9 May 2016 

IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships, Rome, 7-8 May

Callum Wilkinson (coach: Mick Graham) was a brilliant 4^th in the Junior Men’s 10km in Rome. This is the best British result in the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships since 1979. He was just an agonising one second away from the podium as he took a minute off his national record to clock 40.30. Wilkinson made a positive start leading the front group around the opening laps, passing halfway in 20.24 in a lead group of seven. He maintained his position at the head of affairs over the next two laps. The crucial break came at 8km when Wilkinson, China’s Zhang and Mexican Chama moved away from the field. Wilkinson fell off this group at the 9km point and was passed by Spaniard Bermudez. Zhang took control on the last lap, with Spain’s Manuel Bernudez now into second ahead of Chama, with the Briton 15 metres behind heading into the last 300 metres onto the finishing track. Wilkinson made a brave bid over the last 150 metres on the track and was closing rapidly on the bronze medallist Chama (40.29) as Zhang won in 40.23, from Bernudez (40.27).

Wilkinson’s time moves him into third on the UK all-time senior list. He said afterwards: “That was a brilliant race and it was great to be in the mix for the medals. I am gutted to finish fourth but at the same time I could have not done anymore. This sets me up brilliantly for the World Junior Championships”.

He was supported by Guy Thomas (Martin Rush) who was 19^th in a new personal best of 42.55 and Cameron Corbishley (Coach: Andi Drake) who was 25^th in his second fastest ever time of 43.27. This saw the team finish fifth and top European team as Mexico won the team title.

In the senior men’s 20km, Tom Bosworth (Andi Drake) found the going tough on a course that featured a number of tight turns. Bosworth made a positive start and was part of big leading group of 40 athletes that passed the 5km mark in 20.24. Dominic King was 98^th in 21.39 through the same point. As the pace picked up at the front Bosworth was just behind the leading group passing halfway in 40.46 in 33^rd place, as China’s Zelin Cai led a pack of 28 through this point. Dominic King passed this point in 43.48 in 90^th. Bosworth began to move through the field at the 12km point, but started to go through a bad patch at the 15km point having slipped to 38^th (61.36). He was able to rally in the closing laps to come home in 34^th in 82.55.

Bosworth was disappointed with his race saying: “I had a bit of niggle in my hip which wasn’t helped by the tight turns on the course. I had hoped for more, but this is still a solid performance in a very high quality field. I will now concentrate on securing my place in Rio at the Olympic Trials in Leeds on the 5^th June and then look to improve on my placing significantly in Rio”. Dominic King was 84^th (1.06.07) but unfortunately was disqualified soon after this point.

In the Junior Women’s 10km Emma Achurch (Steve Arnold) had a solid race to clock 48.58 for 23^rd position. Achurch started well and sat in the second pack through the early stages, passing 3km in 14.15 and the halfway mark in 23.55 in 21^st place. She began to slip back at the 6km point and with two red cards on the board had to back off the pace, but was able to come home in 48.55. She said: “I am pretty happy with that, it was hot and I also had to back off in the second half once I got two cards on the board”.

In the Senior Women’s 20km Bethan Davies (Andi Drake) made a positive start and was sitting in 30^th place during the opening laps. Unfortunately she was disqualified before the 5km point.

IAAF World Challenge, Kingston, Jamaica, 8 May

In a very windy Jamaican capital there were plenty of fast times, however most were aided by a strong tailwind. Tiffany Porter (Rana Reider) finished fourth in a world class 100m hurdles race won by 2013 world champion Brianna Rollins. Porter clocked 12.71 (+2.9).

There was also a world class field in the women’s 400m with no fewer than five athletes boasting personal bests of sub 50 seconds. Christine Ohuruogu (Christine Bowmaker) finished fifth in 52.00 in her first 400m of the year. In the men’s equivalent Martyn Rooney (Reider) finished sixth in 46.00.

The meeting also incorporated the first round of the IAAF Hammer Challenge, which Sophie Hitchon (Tore Gustafsson) used to open her 2016 season. After two fouls the Blackburn Harrier moved into second place with her best effort of the day, 70.65m. The British record holder ended the competition in third.

Jumping into a big headwind, Shara Proctor (Reider) finished second in 6.46m (-2.2), losing out to Janay Deloach by just 1cm.

BWRA Championships, Stoke Mandeville, 7-8 May

Jade Jones (Ian Thompson/Tanni Grey-Thompson) enjoyed the winning feeling at the BWRA Championships, claiming the victory in five races at the weekend over 200m, 400, 800m, 1500m, 5000m.

