England U20, U17 and U15 Open Indoor Championships: Super Sunday
Day two of the England U20, U17 and U15 Open Indoor Championships never fails to deliver when it comes to upsets, formbook victories, drama and, of course on more than one occasion, high emotion. Indeed, the action revved up to full speed in the first ten minutes of the meeting getting under way as early risers were treated to a world lead and a huge improvement on the previous British record in the U17 men’s long jump.
Superb performances continued thick and fast all day with two Championship Best Performances falling in another ten mad minutes – the U17 women’s 800 metres and the U15 girls’ 200 metres. And it didn’t stop there as Scottish and Welsh records fell along with a few more Championship bests and finally, one more British record (U15 girls 1500m). Here’s how the action unfolded:
U20 Women
A spectacular final 200 metres of 30.8, not only secured Shaikira King (Wreake and Soar Valley, Jon Bigg) her second indoor title over 800 metres, it also gave her the Championship Best Performance. The defending champion led through 400 metres in 61.7, slowed marginally through 600 in 1:33.1 before launching that powerful surge for the line to stop the clock at 2:03.99.
“I’m so happy with that,” King said. “I love running here; the atmosphere is so great and now I’m really looking forward to next week and racing in the senior champs in Birmingham. That will be fun! Training has been really good this winter and it’s been very consistent, so it’ll be exciting to see how I go.”
It was also a qualifying time for this summer’s World U20 Championships in Oregon.
Also in record-breaking form was Sophie Thomas (Dunfermline, Augustin Osorio). She completed a very rare double when she added the 200-metre crown to the 60-metre title she had won on Saturday. Both were not only victories, but Scottish national records, her 23.28 just 0.1 shy of a certain Dina Asher Smith’s UK record for this age group.
There was also a Scottish record in the 60 hurdles, but that was back in third. Thea Brown (Sale Harriers) powered to a very smooth looking 8.22 to win and show everybody the winter has gone very well indeed. Meanwhile, in third Holly Whittaker (Aberdeen, Frank Gauld) equalled her national record with 8.37.
The triple jump was a real touch and go affair early on as just 5cm separated the top two. But in the third round the Qi-Chi Ukpai (Blackheath and Bromley, Keith Fleming) hit the board perfectly to take the gold medal with a lifetime best of 12.58. Jaiten Best (Brighton and Hove, Patrick Akantaku), also in personal best form picked up the silver with 12.36 in the fifth round.
It was a very different story in the shot out which featured Yasmin Baker (Wigan and District, Karl Hopper). Her first throw of 12.10 was good enough to win the gold medal, and she went even further in round two with a lifetime best of 13.11 more than a metre clear of her closest competitor.
Carmen Rose (Kingston and Poly Harriers, James Wild), twice the English Schools champion, finally won her first ever indoor title in the high jump thanks to a second time clearance at 1.78.
U17 Women
It took precisely one jump for Leila Newth (Ealing, Southall and Middlesex, Dave Johnson) to make her mark on the triple jump… and the record books. Her 12.64 added one centimetre to the old figures and secured her second gold medal of the Championships to go with the long jump she won on Saturday. She then stretched that to 12.76 in the fourth round before ending with a 12.68 meaning she broke the record three times in one afternoon.
“That was a European U18s qualifier, so I’m pleased with that especially as I had a bit of a niggle for this one,” she said. Next up is the British Champs where she’s hoping to extend the record to beyond 13 metres.
Izzy Rae (Bracknell, Nathan Standing) was also quick off the mark when it came to record-breaking. After a fast start, she shaved one hundredth of a second from the 60 hurdles CBP, clocking 8.38.
“I was wishing I could run that fast, but I wasn’t really expecting it,” said Rae. “I focus on gymnastics in the winter and it’s only in the past few weeks that I’ve switched back to athletics.”
There can’t be anything better than a gun to tape personal best that results in a national title. And that’s exactly what Elsa Norris (New Forest Junior AC) did, pulling the field through 200 metres in a shade over 30 seconds, 400 in 63.5. Last year’s sixth placer came under attack in the final 100 metres but had enough left in the tank to hold off faster runners to win in 2:08.35.
U15 Girls
Day one saw the closest finish of the weekend when Honor Oteng (BFTT Academy) won the 60 metres by just two one thousandths of a second. Her win on Sunday in the 200 metres was far more emphatic as her 24.22 was a Championships Best Performance, more than half a second clear of second.
“I was really surprised by the times I ran,” Oteng said. “But it was really close yesterday, so I knew I had to run hard.”
