2023 UK Athletics Indoor Championships Day 2: Middle distance medals the highlight
James Davis reports from day two of the 2023 UK Athletics Indoor Championships at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham.
The second day of the UK Athletics Indoor Championships delivered in many ways that the first did not.
Whilst a two-day championships is always going to be restricted by the need for a vast number of heats on the first day, the star power of Jazmin Sawyers, Morgan Lake, and Issy Boffey, a UK champion at last, provided the highlights for those in attendance.
With European qualification on the line for large numbers of athletes in the middle distance events, the races gave a major narrative hook on which to hang the excitement seemingly in short supply on the first day.
Absentees from these championships will medal in Great Britain and Northern Ireland colours come the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Istanbul, undoubtedly, and one wonders what could be achieved by a tweak to selection policy, and a shift in thinking on ticketing — is a half-full arena with admission ranging from £13 to £24 really better than a full one with ticket prices halved?
Long jumper Jazmin Sawyers is heading to her fourth straight European Indoors, after a dominant victory saw her take the UK title with 6.73.
Jumping just two centimetres shy of an indoor personal best set earlier in February, the City of Stoke athlete put together an incredibly consistent series, with Lucy Hadaway potentially having stamped her name on a ticket to Istanbul with 6.52 for second.
With two European outdoor medals to her name, Sawyers could add indoor silverware to her collection if she continues her rich vein of form.
She said: “I feel like I have more in the tank, but the consistency I have been showing is telling me I have a big jump coming, which I hope comes at the Europeans in a few weeks’ time.”
In a seven man high jump field, Will Grimsey came out victorious in an impressive season opener. A clean card through to 2.16 was enough to secure a national title ahead of Divine Duruaku and Akin Coward, who both managed 2.12.
The next height of 2.20 eluded Grimsey, and the Woodford Green with Essex Ladies athlete has his sights fixed firmly on the summer: “That was rusty for a season opener, but I’m pleased to have got the win.
“I’ve had a mixed indoors of not competing, so I’ll take any height and to get a win is pleasing.
“I need to go back into training and then just see what happens outdoors, hopefully with consistent training I can try to make the team for Budapest.”
With 14 British titles to his name prior to the competition, Scott Lincoln’s 15th British shot put title was simply a formality. Leading this year’s UK rankings by nearly two metres, he won the championships by almost the same margin, his final round 20.36 well ahead of Youcef Zatat’s 18.47.
More impressive though was three-time Paralympic gold medallist Aled Davies. With his British F42 indoor record of 16.14 set at these championships in 2016, he put together two throws further than that mark seven years on, improving the mark to 16.39.
Though some way off Tom Bosworth’s 10:30.28 national record, Callum Wilkinson walked his way into the record books over 3000 metres in taking the UK title, his 11:00.98 a new stadium record at Arena Birmingham.
A dominant showing saw him finish almost a minute ahead of Christopher Snook’s 11:57.16 for second as Guy Thomas’ disqualification took him out of the medals.
In the women’s competition, Abigail Jennings won in 14:16.37, a personal best, leading Erika Kelly over the line by a healthy 12 second margin.
By some way, the weekend’s most entertaining race was the women’s 3000 metres.
A lead pack of five formed early on with Amy-Eloise Markovc pushing the pace, the Wakefield athlete not being in possession of the European qualifying standard.
Some way off the form that carried her to a European indoor title over the distance in 2021, Markovc was dropped after Melissa Courtney-Bryant pushed with just 600 metres to go, and only Hannah Nuttall could follow.
The pair went stride for stride over the final 100 metres, Nuttall moving up onto the shoulder of the Poole athlete, but she was unable to overcome Courtney-Bryant, who won by nine-hundredths in 8:50.76. Third went to Eloise Walker’s 9:00.53, as Markovc finished fourth, out of the medals.
Both Nuttall and Courtney-Bryant will head to the European Indoors, the latter appreciating the support of those inside Arena Birmingham: “The crowd on the last 50m was really loud, that was amazing, actually I’ve never heard it so loud in here, so that was really fun.
