7 March 2014

Great Britain & Northern Ireland got their IAAF World Indoor Championships campaign underway this morning with Nigel Levine (coach: Linford Christie), Andrew Osagie (Craig Winrow) and Margaret Adeoye (Christie) securing their passage into the next round in Sopot, Poland. 

In a strong line-up in heat three, Levine went up against reigning World Indoor champion Nery Brenes and Olympic 400m silver medallist Luguelin Santos finishing in third place. In running 46.64, the 24 year old secured his berth in tonight’s semi-final as a fastest qualifier.

In the women’s equivalent, Margaret Adeoye, who was crowned British champion at the Sainsbury’s British Championships last month, clocked a season’s best of 52.69 to qualify for this evening’s semi-final.

Adeoye said: “It was messy. I just did my best and I just got caught up in a bit of a mess. I’m just a bit disappointed to be honest. At the break I had a bit of a thing and I was hitting their feet. I just put myself in the wrong position at the break.”

With only one person from each heat guaranteeing a place in the 800m final, Osagie had to produce his very best to secure his place as a fastest finisher. The World Indoor bronze medallist came through in 1:45.88 and feels in good shape in the lead up to Sunday’s finale. 

The 26 year old said: “Tough is the first word I can think of. I knew it was going to be a decent pace or it needed to be and I had prepared for that. I felt quite strong at the end and quite good. I knew I was in the time with about 100m to go and I knew if I finished strong I would be within the time. I am and now I’m looking forward to another final.”

Mukhtar Mohammed (Jon Bigg) was unable to follow his teammate into the next round, finishing fourth in a time of 1:47.59.

“It was tough and tough for a first heat with one qualifying spot,” he said. “I gave it everything and ran a season’s best. It was great to run against a world class field and I will definitely learn from this experience.”

Laura Muir (Andy Young) narrowly out missed on the 800m final finishing second in her heat with a time of 2:02.55, leaving her just outside the qualifying places. The 20 year old admitted that a tussle for positions at the start of the race made it difficult to close on leading pack.

“I tried to start off quick to get a good position but I think I got a little bit caught out and because I was in lane one, the field came across and I got a bit blocked off. I lost a lot of ground it was a case of trying to get back into position and I lost a lot of energy.”

After taking the lead out in the 1500m with three laps to go in the first heat, British champion Lee Emanuel (Joe Franklin) ended up finishing in fifth place after a collision, which put an end to the GB & NI debutant’s hopes of progressing to the final. 

Emanuel said: “There wasn’t much I could do to be honest. I had a good position but then my stride was affected. I got back in the race and I was there with 200m to go, but I’m really disappointed with the way I finished today. I felt I could close the gap and make the final. It’s sad but these things happen.

“I was running on one leg for a bit and I was on the inside of the track. It didn’t knock me massively off my rhythm and it’s not an excuse as I got myself back in the race and I should have done better but you can’t plan for these things to happen.”

Chris O’Hare also didn’t progress further in the competition, clocking 3:40.06 to finish fourth in heat two. Although the Edinburgh AC athlete was disappointed with not advancing, he admitted that he gave it his best at Sopot’s Ergo Arena.  

“Before the race and you look at the start list and you think he’s quick, he’s quick,” O’Hare explained. “You’ve got to come out and leave it all on the track and come away hoping you have done enough. I gave it my all,

“I couldn’t have given an extra step. It’s championship racing for you. I tell myself as long as I give my all, that’s good enough for me. I’m disappointed I didn’t make it (to the final).”

Richard Buck (Nick Dakin) was disqualified in the 400m ending his individual hopes in Sopot, and despite coming away frustrated, he is hoping to add to his impressive 4x400m medal collection over the weekend.

“It’s really strange indoors because you accept a lot of physicality in the race. From my perspective, I’ve been on the inside of somebody doing that to me and if you’re on the outside, nine times out of 10 you win that battle and this time at the World Indoors, there’s a lot at stake. It hasn’t affected the result, but I am surprised at the disqualification because for me there wasn’t enough contact and it could have gone the other way. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to redeem myself in the relay.” 

Shana Cox (George Williams), who ran in the heat after her GB & NI teammate Adeoye, came through her heat in fourth place in 53.10, but wasn’t enough to secure a semi-final berth.

“I didn’t really finish where I wanted to. There was some good parts to the race and some not so good parts of it. I will take some time with my coach to look at it and pick it apart,” Cox explained. 

Friday 7 March

19:00 – 20:30 BBC Two

12:00 – 13:00 & 17:00 – 19:00 Red Button

Saturday 8 March

09:00 – 11:30 & 17:10 – 20:30 BBC Two

10:30 – 13:00 BBC Red Button

Sunday 9 March

14:00 – 18:00 BBC Two