Sember, Rowden and Forde-Wells lead the way at Manchester UK Championships
Woodford athletes were in action In the UK Championships held at Manchester over the weekend. Performances were led by gold medals for each of Cindy Sember, Daniel Rowden and Georgie Forde-Wells, silvers for Youcef Zatat and Will Grimsey with bronze medals for Eugene Amo-Dadzie and Yemi Mary John. Others also made finals and performed well.
Cindy Sember’s win came in the 100mH where the UK record holder won a tightish race recording 12.98 secs (+1.6) after winning her heat with 13.28 secs (+0.1). Having won the Championship and having the required qualification standard of 12.78 secs from last season but within the eligible time window, Cindy should be automatically selected for the World Championships in Budapest in August.
Daniel Rowden won an eventful and tight 800m in 1m45.13 secs after winning his heat in 1m46.90 secs. Long time leader Max Burgin having led through 400m in under 50 secs tied up badly in the last 50m and tripped on the kerb as his legs gave way just before the finish. His fall across the line gave him 3rd place as Daniel took the title. Daniel will have until July 23rd to achieve the qualifying standard of 1m44.70 secs.
Georgie Forde-Wells, who recently joined Woodford and represented GB & Ni in the European Team Championships, won gold in the triple jump. Georgie improved her p.b. by a significant 60 cm to win the title with 13.56m (+0.9). Not far behind Georgie was the British indoor champion, Mary Elcock, whose outdoor season has been held back by injury but showed she is on the way with a 6th place and 12.52m.
The silver medals for Woodford athletes both came in field events, Youcef Zatat placed 2nd in the shot as he improved his personal best to 18.78m and Will Grimsey was 2nd in the high jump with 2.18m. There was a bronze medal for the so called “World’s fastest accountant” Eugene Amo-Dadzie in the 100m. Eugene comfortably won his semi in 10.15 secs (+0.3) but the final took place during a torrential downpour and was won by new UK record holder Zharnel Hughes in 10.03 secs. Eugene recorded 10.18 secs (0.0) for 3rd just behind Reece Prescod, whom he recently tied with for 4th on the UK all-time lists with his 9.93 secs clocking, which is inside the World qualifying mark of 10.00 secs but his 3rd place does not carry automatic selection. The other bronze medal went to Yemi Mary John in the 400m who finished strongly to just get 3rd on the line with a time of 51.61 secs. Yemi Mary is the reigning World Junior (U/20) Champion and she goes to Finland for the European U/23 Championships next week.
Jack Lawrie and Cameron Fillery both placed 5th in their hurdles finals. Jack recorded 50.82 secs over 400mH and Cameron 13.68 secs w (+3.2) having stumbled at the penultimate flight as he was moving through the field. Cameron recorded a season’s best of 13.64 secs (+1.0) in his heat. Over 5000m Ben Potrykus placed 10th with a time of 13m57.69 secs. Also 10th in the women’s discus was Danielle Broom with 48.79m with Emma Botham recording a season’s best for 46.44m for 11th. In the heats of the 100m Rebecca Matheson was 5th in her 100m heat with 12.05 secs (+0.7)Also 5th in her hea was Jasmine Mitchell in the 400mH recording 63.63 secs. In the heats of the 200m Gwen Datey recorded her fastest ever (but windy) time of 24.05 secs w (+4.2) having earllier recored 12.04 secs (+0.6) for 5th in her 100m heat. Jacob Campbell recorded 49.08 secs in his 400m heat. George Vaughan just missed out on a p.b. in the 110mH heats where his 14.49 secs (+2.1) was marginally windy. HCA member Leah Keisler recorded 2m09.63 secs in her 800m heat whilst another, Jaymee Domoney recorded 3m53.61 secs in his 1500m heat having taken a fall just at the bell. Jane Davidosn recoeded 14.11 (+0.6) in her 100mH heart.