STELLAR LINE-UP FOR DAY TWO OF MULLER BRITISH ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

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After a superb day one of the Championships in warm conditions, action resumes at 11:32 this morning with the women’s discus, an event which will see Jade Lally (Andrew Neal) look to claim her fourth successive British outdoor title.

First-up on the track will be the men’s and women’s 5000m race walk. Defending champion Tom Bosworth (Andi Drake, Tonbridge) always gives the Alexander Stadium crowd plenty to cheer; last year it was a new British record and he heads to Birmingham aiming to win another British title following his victory at last weekend’s British Grand Prix of Walking.

It was also a record-breaking event for Bethan Davies (Andi Drake, Cardiff) at last year’s Championships and she will be back to defend her title in the women’s event at 11:35.

In an afternoon full of mouth-watering head-to-heads, the men’s pole vault is certainly one of them as three of the brightest field events talents in the country vault for gold. Sheffield and Dearne’s Adam Hague will start as the favourite as he hopes to add the British outdoor title to the indoor crown in Birmingham earlier this year, but he will face stern competition from his teammate and defending champion Luke Cutts and Charlie Myers.

Back to the track and the men’s 110m hurdles competition will get underway with the heats at 12.50. David King will be back to defend his title, but world indoor 60m hurdles champion Andrew Pozzi will start as the one-to-beat.

Along with the action on the track, both the men’s and women’s long jump competitions will no doubt keep the spectators entertained. The women’s event will be one of the events to watch on Sunday afternoon, featuring world, European and Commonwealth medallists.

British record holder Shara Proctor will be longing to claim back her British title as the in-form athlete, but British indoor record holder and defending champion Lorraine Ugen will not want to give her title up easily and will be one of a handful of athletes pushing Proctor all the way.

The men’s long jump competition sees the top three athletes in Britain at the moment split by just three centimetres. Defending champion Dan Bramble lies a centimetre shy of Tim Duckworth, with Feron Sayers heading the pack with an 8.05m PB set in Geneva last month.

The women’s and men’s 200m titles will be decided as Shannan Hylton and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake begin their title defences in the heats at 13.20 and 13.50 respectively.

From 14.18 it is straight final action, with the competition open in the men’s high jump wide open following Robbie Grabarz’s retirement. Allan Smith, who finished fifth at the Commonwealth Games, will start as the athlete to beat.

The track finals begin with the 400m Hurdles final with Sebastian Rodger and defending champion Jack Green the fastest two qualifiers from yesterday’s heats. A new champion will be crowned in the women’s event with defending champion Eilidh Doyle not competing this weekend.

Birchfield Harriers’ Meghan Beesley was the fastest qualifier and will be aiming to go one better having finished behind Doyle last year, while Iona Lake will start as the defending champion in the women’s 3000m steeplechase.

The women’s shot put looks set to be another thrilling battle between Sophie McKinna and Rachel Wallader, especially if the British Athletics Indoor Championships in February are anything to go by. Divine Oladipo and Amelia Strickler will be another two to watch.

On the track at the same time, the men’s 800m final looks set to be as equally compelling. Defending champion Elliot Giles qualified quickest, with Andrew Osagie second fastest. The women’s 800m is expected to be another close race with Laura Muir (Andy Young, , Lynsey Sharp and defending champion Shelayna Oskan-Clarke all winning their heats.

Steph Twell (AFD, Geoff Wightman) and Eilish McColgan will renew their rivalry in the women’s 5000m. McColgan is ahead of season’s best time, but Twell impressed last month with victory during an over-distance test at the London 10,000m.

Olympic bronze medallist Sophie Hitchon will start as the favourite in the women’s hammer and will be aiming to secure her European Championships spot.

Matthew Hudson-Smith (Birchfield) will take to the men’s 400m final start line as defending champion in what is expected to be a competitive final, while the women’s equivalent will also be close with defending champion Zoey Clark going in lane four having qualified fastest for the final.

Yesterday’s men’s 1500m heats were close and the final will no doubt be too. British indoor champion Jake Wightman (Geoff Wightman, Edinburgh) was the quickest in the heats with Neil Gourley and defending champion Chris O’Hare (Terrance Mahon, Edinburgh) the winners of the other heats.

The women’s 1500m will be the penultimate event on the track (16:40) with Laura Weightman aiming to defend her title having qualified quickest, with Jess Judd (Mick Judd, Chelmsford) Sarah McDonald (David Harmer, Birchfield) expected to provide stiff competition.