7th August 2024

Pattison, Giles, and Burgin all progress at Paris 2024 Olympics

World bronze medallist Ben Pattison led a clean sweep of British athletes through the opening round of the 800m at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Pattison (Dave Rogan, Basingstoke & Mid Hants) won his heat in 1:45.66 while Elliot Giles and Max Burgin also progressed to give themselves a day off and avoid the repechage.

“Last year I came in ranked 16th in the world, I was the 12th quickest before the final and I got the bronze medal,” said Pattison.

“I know the numbers going into championships aren’t the numbers coming out of championships, so I can’t go into the heats thinking I can win this easily.

“Every step of the way I need to be diligent and almost treat every round like the final. In the men’s 800m run, anyone can beat anyone.

“I need to just stay on my toes. I feel like I proved that last year, to be wary of people like me last year, probably coming in a bit under the radar in good shape.”

Giles (Jon Bigg, Birchfield Harriers) was a late call-up for the Olympics to replace the injured Jake Wightman and looked confident, finishing second in his heat in a time of 1:45.93

The former European bronze medallist said: “Five days ago, I was still in a camp in the Swiss mountains. Now I’m at the Olympics, competing on the biggest stage, after having five weeks of thinking I’m not going. It’s wild.

“I stayed ready. I didn’t think there was any chance of me going, but I just said to myself, ‘I’m an athlete first, I’m not going to go out and party with my friends. Not going to go out and drink or do things that are easy to do when you don’t make the team.’ I stayed professional.”

Burgin (Halifax) admitted his heat was messy but he showed good pace down the straight, encouraging news after recent injury troubles.

“I didn’t run the most perfect of races, got stuck in the pack a bit,” he said. “I had enough left in the end to get a top three spot and automatic qualification, which I was very grateful for because I want my day off.

“I was trying not to panic. I wasn’t in a good position but my legs felt good. I knew I would have something left.”

Cindy Sember (Woodford Green Essex Ladies) comfortably came through her 100m hurdles heat in 12.72 secs (0.0 m/s)

Competing at her third Games, the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist said: “I felt pretty good, I kept my composure. I was getting really close to the hurdles, which shows I have really good speed.

“It is about controlling that speed, putting myself in contention, getting into that final and medalling.

“It is always an amazing feeling to be at an Olympics, you never get used to that. Just to be here in shape and healthy is a blessing. I’m feeling really good to do something special.”

Sam Atkin (Mike Collins, Lincoln Wellington) and Patrick Dever (Andy Bibby, Preston) exited in the first round of the men’s 5000m. Dever clocked 14:13.48 to finish 13th in his heat, while Atkin crossed the line 14:02.46 to rank 18th.

Meanwhile, George Mills (Brighton Phoenix) was advanced by the referee after being taken out on the home straight in a tangle the saw four athletes hit the deck.

“I was ready to go,” said Mills.  “If we look at the top pace of the race, it was playing into a 1500m guys hands, so that was my plan. Get around the whole race, sit in and don’t waste any energy, get into the last 100m, doesn’t matter if you are 10th or 12th, you will be able to come past.

“We executed that to the point but it got taken out of my control unfortunately.”

Elsewhere, Revée Walcott-Nolan (Luton) ran a brave race to advance through the repechage of the women’s 1500m and book her place in the semi-finals.

The two-time Olympian hit the front with a lap to go, knowing only the top three progressed, edged out for first in a photo finish, her time 4:06.73.

 

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