Zharnel Hughes (coach: Glen Mills, club: Shaftesbury Barnet) produced yet another scorching sprint performance, while there were outstanding victories for Dina Asher-Smith (Edrick Floreal, Blackheath & Bromley), Jazmin Sawyers (Aston Moore, City of Stoke), Lina Nielsen (Tony Lester, Shaftesbury Barnet) and Josh Kerr (Danny Mackey, Edinburgh) on the second and final day of action at the Novuna UK Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
Doubling up as both the national championships and the official trials ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, a host of athletes cemented their spots on the British team come September, with Hughes among those to star.
Returning to the track having won the British 100m title yesterday, the British record holder put on another phenomenal show, winning in a scorching championship record time of 19.90 (+1.2) – the first sub-20 clocking ever seen at a British championships – to add another domestic title to his ever-growing collection. The battle behind for silver and bronze saw Jona Efoloko (Ryan Freckleton, Sale Harriers Manchester) run a personal best of 20.42 to edge out Ethan Harbias-Wiltshire’s (Leon Baptiste, Newham & Essex Beagles) 20.51, also a lifetime best.
An elated Hughes said: “It was a good contest, I just had to work a bit in the home straight, but I trusted myself. Winning the 100m yesterday was pretty cool, but I wanted the 200m title more. My coach will get me a lot sharper for the Championships – I’m excited to see what I can do in Tokyo”.
On track directly after, the women’s equivalent saw a stacked line-up go head-to-head in search of silverware and a top two finish to be in contention for the worlds. After running a superb bend to come into the straight out in front, UK leader Dina Asher-Smith came under huge pressure from newly crowned 100m champion Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood).
Going all the way to the line – and with no clear call on who had taken the title – it came down to thousandths of a second, with Asher-Smith narrowly edged out Hunt, their times both sitting at a new championship record of 22.14, the time serving as a huge personal best for Hunt.
Behind the pair, and recovering brilliantly from the disappointment of a false start in yesterday’s 100m final, Daryll Neita (Lance Brauman, Cambridge Harriers) ran a season’s best time of 22.30 to secure the world qualifying time and win British bronze.
Finding her form at just the right time, Asher-Smith said: “It was an excellent race, we needed a photo-finish because neither of us knew who had won. But I am happy to come here and run a low-22, it is a fantastic time. The ladies did amazingly as well, so it bodes well for us going into the relay.”
Continuing an outstanding return to the sport after a notable injury layoff, Jazmin Sawyers enjoyed another fine outing to reclaim her women’s long jump title following a consistent series of jumps, led by a sixth-round best of 6.82m (+4.7) to secure her Tokyo spot.
Lucy Hadaway (Matt Barton, City of York) produced a best of 6.50m (+3.8) in round three, a mark good for silver, with Alice Hopkins’ (Linford Christie, Oxford City) 6.28m (+2.3) earning bronze.
Elated with her outing, Sawyers said: “To have the title back and perform well in front of this British Champs crowd means the world to me, especially after the injury and being forced to take a year out. The crowd got louder and louder, so it really felt like they wanted a big jump as much as I did. I was so glad I could give them the biggest one of the day in the last round.”
After arguably the run of his life in London two weeks ago, UK leader Charlie Dobson (Leon Baptise, Colchester Harriers) showed up when it mattered to win the British 400m title in a time of 45.36.
Having pulled back the stagger on those outside of him, Dobson came on strong over the final 150m to reign in Toby Harries (David Sadkin, Brighton Phoenix) in lane seven and dip over for the win, Lewis Davey (Trevor Painter, Newham & Essex Beagles) producing a fine final 50m to get up for silver in 45.61, Harries settling for bronze in 45.98.
One of the most eagerly awaited events of the weekend, and with five men holding the world qualifying mark, the men’s 800m delivered in style as British number one Max Burgin (Halifax) won his second British title.
Led through 400m by Burgin in a swift 50.6, the Halifax man then held and extended his notable lead to deliver the ultimate gun to tape performance, his time of 1:43.92 just shy of the championship record set some 25 years ago.
