25th April 2021
WEEKEND UPDATE - COCKROFT SETS TWO WORLD RECORDS
[Photo credit: Peter Milsom]
Coventry Spring Meet, Warwick University, 24-25 April
Hannah Cockroft (Jenni Banks; Leeds) improved two of her own T34 world records, subject to ratification, following superb performances over the 400m and 800m.
On Saturday, she powered to an excellent time of 55.29 in the 400m, improving her previous world record which stood at 57.48. In the same race, Kare Adenegan (Job King; Coventry) improved her personal best to 1:00.06.
Cockroft returned on Sunday and produced another excellent display to stop the clock at 1:55.54 over 800m. The reigning Paralympic champion showed her quality as she sliced 0.19 seconds off the previous mark.
The multiple global champion also clocked 17.44 for 100m and 31.25 in the 200m over the weekend.
Another athlete in world record form was race running world champion, Kayleigh Haggo (John Owens; Ayr Seaforth). Competing over the 400m, the Scottish athlete set an RR2 world best of 1:21.31.
Daniel Sidbury (Christine Parsloe; Sutton & District) set PBs in the T54 400m and 1500m posting times of 48.00 and 2:57.80.
Elsewhere, world F34 shot put bronze medallist Vanessa Wallace (Alison O’Riordan) threw over eight metres for the first time in her career, her effort coming in at 8.09m. The European champion’s PB had stood at 7.66m before the competition in Coventry, so it was a significant improvement from the Enfield and Haringey athlete.
Another shot putter to show their best form was F12 athlete, Lydia Church (Jim Edwards; Peterborough & Nene Valley) who threw a PB of 12.62m.
In the long jump, 2019 world junior T38 champion Barney Corrall (Chris Sinclair) jumped his second PB of the season as his mark measured at 5.59m in the long jump. He jumped 5.47m in Nuneaton recently, so this was another improvement from the Charnwood athlete.
In a guest 400m, Charlie Dobson (Benke Blomkvist; Colchester) recorded a PB of 45.51 to win the men’s race, while Emily Diamond (Benke Blomkvist; Bristol & West) won the women’s race in 52.61.
Continental Tour Gold, USTAF Grand Prix inc Oregon Relays, 24 April
There were victories for a trio of British women at the Oregon Relays; Laura Muir (Andy Young; Dundee Hawkhill), Adelle Tracey (Craig Winrow; Guildford and Godalming) and Eilish McColgan (Liz Nuttall; Dundee Hawkhill) claiming wins.
Muir opened her outdoor season with a commanding performance to win by a significant margin over 1500m. Her time of 4:01.54 was nearly three seconds ahead of the American, Helen Schlachtenhaufe.
There was a battle of the Brits in the women’s 800m as Adelle Tracey pipped Jemma Reekie (Andy Young; Kilbarchan) to the line. There was just 0.01 seconds in it as Tracey sealed number one spot in 2:03.25.
McColgan produced a dominant display to win the 5000m by a margin ahead of the American, Abbey Cooper, and fellow Brit, Amy-Eloise Markovc (Chris Fox; Wakefield). McColgan won in 14:52.44 while European Indoors 3000m champion, Markovc, posted a time of 15:17.13.
In the women’s 100m, Daryll Neita (Rana Reider; Cambridge) took some notable scalps on her way to third place. Her time was 11.18 (1.2) in a race won by Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare in 10.97.
Multistars, Lana, Italy, 24-25 April
Holly Mills (Laura Turner-Alleyne) achieved a British Athletics Olympic qualifying standard and a huge PB in the heptathlon, posting a tally of 6180 points in Italy.
It was a remarkable two days for the Andover athlete who only made her senior GB&NI debut at the European Indoor Championships in March.
She started by matching her PB in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.21 (-1.1), followed by a big PB in the high jump as she cleared 1.83m for the first time. Her previous best stood at 1.74m, a height she cleared in Torun over a month ago. She finished day one with 13.66m in the shot put and 24.21 (-2.1) in the 200m to leave her on 3838 points after four events.
With a personal best on the horizon, Mills knew she had to maintain her level on day two to achieve a career best points tally. She began the day with 6.15m in the long jump, while 30.93m in the javelin set her up for the 800m.
Knowing a quick time was needed, she delivered an exceptional two laps, smashing her personal best by two seconds achieving a time of 2:10.84 to score the impressive total of 6180 points which moves her up to eighth of the UK all-time list.
J Fred Duckett Twilight, Houston, 24 April
Tara Simpson-Sullivan (Robert Halliwell; Wigan & District) moved the fourth on the UK all-time list in the women’s hammer as she threw 69.91m.
She has enjoyed a consistent season throwing over 60 metres nine times so far in 2021.
Continental Tour Silver – Drake Relays, Des Moines, 24 April
Cindy Sember (Jeff Porter) set an outright 100m hurdles PB as she took victory at the Drake Relays, clocking 12.57 (1.8). It was the continuation of her strong 2021 form, and following a 12.55 wind-assisted time recently, this was another significant feat for the Woodford Green Essex Ladies athlete. Tiffany Porter (Jeff Porter) was third in the race in a time of 12.80.
Aimee Pratt (Vicente Modahl; Sale Harriers Manchester) was second in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, posting a season best of 9:35.34 in the process.
There was also a PB for Lina Nielsen (Ryan Freckleton; Shaftesbury Barnet) in the 400m hurdles as she was fourth in a time of 56.19.
LSU Alumni Gold, Baton Rouge
CJ Ujah (Ryan Freckleton; Enfield and Haringey) opened his season over 100m with a 10.31 (-0.4), placing fourth in the race with Netheneel Mitchell -Blake (Lance Brauman; Newham & Essex Beagles) seventh in 10.45. They both returned for the 200m, the latter ahead on this occasion taking fourth in 20.76 (1.7) and Ujah fifth in 20.82.
BMC Grand Prix, Birmingham, 21 April
Jonathan Davies (Luke Gunn; Reading) and Jess Judd (Mick Judd; Blackburn) were among the winners at the BMC meeting at Birmingham University.
Davies won the men’s race in a time of 7:53.61 ahead of Philip Sesemann (Andrew Henderson; Leeds) who clocked 7:57.44. Meanwhile, Judd sealed the number one spot with a time of 8:52.73 to win the women’s contest.
Share this:
