Gold in Glasgow for Molly Caudery – 2024 World Indoor Championships

It was certainly a championships to remember for Cornwall’s Molly Caudery (Stuart Caudery, Thames Valley Harriers) as she sailed over 4.80m to claim the victory and become the pole vault world champion!

Entering the competition with the world lead, the target was ultimately on Caudery’s back but despite competing against multiple Olympic and world  champions, she didn’t let the pressure get to her.

As the competition whittled down to the top two, it was between Molly and her training partner Eliza McCartney of New Zealand to battle it out for top spot. Clearing 4.75m and 4.80m on the second time of asking, Molly had the cleaner score card. It was down to who would clear 4.85m, a height Molly has cleared comfortably this season, but it proved to be too much on the night. It was the same story for McCartney who gambled increasing the bar to 4.90m after one failure at 4.85m to try and take the win, but it wasn’t to be which left Molly Caudery victorious overall! Speaking on the competition, Molly said:

“I don’t have the words to describe today it was such a special moment to be able to share with everyone. I like being the underdog and there was definitely some added pressure, going into today I was probably the most nervous I ever have been and so to have executed the competition the way I have I am so happy.”

The gold medals kept coming on Saturday night as Scotland’s Josh Kerr ran a very strong and race with an exciting finish in the men’s 3000m to hold off Ethiopia’s Barega and USA’s Nuguse in a time of 7:42.98. Scotland also picked up another medal with Jemma Reekie in the women’s 800m. In a very tactical race with the pace picking up in the final 300m, Reekie was outsprinted by the fast- finishing 400m specialist, Tsige Duguma, to take home the silver.

After setting a British record in the heats of the 4x400m relay with the help of Hannah Kelly (Bolton, Les Hall), it was down to Laviai Nielsen (Enfield & Haringey, Tony Lester), Lina Nielsen (Shaftesbury Barnet, Tony Lester), Ama Pipi (Enfield & Haringey, Linford Christie) and Jessie Knight (Windsor, Slough, Eton, Hounslow, Marina Armstrong) to battle it out in the final.

Starting in lane six British team captain Laviai led the charge. A race full of drama with dropped batons and changing of positions, 400m hurdles specialist Jessie Knight managed to stay in third on the anchor leg to bring the team home in bronze. Just missing out on an individual 400m, Laviai Nielsen had a fantastic race in the final one day prior, finishing in an agonising fourth place after a very well executed three rounds with a brand-new PB (50.89).

Taking the British title just two weeks ago, it has been an exceptional championships for Georgia Bell (Belgrave, Trevor Painter). Returning to the sport only during the pandemic, it has been quite the journey for Bell, as she sailed through to the final, second in her heat to run a brave race in the sticking to the ever-changing lead pack finishing just outside of the medals in 4th (4:03.47). Speaking on her debut:

"It’s a shame to come fourth, it is bitter sweet but I am very happy with my improvements this year and a lot to take away going into the outdoor season.”

Teammate Revee Walcott-Nolan (Luton) finished in 6th place in a time of 4:04.60.It was an equally solid day of racing for Commonwealth medallist Cindy Sember in the 60m hurdles as she finished in 7th place in the final in 7.92 after running 7.89 in the heats. City of Plymouth’s David King (Tim O’Neil) progressed through to the semi-final in the men’s event, finishing in 5th place outside of the final qualification spots (7.65).

Earlier in the weekend it was the turn of the shot putters as Scott Lincoln (City of York, Paul Wilson) and Amelia Campbell (Thames Valley Harriers, Zane Duquemin) represented GB&NI. It was a very consistent score card for Lincoln as he started the competition with 20.23m, repeated it in the second round before throwing 20.36m in the third round. Finishing in 10th place overall, Scott unfortunately didn’t progress through to the additional three throws but has laid some solid foundations for this year’s focus of the outdoor season. Amelia Campbell had some tough competition and threw slightly down on her best this season with 17.21m to finish in 13th place.

Morgan Lake (Windsor, Slough, Eton, Hounslow, Robbie Grabarz) was representing in the high jump and after a challenging competition with a foul at each height, she finished in 6th place, equalling her season's best of 1.92m.

Senior championships debutant Abigail Pawlett (Trafford AC, Ashley Bryant) was in action in the pentathlon. Ranking ninth after the 60m hurdles, Pawlett remained cool in the long jump after two fouls, leaping to 6.11m in the final round – just two cm shy of her best seeing her sail up to fourth. Sitting at 3535 points in 8th place into the 800m it was a tough battle as she clocked 2:25.34 finishing in 9th place overall.

Isabelle Boffey (Enfield & Haringey, Luke Gunn) was knocked out of the 800m in the heats after finishing in 4th (2:02.81). Adam Fogg (Coventry) progressed through to the final in the men’s 1500m, finishing in 14th place (3:43.81). Cambridge’s Callum Elson unfortunately was clipped in the heats which prevented him from finishing his heat.

Ensuring the athletes could compete in the best possible environment was a team of volunteer technical officials from across the UK. Thank you for sharing your time and expertise in Glasgow!

Athlete photos by Pat Isaacs
Officials photo by Jeff Holmes