There was a lifetime best for Richard Chiassaro (Jenni Banks) in the T54 400m, clocking 47.39 ahead of David Weir (Jenny Archer) who clocked 48.09. Chiassaro also pipped Weir in the 100m final posting a time of 14.84 to Weir’s 15.27. Looking to gain track speed ahead of the Rio, the six-time Paralympic champion also had an outing in the 800m posting times of 3:03.89 & 3:10.25.

It was a busy weekend for Hannah Cockroft (Banks) who was only 0.22 off her lifetime best in the 100m in the heats crossing the line in 17:53 (+0.5). However, the triple world champion had to contend with strong headwinds in the final but battled across the line in 18.22 (-2.7).

World T33 100m silver medallist Dan Bramall (Rick Hoskins) set career bests in both the T33 100m and 400m, clocking 17.82 and 64.14 respectively.

There was a welcome return to action for Mickey Bushell, who put an injury and illness struck two years behind him to record a time of 15.35 in the T53 100m.

Sheikh Sheikh was in PB form in the T54 100m, taking 0.02 off his previous best with 15.19 (+0.6).

Active Newham Open Series, Newham, 8 May

After winning the BUCS title last weekend, Chijindu Ujah (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo) ran another two 100ms and a 200m and looked in good form. The sub 10 man ran 10.19 (-1.4) in the heat before winning the final in 10.28 (-2.2). Later in the day he clocked 20.48 (+0.3) over 200m, just one hundredth outside of his personal best. In that same 200m Chris Clarke (Steve Fudge) ran a season’s best of 20.75, as did James Alaka (Clarence Callender) clocking 20.91.

In the second race of her 2016 outdoor campaign, Sophie Hahn (Joe McDonnell) recorded 12.94 (+1.4) in the T38 100m. It was another sub 13 clocking for the world champion.

There was a seasons best for Rhys Jones (Christian Malcolm) in the T37 100m, posting 12.23. Libby Clegg (McDonnell/guide Chris Clarke) stopped the clock at 12.47 (-0.3) also a SB in the T12 100m.  

Ashleigh Nelson (Michael Afilaka) ran her first 100m races of the season into a strong headwind, clocking 11.44 (-2.2) and 11.45 (-2.6). In the 200m, Bianca Williams (Tawiah-Dodoo) opened her season with a 23.51 (-1.4) victory.

In the 110mH, Khai Riley-La Borde (Ray Gibbins) clocked a personal best of 13.70 (-0.2), seven hundredths faster than he’s ever gone before.

British Athletics League Premiership, Eton, 7 May

Rabah Yousif (Carol Williams) won the 400m in 46.24, just short of his season’s best. In the 400m hurdles, U23 Jacob Paul (Mariana Armstrong) took victory in a new lifetime best of 50.20.

Max Eaves was the star performer in the field events, clearing 5.57m in the pole vault to clinch victory ahead of Adam Hague and Luke Cutts (both Trevor Fox) who both jumped 5.30m. Dan Bramble (Frank Attoh) won the long jump with 7.66 (+0.6) whilst Scott Lincoln (Paul Wilson) threw a personal best of 18.99 to win the shot.

British Athletics League Division 2, Cardiff, 7 May

Alex Yee (Kenneth Pike) ran a solo 3000m personal best of 8.05.83, the fastest run by an U20 in Britain for some 16 years.

In the men’s 400mH, Jack Green (Loren Seagrave) clocked a season’s best of 49.87 to go top of the Power of 10 rankings.

Oxy Invitational, Eagle Rock, California, 7 May

In the men’s 800m Guy Learmonth (Rob Denmark) took victory by almost a full second in a time of 1.47.42. Michael Rimmer (Jon Bigg) was second in the 1500m in 3.42.30 after a fast last lap.

Longhorn Invitational, Austin, Texas, 7 May

Goldie Sayers (Mark Roberson) got her 2016 off to a solid start winning the javelin with a best throw of 58.79m.

Rankin/Poehlin Invitational, West Lafayette IN, USA, 6-7 May

Former IAAF World Youth champion Ben Williams (John Crotty) opened his outdoor season with a win thanks to a 16.05 (0.0) jump.

Oregon Twilight, Eugene, Oregon, 6 May

Sam Atkin (Rob Lewis) took over 10 seconds off his personal best as he took victory in the men’s 3000m in 7.56.70. Matt Clowes (James Thie) was fourth in 8.10.71.