9th May 2021
WEEKEND UPDATE - 8-9 MAY
Aside from the British athletes in action at the European Throwing Cup, there was plenty of action taking place this weekend.
USATF Golden Games, Mt Sac Relays, Walnut, California, 9 May
In a high-quality women’s 800m, Jemma Reekie (Andy Young; Kilbarchan) ran an outdoor PB to win in 1:58.27. She timed her winning move to perfection as she moved alongside Melissa Bishop (CAN) with 120 metres to go and had the strength to push on and claim the victory.
Laura Muir (Andy Young; Dundee Hawkhill) came through in the closing stages to take second place from Bishop in a time of 1:58.46, while Adelle Tracey (Craig Winrow; Guildford and Godalming) hit the Olympic qualifying time directly, recording a time of 1:59.50 as she placed fourth overall.
Cindy Sember (Jeff Porter; Woodford Green Essex Ladies) continued her excellent form as she posted a personal best of 12.53 (2.0) in the women’s 100m hurdles final. The time was just 0.02 seconds off the British record, which is held by her sister, Tiffany Porter. She moved ahead of Jessica Ennis-Hill into second in the UK all-time rankings.
Sixth position went to Tiffany Porter (Jeff Porter; Woodford Green Essex Ladies) who recorded a time of 12.86. Porter had earlier run 12.74 (1.4) to qualify from her heat. Keni Harrison (USA) won the race in 12.48.
Returning to his best form, CJ Ujah (Ryan Freckleton; Enfield and Haringey) ran his quickest 100m since 2017 as he set a time of 10.03 (1.9) in the men’s 100m final. In the process, he also captured an Olympic qualifying standard. He had earlier qualified for the final in a non-wind-assisted season best of 10.11 (1.0) finishing third in his heat, and he backed up that performance in the final as he finished fourth in a race won by Cravon Gillespie (USA) in 9.96.
Earlier in the programme, Jodie Williams (Ryan Freckleton; Herts Phoenix) won the women’s 200m B race in a time of 23.03 (0.4).
Eilish McColgan (Liz Nuttall; Dundee Hawkhill) clinched fourth in the women’s 1500m as she ran inside the Olympic qualifying standard once again. As the leading trio of athletes moved away in the middle stages of the race, McColgan ran a lonely race in fourth as she chased them down. The American, Elle Purrier finished in a world leading time of 3:58.36 and the Scottish athlete maintained her composure to cross the line in 4:03.89. Holly Archer (Andrew Parmenter; Cambridge and Coleridge) was ninth in 4:08.81.
Later in the day, Jess Judd (Mick Judd; Blackburn) secured an Olympic qualifying standard in the women’s 5000m, as she ran inside the 15:10.00 standard to post a time of 15:06.02. It also earned her fourth position in the race. Steph Twell (Aldershot Farnham and District) was seventh in a season best of 15:36.07.
Josh Kerr (Danny Mackey; Edinburgh) was the highest placed Briton in the men’s 800m as he finished fifth in a time of 1:45.74, his second quickest time ever over the distance. Guy Learmonth (Justin Rinaldi; Lasswade) was next in 1:46.86 for eighth while Kyle Langford (Jon Bigg; Shaftesbury Barnet) was ninth in 1:47.08.
Matthew Hudson-Smith (Lance Brauman; Birchfield) finished seventh in the men’s 400m, clocking a time of 46.03. Michael Norman (USA) won the race in 44.40.
There was a significant PB in the women’s 800m B race for Ellie Baker (Jon Bigg; Shaftesbury Barnet) as she recorded a time of 2:00.24. She went through at the bell in 57.80 and kept her form to finish third in a lifetime best, an improvement from 2:02.02. Katie Snowden (Dan Stepney; Herne Hill) won the women’s 1500m B race in 4:06.06.
There was a sixth place finish for Zak Seddon (Jeff Seddon; Bracknell) in the men’s 3000m Steeplechase in a time of 8:29.37. Adam Visokay (Stockport) was 14th in 8:45.76. In the women’s equivalent there was a SB for Elizabeth Bird (Pat McCurry; Shaftesbury Barnet) as she finished seventh in 9:36.36.
In the men’s triple jump, Nathan Douglas (Aston Moore; Oxford City) ended the competition in eighth position with 15.94m the best distance of his series. The season best mark came on his final attempt of the competition. Meanwhile, Birchfield’s Rachel Somoye finished fifth in the women’s hammer throw in a season best. The best in her series was 59.47m coming on her fourth attempt.
BMC Grand Prix, Stretford, 8 May
Tom Mortimer (Christopher Brown; Stroud) produced one of the best performances of his career to date as he moved inside the European U23 Championships qualifying standard with a time of 13:39.79 over 5000m. He won convincingly to earn the time for the event in Bergen later this summer.
Despite a first lap clocking in around 57 seconds, Alex Bell (Andrew Henderson; Pudsey & Bramley) held on to record a time of 2:00.14 to win the women’s 800m.
Archie Davis (Joel Kidger) won the men’s equivalent in a thrilling finale with several athletes in contention for the victory in the home straight. The Brighton Phoenix athlete glided through on the outside of the pack to win from Ben Pattison (Dave Ragan; Basingstoke and Mid Hants). Their times were 1:46.65 and 1:46.77 respectively.
In the mixed 400m race, European Indoor 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter; Leigh) sharpened up for the outdoor season, clocking a personal best of 53.73.
Five athletes recorded qualifying standards for the European U23 Championships, while seven athletes did the same for the European U20 Championships.
Ready Steady Tokyo Athletics, Japan, 9 May
Rabah Yousif (Carol Williams; Newham and Essex Beagles) ran his first individual 400m of the season, clocking 46.69 for fifth in the test event for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Yousif ran as part of the mixed 4x400m relay team at the World Athletics Relays last week.
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