May 2024: Performance round up
With lots of places on international teams up for grabs, May saw fierce competition in every event. Read our round up of English athletes in action throughout May from track and field, the mountains and on the roads.
Track and field
Diamond League season kicked off in May with a strong start for British athletes. Josh Kerr (Edinburgh, Danny Mackey) broke Steve Cram’s British mile record, which stood for 39 years and Keely Hodgkinson (Leigh, Trevor Painter) opened her season in a World leading time of 1:55.78 in the 800m.
From world leading to up-and-coming athletes, Loughborough International is a chance for young talent to shine bright as for many it is their first time competing in an England vest. The England team all rose to the occasion as they dominated to retain the team title with athletes achieving qualification standards for events later this summer.
Returning to Loughborough a week later, the English throwing contingent were in action at the Pickering Memorial Throws International on bank holiday Monday. Showcasing some of Europe's best pathway athletes, it was an excellent event honouring the Pickering family and throwing as a whole. There were over 20 personal bests and 12 meeting records, many of which saw England athletes on the podium.
Earlier in May, some of Britain’s best para-athletes competed at the World Championships in Kobe, Japan. It was a fantastic week of outstanding performances and medals. Hannah Cockroft (Leeds, Paul Moseley) led the medal charge to claim her 15th and 16th world titles in the T34 100m and 800m respectively.
We are also pleased to be sending two England para teams to the upcoming Nottwil Grand Prix and Paris Grand Prix.
We were lucky enough to attend the 2024 Night of the 10,000m PB's at the newly refurbished home of Highgate Harriers to watch as athletes not only fought for spots on Olympic, European and World Junior teams, but also to improve their own PBs. Megan Keith (Inverness, Ross Cairns) and Patrick Dever (Preston, Andy Bibby) finished on top from the British contingent looking to book their spot on the Olympic team.
Team selection for the summer
We are delighted to share that seven British technical officials have been selected for the upcoming Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. From grassroots championships to the world stage, athletics competitions and races would not be possible without the support of the officiating community. We would like to congratulate all of those who have been selected.
70 athletes have been selected to represent Great Britain & Northern Ireland at the European Athletics Championships in Rome starting later this week, including many from the England Athletics Talent Pathway.
We are delighted to announce the first athletes selected for the Paris 2024 athletics team are six English marathon runners. All six are set to compete at their first Olympic Games this summer. The marathon is an event not to be missed on 10 and 11 August, as we watch our England athletes competing against the world’s best.
On the roads
A team of England’s best U20 road runners competed in the Trofeo Opitergium Road Race. For the women’s team Isobelle Jones (Wolverhampton & Bilston, Ross Jones) came home as the first England athlete in second place, the others all finished very close behind and their combined times topped the rankings leaving them the overall champions. The men’s team also put in strong performances to finish third overall.
A team of four England athletes took to the streets of La Coruna in Spain to compete in the gold level World Athletics Race Walking Tour. Callum Wilkinson (Enfield & Haringey) finished the 20km race with a personal best and European and Olympic B qualification time.
Masters athletes were in action over both the 10k and half marathon distances in Birmingham and Manchester respectively as part of the Great Run series. There were great performances across the age groups for the England teams looking to dominate the home International against the Welsh teams.
Off-road
Masters athletes also impressed in off-road racing in the European Masters Off-Road Championships, with the British team picking up plenty of medals across the age groups on the challenging course in Maderia.
In the Senior Home International Mountain Race, this year hosted by Scotland, England secured the double win. Joe Steward (Salford Harriers & AC) led the men’s team home to secure first place and set a new course record. Meanwhile in the women’s race Sara Willhoit (Mercia Fell Runners) had a strong climb to finish in second place.
A strong team have been selected to represent England at the Mountain Running International Youth Cup in Palencia, Spain.