2017 World 200m fourth placer, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake is aiming for his third UK outdoor title at the Müller UK Athletics Championships in Manchester on the weekend of June 24-26.

Racing over the half-lap event which he won in the 2017 and 2018 editions of the Championships, Mitchell-Blake (Dennis Shaver) has enjoyed a strong start to his 2022 campaign, with a 10.10 100m clocking in Ostrava and a 200m fifth place finish in the Rome Diamond League.

The 2018 European silver medallist reflected on his very first national win:

My first UK outdoor victory…

My first UK outdoor title was in Alexander stadium Birmingham in 2017 in pretty much perfect conditions.

I was coming off a very successful collegiate season and came into the championship ranked first in the UK in the 200m, and very confident leading into the race.

I had the mindset to win and felt if I executed my race it would be enough for the victory, which ultimately it was – albeit it was great race, as I was just able to put dip Danny Talbot on the line setting what was then a championship record and later given athlete performance of the day.

The rest of the season…

Prior to the Championships, I had been consistently in the 20.0’s and also eclipsed the 10-second mark in the 100m, which put me in better stead physically and mentally to cope with the breadth of the year.

I had ran over thirty races prior due to my collegiate duties at LSU but still felt fresh coming in the champs.

Post trials, I had completed my second Diamond League race, which was on home soil at the London Stadium where the World Championship would ultimately be held, which felt really good – not to mention being in college and running fast for free it was nice to have a monetary incentive after all my hard work.

I later finished fourth at the World Championships in the 200m and was part of the winning quartet anchoring Great Britain & Northern Ireland to gold in the 4×100, which was drama filled as was it not only Great Britain’s first gold in the relay at the Worlds but also Usain Bolt’s last race and unfortunately he pulled up injured – a true whirlwind of emotions.

The importance of the Championships…

The British trials are integral – “You have to conquer the yard before you can conquer abroad” – meaning in order to compete with the best internationally, it’s important to be the best in your country first.

Goals for Manchester…

My goal for Manchester is to come in the top two and get selected for the World Championships in Oregon.

Get your tickets now for the 2022 Müller UK Athletics Championships Manchester!