*photo credit – Peter Milsom

Coventry Spring Meeting, 23-24 April

Several of the country’s leading para athletes were in action at the Coventry Spring Meeting which returned to the athletics calendar for 2022 with world records for Hannah Cockroft and Kayleigh Haggo.

On the track, Hannah Cockroft (coach: Jenni Banks, club: Leeds) lowered her world record, subject to ratification, in the T34 1500m to 3:44.29. Her previous best had stood at 3:50.22 since 2017.

The 1500m race was won by Sammi Kinghorn (Rodger Harkins, Red Star) in 3:39.19, with Melanie Woods (Rodger Harkins, Red Star) second in 3:43.71 – both athletes strengthening their position for the Commonwealth Games for Team Scotland.

Hannah Cockroft was also in action over 100m, posting a time of 17.99 (-2.0), and the 400m, winning in a time of 57.22.

Kinghorn narrowly pipped Woods to victory in the women’s 800m wheelchair race, the double Paralympic medallist clocking 1:55.32 to her training partner’s 1:55.77.

Elsewhere, Kayleigh Haggo (John Owens, Ayr Seaforth) set a women’s RR2 world record in the 800m, revising her best to a superb 3:04.27.

Paralympic T20 bronze medallist Columba Blango (Chris Zah, Shaftesbury Barnet) won the men’s ambulant 400m in a time of 50.17 from Ethan Kirby who posted 50.74.

In a large ambulant men’s discus field, Taz Nicholls (Alison O’Riordan) won overall with a throw of 44.22m, just shy of his season best.

A number of Commonwealth athletes were invited by UK Athletics to the event as part of the Commonwealth Games Federation GAPS programme, a Birmingham 2022 development project.

Track Results

Field Results

META:Time:Trials by ASICS 5 km, Málaga, Spain, 24 April

For the second time in 2022, Eilish McColgan (Liz Nuttall, Dundee Hawkhill) lowered her British 5km road record.

She had previously bettered Paula Radcliffe’s mark in Dubai back in February when she crossed the line in 14:48, and she sliced a further three seconds off that time in Spain to win the women’s race. The Scottish athlete continues to reign supreme over the distance in the UK all-time rankings.

Results

LSU Alumni Gold, Baton Rouge LA, USA, 23 April

Following a world qualifier last weekend, Matthew Hudson-Smith (Lance Brauman) continued his imperious form as he ran the joint second quickest time of his 400m career to clock 44.61.

His PB stands at 44.48, and he matched the time of 44.61 that he set in the Olympic final in 2016. The Birchfield Harriers, who is the reigning European champion, finished third in the race and continues his strong form.

Results

PURE Athletics Spring Invitational, Clermont FL, USA, 23 April

It was a meeting impacted by wind-assisted times, but there were several notable performances by British athletes.

Charlie Dobson (Benke Blomkvist, Colchester) continued his strong form over 200m, and with an illegal wind, set a time of 19.99 (3.6) over 200m, while Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Newham and Essex Beagles) set a wind-assisted PB of 9.98 (4.7) over 100m.

In the long jump, Paralympic medallist Olivia Breen (Aston Moore, City of Portsmouth) secured a wind-assisted personal best of 5.33m (4.6) in the long jump.

Results

Oregon Relays, Eugene OR, USA, 22-23 April

Zak Seddon (Jeff Seddon, Bracknell) set a 2022 UK lead and a European qualifying standard in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. He was the top Briton across the line in a time of 8:26.45, with Jonathan Hopkins (Tomaz Plibersek, Swansea) in ninth in 8:31.80 which was inside the Wales Commonwealth Games standard.

Results

Michael Johnson Invitational, Waco TX, USA, 22-23 April

Olympian Nicole Yeargin (Quincy Watts, Pitreavie) moved back to the top of the 2022 UK 400m rankings after another solid display. Her time of 51.32 was also a World Championships qualifying standard.

Results