HIGHLIGHTS from the British Athletics Indoor Team Trials

Tom Bosworth sets a new British record in the Men's 5000m walking event.

Hundreds of athletes journeyed to Sheffield on the 11-12 February 2017 with the hopes of being crowned British Champion and securing a place on the British team for the European Indoor Championships.

In the preceding week, as athletes were confirming their attendance, questions were being asked:

Would defending champion, Andrew Pozzi, current world lead, reclaim his men’s 60m hurdles title?

With the absence of Dina Asher-Smith, how would Asha Philip fair in the women’s 60m?

Is Katrina Johnson-Thompson the new Jessica Ennis and Britain’s heptathlon superstar?

Carry on reading to discover the answers to the questions that were on everyone’s lips!

Saturday 11th February:

TRACK:

  • Asha PHILIP made her way safely through to the women’s 60m semi-final, winning her heat in 7.49.
  • Rachel BELL also went through to the semi-final, after a mistimed dip finish saw her rolling over the finish line in the final qualifying position. (BELL did not start the semi-final race).
  • All the big names, including the ‘evergreen’ Dwayne CHAMBERS, made it through to the men’s 60m semi-final.
  • Andrew POZZI set a stadium record of 7.44 in the men’s 60m hurdle heats.
  • London students, Lina NIELSEN (Queen Mary) and Laviai NIELSEN (King’s) both successfully progressed to the final of the women’s 400m.
Andrew Pozzi (Left) during the men's 60m hurdles (Heat 3).
Andrew Pozzi (Left) during the Men’s 60m hurdles (Heat 3).
Women's 60m, Heat 5. (From left to right) Shereen Charles, Maya Bruney, Asha Philip, Aleasha Kiddle.
Women’s 60m, Heat 5. (From left to right) Shereen Charles, Maya Bruney, Asha Philip, Aleasha Kiddle.
  • Shelyana OSKAN-CLARK  claimed her first British Indoor 800m title with a bold performance that saw her leading the field from the beginning. Defending champion, Adelle TRACEY, finished in second place, followed by Mhairi HENDRY.
  • Andrew POZZI continued to shine in front of the crowd and crossed the finish line as a clear winner in the men’s 60m hurdles. David OMOREGIE, who qualified as second fastest, and Edirin OKORO, were both disqualified from the final due to false starts.
  • In the men’s 60m race, the favourite on paper, Richard KILTY, was disqualified for a false start. The race was won by Andrew ROBERTSON who crossed the line in an impressive 6.57.
  • The women’s 60m, unlike the men’s race, went just as predicted. Asha PHILIP secured her fourth British Indoor title, with a time of 7.19.
  • The women’s 3000m was fiercely fought to the finish line, with Eilish McCOLGAN taking the title closely followed by Steph TWELL in second place (0.27s behind).
Women's 800m medalists, (from left to right) Adelle Tracey, Shelyana Oskan-Clark and Mhairi Hendry.
Women’s 800m medalists, (from left to right) Adelle Tracey, Shelyana Oskan-Clark and Mhairi Hendry.

FIELD:

  • Nathan FOX became third-time indoor triple jump champion, jumping a PB of 16.53 to beat European’s outdoor bronze medallist, Julian REID.
  • Jade IVE was the surprise winner in the women’s pole vault champion, vaulting a personal best performance of 4.35 to pip the favourite Sally Peake to the title.
  • Morgan LAKE, high jump finalist at Rio 2016, left the championships sharing the British title with Bethan PARTRIDGE, who pulled out an impressive performance and a new personal best.
  • Dan BRAMBLE successful claimed his third consecutive British indoor long jump title. BRAMBLE left it to his very last jump to secure the title and out-jump his strongest contestant Daniel GARDINER.
  • The women’s shot put marked the last final of the day. Rachel WALLADER  was crowned the British championship after a throw of 17.43m, more than a metre further than her closet rival.
Dan Bramble British champion - Men's Long Jump
Dan Bramble British champion – Men’s Long Jump

Sunday 12th February:

TRACK:

  • Antonio INFANTINO (KCL alumni) won the men’s 200m in 21.05 but as an Italian athlete the British title went to second place finisher Connor WOOD (21.19).
  • Claiming her first British title, Gemma BRIDGE won the women’s 3000m walk in a time of 13:23.59.
  • With 150m to go in the men’s 1500m, Elliot GILES called upon his 800m speed to out-sprint Tom Lancashire to the finish line and claim the title.
  • The men’s 400m final was won by first-time champion Jarryd DUNN.
  • After a quick 15 laps around the track, Lee EMANUEL, the reigning European Indoor Championships silver medallist, was able to add a third British title to his CV.
  • Tom BOSWORTH, not only achieved gold in the men’s 5000m walk, he also broke his own British record in the process. BOSWORTH stopped the clock at 18:39.47 to entitle him to the $2500 prize money.
Tom Bosworth sets a new British record in the Men's 5000m walking event.
Tom Bosworth sets a new British record in the Men’s 5000m walking event.
  • Finette AGYAPONG, the favourite on paper, secured the championships title for the women’s 200m in a personal best time of 23.78.
  • The men’s 800m ended with Guy LEARMONTH in first place, Markhim LONSDALE in second and Spencer THOMAS in third.
  • It was not meant to be for Eilish McCOLGAN in the women’s 1500m. After claiming the British title in the 3000m, McColgan was not able to replicate the performance to finish in front of the eventual winner, Sarah MCDONALD.
  • Mollie COURTNEY, left Sheffield as a very happy athlete after gaining her first senior title in the women’s 60m hurdles. Emma NWOFO and Sophie YORKE finished in second and third position, respectively. (Unfortunately, Katrina Johnson-Thompson did not start the final).
  • The final event of the day was the women’s 400m, which saw Laviai NIELSEN and twin Lina NIELSON battle for the title against Eilidh DOYLE. The climatic event ended with Eilidh DOYLE first (52.63), Laviai NIELSEN second (52.86), and Lina NIELSEN third (52.89). As the times show, it was a very intense wait for the finishing positions to be confirmed.
The Neilson twins awaiting the final results of the Women's 400m final.
The Neilson twins awaiting the final results of the Women’s 400m final.

FIELD:

  • The first field event of the day, the men’s shot put final, was won by Scott LINCOLN. He threw 18.76 in his 3rd attempt to secure the British title.
  • A personal best performance (13.27) from Alexandra RUSSELL secured her the British title in the women’s triple jump.
  • The men’s pole vault competition as filled with athletes achieving personal and season’s bests. Luke CUTTS prevailed as the British champion, obtaining his fifth British title.
  • The men’s high jump was a tightly fought competition, with three athletes finishing with 2.25m clearances. Allan SMITH was the only athlete to clear the height on his first attempt, so the gold medal went to him ahead on Robbie GRABARZ (second) and Chris KANDU (third).
  • Lorraine UGEN had to pull out an enormous jump of 6.72m (the fourth longest jump in the world this year), to prevail ahead of Katrina JOHNSON-THOMPSON for the women’s long jump gold. Katrina JOHNSON-THOMPSON jumped a seasons best (6.69m) to claim the silver medal, with Jazmin SAWYERS (6.54m SB) finishing with the bronze.
(Pictured) Ugen, Women's long jump British champion.
Lorraine Ugen, Women’s long jump British champion.

*All photos obtained from the British Athletics Facebook page – click here to access the British Athletics Team Indoor Trials 2017 photo album.*

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About Rhianna Madden-Hansle 5 Articles
Rhianna is an undergraduate medical student at UCL.