23rd July 2018
WEEKEND UPDATE
European Athletics Classic Meetings, Heusden-Zolder, Belgium, 21 July
Jessica Turner (Nick Dakin) and Kirsten McAslan (Michael Baker) ran identical times out in Belgium, the Loughborough University pair crossing the line in 56.89 for third and fourth respectively. Sixth in the British Championships final, young Canaan Solomon (Richard Thurston) lowered his lifetime best to 1.47.12 as he finished fifth in the 800m.
Morton Games International, Dublin, Ireland, 19 July
Rabah Yousif (Carol Williams) went one hundredth quicker than he did at the Athletics World Cup last weekend, his 45.87 time good for second place in the 400m in the Irish capital, whilst Finette Agyapong (Coral Nourrice) produced a 53.85 season’s best for fourth in the women’s race. Jemma Reekie (Andy Young) was in action again, third in the 1500m in 4.09.08, whilst Joe Dunderdale threw 70.21m for third in the javelin.
The highlight of the meeting however was a high quality men’s 5,000m, where Ben Connor (Steve Vernon) led 10 British athletes under 14 minutes. Connor was second in the race in 13.29.35, a new personal best, whilst training partner Jonny Mellor (Vernon) was fourth in a season’s best of 13.36.12. 2018 breakthrough act Luke Traynor revised his lifetime best with a 13.39.95 effort for fifth as five others ran PBs.
Meeting Internationale de la Province de Liège, Belgium, 18 July
Jamaine Coleman (Helen Clitheroe) was the big winner over in Belgium as he secured the 3000m steeplechase qualifying time for the European Championships with a personal best run. Right behind compatriot Zak Seddon, seventh in 8.31.60, Coleman crossed the line in 8.31.91, the fast time of his career to date.
In the field another youngster was going better than he ever has before, Joel Leon Benitez (Robert Phillips) vaulting 5.52m to finish in an impressive third place.
Galà dei Castelli, Bellinzona, Switzerland, 18 July
Prior to his personal best run at the Müller Anniversary Games, Guy Learmonth (Henry Gray) set a fine season’s best of 1.46.10 for fourth in Switzerland, a sign of what was to come just a few days later. Cindy Ofili continued her comeback from injury with a pair of season’s best runs, 13.30 (-0.1) in the heats before 13.27 (0.0) in the final, good for fourth. In the sprints, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Dennis Shaver) was fifth in the 100m in 10.24 (0.4) whilst Emily Diamond (Jared Deacon) was sixth in the 400m in 52.81.
Meeting International Sotteville-lès-Rouen, Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France, 17 July
Dan Bramble (Frank Attoh) produced an leap in excess of eight metres for the first time since the Commonwealth Games as he finished second in 8.02m (1.5) out in France, setting him up nicely for the Müller Anniversary Games where he would go even further. Laura Samuel (Aston Moore) was just shy of her season’s best with a 13.58m (1.6) effort for sixth in the triple jump, whilst Robbie Fitzgibbon (Jon Bigg) was seventh in the men’s 1500m in 3.42.31. There was an impressive run from Jemma Reekie (Andy Young) in the women’s equivalent, as due to a flight delay she was left to run through the airport and had no time for a warm up; still she was fourth in 4.10.99.
Internationales Stabhochsprung-Meeting, Jockrim, Germany, 16-17 July
Holly Bradshaw (coach: Scott Simpson) produced the third highest vault of her career on Tuesday night to finish third in truly world class women’s pole vault competition. Kiwi Eliza McCartney took victory in a stunning Oceanian record of 4.94m, with Olympic champion Jenn Suhr second with 4.87m and Bradshaw clearing an impressive 4.80m for third.
Cork City Sports International, Cork, Ireland, 16 July
Corrine Humphreys (Ryan Freckleton) and Shannon Hylton (Freckleton) both did a 100m-200m double out in Ireland, with Humphreys fourth in the 100m in an 11.41 (1.3) season’s best, just edging out Hylton who in turn was fourth in the 200m in 23.01 (0.0). British Championship fifth placer Edmond Amaning was fourth in the men’s race in 20.57 (0.9).
Jacob Paul (Marina Armstrong) was an impressive winner in the men’s 400m hurldes, the WSEH athlete stopping the clock at 50.16, whilst young Scot Jamie Williamson (George Gandy) went sub four for the first time in the men’s mile as he finished ninth in 3.58.99. Ben Rowlings (Ian Mirfin) won the wheelchair 800m, the T54 athlete edging out Isaac Towers (Peter Wyman) 1.48.98 to 1.49.05.