Frantic finishing action behind Burgin saw first British medal wins for both Tiaran Crorken (Andrew Henderson, Preston) and Alex Botterill (City of York) with silver and bronze, their times 1:45.56 and 1:45.57 respectively.
The second fastest in the world this year over two laps, Olympic 1500m medallist Georgia Hunter-Bell (Trevor Painter, Newham & Essex Beagles) continued her fine form in the event.
Third at the bell before opting to move wide and seek open track, Hunter-Bell was made to work by race leader Jemma Reekie (Jon Bigg, Kilbarchan), the Scot looking to up the ante with 200m to run.
Hunter-Bell then moved onto Reekie’s shoulder with 150m to run, looking assured as she then streaked away to win her first ever British title in 1:59.53, Reekie doing what was required of her to make the plane for Tokyo with 2:00.97 for second. Having pushed Reekie hard, Abigail Ives (Luke Gunn, Basildon) clinched bronze in 2:01.11.
On her event plans for Tokyo, Hunter-Bell said: “I am not going to make the decision on events for Tokyo until after I have run my next Diamond League 1500m and 800m – so I have a bit of time to think. How cool would it be to follow in the footsteps of the great British athletes like Seb Coe, Kelly Holmes, Steve Cram, who did double up, and were successful – it’s hard to decide.”
It was an astonishing 17th British title for Morgan Lake (Yannick Tregaro, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) in the women’s high jump, first-time clearances at 1.83m, 1.87m and 1.90m more than enough for a commanding win. Gabrielle Garber (Andrew Wood, Leeds City) took the second step of the podium, a 2cm personal best of 1.83m good for silver, with Halle Ferguson (Andrew Wood, Trafford) in bronze courtesy of 1.79m.
“I am really happy – it is another competition over 1.90m, and with a win,” said Lake.
“It has been a good season – the fact this is one of my most disappointing heights tells you I am in a good place this season. I still have to get the qualifying standard of 1.97m – I’ve hit 1.95m and 1.96m, so hopefully I will get that in the next few competitions.”
Carrying three men in 48-second form this year – Tyri Donovan (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow), Alastair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey) and Seamus Derbyshire (Alex O’Gorman, City of Stoke) – the men’s 400m hurdles delivered a thrilling finale as the trio battled it out for a top two finish along with eventual faller Jake Minshull (James Wright, Coventry).
With Chalmers and Derbyshire getting out hard, Donovan recovered from a clattered hurdle on the back straight to rally coming into the straight, the four going neck and neck with a lean on the line getting it for Donovan. His time 49.18 to silver medallist Chalmers’ 49.20. Derbyshire was three-tenths back, 49.50 seeing him take the bronze.
Donovan reflected: “It was another mature performance on the back straight, and again, I am so happy to get the win. The strategy in my mind was to go off conservatively because I can race with a bit more patience. The guys know I can go off fast, but I’ve learned to hold it back a bit in recent weeks.”
After the entire 20-man field were separated by just 20m through three kilometres, Rory Leonard (Morpeth) made a long run for home with 1200m to go in the men’s 5000m, trialled by 1500m world champion Josh Kerr, who moved up in distance for the championships.
Kerr moved by Leonard with a kilometre to run, taking in the home crowd support and he extended away, taking the bell while continuing to surge, his title-winning time 13:44.73. Having made so much of the early running, Leonard tired and found himself passed by Jack Kavanagh (Holland Sports AC) who took silver in 13:53.35, Leonard ultimately holding onto a medal with bronze in 13:54.50.
Post-race, Kerr said: “This is my second ever British title; I am very lucky to be able to come and race over the 5000m amongst a great field. It was always going to be tough out there over the last mile but I really enjoyed the first eight laps; that was fun!”
Defending champion Lina Nielsen attacked the women’s 400m hurdles final in fierce fashion, her hard running over the opening 200m seeing her come into the home straight in the lead from UK leader Emily Newnham (Nick Dakin, Shaftesbury Barnet).
Clearing the final hurdle safely, Nielsen held in to cross the line in 55.39 and secure her Tokyo spot, with Newnham’s top two finish and British silver also seeing her join Nielsen on the team, her time 55.66. Hayley McLean (Chris Zah, Shaftesbury Barnet) was a comfortable third, winning bronze with 56.94.