“It was hard to know when to go and also I wanted to go ahead a bit earlier, but I didn’t want to do anything silly, I just wanted to book my place to Europeans.
“I would really love to medal again, but first I need to focus on getting into the final.”
A first round effort from Jude Bright-Davies sealed men’s triple jump victory, his 16.05 some 65 centimetres further than nearest challenger and defending champion Seun Okome. Montel Nevers was just eight centimetres back for bronze, his first UK medal.
Bright-Davies has a best of 16.18 outdoors, and is targeting major improvements in the season ahead: “It was an amazing performance, in my season opener I didn’t jump so well, but managed to put in some great jumps today.
“I was much more relaxed out in the field today compared to my last competition. I just trusted myself with my technique and my ability.
“My goal for the rest of the season is to get as close as I can to 17 metres.”
In the men’s 3000, James West came in as the fastest athlete in the field, and finished in the same fashion, a commanding 7:49.78 securing his selection for Istanbul.
In second, Osian Perrin took another chunk off his personal best, finishing in 7:50.86, with Charles Wheeler running 7:51.80 for third.
It was all business for West, who is targeting the Turkey-based European Championships: “I ran a strong race and got the gold. I hit the front at around 300m to go which was the goal, hit the bell in the lead and once you’re in the lead indoors on the final lap it’s really hard for people to get past you.
“Goal is definitely to make the final at Europeans and then a medal is definitely up for grabs.”
George Mills and Neil Gourley were a class apart from the rest of the men’s 1500 field, and despite Mills leading the latter portion of the race, a strong kick from Gourley down the back straight saw the Scot win the UK title in 3:41.20, ahead of Mills’ 3:42.87.
Both have the qualifying standard for the European Indoors, and will likely head to Istanbul with a strong chance of a medal.
Gourley appreciated strong domestic competition, with so many athletes performing at the top level: “It’s no coincidence, we all just keep pushing each other on. High standards breed high standards and that’s just what’s happening at the moment. It’s going to continue and it’s only getting better.”
Ellie Baker ran a championship record 4:06.73 in winning a thrilling women’s 1500 metres, breaking a record held by Zola Budd since 1986.
Erin Wallace, Katie Snowden, and Baker took an early lead which was never relinquished, with Wallace distanced into third by a last lap kick. Snowden’s 4:06.98 for second ensured her European qualification, and she will head to Istanbul as the second-fastest European this year, behind Laura Muir.
Baker was delighted to secure qualification after some sub-standard performances: “I knew my fitness was there, I have run a couple of 4:10’s this season and it’s been quite frustrating but I’m glad its all finally come together.
“I knew I had the European standard in my locker, but the Championship Record was not in my sights at all, to get this ticked off is a very happy moment for myself.”
Qualifying second-fastest in both early rounds of the men’s 200 metres, Richard Akinyebo produced a big personal best of 21.10 to go one better in the final for his first UK title.
Close behind and also in a personal best was Stephen Baffour, the Coventry Godiva man just beaten on the line by Akinyebo a lane inside him. Third went to Croydon Harriers’ Southern champion Derek Kinlock in 21.46.
Rapidly developing Akinyebo was thrilled with his performance: “It’s a great feeling to come out as champion. I came here last year and didn’t even make it out of the heats, so it’s a massive improvement on last year. To win gold at British Champs, it’s a feeling I can’t describe.”
Junior athlete Success Eduan overhauled a fast-starting Hannah Brier in the women’s one lap race, as Welsh international Brier ran a PB 23.60 behind the 18-year-old’s 23.49. Hannah Williams secured bronze in a rare indoor outing over 200 metres, 23.77 a significant personal best.
The youthful Eduan had low expectations coming into the event: “I’m trying to just get through each round and focus on intent. I’m really happy and proud of myself. There was no pressure on me but I felt really good.
“I wasn’t even worried about it a time, I was just thinking about me feeling good and healthy so I’m really proud of myself.
“I’ve got Euros under 20s in August so I’m definitely aiming for that and to achieve great things after this performance.”
