15th July 2018
MILLER AND LAKE FLY GB FLAG ON ATHLETICS WORLD CUP DAY TWO
Nick Miller (Border; Tore Gustafsson) and Morgan Lake (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow; Fuzz Caan) are among nine British champions who will fly the flag as the nation bids to climb the Athletics World Cup, presented by Müller, table on the final day.
Lorraine Ugen (Thames Valley; Shawn Jackson) and Holly Bradshaw (Blackburn; Scott Simpson) delivered victories on day one as Britain placed fifth with the baton passing to Commonwealth champion Miller in the hammer and Commonwealth silver medallist Lake in the high jump on day two.
Just 11 points – little more than one win – separates fifth from second and British No.2 over 100m Ojie Edoburun (Shaftesbury Barnet; Steve Fudge), former world champion Dai Greene (Swansea; Benke Blomkvist) and the women’s 4x100m relay team will also hope to earn high points on the final day.
Charlie Myers (Middlesbrough; Chris Boundy) will begin the host nations’ campaign in the men’s pole vault at 18:45 – the first of the nine British champions to compete at the Athletics World Cup, presented by Müller, on the night.
Miller will get his chance at 19:00 as the men’s hammer begins. The 25-year-old is the current world No.3 after his British record of 80.26m at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April, which earned him gold.
Like Myers, Naomi Ogbeta (Trafford; Tom Cullen) will make her senior British debut when she takes to the elevated runway for the women’s triple jump. Ogbeta won the British title two weeks ago with a personal best leap of 13.95m that booked her trip to the European Championships next month.
The first four events on the schedule all feature British champions with Amelia Strickler (Thames Valley; Zane Duquemin) the fourth in the women’s shot at 19:40 after which the track action begins with the men’s 400m at 20:00.
Rabah Yousif (Newham & Essex Beagles; Carol Williams) will fly the British flag in the event after second at the Müller British Athletics Championships secured his place at the European Championships in Berlin in just over three weeks time.
Jade Lally (Shaftesbury Barnet; Andrew Neal) kicks off another flurry of British champions in action when she takes to the circle for the women’s discus at 20:05 before the return of Greene to the London Stadium for the men’s 400m hurdles at 20:18.
Greene, who won the world, European, Commonwealth and Diamond League titles between 2010 and 2011, finished fourth at the Olympic Games in London in 2012 but has worked his way back into the British vest courtesy of a national title two weeks ago.
Beth Dobbin (Edinburgh; Leon Baptiste) has been in impressive form this season, lowering the Scottish 200m record for fun and claiming the British title in a Championship record 22.59 to earn her senior British debut at the Athletics World Cup, presented by Müller.
She’ll go at 20:27 with Megan Marrs (WSEH; Jerzy Maciukiewicz), who herself made her senior British debut at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in March, back in the national vest for the women’s 100m hurdles at 20:37.
Lake jumped a personal best 1.97m on the way to the British title last month but comes to the Athletics World Cup, presented by Müller, having competed at the Rabat Diamond League on Friday, jumping 1.90m.
Dan Bramble (Shaftesbury Barnet; Frank Attoh) compete in the men’s long jump at 20:44 while Neil Gourley (Giffnock North; Ben Thomas) goes in the men’s 1500m at 20:48 fresh from clocking the European qualifying standard over the distance in Italy in the week.
It is also a big day for Adelle Tracey (Guildford & Godalming; Craig Winrow) in the women’s 800m at 21:08. She finished third at the Müller British Athletics Championships and has the European qualifying standard so will be looking to press her case at the London Stadium, where she famously lit the cauldron at the 2012 Olympic Games.
James Whiteaker (Blackheath & Bromley; Nigel Whiteaker) is the last of the nine British champions in action in the men’s javelin at 21:15 before the men’s 100m involving Edoburun, who is looking to press his case for European selection after finishing outside the medals at the trials last month.
The British women’s 4x100m relay team go in the penultimate event at 21:30 with a promising four of Asha Philip (Newham & Essex Beagles; Fudge), Imani Lansiquot (Sutton & District; Fudge), Bianca Williams (Enfield & Haringey; Lloyd Cowan) and Shannon Hylton (Blackheath & Bromley; Ryan Freckleton).
The men’s 4x400m relay team of Cameron Chalmers (Guernsey; James Hillier), Dwayne Cowan (Hercules Wimbledon; Cowan), Martyn Rooney (Croydon; Graham Hedman) and Owen Smith (Cardiff; Matt Elias) will make history by becoming the last British team members to compete at the inaugural Athletics World Cup, presented by Müller.