25th February 2018

BOSWORTH TAKES DOWN WORLD RECORD AT GLASGOW’S MÜLLER INDOOR GRAND PRIX

Tom Bosworth (coach: Andi Drake) broke the 3000m race walk world record on a pulsating afternoon of world class athletics at the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Glasgow.

Revising a record that has stood for 17 years, Bosworth is well known for putting on a show and he did just that as he upped the ante in closing stages to better the old mark by over a second. Forced to do it the hard way, from the front, Bosworth crossed the line in 10.30.24, even producing a dip to make sure he wrote his name into the history books and secure a $15,000 bonus.

“I cannot believe it; with five laps to go I thought it had gone. I’m over the moon to get a world record but I feel so sick after that. I would have been happy with a British record, so to come away with a world record is very special.

“I need to thank my team and family; they support me every day to do what I love. I’m motivated every day to get better and I’m so pleased to see our hard work pay off.”

“Race walks struggles to get enough airtime – there is so much talent in the UK at the moment so this event in Glasgow has really showcased the sport at its best.”

Marie Josee Ta Lou had to break the Emirates Arena record to get the better of Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie) and win the women’s 60m final. The athlete from the Ivory Coast got a great start, but was neck and neck with young Britain Asher-Smith as they reached halfway, with Olympic 100m champion Elaine Thompson desperately playing catch up.

Ta Lou kept her cool though, just inching ahead to take the win in 7.07, two hundredths ahead of Asher-Smith who had run 7.08 in the heats to hold the stadium record for a mere hour.

Post-race the European 200m champion commented:

“I’m really happy with that; coming into a home event, you just want to do it for the crowd. I would have liked to go a little quicker but I hope we put on a good show. When we saw the clock initially, we thought we had gone even quicker but I think we are both happy with our times.

“I’m obviously focusing on the Commonwealth Games so I take great confidence from that as I look to peak in April. I’m heading out to Sydney in a week to finish my preparation. I’ll be watching the World Indoors; I’m sure Asha (Philip) will run really well so I’m wishing her all the best.”

SU Bingtian blew his rivals out of the water to win the men’s 60m final and break the final of a number of stadium records that fell on the day. The Chinese athlete has been in fine form all season, having won at the Karlsruhe leg of the World Indoor Tour earlier this month, and his 6.50 winning run secured the World Indoor Tour title, which culminated in Glasgow this weekend. Of his run, Su said:

“I really enjoyed the meeting – it is a special moment to win the Tour. Today’s race felt much better than my previous races – I head into the World Indoors confident.”

The battle for second was a much closer affair, with America’s Mike Rodgers and Bryce Robinson just getting the better of Ojie Edoburun (Steve Fudge) and CJ Ujah (Stuart McMillan), the Briton’s running 6.56 and 6.57 respectively, with Edoburun’s effort a personal best. There was also a 6.59 personal best for Adam Gemili (Rana Reider) in sixth.

Jamaican Ronald Levy smashed the stadium record with a world class 7.49 run to win a thrilling 60m hurdles clash. With hurdles flying everywhere, Levy kept his cool having started well, holding off former World Indoor champion Aries Merritt and Britain’s Andrew Pozzi (Benke Blomkvist) who clocked 7.58 and 7.60 respectively in second and third. That trio will do battle again at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham next week.

Yuhao Shi saved his best until last, soaring out to a new stadium record of 8.13m to win the men’s long jump and take home the World Tour title. Languishing down the field he produced a bit of magic in the final round to force long-time leader Damar Forbes of Jamaica to settle for second with his 7.99m best.

Greg Rutherford (Dan Pfaff) continued his comeback with a 7.89m season’s best, improving on the 7.80m effort that saw him win the British Indoor title last weekend, with Dan Bramble (Frank Attoh) just one centimetre behind. Rutherford commented:

“It was better than it was last week, but it’s not where I want to be. I wanted to go over eight metres today, which would’ve solidified my decision to go to the World Championships, so I have to debrief, figure out if it’s a possibility, and go from there.

“I’m a good couple of months behind where I need to be. The two surgeries I had were quite big so I’m glad that within a week I’ve had 11 jumps, which is a lot for me. It’s good for training but equally if I go to a major championship, I go to win or at least win a medal, and I’m not sure if that’s a possibility.”

The women’s high jump was the third of three women’s field events on show in Glasgow, but it provided the most entertainment as Mariya Lasitskene and Morgan Lake (Fuzz Caan) produced some world class jumping. Despite a brave effort at 2.00m, Lasitskene had to settle for a best of 1.95m to take the win and extend her unbeaten run to over a year.

Having won the British title last weekend 20 year old Lake cleared 1.92m and had a couple of good goes at her personal best height of 1.95m, proving her preparations for next weekend’s World Indoor Championships in Birmingham are firmly on track. She commented:

“It’s been a lot better than other competitions that I’ve done recently. I’ve been trying to iron out my jump in training with my run up and I think I’m getting there, which is good timing with Worlds in four days. I’m just hoping for a PB. I was close to 1.95m today, so if I can build on that we’ll see how it goes out there.”

