Titles decided in Sheffield as 2018 championship action continues
After the first day of England Athletics' championships in 2018 saw a record breaking start, athletes returned to Sheffield's EIS for the second day of the indoor combined events championships, as well as the indoor race walking titles being decided and the British Milers' Club hosting races.
There was plenty of action to enjoy.
Senior Men’s Hepathlon
Having led overnight and from the second event it was no great surprise to see James Finney (Leeds City AC, Sam Stanislaus, U23) come away as the 2018 Champion.
It was his 8.16 (942pts) that was quickest of all in the first event of the day, the 60m hurdles, and a new personal best. Curtis Mathews (Cardiff, Lawrence Moore) still lay second with an 8.64 (827pt) as Lewis Church (Club: Tonbridge AC, Coach: David Hull, U23) came through the line in 8.69 (816pts) to stay third. Andrew Murphy (Kilbarchan AAC, Colin Sinclair) with a personal best of 8.40 in this event used his hurdling quality to effect in running 8.54 (851pts) to move into fourth position.
The pole vault saw some changes at the top. The 4.58 (784pts) of Andrew was the best of any of the medal contenders at this point and moved him second just three points ahead of Curtis (4.18, 668pts) and 20 points ahead of Lewis (4.38, 725). James’ first time clearance at his second height of 4.48 (754pts) meant he still enjoyed a lead of over 360 points.
With Curtis not starting the 1000m it looked as though the title was going to the Leeds City athlete but the battle for the other medals was all to run for over the five laps of the track, with the main protagonists in Race 3. A win for Lewis in this (although not fastest of the day) in 2:46.53 (802pts) as Andrew came home third in 2:49.45 (771pts) meant he had overhauled that 20-point deficit and come home 11 points clear for the silver - 5298 (PB) to 5287. Moving into fourth on 5096 was Harry Kendall (Club: Tonbridge AC, Coach: Mike Corden) whose 2:51.16 (753pts) brought him to a 5,096 total.
The 3:03.33 (632pts) James clocked was comfortabe enough for him to take the gold medal and add it to his outdoor Senior Decathlon title. In winning the championships he extended his personal best to 5514 points.
Click here for results of the Senior Men’s Heptathlon (PDF 688kB)
Senior Women’s Pentathlon
Marilyn Nwawulor (Harrow AC, Lloyd Cowan) claimed the senior women’s title as Jo Rowland (Crawley AC, Antonio Minichello) rose through the positions throughout the day to claim the silver medal and Emma Nwofor (Newham & Essex Beagles AC, Linford Christie) took the bronze as well as being first Under 23.
Marilyn made her intentions clear from the very first event as she was quickest of all with an 8.34 (1052pts) in the 60m hurdles, as Emma’s 8.44 (1030pts) put her second and Elise Lovell (Club: Havant AC, Coach: Stephen King) ran 8.64 (987pts) to complete the top three at this very early stage. Jessica Taylor-Jemmett (Sale Harriers Manchester, Mike Holmes) lay fourth after a 8.67 (980pts).
After two events, Emma moved into top position with her third-time clearance at 1.74 (903pts) being joint highest of the day. A 1.71 from Marilyn minimised her losses and kept her in second just 14 points adrift. It was another of the 1.74 (903pts) jumpers, Sarah Connolly (North Down AC) who moved into third place at this stage.
Jo recorded the furthest mark in the shot. It was a 13.36 (751pts) that took her up to fourth place and into medal contention. Of the athletes in those medal positions at this point the leader, Marilyn, was next best of all in the shot with a 12.76 (711pts) and now 68 points clear of Emma (11.51, 629pts) with Jessica third with 12.73 (709pts).
A 5.70 (759pts) long jump by Marilyn moved her further away from the rest. With Jessica not starting the long jump, and Emma and Jo both jumping 5.60 (729pts) they now lay second and third respectively.
The final event - the 800m - was clearly likely to have an impact on medal positions with less than 100 points between first and third. The third race, containing the leaders, saw Jo strike to come home first in a 2:17.15 (863pts) to bring her total to 4033. Marilyn’s 2:29.10 (704pts) ensured she took gold with 4093 – the top two both scoring over 4000. Emma came home over the four laps with 2:31.26 (677pts) to score a 3968 total ahead of guest Laura Voß (LT DHS Köln) despite the German’s 2:19.54 (830pts) run in the 800m.
