13 June 2016

Athletica Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland, 11 June

No fewer than 80 Brits headed to Switzerland’s largest city to seek out the usually favourable conditions.

However part of the meeting took place in torrential downpours, but that couldn’t stop Seren Bundy-Davies (Stephen Ball) streaking away down the home straight to win the 400m in a new personal best of 51.26. Emily Diamond (Jared Deacon) continued her good run of form in third, 51.95, whilst there was a welcome return to individual action for Perri Shakes-Drayton (Chris Zah), who finished sixth in 52.59.

In the men’s hurdles races Briton’s were dominant; Lawrence Clarke (Samba-Koundy Giscard) winning the 110mH in 13.50 into a strong 1.8m/s headwind, whilst Jack Green (June Plews) posted his fastest time since 2012 to win the 400mH in 49.05. There was also a European Championship standard for Tom Burton (Nick Dakin), fourth in 49.62.

James Ellington (Linford Christie) won the battle of the Brits over 100m thanks to a 10.16 (0.6) performance, holding off young Ojie Eddoburun (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo) who was second in 10.21. Later in the day, Ellington had to settle for second best in the 200m, Danny Talbot (Benke Blomkvist) winning in an impressive 20.39, given the 1.8m/s headwind. Ellington also went well, clocking 20.65, with Edoburun fourth in 20.87. In the second section, Adam Gemili (Steve Fudge) was second in 20.91 (-1.0).

In the women’s sprints Daryll Neita (Tawiah-Dodoo) was the surprise 100m winner ahead of Asha Philip (Fudge), 11.30 to 11.34 (-1.0).

Earlier in the day a GB & NI quartet of Philip, Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie), Bianca Williams (Tawiah-Dodoo) and Neita took victory in the 4x100m relay, stopping the clock in 42.99 ahead of a solid French outfit. In the men’s event there was a similar outcome, with Ellington, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Blomkvist), Talbot and Edoburun combining to stop the clock in 38.61.

Results: http://www.atleticageneve.ch/en/meeting/results/

Northern Championships, Sportcity, Manchester, 11-12 June

Jessica Ennis-Hill (coach: Toni Minichello) continued her Olympic preparations by competing in four events in a rainy Manchester. She kicked things off by breaking the CBP in the 100mH, clocking 13.10 (-0.9m/s) before winning the shot put in 14.02m, another season’s best.

On Sunday she returned to the field to put in her best javelin performance for three years, again winning in 45.02m, before completing her weekend’s work with another victory over 200m in 23.42 (0.0).

Results: http://powerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=173566&pagenum=1#100

Portland Track Festival, Oregon, 11-12 June

Lennie Waite (Steve Sisson) produced the best performance of her career to take victory in the 3000m steeplechase in 9.35.91, some 10 seconds inside the Olympic Games qualifying standard.

Results: http://www.sheltoninvite.com/lr/16611/

Gouden Spike, Lieden, Netherlands, 11 June

Ross Millington (Steve Vernon) took to the track for the first time since winning the British 10,000m Olympic Trials in Highgate three weeks ago, in pursuit of a sub 28 clocking that would secure his Olympic spot. Millington crossed the line in sixth place, and arguably celebrated more than when he won the British title, as he knew he was off to Rio thanks to a 27.55.06 run. Dewi Griffiths (Kevin Evans) wasn’t too far outside his personal best with a 28.48.05 run, whilst Elinor Kirk (Vernon) produced a season’s best of 33.00.13 for fourth in the women’s race.

Martyn Rooney (Rana Reider) took 400m victory before going on to set a 300m personal best of 32.72.

Results: http://www.liveresults.nl/20160611/WPdoc.txt

IAAF World Combined Events Challenge Meeting, Kladno, Czech Republic, 10-11 June

Morgan Lake (Eldon Lake) fell just short of the European Championship qualifying mark with a 5951 season’s best score for sixth place. The 19 year old won the high jump with a meeting record of 1.91m, as well as setting season’s bests of 40.08 and 25.64 in the javelin and 200m respectively.

Katie Stainton (Kelly Sotherton) finished 10th overall with 5763pts (within 14 points of her PB) and won the 200m in a big PB of 24.07, finishing off the day with another big PB in the 800m of 2.13:10.

Ashley Bryant and Ben Gregory (both Aston Moore) were fifth and sixth, failing to improve on their respective season’s best decathlon scores, with totals of 7715 and 7702. John Lane (Toni Minichiello) had started very well on day one with a string of season’s bests, but after a poor javelin did not start the 1500m.

Results: http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-combined-events-challenge/10th-tnt-express-meeting-5910/timetable/byday

Jamaica National Racers Grand Prix, Kingston, Jamaica, 11 June

Delano Williams (Neil Harrison) won the men’s 400m A race, at the inaugural Jamaica National Racers Grand Prix at the National Stadium in Kingston, clocking 45.50 – a European Championships standard.

NCAA Championships, Eugene, Oregon, 8-11 June

Nick’s Miller and Percy won a pair of NCAA throws titles on great week for British athletes studying in America. Nick Miller (Tore Gustafsson) won gold in the first event of the championship, the men’s hammer, thanks to a 73.98m throw in the final round, which extended his lead.

Fast forward a couple of days and Nick Percy had also won his first NCAA title in the men’s discus – the first ever Scotsman to win at the NCAA. Having already broken the Scottish record this season, Percy improved his own mark in the first round, with a brilliant 61.27m throw that ultimately won him the competition

Also in the field, Jax Thoirs (Pat Licari) took fifth in the pole vault final with a best clearance of 5.45m.  

European U23 bronze medallist Alice Wright (Joe Franklin) won a hard fought silver medal in the women’s 10,000m, just 10 seconds outside her personal best set earlier in the season. Also in the endurance events, Zak Seddon was sixth in the 3000m s/c with a 8.36.26 run.

There was heartbreak for Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Dennis Shaver), who injured himself anchoring the Louisiana 4x100m relay team to victory and was unable to go for gold in the 100m and 200m. Earlier in the week he had qualified fastest for the 200m final when he eased to a 20.17 (0.3) time, as well as qualifying for the 100m final in 10.09 (1.3).

In the women’s 100mH, Cindy Ofili (James Henry) finished in the worst possible position, fourth, despite a quick 12.81(3.8) time. In the end it took a photo finish to deny her a medal, having qualified second fastest with a legal 12.80 (0.9) run.

There were a string of personal bests for the British women who contested the 1500m semi-finals, Sophie Connor (Franklin) leading the way in fourth in 4.13.74 with Amy-Eloise Neale just one place behind in 4.13.93. Ffion Price (Houston Franks) and Emily Hosker Thornhill (Franklin) were eight and tenth in times of 4.15.75 and 4.17.74 respectively.

Results: http://www.ncaa.com/ncaa-division-i-track-field-championships