Away from the British Athletics Cross Challenge Final and the Big Half, incorporating the British Half Marathon Championships, there was plenty to keep up to date with elsewhere.

European Throwing Cup, Samorin, Slovakia, 9-10 March

A 10 strong GB & NI team travelled to Slovakia for the annual winter throws meet, with a number of young athletes making their Great Britain debuts. Leading the way were Phoebe Dowson (Mark Chapman; Bournemouth) and Amy Holder (Neville Thompson; Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) the duo scoring a fine 1-2 in the Women’s B Discus. Having enjoyed a close battle in Loughborough two weeks ago, Dawson turned the tables on her compatriot by throwing a 53.31m season’s best, with Holder finishing just less than a metre back.

Taylor Campbell (John Pearson; WSEH) produced a solid fourth place finish in the Men’s B Hammer thanks to a best of 72.25m, whilst Harry Hughes (Mark Roberson; Suffolk) was fifth in the Men’s U23 Javelin thanks to 74.54m effort in a competition won by Belarus’ Aliaksei Katkavets in a world lead of 82.45m. James Tomlinson (Paul Jensen; Pembrokeshire) also finished fifth in the Men’s B Discus, the U20 athlete delivering a 52.57m throw, whilst Jess Mayho (Birchfield Harriers) threw a personal best of 63.69m for ninth in the Women’s B Hammer.

Results

Trafford 10km, Manchester, 10 March

Laura Weightman (coach: Steve Cram; club: Morpeth) once again underlined her class as she smashed her 10km personal best even in spite of the strong winds that wreaked havoc across the UK all weekend. Having only competed over the distance once before, the Morpeth athlete chose the notoriously quick Trafford race to have a second crack and she delivered a fine performance. Despite strong winds she dipped under 32 minutes with an impressive 31.59 time, pushed all the way by training partner Beth Potter, who also ran a PB of 32.03. Those two athletes were some two minutes clear of the rest of the field.

In the men’s race Dutch international Bart van Nunen broke the tape just outside Manchester, stopping the clock in 29.26, whilst Nigel Martin (Norman Poole; Sale Harriers Manchester) was the first Brit home, his 29.55 good for fourth. Despite the less than ideal conditions, that time was a personal best for Martin, who has made massive strides recently with a 13.53 time at the Armagh 5km and 11^th at the English National XC Championships.

Results

NCAA DI Indoor Championships, Birmingham, USA, 8-9 March

Jacob Fincham-Dukes (Zivile Pukstiene; Leeds City) came closest to silverware at the primary indoor collegiate meeting across the pond, as he missed out on a long jump medal by 1cm and gold by a mere 3cm, leaping out to 7.94m. In one of the best events of the weekend, just 4cm separated the top four places, with the British athlete producing a valiant performance, just 5cm shy of his season’s best. On the track William Paulson (Christopher Frapwell; Stroud) was fifth in the mile in 4.08.45, whilst Joe Ellis (Jerry Clayton; Blackheath & Bromley) was sixth in the weight throw with a mark of 22.38m.

Results

NCAA DII Indoor Championships, Pittsburg, USA, 8-9 March

800m man Thomas Staines (Matthew Morris; Colorado State University) backed up his scintillating 600m and 800m times from earlier this year to clinch the NCAA Division II 800m crown with consummate ease. Winning by over a second in 1.48.64, Staines was a class above the rest, and he’ll now look to the outdoor season with excitement.

The British multi-eventers were also in fine form, Harry Maslen (Sam Stanislaus; Ilkley) fourth in the heptathlon with a PB score of 5506 points, but it was Olivia Montez-Brown (Geoff Ward; West Cheshire) who stole the show as she wrapped up the pentathlon title.

The Augustana student produced a personal best or season’s best in all bar one event, rounding it off with a PB of 2.22.73 in the 800m to give herself a personal best pentathlon score of 3915.

Results