Back in February, the Microplus UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham produced several scintillating performances as athletes geared towards a home World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow a few weeks later.

One of the stories of the Championships came on day one when Molly Caudery (Scott Simpson; Thames Valley) produced one of the most impressive performances at the domestic event in recent times as she retook the world lead in the women’s pole vault by soaring to a Championship record, new personal best and national title in Birmingham.

Caudery leapt higher than she ever had done before, 4.85m, much to the delight of the Birmingham crowd. The result confirmed her place at the world indoors where she would win her first global title.

Other winners on day one included Jeremiah Azu, Cindy Sember and Tade Ojora who all took impressive sprint victories to book their place at the global Championships.

Azu (Marco Airale; Cardiff) cruised to the men’s 60m crown for the first time in his career in 6.60 seconds, while Amy Hunt (Marco Airale) won the women’s 60m title for the first time since 2020 at the beginning of a stellar year for the Charnwood athlete.

Sember (Chris Johnson, Woodford Green Essex Ladies) was equally as impressive in the women’s 60m hurdles final, ducking under eight seconds to retain her title in 7.99 while Ojora (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow), on only his second national indoor championship appearance, ran a strong race in the men’s 60m hurdles final for gold in 7.62.

The big story on day two saw Jemma Reekie (coach: Jon Bigg; club: Kilbarchan) lighting up the Utilita Arena with a Championship record and the second-best time in the world – at this point in 2024 – on the way to victory in the 800m. She roared to an impressive time of 1:58.24 minutes to win a UK indoor title for the first time since 2019. She would win world indoor silver a fortnight later.

There was more UK championships success for Laura Muir (Steve Vernon; Dundee Hawkhill) as she ran out a convincing winner of the women’s 3000m, building an ever-increasing lead over eventual silver medallist Hannah Nuttall (Helen Clitheroe; Charnwood) to clock 8:58.80 and win by over three seconds.

Laviai Nielsen (Tony Lester; Enfield & Haringey) took victory in the women’s 400m clocking 51.54 for gold while her sister Lina Nielsen ran a superb indoor personal best of 51.95 for silver.

A few months ahead from her Olympic silver medal, Georgia Bell (Trevor Painter; Belgrave) was showing early signs of her breakthrough as she claimed a brilliant gold in the 1500m, which would be followed up by a fourth place at the world indoors a couple of weeks later.

Women’s high jump winner, Morgan Lake (Robbie Grabarz; WSEH), was another who was Glasgow bound after a solid start to the 2024 season.

The second day also produced impressive winners in Piers Copeland (Bob Smith; Pontypridd) and Jack Higgins (Mark Hookway; Tonbridge), who both came from behind to win gold in the men’s 1500m and 800m respectively.

Ama Pipi (Linford Christie; Enfield & Haringey) won the women’s 200m title a year after taking the 400m crown while Amelia Campbell (Zane Duquemin; Thames Valley) and Scott Lincoln (Paul Wilson; City of York) claimed the women’s and men’s shot put titles and James West (Helen Clitheroe; Tonbridge) and Lee Thompson (John Henson; Sheffield & Dearne) took gold in the men’s 3000m and 400m respectively.

In the para sprint races on day one, Kevin Santos (Michael Utting; City of Norwich) ran a personal best of 7.00 to win the men’s 60m while Olivia Breen (Aston Moore; City of Portsmouth) took the women’s 60m.

Back in the field events, Owen Heard (Kate Rooney; Harrow) and Archie Yeo (Lukasz Zawila; Kingston upon Hill) won their first indoor UK titles in the men’s pole vault and triple jump respectively while in a late twist in the women’s long jump final saw multi-eventer Jade O’Dowda (John Lane; Newham & Essex Beagles) claim gold with her final jump.

Tom Hewes (Grant Brown; Chelmsford) won the men’s high jump in dramatic fashion, beating Will Grimsey (Bethan Partridge; Woodford Green Essex Ladies) on countback.  Lily Hulland (Femi Akinsanya; Thames Valley) sealed gold in the women’s triple jump, while the men’s long jump final involved some late drama as Alexander Farquharson (Moore; Birchfield Harriers) claimed gold with a last-round leap of 7.46m.

Back on the track, Richard Akinyebo (Tamunonengiye-Ofori Ossai; BFT Track Academy) defended his men’s 200m title, just 0.10 ahead of Sagesse Nguie (Trafford) in silver

The 3000m walk finals saw a personal best for Abigail Jennings (Verity Snook; Aldershot Farnham & District) who successfully defended her title with an impressive career indoor best time of 14:09.22, while Christopher Snook (Andi Drake; Aldershot Farnham & District) regained his UK indoor title, powering to a huge PB of 11:45.68.