February 2026: Performance round up 

February has been a record-breaking month across our sport! From Keely Hodgkinson’s world record to ten new championship records at our Age Group Indoor Championships, the record books have been rewritten. Let’s look back at the highlights from this month in our February performance round up.

Incredible indoors 

Our U15/U17/U20 Indoor Championships, powered by Citroën, saw young athletes shining bright. Many athletes rose to the occasion against the best young athletes in the country by setting new championship best performances and a few British records too. The atmosphere was electric with such a high level of competition taking place across the board. 

The top athletes took to the track and field at the Novuna UK Athletics Indoor Championships to fight for British titles. There were great performances from lots of English athletes, but perhaps the most notable was Keely Hodgkinson (Leigh, Trevor Painter) as she broke the UK indoor record by almost a second. Less than a week later, she went on to break the indoor 800m world record in Liévin.

Thrilling throwing  

The team of 15 England athletes rose to the challenge of a unique indoor throwing experience at the Växjö International. There were strong performances from all the athletes with new national indoor records for Emilia Adese (Blackheath and Bromley Harriers AC, Phil Hartnett) in the U18 women’s shot put, Lucy Bull (Swindon Harriers AC, Carolyn Franks) in the U18 women’s javelin, Ned Scott (Winchester and District AC, Bronwin Carter) in the U18 men’s javelin and Moyo Stumpenhusen (Rugby and Northampton AC, Garry Herrington) in the U18 men’s discus. 

Following the success of the Regional Winter Long Throws competitions, the Winter Long Throws Championships saw throwers taking Loughborough by storm! There were great performances from athletes across the board with many securing PBs, championships bests and qualification distances. 

Remarkable running 

As always, the Armagh International Road Race put on a fantastic show. With fierce racing from the gun in challenging conditions, all the English athletes acquitted themselves well with some brilliant performances. The women’s team took gold with all four athletes finishing in the top 15 and the men narrowly missed out on the top spot to a strong Northern Ireland team. 

With the weather conditions once again providing a challenge, four England teams took to the course at Parliament Hill, London, for the Home Countries International Cross Country. All the athletes rose to the challenge with individual wins for both Eleanor Curran (Leeds City AC) in the senior women’s races and Jack Marwood (Salford Harriers and AC, Ian Grime) in the junior men’s race.  

Thousands flocked to Sedgefield for the 2026 edition of the National Cross Country Championships. There were great races throughout the day showcased by the senior men’s and women’s events. Lucy Jones (Herne Hill Harriers) stretched out her lead in the final kilometre to secure the victory in the women’s race, whilst Hugo Milner (Derby AC) claimed the men’s title, having been pushed all the way by James Kingston (Tonbridge AC, Mark Hookway).

There’s plenty more athletics and running action in the coming weeks with England teams due to compete at: 

• Anglo Celtic Plate 100km: 21 March 
• Trail Running Home Countries International: 11 April