20 June 2016

The men’s 400m will be one of the most hotly contested events at this weekend’s British Championships.

Rabah Yousif (coach: Carol Williams), Martyn Rooney (Rana Reider), Matt Hudson-Smith (Tony Hadley) and Jarryd Dunn (Keith Holt) have already run the required two Olympic qualifying standards, meaning that the British Championships over 24-26th June hold even more significance for the 400m runners.

Not much separates the main contenders in this discipline. Defending  British champion Rabah Yousif finished the 2015 season in impressive form finishing a respectable sixth at the Beijing World Championships, clocking a time of 44.68 whilst up against some stiff competition.

Three of those athletes competed at the Birmingham Diamond League earlier this month, with Yousif, Dunn and Hudson-Smith all lining up at the Alexander Stadium. It was the latter who would outperform the others, finishing a credible fourth, registering a seasons best and the fastest time by any Brit this season in the process. Yousif finished in seventh, with Dunn one place further back.

European champion Martyn Rooney will be looking to rediscover his form of 2015 that saw him set a new personal best of 44.45 and anchor the British team to a world 4x400m relay medal in Beijing.

By far the most experienced of the group, boasting appearances at both Beijing and London Olympics, he will be hoping to draw on some of that come race day.

The men’s 400m final will take place at 16:10 on Sunday.

For tickets to the British Chamionships, please visit http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/2016_Athletics_Season