14th February 2021
Weekend update - 12-14 February
New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, New York, 13 February
Charlie Da’Vall Grice (Brighton Phoenix) and Amy-Eloise Markovc (Chris Fox; Wakefield) both set British indoor records while Jake Wightman (Geoff Wightman; Edinburgh) improved the Scottish 1500m indoor record in New York.
Da’Vall Grice beat Wightman’s 1000m best which he set at the same event last year. With Bryce Hoppel (USA) setting a ferocious pace in the early stages, the Briton stayed with it until the closing stages, and despite the fast-finishing Marco Arop (CAN) moving him into third in the final few strides, Da’Vall Grice held on for a UK record with a time of 2:17.20.
Markovc claimed the British indoor record over the rarely run women’s two-mile race. Not only did she improve Jo Pavey’s previous best to 9:30.69, but she also improved her outright 3000m PB within the race, to 8:54.11.
In the men’s 1500m, Jake Wightman improved Josh Kerr’s Scottish 1500m indoor record with a time of 3:34.48. Thomas Keen (Mark Vile; Cambridge & Coleridge) was 11th in 3:46.40.
In the women’s 60m Hurdles, Tiffany Porter (Jeff Porter; Woodford Green Essex Ladies) leads the way in the European standings following her 7.89 clocking. She was second in the race, while her sister, Cindy Sember (Jeff Porter; Woodford Green Essex Ladies), was fifth in a time of 8.22.
Back in the middle-distance events, there was another indoor 800m PB for Jamie Webb (Adrian Webb; Liverpool). He was second in 1:46.26. Meanwhile, in the women’s contest, Isabelle Boffey (Luke Gunn; Enfield & Haringey) ran inside the European indoor qualifying standard as she clocked 2:02.45 for third, while Adelle Tracey (Craig Winrow; Guildford & Godalming) followed in seventh with a time of 2:04.28.
Results: https://results.nbindoorgrandprix.com/
Bryggen Sports Invitational meeting, Manchester, 13 February
Phil Sesemann (Andrew Henderson; Leeds) and Verity Ockenden (Tony Houchin; Swansea) claimed commanding victories in the 3000m races, both lowering their PBs and also finishing inside the European Indoor Championship qualifying standard.
For Sesemann it was an outright PB of 7:51.27, with Ross Millington (Steve Vernon; Stockport) next across the line in 7:55.28.
In the women’s equivalent, Ockenden, improved her indoor best by 17 seconds, setting a time of 8:51.63, which was comfortably within the qualifying standard of 9:00. Second-placed Charlotte Arter (Chris Jones; Cardiff) enjoyed a rare outing indoors, as she ran 9:00.78, with British 3000m steeplechase champion Aimee Pratt (Vicente Modahl; Sale Harriers Manchester) next in third.
In the women’s 1500m, 2020 British Indoor champion Holly Archer (Andrew Parmenter) and Katie Snowden (Dan Stepney; Herne Hill) both ran inside the European standard. Cambridge and Coleridge’s Archer clocked an outright PB of 4:10.03 to take victory ahead of Snowden who posted a time of 4:10.43.
A sub-27 seconds final lap helped Piers Copeland (Bob Smith) on his way to an indoor 1500m PB of 3:38.55 in the men’s contest. It was another impressive display from the Wimborne athlete who improved his outright PF to 3:35.32 at the Doha Diamond League last year. Andrew Butchart (Central) finished second in 3:40.82.
Ellie Baker (Jon Bigg; Shaftesbury Barnet) won the women’s 800m race in an indoor PB of 2:02.73 which was inside the Torun qualifying standard, while Kyle Langford (Jon Bigg; Shaftesbury Barnet) won the men’s race in 1:48.91, ahead of Ben Pattison (Dave Ragan; Basingstoke & Mid Hants) in 1:49.04 and George Mills (Jon Bigg; Brighton Phoenix) who recorded an indoor PB of 1:49.09.
In the women’s 400m, Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong; Windsor Slough Eton Hounslow) set a time of 52.65 on her way to victory ahead of Jodie Williams (Stuart McMillan; Herts Phoenix) who was running indoors for the first time in 12 years, in 53.24.
Loughborough Indoor Elite – Track – 13 February
Andrew Robertson (Sam Robertson; Sale Harriers Manchester) ran 6.61 in the men’s 60m ahead of Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Benke Blomkvist; Sutton & District) in 6.71 and Dom Ashwell (Marvin Rowe; Shaftesbury Barnet) in 6.81. Meanwhile, Alisha Rees (Leon Baptiste; Edinburgh) won the women’s equivalent in 7.36 ahead of Cassie-Ann Pemberton (Sharon Morris; Birchfield) who improved her career best to 7.44.
World Para Athletics T38 100m silver medallist, Thomas Young (Joe McDonnell; Charnwood), began his season with a time of 7.45 over the shorter sprint.
Sophie Hahn (Leon Baptiste; Charnwood) opened her 2021 season with a win and a time of 8.01 in the women’s para 60m.
In the hurdles, Megan Marrs (Alex Nwenwu; WSEH) set a Northern Ireland indoor 60m Hurdles record as she stopped the clock at 8.16. In the men’s race, Ethan Akanni (Jerzy Maciukiewicz; Bexley) won in 7.78, a PB. James Weaver (Michael Baker; Enfield & Haringey) was given the same time.
Results: https://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=411382
Loughborough Indoor Elite – Field – 14 February
Molly Caudery (Stuart Caudery; Thames Valley) matched her indoor pole vault PB as she cleared 4.30 metres to win the competition ahead of Natalie Hooper (Henrietta Paxton; Birchfield) who set an outright PB of 4.20m. Charlie Myers (Chris Boundy; Birtley) won the men’s competition as he cleared the 5.65m bar height which was an indoor personal best.
In the high jump, Morgan Lake (Eldon Lake; WSEH) opened her campaign for 2021 with a best of 1.88m to win the women’s event, while Will Grimsey (Fuzz Caan; Woodford Green Essex Ladies) won the men’s with a best mark of 2.16m. World Para Athletics champion Jonathan Broom-Edwards (Graham Ravenscroft; Newham & Essex Beagles) cleared 2.12m which was his best since 2017.
Holly Mills (Laura Turner-Alleyne; Andover) improved her outright career best in the shot put as she threw 13.33m, her first throw over 13 metres.
Meeting de l’Eure, France, 14 February
Elliot Giles (Jon Bigg; Birchfield) was third in a high quality 1500m in Val-de-Reuil setting an outright PB of 3:36.90. In a race won by Getnet Wale (ETH) in 3:35.54, the Briton continued his excellent run of form which has seen him won both World Indoor Tour Gold events over 800m so far in 2021.
CMCM Indoor Meeting, Luxembourg – 13 February
Andrew Pozzi (Santiago Antunez; Stratford-upon-Avon) opened his account for 2021 with a 7.57 clocking over the 60m hurdles. He started his day by advancing to the final in a time of 7.68 before returning to win his second race of the day.
Results: https://www.laportal.net/Competitions/Resultoverview/4188