England Athletics Senior and U20 track and field and combined events championships, powered by Citroën: Tickets punched, job done
Day three of England Athletics Senior and U20 track and field championships produced a fitting finale to a great weekend of action.
From the very first attempt in the high jump at 10am until the last stride of the 1500m in the decathlon at just after 5pm it was a day all about commitment, competition and performance. For some that meant adding to their ever-growing list of titles – double figures in one instance – while for others it was all about World Championships qualifying marks or Championships Best Performances. But of course, for a huge number it was all about personal bests and experiencing what competing in a National Champs is all about. Here’s how the action unfolded:
Seniors
Perennial winner Hayley McLean (Chris Zah, Shaftesbury Barnet) added yet another 400 hurdles title to her ever growing list. Comfortably clear by 200 metres, she powered over the line in 58.48. “I love racing and I love Bedford,” she said afterwards. “I’ve been coming here for years since competing in the age group champs, so I’ve really grown to love it.” That was her seventh senior title, although she’s been winning them since 2009 which is why she comes up with the answer “double figures” when asked how many.
The men’s race was a tighter affair but went to form as BUCS winner Onyeka Okoh (Dai Greene, Chelmsford) and the only man under 50 seconds this year in the field won in 51.29.
Another McLean, Marcus in this instance took the 200 metres. Marcus McLean (Sale) used the gusting wind perfectly to power away from the field, clocking 20.69.
Earlier in the day, two tightly fought field events had got Sunday morning going. First up was Charlie Husbands (Deirdre Elmhirst, Birchfield) who took the men’s high jump on countback with 2.14. His first-time clearance secured him gold, while in the men’s long jump Oreofeoluwa Adepegba (John Herbert, Harrow) nicked it by just 1cm, his fourth round 7.40 good enough for the win.
U20s
The triple jump was an exciting competition that saw Qi-Chi Ukpai (John Herbert, Blackheath and Bromley) take on teammate and Saturday’s long jump winner Daisy Snell (Guy Spencer, Blackheath and Bromley). Chain took the lead in the fourth round with a massive 13.04 but with her very last jump, the UK’s No.1 this season, Ukpai clinched it with 13.13 to win the England gold medal and equal the Championships Best Performance.
“That was fun, even I was entertained, and I was competing,” she laughed. “It was a little precarious for a while and nerve wracking, but it all came right in the end. I came here to qualify for Eugene and the amazing Hayward Field, and I’ve done that. It’ll be my first overseas GB vest so I’m really excited. Big shout out to my coach!”
Another of Britain’s No.1s this year (and also from the London club), Rayhan Mourtada (John Blackie, Blackheath and Bromley) was also keen to live up to his billing as the fastest in the country. Mourtada quickly built up a big lead in the 400 hurdles to run out a comfortable winner in 53.44. More importantly as with both of the jumpers, it secured his place on the team for Eugene next month.
Joining him will be Harriett Wheeler (West Cheshire) who added two metres to her javelin best to win with a monster last round effort of 53.95. It was significant for so many reasons: it was a gold medal winning throw, an improvement on her previous best of 51.07 and most importantly of all, more than two metres further than the qualifying mark.
Going into the Champs, Niamh Le’Gall (Victoy Oyesola, West Cheshire) was frustratingly shy of the 23.50 needed to qualify for the 200 metres. She’s clearly in great form this season as demonstrated by her commanding win in 23.67 but frustratingly for the US-based runner, she’s come up just shy for the trip back in August. However, in the men’s race, it was a slightly different story as the 100 metres silver and bronze medallists from Saturday both went one better this time, and both eclipsed the qualifying time.
Mayo Alabi (Andy Paul, Birchfield), second in the 100 24 hours earlier, won the 200 metres in 20.72 (+1.6), while James Ariminio (Justin Smith, Gloucester) third yesterday, moved up to second with 20.76 – both times well inside the 20.85 needed to go to Eugene.
And to conclude a fabulous weekend in the best way possible, Toby Wright won the final men’s track final, the 110 hurdles in 13.88w to punch his ticket for Eugene.
Combined Events
Senior men’s decathlon
Overnight leader and Commonwealth Games-bound Sammy Ball (Rafer Johnson, Reading) opened his day two account with his fastest ever time of 14.62 in the 110H. A couple of minutes earlier Harry Kendall (David Hull, Tonbridge), second overall took the opening heat. He’s also in the best shape of his life as his 15.15 equalled his best-ever time despite hitting the final hurdle. Ball’s great (and very encouraging for Glasgow) form continued into the discus where he was once again at his best ever. He threw 44.54 while Kendall, also in a PB improving mood finished his series with a magnificent 45.15. The gusting wind did cause some problems all afternoon, but Ball conquered it comfortably enough with a 4.60 clearance in the pole vault. Kendall called it a day at 4.10, which meant teammate Stephen Simmons (David Hull, Tonbridge) edged into second overall thanks to his 4.50 jump and a huge PB of 45.40 in the discus (not to mention an impressive looking 14.84 in the 110 hurdles). Although Ball threw a season’s best in the javelin of 45.26, he was no match for a resurgent Kendall who recorded 53.31 compared to Simmons’s 47.85 to move back into the silver medal position as they headed for their battle over 1500 metres. Ball didn’t need to lead as the result was never in doubt, but he chose to, clocking a stress-free 4:30.86 for 7809pts, while Kendall chased him all the way to the line to make sure of silver, which he did with 4:38.97.
Senior women’s heptathlon
Lily Holt (Rafer Joseph, Shaftesbury) picked up where she left off late Saturday afternoon with a solid, controlled looking performance. She had clocked 25.82 in the 200m late Saturday and began day two with 5.62 with her very first effort in the long jump at just a minute or two after 10am. That stretched her lead over Neve Davenport (Jessica Taylor-Jemmett, Trafford) who also opened her account with her best jump of 5.41. There is a chink, however, in Holt’s armoury and that was the next event: the javelin. She did throw a personal best of 27.57 in the second round, but her closest rival Davenport is a much stronger thrower and was rewarded with 41.10 for 257 points more than her rival. All of which meant Davenport took over as the leader with 4524pts while Holt dropped back to third. Zoe Gregory (John Lane, Basildon) took over in second thanks to fabulous 43.71 in the javelin and a very good 5.46 in the long jump. But a really exciting 800 metres changed the medal order once again. Davenport crossed the line first in 2:14.61 to maintain her position as the event leader and ultimately winner, but behind her, Holt battled all the way to the line to record 2:14.92. She knew she had to make sure the pace was hard from the gun and she did precisely that. It paid off for the Shaftesbury athlete as she hauled herself back into the silver medal slot. Gregory, who had occupied that podium position ran 2:21.18, 17 points behind Holt to take the bronze.
A big thanks to all the officials, volunteers, and stadium staff, not forgetting coaches, athletes, parents and supporters. Without you, this event couldn’t take place. The team at England Athletics appreciate everything you’ve done.
Important information
- Results are available here.
- Photos will be available from Pat Isaacs here.
- Revisit the live stream here