Her victory may have been clear cut, but Madison Kindler’s (Brentwood Beagles. Paul Forrest) win in the 1500 metres was even more impressive. She led the whole way far ahead of the chasing pack to clock a CBP of 4:30.49 and a British record. It’s been an impressive week for Kindler as she broke the indoor mile record a few days earlier and won the London International Cross-country on the infamously muddy, strength sapping Parliament Hill course one day before Sheffield.
“We drove up this morning,” said Kindler after her win. “I knew I was going well as training has been going well. I’ll be running the English Schools next.”
The 800 metres, the first distance final of the weekend was all about bravery, strength and also running hard. Capree Cooper (Barnet and District, Andrew Flemming), who is the English Schools champion, flew through the opening two laps in 61.6, setting herself up for a serious attempt on the record of 2:09.11. She did slow slightly, but only in the final five strides, stopping the clock in a lifetime best of 2:09.49.
U20 Men
Running his first sub 21-second 200 metres indoors or out, Farrell Fabusiwa (Croydon Harriers, Paul Weston) flew to an eye-opening 20.95. Within 20 metres, the race was over as Fabusiwa produced a fabulous start before flying down the back straight. A top 10 performance of all time, it’s also the fastest time by a Briton this year in any age group including seniors. Fast running by any standard.
The same description can be applied to the 400 metres which was won by Harry Bradley (Newport Harriers, Alex Currie) in 46.95, a Welsh record. Before the meeting he had a best of 48.46, which suggests there’s something special on the cards outdoors.
Improving an outdoor PB with a quicker time indoors was what the 800 metres was all about. Kicking hard at the bell, Charlie Chambers (Southampton, Mike Chambers) moved from second to first place and ultimately the England title in the 800 metres. The pace was always fast as the field cruised through 400 metres in 54.1 and 600 in 1:22.0. There Chambers hit the accelerator and was rewarded with 1:49.83, always a sign of great running indoors.
A cracking long jump saw another national record from Regan Corrin (Manx Harriers, Emma Lowry) who improved the Isle of Man best to 7.57. Normally a result like that might win, but on this occasion, he found himself a distant second to Daniel Emegbor (Harrow, John Shepherd). He opened up with 7.73 and followed that with a monster second round, although that was a marginal foul. It did, however, suggest he could produce something very special if he could get it right, but that will have to wait for another day. A 1.97 third best jump will tell you he struggled with hitting the board for his final five jumps.
U17 Men
Michael Maguire (Reigate Priory, John Shepherd) picked up where Day One had ended by setting a new national record in the long jump. Keen to add to the record-breaking tally of Saturday, Maguire opened his account with a huge jump, although a marginal foul. It took a couple of rounds to find his form, and when he did, his third round 7.69 improved the old mark by 16cm and took the world lead for his age group. It was, of course, a Championships Best Performance.
“I definitely wasn’t expecting that as I had a calf strain last week,” he said. “But in fact I think there’s a bit more to come as the first two jumps were marginal fouls at around 7.80.”
He finished the competition with a 7.54, 1cm better than the previous record and given he’s competing at next week’s senior championships (as a 15-year-old), he may not have long to wait.
It’s always great to see bold running, perfectly demonstrated by Ewan Sparey (Bristol and West) who eased into the lead early on. He then kept the pace strong and fast, passing 400 metres in 55.5 and 600 in 1:24.5. From there it was a case of holding his form, which he did to win in a solid, controlled looking 1:53.70.
The 200 metres saw Shaftesbury Barnet go one-two. Stanley Hurst (Shaftesbury Barnet, Ty Holden) ran an outright personal best of 21.93 thanks to a great last bend, while just a stride behind teammate Tyler Holden-Aikhomu (Shaftesbury Barnet, Ty Holden) was also in lifetime best shape, clocking 22.15.
U15 Boys
The morning got under way with the shot put and it set the scene perfectly for the rest of the day’s action. Logan Cowling (Kingston upon Hull, Lewis Capes) hit his best form just when it counts the most – in the national championships. His third round 16.61 was a huge PB and secured him the gold medal.
Meanwhile, on the track Emmanuel Ofori-Manteaw (Ealing, Southall and Middlesex, Trevor Matthews) picked up where he left off on Saturday by adding the 200 metres to the 60 metres title he won. Running out of lane six, he was never headed and powered to 23.15.
Jacob Clark-Jones (Invicta East Kent, Brian Hopkins) was an equally comfortable winner, his 8.30 taking the 60 hurdles.