Speaking post-race, Nielsen said: “This is the most wracking part of any season. I am excited when I get to the main stage, but this is always tough. I knew today I had to attack the back straight – I came into the event feeling strong and powerful, and I know I can build on these performances.”
The women’s 400m final saw world indoor champion Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove) stamp her authority on proceedings as she coasted away over the opening 200m, looking incredibly smooth to keep the field at bay and clock 50.53 – narrowly outside of the championship record – for the win.
Behind her, fine late efforts saw Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex Beagles) just edge out the fast-finishing Yemi Mary-John (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies), their times 50.79 and 50.84 respectively, with Anning and Ohuruogu now confirmed as Tokyo bound.
The penultimate event of the championships, and with a number of athletes chasing the world qualifying mark of 4:01.5, the women’s 1500m got off to cagey start through the opening 600m.
Having recently returned from injury, Laura Muir (Dundee Hawkhill) looked to wrestle control with 800m to run, with Katie Snowden (Herne Hill) and Revee Walcott Nolan (Thomas Dreissigacker, Luton) for company. Walcott Nolan pushed hard at the bell, with an astonishing finale to the race seeing four athletes in a line, Sarah Calvert (Luke Gunn, Livingston) running the race of her life, wider into lane four, to win the British title in 4:16.27 from fellow Scot Muir, her time 4:16.32.
Through the opening 800m in a cautious 2:08, the men’s 800m found its feet as a hugely bunched field took the bell with all to play for. Led round by Sam Charig (Alex Budd, City of Portsmouth) and Elliot Giles (Jon Bigg, Birchfield), the pace ramped up down the back straight as a straight 200m shoot-out evolved.
Charging down the straight, Giles used his experience to run wide, joined by world indoor medallist Neil Gourley (Stephen Haas, Giffnock North), both of whom made the top two finishes theirs to cement world championship berths for Tokyo, Gourley taking the win in 3:47.06 ahead of Giles’ 3:47.20.
Shorter hurdles action saw UK leader Tade Ojora (Joanna Hayes, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) claim back his title in imperious fashion, a stadium record time of 13.34 (+1.7) earning him the wind by a comfortable margin from 2024 champion Daniel Goriola (Tony Jarrett, Blackheath & Bromley), who ran 13.81 ahead of bronze medal winner Sam Bennett (Steven Surety, Basildon) in 13.87.
The men’s triple jump went right to the wire, with a huge final shift in the podium rankings as Archie Yeo (Lukasz Zawila, Kingston upon Hull) sailed out to 15.79m (-0.2) with his sixth and final jump to bump himself from bronze to gold. Having tussled for the title, Jude Bright-Davies (David Johnson, Thames Valley) and Bera Ajala (John Scott, Glasgow Jaguars) were left to share silver on account of their matching marks of 15.44m, jumped in rounds four and six respectively.
Adele Nicholl (Ryan Spencer-Jones, Birchfield Harriers) racked up a third British title in the women’s shot put, saving her best throw until last as she went out to 17.17m in round six. Producing a hugely consistent series of throws in the 16m+ region, Serena Vincent (Mike Winch, City of Portsmouth) won silver with 16.77m, while Nana Gyedu (John Hillier, Blackheath & Bromley) won bronze after a best effort of 15.64m in round two.
Having been the only athlete to go clear at 5.35m, Owen Heard (Kate Rooney, Harrow) then enjoyed a celebratory clearance at 5.45m to win his first outdoor gold in the men’s pole vault. Behind Heard, Adam Hague (Trevor Fox, Sheffield & Dearne) won silver after a third-time clearance at 5.25m, while Thomas Walley (Andy Ashurst, Wrexham) collected bronze with 5.10m.
Despite only producing two clean throws on the day, that was all that was needed for Jake Norris (Paul Dickenson, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) as he swept up the men’s hammer throw title with a best effort of 74.08m in round five.