There was a mixed category showdown in the para athletics 60m races, Sophie Hahn (Joe McDonnell) streaking clear to stop the clock in 7.95 in the first race, a new T38 British record. Olivia Breen (Aston Moore) took second in 8.40, with T35 and local favourite Maria Lyle (Jamie Bowie) fifth in a 9.25 personal best and a T35 British record. In the second race German Irmgard Bensusan set a personal best of 8.24 to take victory, with Sophie Kamlish (Rob Ellchuk) setting a new British T64 record of 8.47.

There was a thrilling American 1-2 in the women’s 60m hurdles, Christina Manning producing a 7.79 clocking to wrap up the World Indoor Tour title and the subsequent $20,000 bonus. She by no means had it all her own way though, Sharika Nelvis chasing her hard the whole way. In some ways the runner-up was lucky to be there having stumbled out of her blocks in her heat, whilst Norwegian Isabelle Pedersen set a 7.93 personal best for third.

Manning was naturally pleased with her efforts:

“I came out here for the win – I needed the win to claim the Tour title and I got it. It’s always good to run close to your personal record. I wasn’t expecting a fast time like that, but I’m glad I got it.  I’m now going for a medal [at the World Indoors].”

Lynsey Sharp (Terrence Mahon) got one of the biggest cheers of all in the final race of the day, the proud Scot going in the women’s 800m. Running a smart race, Sharp slowly made her way to the fore, but didn’t quite have the closing speed to surpass Liga Velvere, who set a Latvian record of 2.02.01 to win by just less than half a second.

Running from the favoured outside lane Eilidh Doyle (Brian Doyle) ran an aggressive opening lap in the women’s 400m, but was eventually forced to settle for second as outdoor world champion Phyllis Francis finished strongly down the home straight.

The American was just ahead at the break, but Doyle pushed hard to take the lead as they crossed the start/finish line and was looking strong down the back straight.

Coming off the bend there was pressure on both sides for the 400m hurdler, but roared on by the adoring home crowd, she fought hard to cross the line in 52.38, just down on Francis’ 52.00 winning run. Third place went to Stephanie Ann McPherson who tried to come up the inside in the final metres but ran out of room.

There was a stunning stadium record in the men’s race, Fred Kerley leading gun to tape to stop the clock in a swift 45.86. Slovenia’s Luka Janezic was second in 46.29, with Dontavius Wright third. Notably there was a 47.28 personal best for World Indoor bound GB 4x400m man Grant Plenderleith (David Lothian), as he finished fifth from lane one.

Jake Wightman (Geoff Wightman) gave the Scottish crowd something else to get excited about as running over the shorter 800m he made a late charge on the last lap to take third.

Using Glasgow as a final tune up before he contests the IAAF World Indoor Championships over 1500m, Wightman showed good speed, but didn’t have quite enough to stop Polish 800m men Adam Kszczot and Martin Lewandowski taking an impressive 1-2, Kszczot winning in 1.47.15, also securing the tour title.

In the women’s 1500m Betsy Chepkoech took a decisive victory and with it secured the tour title thanks to a display of impressive front running. The only athlete to follow the pacemaker, she was alone from 800m onwards but forged on to stop the clock in a notable 4.02.21, winning by almost five seconds.

Sarah McDonald (David Harmer) bounced back from missing the British Championships with illness to finish fifth in 4.09.00, whilst young Scot Jemma Reekie (Andy Young) set a 4:13.46 personal best.

The men’s 3,000m came down to the wire, Justus Soget perhaps the surprise winner, outkicking headline names Paul Chelimo, Yomif Kejelcha and Davis Kiplangat.

Such was the calibre of the field it took a stadium record of 7.39.09 for Soget to snatch victory from Chelimo, who was just one hundredth behind, with Kejelcha’s consolation the fact her wrapped up the World Indoor Tour title. Further back Andrew Heyes (Steve Vernon) won the battle of the Brits with a personal best of 7.51.01.

Kenyan Bethwell Birgen took the men’s 1500m crown in a Commonwealth tussle with teammate Vincent Kibet and Australian number one Ryan Gregson. Birgen’s winning time of 3.37.76 was a season’s best, with his rivals both finishing within a quarter of a second.

Khaddi Sagnia set a superb Swedish national record in the women’s long jump, soaring out to 6.92m in round one to take the spoils. Try as they like nobody could match that effort, although Sostene Moguenara did set a season’s best of 6.83 in second. She’ll be disappointed with third, but Ivana Spanovic did wrap up the World Indoor Tour title.

Katerina Stefanidi was the class act in the women’s pole vault, the Olympic champion clearing 4.75m to wrap up victory and the tour title, extending her winning run, which now stretches to over twelve months. Further down the field 17year-old Molly Caudery (Stuart Caudery) continued her rise up the rankings as she set a lifetime best of 4.30m.

Kicking off the programme were the Club:Connect relays and with a £250 development cheque awarded to the winning club in each of the six 4x200m races,  Ayr Seaforth, Central, Edinburgh, Giffnock North and Victoria Park all tasted victory.

Full Results