Guy Learmonth and Ben Claridge came into the championships as the fastest athletes in the men’s 800 metres field, and they made their presence known early in the final, building a 20 metre lead on those behind.
Despite appearing to tie up some distance from the finish line, Learmonth took the title in 1:47.43 ahead of Claridge’s 1:48.06, with James McMurray of St Albans Striders in third, clocking 1:49.42.
Learmonth is qualified for Istanbul, and his love for the sport is returning after a coaching switch: “It’s difficult to keep your motivation high during all these competitions, it’s all about being disciplined.
“It has been no secret the last few years I haven’t enjoyed racing, but I went out to Melbourne this winter and came back rejuvenated and ready to go out there and compete. I want to get back faster and faster.”
The women’s 800 metres produced a potentially long-overdue UK title for Issy Boffey, as she won her maiden national championships in 2:03.27.
The turn of pace applied by the Enfield and Haringey athlete with 100 metres to go was more than her competitors could live with, Jenny Selman and Abigail Ives rounding out the podium with 2:03.68 and 2:03.97 respectively.
Sixth in the European Indoors in 2021, after strong heat and semi-final performances were let down by a poor final showing, Boffey will look to improve this time around.
She said: “I was really lucky to have the [qualifying] time already going into the race, and having that red bib number I saw it as a place of privilege, so took it like that rather than thinking about the pressures that came with the race.
“I’m feeling really confident going into the Euros. I got to the final 2 years ago, so hopefully I can re-create that performance.”
Laura Zialor ceded her indoor title to Morgan Lake, as the outright British record holder secured the crown with a jump of 1.90 at the second time of asking.
Zialor was just three centimetres behind, adding a silver to her medal collection, as Kate Anson secured third with an equal PB 1.84.
Despite jumping higher than any other British woman in history this year, Lake is unlikely to be favoured for the European Indoor title, with Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh runaway European leader with 2.02.
Lake said: “The result was okay, I feel in better form than I actually jumped but I can take that into the next competition.
“The most important thing is to go in and out of focus. You must stay focused for your jump and other times you have to try and save energy.
“Next plan is European indoors, I’m hoping to jump well there and hopefully enjoy that.”
With Alex Haydock-Wilson a non-starter in the men’s 400 metres final, the race for the UK title was wide open and Sam Reardon grasped the opportunity with both hands, winning in 46.96 to take his first national crown.
Ben Higgins was second with 47.07, as fast-finishing Lee Thompson ran out of road to improve beyond third in 47.14.
Reardon said: “It feels amazing to come here and take the gold after bronze last year. I originally wasn’t going to do the 400 metres indoor and just focus on the 800 metres.
“The atmosphere was great, had friends and family down here supporting me so it was great to be out there competing.”
Sophie McKinna is performing some way off her 18.82 personal best set winning the UK title last season, but retained her title ahead of Thames Valley Harriers’ Amelia Strickler, as the only two women to broach the 17 metre mark.
McKinna’s 17.20 was the lead by some way before Strickler’s last round 17.01, with the bronze going to U23 Serena Vincent with an outright PB of 16.76.
McKinna was realistic when contemplating her win: “It’s been a really turbulent, difficult year for me. I haven’t been able to put a run of form together which has been hard.
“To come away with a gold is nothing more than I wanted. The distance isn’t there. I wasn’t expecting the distance today– I’m not in physical shape at all.
“I’m in a really heavy training block right now, so to come away with a win is more than I could have asked for and I’m ecstatic.”
Ama Pipi beat Enfield & Haringey clubmate Laviai Nielsen in the final race of the championships, her 52.52 the product of a powerful home straight move that took her past a tiring Nielsen, who finished in 52.90.
Carys McAulay finished eight-hundredths back for bronze, the Trafford athlete securing an indoor personal best in the process.
In 400 metres elsewhere, Femke Bol revised Jarmila Kratochvilova’s indoor world record over 400 metres down from 49.59 to 49.26 – a welcome performance for many who had viewed the Czech’s performance with suspicion over the 40 years it existed as the world best mark.
Read more: Day 1 report