Click here for results of the Senior Women’s Pentathlon (PDF 500kB)
Under 20 Men’s Heptathlon
Caius Joseph (Club: Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC, Rafer Joseph) produced a second day as impressive as his first to win the title and added almost 600 points to his personal best. Meanwhile, the second placed performance of Joel McFarlane (Arbroath & District AC) saw him also rewarded with the Scottish U20 Indoor Pentathlon record.
Getting his second day off to the best of starts Caius clocked a 8.29 (910pts) personal best in the 60m hurdles to take his lead to close to 300 points at this stage. In second place Joel ran 8.64 (827pts) to in turn move further clear of the guest athlete, Nicolas Gerome of Quimper Athletisme (France, 8.78, 795pts), while Robbie Farquhar (Aberdeen AAC, Kenny Lyon) closed slightly courtesy of an 8.62 (832pts).
In the high jump the best mark was the 1.98 (785pts) mark of Ollie Thorner (Yeovil Olympiads AC, Alan Richardson) which took him up to fourth place. Next best was Joel with 1.95 (758pts) which cemented his second place and saw him close on Caius (1.89, 705pts) as Nicolas went over 1.92 (731pts) on his first attempt to stay third.
Race 3 of the 1000m was where the final medal positions were determined. It was the Frenchman, Nicolas, who was first home in 2:49.84 (767pts) to secure third place with a 4958 total, although competing as a guest athlete. He was followed home by Ollie whose 2:51.13 (754pts) ensured he was the third placed of the domestic athletes with 4863. Joel closed the points gap on Caius further with his 2:53.12 (733pts) as Caius ran 2:58.39 (680pts) meaning he won with 5275 points to Joel’s 5099. His performance was the 12th best by a British U20.
Click here for results of the Under 20 Men’s Heptathlon (PDF 650kB)
Under 20 Women’s Pentathlon
See our report on Day One foe details of the Under 20 women’s Pentathlon where Holly Mills (Andover, James Coney) set a new championship record and Jade O'Dowda (Club: Oxford City AC, Coach: Marcia Marriott) also finished with a total ahead of the previous best.
Click here for report of the Under 20 Women’s Pentathlon
Race Walks
The men’s 3000m walk saw a win and a new personal best for Callum Wilkinson (Enfield & Haringey, Andi Drake) as he claimed the title in 11.30.77 to go faster than his gold medal winning 11.35.0 of last year and 11.31.43+ split from Bratislava three weeks later.
Silver was taken by another U23 - Cameron Corbishley (Medway & Maidstone AC, Andi Drake) with 12.24.99 as Tom Partington (Club: Manx Harriers, Coach: Steve Partington), - an Under 20 - completed the medallists in 12.55.61.
In the women’s race the was a win for Gemma Bridge (Oxford City, Mark Wall) in 13:40.03 ahead of Erika Kelly (Club: Northern (Isle of Man) AC, Coach: Steve Partington) who set a new PB of 14:01.64. Third place went to Poland’s Agath Kowalska (14:06.61) as Ana Garcia (Club: City of Sheffield & Dearne AC, Coach: Mark Wall) was the next domestic athlete home with 14:53.50.
The championships also hosted a 1k race for Under 15s with the first boy home Owen Bradshaw (City of Sheffield & Dearne AC) in 5:09.84 and Abigail Smith (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC, Shaun Lightman) the first girl in 5:21.16.
Click here for results of the Race Walks (PDF 350kB)
British Milers' Club races
As well as the championship action the Sunday also saw the BMC races being held.
There were four men under 8min in the 3000m as Jonathan Davies (Reading AC, 7:57.80) won from Philip Sesemann (Blackheath & Bromley, Andrew Henderson, 7:58.18) Andrew Heyes (Hallamshire, Steve Vernon, 7:58.30) and Christopher Olley (Tonbridge, Mark Hookway) 7:59.76
Other A-race winners included Jamie Webb (Liverpool H, Rob Denmark) and Isabelle Boffey (Enfield & Haringey, Douglas Stone) in the 800m with 1:48.97 and 2:07.37 respectively. In the 1500m, the A races went to Michael Wilsmore (Bristol & West, Graeme Riley, 3:49.46) and Stacey Smith (Gateshead, David Lowes, 4:13.68).
Click here for results of the British Milers Club races (PDF 150kB)
(Photograph - Andy Chubb - www.peverilphoto.com)