’s 60m hurdles Lawrence Clarke (Samba Koundy-Giscard) narrowly missed out on a top 4 qualifying place in the final as he finished sixth in a blanket finish with a time of 7.69.

Clarke said: “I thought I got a very good start.  I felt very confident today after yesterday’s slightly slow first round. I am a bit disappointed not to get through because 7.69 in the first semi was the same time I ran in the second [Eddie Lovett qualified from first semi-final in fourth with 7.69] but it was not to be.”

In the field, a fifth round indoor personal best of 8.14m in the men’s long jump secured sixth place final for Dan Bramble (Frank Attoh). He backed that up with a leap of 8.12m in the third round, also further than he had previously ever jumped indoors.

Bramble said: “It was a good competition jumping against some of the world’s best so I’m happy to come away with two PBs back to back. It shows that I can perform at a major champs and hopefully that will push me on for the Olympics.”

Isobel Pooley (Fuzz Caan) could only manage a clearance of 1.89m in the women’s high jump, which put her in tenth place.

The British Athletics team finished the championships with three medals after Robbie Grabarz (Fuzz Caan) won silver in the men’s high jump, Lorraine Ugen (Shawn Jackson) was third in the women’s long jump and Tiffany Porter (Rana Reider) finished third in the women’s 60m hurdles.

Full results are available on http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-indoor-championships/iaaf-world-indoor-championships-5681/timetable/byday