5th February 2018
WEEKEND UPDATE
Millrose Games, New York, USA, 3 February
There was a flashback to the glory days of middle distance running as Chris O’Hare (Terrance Mahon) led a trio of Brits to sensational performances in the famous Wanamaker Mile. Breaking the tape for one of the biggest victories of his career, the Scot just edged out his Edinburgh AC clubmate Josh Kerr (Joe Franklin), with Charlie Grice (Jon Bigg) just two seconds back in fourth. O’Hare, who after a personal best setting 2017 was frustrated with his 12th place finish at London 2017, showed he is hungrier than ever with a phenomenal 3.54.14 winning run, edging out Kerr by just half a second.
Competing over four laps for the second time this year, Kyle Langford (Bigg) secured top spot on the British rankings with a 1.46.43 indoor personal best, good for fourth on the day in a world class field. In the men’s 3000m, Andrew Butchart (Mahon) was just two seconds down on winner Shadrack Kipchirchir as he finished fifth in 7.47.21, a strong start to his indoor season.
Lynsey Sharp (Mahon), competing for the NY All-Stars team in the 4x800m relay, clocked 2:03.18 for her leg as her team finished second overall.
Cardiff Met GP3: Non-Thomas Open, Cardiff, 4 February
A British and Welsh record fell in Cardiff on a great weekend of middle distance running. In the 3000m, which doubled up as the Welsh Indoor Championships, Jake Heyward (James Thie) broke the British junior indoor record, which has stood for 50 years. The European Junior 1500m champion showed his class as he crossed the line in 8.00.93 to better the old mark, held by Ian Stewart, by one second.
In the 1000m, Heyward’s training partner and recent GB international Tom Marshall (Thie) was also in fine form, powering his way to a 2.21.25 time, a new Welsh record. Also in that race was Stephen Morris (Thie), the T20 athlete running a strong 2.32.97.
Running over 400m for the first time indoors, Ashleigh Nelson (Michael Afilaka) opened her 2018 campaign with a 53.71 effort.
IAAF World Indoor Tour, Karlsruhe, Germany, 3 February
Asha Philip (Steve Fudge) underlined her 2018 form with a season’s best of 7.12 over in Germany. Second in her heat in 7.18, Philip went top of the British rankings with her third place finish in the final, so will head to the Spar British Athletics Indoor Championships full of confidence. There were also a pair of fourth place finishes for Andrew Osagie (Mark Rowland) and Tiffany Porter, the 800m man running a 1.47.02 season’s best. Lorraine Ugen (Shawn Jackson) was fifth with 6.47m in the women’s long jump.
Meeting National Elite, Mondeville, France, 3 February
Jonny Davies delivered a fine winning run in France over 3,000m, setting a new personal best of 7.56.13 in the process.
Elsewhere, in the 60mH David King (James Hillier) was fourth in a season’s best of 7.66, just three hundredths outside his personal best, but more importantly inside the Birmingham 2018 World Indoor Championship qualifying time. There was also a 7.83 season’s best for Khai Riley-La Borde (Ray Gibbins) in the heats, before a sixth place finish in the final. In the women’s equivalent Yasmin Miller (Robert Smith) was also on season’s best form with third place in 8.17, just one hundredth outside her lifetime best.
In the flat sprints, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Benke Blomkvist) clocked a 6.68 season’s best, however stumbled slightly in the final to end up fifth in 6.74, in a race won by Christophe Lemaitre.
Akron Invitational, Akron, USA, 3 February
Lucy Bryan (Alan Richardson) elevated herself over 4.47m and in doing so up to fourth on the British pole vault all-time list with a fantastic showing at her American base. The European U23 bronze medallist set a personal best with a first time clearance at 4.42m, and when her competition looked to be over she pulled 4.47m out of the bag with her final attempt. That effort broke her University record and puts her third on the NCAA rankings for 2018.
Loughborough Students AC Open, Loughborough University, 3 February
Paralympic champion Sophie Hahn (Joe McDonnell) set a new lifetime best over 60m with a fine 8.09 performance, whilst for Kyle de Escofet (Andy Paul) clocked 6.68 to win the men’s event.
In the field, Olivia Breen (Aston Moore) produced an outright personal best in the long jump, the London 2017 World Champion soaring out to 4.85m, adding 4cm to her old best.
See a more comprehensive wrap-up here.
BUCS Cross Country Championships, Brunel University, London, 3 February
European U20 cross country champion Harriet Knowles-Jones (Paul Roden) showed she is more than a match for her senior counterparts as she beat a quality women’s field to secure her first BUCS title. In a close fought race the youngster got the better of silver and bronze medallists Phoebe Law and Philippa Bowden (both Mick Woods) by just four seconds, the latter running for the hosts. Emily Hosker-Thornhill (Woods) was fourth, whilst Jess Judd (Mick Judd) finished fifth to guide Loughborough University to the team title.
The men’s race saw a sensational comeback for British junior 5,000m record holder Alex Yee (Kenneth Pike) as he too took a BUCS title at his first attempt. In his first race after a bike crash in a triathlon last summer, Yee overcame a stumble at the river crossing to eventually beat Chris Olley (Mark Hookway) into second place by three seconds. Emile Cairess (Phil Townsend) got the better of Mahamed Mahamed (Peter Haynes) in the battle for bronze, Cairess’ St Mary’s team taking the team title.
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