In personal best form this year, Jack Paget (John Pearson, Thames Valley) took silver after throwing 71.06m, with Craig Murch (Matt Spicer, Birchfield Harriers) in bronze on home soil, his best effort 70.34m.
The men’s 3000m steeplechase final saw a breakaway group of four make the harder running at the half way point, UK leader and 2021 champion Mark Pearce ( Luke Gunn, BRAT) at the front throughout proceedings. Attacked by defending champion Phil Norman (Tomaz Plibersek, Woodford Green Essex Ladies) and previous title holder Zak Seddon (Bracknell AC) with 100m to go, with Norman showing the speed and resolve to peel away for the title from Seddon, 8:40.47 to 8:40.67. After his bold front-running, Pearce was rewarded for British bronze in 8:41.65.
The opening event of the day, the women’s javelin went the way of Bekah Walton (Loughborough Students), the four-time British champion bringing up a fifth title courtesy of a best mark of 58.44m. Freya Jones (David Callaway, Harrow) matched the silver won last year with 56.53m, while Sophie Hamilton clinched bronze (Harrow AC) with 53.53m.
Elsewhere, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Aston Moore, Liverpool Harriers) threw out to a best mark of 41.98m, a season’s best, while world para-athletics champion Hollie Arnold (Blackheath & Bromley) opened up her season with 41.37m.
Opening up track action, both the men and women’s 5000m race walkers got proceedings under way on day two. Both races were won in dominant fashion, Cameron Corbishley (Andi Drake, Medway & Maidstone) coming home in 19:51.83, while Hannah Hopper (Noel Carmody, Cambridge Harriers) proved to have too much bounce for her rivals, winning by a margin of some twenty seconds in 24:24.42, a huge personal best time.
In the men’s race, Chris Snook (Andi Drake, Aldershot, Farnham & District) won silver in 21:38.67, Luc Legon (Noel Carmody, Bexley AC) taking bronze in 23:19.99. Bethan Davies (Andi Drake, Cardiff) won silver with 24:47.93 in the women’s equivalent, matching the colour won last year, with Abigail Jennings (Verity Snook, Aldershot, Farnham & District) up for bronze in 24:54.66, a season’s best.
The best of her three legal throws, Zara Obamakinwa (Mark Chapman, Blackheath & Bromley) upgraded 2024 British silver to 2025 British gold following a round four best of 55.90m in the women’s discus, Kirsty Law’s (Zane Duquemin, Sale Harriers Manchester) 53.87m good for silver ahead of Sophie Mace (Gary Herrington, Thames Valley) in bronze, her best 50.08m.
With little to separate them on season’s bests, Steven Bryce (Steven Doig, Fife) and Kieran O’Hara (Patrick Gahagan, Havering) made the early running in the men’s para-athletics 1500m final. After wrestling the lead back from O’Hara following a kick at the bell, Bryce then tied up badly over the final 15m, O’Hara keeping something in reserve to motor once more and take gold with a lean on the line, the time 4:03.70 to Bryce’s 4:03.77. Daniel Wolff (Belgrave) followed the pair in, his time 4:05.86 winning bronze.
It was a cagey opening to proceedings in the men’s wheelchair 1500m final, Kyle Brotherton (Gerry Gaffney, Red Star) leading from Illias Zghoundi (Richard Chiassaro, Harlow AC) through 800m, Josh Hickinbottom (Coventry) tight on the inside. Upping the tempo from the bell, Brotherton and Zghoundi went push for push as they came into the straight, ultimately Hickinbottom having enough to surge away to win in 3:56.16, Zghoundi clocking 3:57.30 for silver, and Hickinbottom posting 3:58.13.
Sophie Hahn (Leon Baptiste, Charnwood) won the first round of the women’s para-athletics 100m, her time 12.84 (+1.1) Olivia Breen (Aston Moore, City of Portsmouth) second in 13.10, Victoria Levitt third in a season’s best 13.21. Returning to the track two hours later, Hahn notched another win, this time in a quicker 12.76 (+1.3) from Hetty Bartlett (John Herbert, City of Norwich) in 13.32, and Rebecca Scott (Paul Keeble, Stevenage & North Herts) with 13.60.
