25 April 2016

Aside from the Virgin London Marathon, which saw a number of British athletes set Olympic Games qualifying times, there were some other notable performances by British athletes all over the world.

Michael Johnson Classic, Texas, 23rd April

2014 European 100m bronze medallist Ashleigh Nelson (Michael Afilaka) opened her 2016 season in style, taking over a quarter of a second off her 200m personal best with a 22.96 (-0.2m/s) victory. That run takes her to second on the Power of 10 behind Jodie Williams’ (Ryan Freckleton) early 22.89 performance.

LSU Alumni Gold Invitational, Louisiana, 23rd April

Former European Junior 200m champion Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Dennis Shaver) was denied a massive lifetime best by an illegal 3.6m/s tailwind as he clocked a world class 20.14 to take victory.

John Jacobs Invitational, Oklahoma, 23rd April

Ama Pipi (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo) backed up her 23.50 200m personal best set earlier this month with a 23.54 (+0.5m/s) winning performance.

Race Walking Association 20k Championships, HIllingdon

Tom Bosworth (Coach: Andi Drake, Tonbridge AC) cruised to his 5th British 20km title at Hillingdon Cycle Circuit. Bosworth who broke the longstanding British Record over the distance when winning in Dudince last month was content to use the race as a preparation session for the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships in Rome in 2 weeks time. 

He walked alongside training partner Cameron Corbishley (Coach: Andi Drake, Medway & Maidstone) who was competing in the Junior 10km Championships. Corbishley who was also using the event as his last hit out before Rome, clocked his second fastest ever 10km in taking the British title in 43.42. Bosworth was just behind Corbishley at this point and cruised through the second half of the race to take the title in 90.29 ahead of Italian Guest Gregorio Angelini (93.35). Jonathan Hobbs (Coach: Chris Hobbs, Ashford AC) took the bronze medal in 1.46.21. 

In the Women’s 20 Kilometers Manx Harriers Hannah Hunter competing in her first senior national 20km took the title in 1.55.39. The Junior Women’s 10km saw victory for Sophie Lewis Ward (Coach: Noel Carmody, Cambridge Harriers) who cruised to the title in 59.29. The Under 17 titles over 5km went to Chris Snook (Cocah: Verity Snook, Aldershot Farnham & District AC) in 23.52 and Ana Garcia (Coach: Brian Adams, City of Sheffield & Dearne AC ) in 26.25 respectively. The Under 15 3km titleS went to Stephen Waddington of Manx Harriers 16.40 and Lucy Lewis Ward (Coach: Noel Carmody, Cambridge Harriers) in 16.48. The Under 13 2km titles went to Alex Macheath (Cambridge Harriers) 11.51 and  Lara MacColl (City of Sheffield & Dearne AC) in 12:46.

Tom Jones Memorial, Florida, 22nd April

After winning bronze at the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships, Tiffany Porter (Rana Reider) got her outdoor season off to a flying start winning two 100mH races in 12.84 (+1.8m/s) and 12.72 (+1.0m/s). 

In the longer hurdles, Meghan Beesley (Nick Dakin) made the fastest start to a season that she ever has, with a winning time of 55.72, which bodes well in Olympic year. In the men’s event Seb Rodger (Stephen King) and Niall Flannery (Dakin) were second and third in times of 50.44 and 51.27 respectively. In the second section Jacob Paul (Marina Armstrong) was second in 50.98.

In the men’s 100m, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Benke Blomkvist) won the battle of the Brits, winning in 10.24 (+1.0m/s) with James Ellington (Christie) third in 10.25 and Andrew Robertson (Dan Cossins) fifth in 10.40.

Former 60m World Indoor champion Richard Kilty (Blomkvist) made a very solid start to his season winning the 200m in 20.60 (-0.4m/s). In the other sections Antonio Infantino (Joshua Nevers-Simpson) and Sam Watts (Gladys Bird) ran under 21 seconds into slight headwinds, with 20.81 and 20.68 respectively.

In the 400m, Anyika Onoura and Desiree Henry (both Reider) ran 52.87 and 53.34 in separate races, whilst on the men’s side Dwayne Cowan (Lloyd Cowan) was sixth in the first section in 46.40, with Nigel Levine (Christie) seventh in 46.53. Conrad Williams (Cowan) ran 46.42 for fourth in the second section.

Chula Vista Throws/Vault, California, 21st April

Jade Lally (Andrew Neal) continued her good form in what is turning out to be a breakthrough year for the Shaftesbury Barnet athlete, finishing second in a high quality discus field with a best of 63.16m.

There was a season’s best of 54.51m for Kirsty Law (John Godina) in the second section, whist Brett Morse (Nigel Bevan) and Zane Duquemin (John Hillier) also recorded season’s bests of 63.08m and 59.90m respectively.

In the pole vault, Sally Peake (Scott Simpson) was just 2cm short of her lifetime best as she cleared 4.40m to finish fourth. In the men’s event Steve Lewis (Dan Pfaff) was third with a best clearance of 5.55m.

Stanford Twilight, California, 22nd April

Charles Cooper took almost five seconds off his 800m personal best to win the second section of the men’s 800m in 1.49.88. That puts him top of the outdoor Power of 10 rankings.

Another u23, Charlotte Taylor also made a massive jump, taking almost 50 seconds off her 5000m personal best, winning in 16.05.88. That puts her fourth on the Power of 10, backing up her recent 33.25.09 10,000m personal best.