Muller Indoor Athletics Grand Prix

After a break in Glasgow last year, the Barclaycard Arena (formerly the National Indoor Arena) in Birmingham again hosted the British Athletics Indoor Grand Prix, sponsored by Muller.

Even without Katarina Johnson-Thompson, absent due to a minor hamstring strain, there were many top athletes in attendance.  It was an exciting afternoon of competition, capped off with the farewell indoor performance of Mo Farah.

 Sally Pearson (Australia) on the comeback trail in the Women's 60m Hurdles - winning her heat but eventually coming third.

 Adele Tracey (Great Britain), Women's 800m

 Kim Collins (St Kitts & Nevis) making his 50th appearance in Britain, winning his heat of the Men's 60m

 Elaine Thompson (Jamaica) winning her heat of the Women's 60m

 Eilidh Doyle (Great Britain) lining up for the start of the Women's 400m

 Andrew Pozzi (Great Britain) takes another World Lead and PB of 7.43 in the Men's 60m Hurdles

 Jenny Meadows (GB) paced Laura Muir (GB) for the first three laps of her attempt at the Women's 1000m

 Laura Muir then took over, chasing 2:32.96 set by Dame Kelly Holmes at this meeting back in 2004

She set a European record of 2:31.93

 And first to congratulate her was Jenny Meadows

In the final event of a memorable day, Sir Mo Farah at his last indoor track event, broke the British record in the Men’s 5000m, in a time of 13:09.16.

 

 More photos available at: http://www.peverilphoto.com/section665568_713390.html

Action from Day 1 of the British Indoor Team Trials 2017

Andrew Pozzi won the Men's 60m hurdles on the first day of the 2017 British Indoor Team Trials at the EIS, Sheffield - equalling the World Lead of 7.44 earlier in the day to also break the Stadium Record.

In the Men’s 60m final Dwain Chambers saved his best run of the season to run 6.62 and claim the bronze medal.

Asha Philip took her fourth British Indoor Women's title in the Women’s 60m in 7.19.

 

The Women’s high jump ended with Morgan Lake and Bethan Partridge as joint gold medallists.

In the Women’s pole vault, Jade Ive beat favourite Sally Peake with a personal best of 4.35m to go sixth on the UK all-time list.

The last final of the day was the women’s shot put, a penultimate round 17.43m saw Rachel Wallader take the title ahead of Sophie McKinna who threw a personal best of 16.74m for silver.

In the 400m semi-finals Eilidh Doyle was the quickest qualifier for the final on Day 2.

In other events, Anthony Whiteman ran a World Record time for a veteran of 1:52.96 in the Men's 800m heats.  And spare a thought for Ronnie Wells of Yeovil who, having been disqaulified for a false start in his heat of the Men's 60m appealed and won the chance of a re-race on his own for a time to get into the semi-finals. 

Out on the start line on his own, the starter gave the orders.....and he false started again.  Definitely one for "What happened next...?"

More photos form the event will soon be available at: http://www.peverilphoto.com/section665568_713388.html

Press Conference in advance of the UK Indoor Athletics Championships

It's the day before a major meet so the press are invited to phtoograph and interview a selection of Team GB athletics stars at the EIS, Sheffield where the real action happens this weekend.

Always a nice treat as they're not speeding past you for once, so the shutter speed can come down, and always have time for a quick chat.

 L to R: Tom Bosworth, Asha Philip, Andrew Pozzi and David Omoregie

 Hurdler David Omoregie

  Hurdler Andrew Pozzi

Race walker Tom Bosworth

Sprinter Asha Philip

Action from Day 3 of the British Athletics Championships

Matthew Hudson-Smith (Birchfield Harriers) clocked 44.88 in winning the men's 400m to book his place in Rio and join the other 37 athletes who secured automatic Olympic selection at the British Athletics Championships.

Dina Asher-Smith (Blackheath & Bromley) won her first 200m British Championship in 23.11 just ahead of Desiree Henry (Enfield & Haringey) in 23.13 as they both qualified for Olympic places.  It was the same margin of victory in the man's 200m with Adam Gemili (Blackheath & Bromley) clocking 22.44 ahead of Danny Talbot (Birchfield Harriers) in 22.46, with them both qualifying for Rio.

 

Andrew Pozzi (Stratford-upon-Avon) ran a PB of 13.31 in the men's 110m hurdles ahead of Lawrence Clarke (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow) in 13.44, with them both also qualifying for Rio.

 

 David King (Plymouth) winning his heat of the men's 110m hurdles.

Jazmin Sawyer (City of Stoke) won the women's long jump with 6.75m, edging out defending champion Shara Proctor (Birchfield Harriers) as they both qualified for Rio.

There were plenty of others who also booked their place on the Team GB heading to the Rio Olympics.  Laura Muir (Dundee Hawkhill) retained her women's 1500m title by breaking away in the final 300m to win ahead of Laura Weightman (Morpeth).  In the women's 800m it was Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow) who won in 2:01.80 just ahead of Lynsey Sharpe (Edinburgh) on 2:02.14.

 

In the women's 400m, Emily Diamond (Bristol & West) won in 51.94 ahead of the fancied Seren Bundy-Daves (Trafford).

The men's high jump was decided on countback with Robbie Grabarz (Newham & Essex Beagles) pipping Chris Baker (Sale Harriers) as they both cleared 2.26m.

European champion Eilidh Doyle (Pitreavie) won her third British Championship 400m hurdles in 54.93.  In the men's event it was Sebastian Rodger (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers) who won in a season's best 49.45 ahead of Jack Green (Kent AC).

 

In a tactical men's 1500m, defending champion Charlie Grice (Brighton Phoenix) won in 3:43.41 just ahead of Chris O'Hare (Edinburgh).

The women’s 5000m was a slow-burner until Steph Twell (Aldershot, Farnham & District) and Eilish McColgan (Dundee Hawkhill) moved away from the rest of the field to take gold and silver and secure their Rio spots.

 

Pre-event favourite Jade Lally (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers) won the women's discus with 59.15m

Tom Bosworth (Tonbridge AC) took the British Championship in the men's 5km race walk in a season's best 19:13.56 but was second behind Dane Bird-Smith of Australia.

In the women's 5000m race walk it was Bethan Davies who won with a personal best of 22:03.82

Elliot Giles (Birchfield Harriers) won the men's 800m ahead of Jamie Webb (Liverpool Harriers) and Michael Rimmer (Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers) who was looking for his eighth British title.

In the women's 3000m steeplechase,  Rosie Clarke (Epsom & Ewell) produced a personal best of 9:52.20 to take the British title ahead of Lennie Waite (East Kilbride).

Luke Cutts (City of Sheffield and Dearne) won the men's pole vault with 5.40m to secure his Olympic place.