Richard Kilty missing World Indoors to prepare for Rio Olympics instead

Reigning World indoor champion Richard Kilty will not defend his 60m title in Portland, Oregon later this month and will instead choose to focus on the Rio Olympics.

Richard Kilty, Men's 60m heats, UK Indoor Athletic Championships, EIS Sheffield, Feb 2016

Falling foul of a false start in the final of the 60m, Kilty was disqualified from a shot at James Dasaolu who eventually won and earned a trip to Portland.  Initially UK Athletics were keen on him defending his title alongside Dasaolu, but Kilty has decided instead to start his outdoor training early.

"Whilst this has been a really tough decision, looking at the big picture it's the smart call," he tweeted.

"This year is all about the Olympics, so going into Portland short of races and taking a gamble that I could run myself into form makes no sense when I could start to focus on my outdoor season early."

"Individually I'm aiming for sub-10 and making the Olympic final in 2016,....as part of the GB 4x100m relay squad, we have a real shot at getting on the podium and are 100% focused on achieving success as a team."

Lee Emanuel powers home to take the 3000m title at the UK Athletic Indoors Championships

Performance of the day one (puely personal opinion here) at the UK Indoor Athletics Championships today at the EIS Sheffield was Lee Emanuel.  The Sheffield & Dearne athlete (coach - Joe Franklin)) notched up his second indoor 3,000m title and a seat on the plane to Portland after taking to the front with just over one lap to go.
 

The 2015 European Indoor silver medallist was delighted with his win, saluting his home crowd 'Steve Ovett' style as he cruised home to gold in a season’s best 7:55.61 ahead of 5000m British outdoor champion Tom Farrell.

Top sports action on Day 1 of the UK Indoor Athletics Championships - KJT sets new high jump record

On an amazing first day at the EIS, Sheffield Katarina Johnson-Thompson set a new British high jump record as she defended her indoor title in Sheffield.   The 22-year-old heptathlete (Liverpool Harriers, Mike Holmes) cleared 1.97m and then attempted 2.0m.

Katarina  Johnson-Thompson clears 1.97m at the first attempt

 Morgan Lake clears 1.94m at the first attempt

 There was a strong field in the Women's High Jump to push her on to the new record - Morgan Lake, 17, set a new PB British indoor junior record in clearing 1.94m to finish second, and silver medallist from the 2104 Commonwealth Games Isobel Pooley came in third with 1.88m.  Lake's effort, especially impressive for a 17 year old, was enough to secure her place in the British squad for next month's European Indoor Championships in Prague.

 

Chijindu Ujah stormed to victory in the Men's 60m in 6.57 seconds ahead of  Sean Safo-Antwi (6.66 seconds) and Roy Ejiakuekwu (6.72 seconds).

Dina Asher-Smith won the Women's 60m in 7.15 seconds.

60m hurdler Lawrence Clarke was pushed all the way but won in a strong finish as he returns from injury.  He dipped in 7.69 seconds to qualify for the European Indoor Championships, with David Omoregie second in 7.78 seconds.

 

  Clare Maurer (Woking AC) in action in the Women's pole vault.

 

Abigail Roberts (Wakefield) in action in the Women's pole vault.

In other action from the day, Kristie Edwards (Sheffield AC, Lewis Samuel) came 10th in her first senior 60m and Jenny Meadows (Wigan AC)  won her heat of the Women's 800m.