As I type this, I am high in the sky on my journey to Belgrade and the World Indoor Championships. The competition makes its welcome return after COVID scuppered the 2020 (postponed to 2021) edition in Nanjing in China.

The Serbian capital’s Stark Arena provides a fast track and is well versed in competition after hosting the 2017 European Indoor Championships.

The action runs from Friday morning through to Sunday, so let me take you on a tour of some of the names to look out for in the distance events.

I start with a caveat, though; the entry lists do not distinguish between those racing and non-travelling reserves. I have done my best to weed out the reserves, but some may have slipped through. All entries are as at Tuesday morning.

Marc Scott comes into the champs on the back of a fantastic European indoor record over 5000m. Photo: James Rhodes

Men’s 3000m

The longest race on the track has the potential to be one of the best races of the Championships, with the field including the third, fifth and seventh fastest men in history. That’s three men who have run under 7:28 this year, and a further two who have run sub-7:32.

As overall winner of the World Indoor Tour, Lamecha Girma secured a wildcard for Belgrade providing Ethiopia with three spots for the event. He may be a steeplechase specialist, but the Olympic silver medallist has demonstrated his abilities indoors with wins in Lievin and Torun against strong fields.

Girma will be joined by compatriots Berihu Aregawi, the 5k World Record holder and fastest man over 15 laps in the world this year, thanks to his 7:26.20 in Karlsruhe in January, and Olympic 10,000m Champion Selemon Barega.

Girma and Barega have raced each other three times this season, Girma winning twice and Barega taking the most recent duel in Madrid.

Whilst there is high probability of an Ethiopian podium lock-out, which would be a first, Spain’s Adel Mechaal should not be discounted. He has had a fantastic indoor season, including a European Record (7:30.82) in New York, and will be looking to get onto the rostrum.

Home athlete Elzan Bibic has set National Records each time he has raced indoors this year, and I look forward to seeing New Zealander George Beamish race after his win at the Millrose Games in a National Record (7:39.50). Staying in Australasia, Belgrade will be Matthew Ramsden’s first ever indoor race.

Thanks to their one-two at the British Indoor Championships, Marc Scott and Jamaine Coleman will wear the British vest, with Tom Mortimer a non-travelling reserve. Marc’s only 3000m this year came at those (always tactical) championships, but with his last kilometre speed alongside his European Indoor Record over 5000m (12:57.03) he will be looking for a good performance after what he called a “disappointing Olympics”.

TORUN, POLAND – MARCH 05: Gold medalist Amy-Eloise Markovc of Great Britain (R) and bronze medalist Verity Ockenden of Great Britain (L) celebrate after competing in the Women’s 3000 metres. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images for European Athletics)

Women’s 3000m

The women’s 3000m is the only track event that will be run as a straight final and is an event that has been dominated by Ethiopia in recent years, a trend that looks set to continue with the trio of Dawit Seyaum, Ejgayehu Taye and Lemlem Hailu competing.

Lemlem has a 8:29.28 PB but has not raced over the distance this year (her spot guaranteed after winning last year’s World Indoor Tour). Dawit and Ejgayehu are faster on paper, however, having run 8:23.24 and 8:26.77 respectively in February.

Americans Alicia Monson and Ellie Purrier St Pierre may provide a strong challenge, with both showing great form in recent weeks. Alicia had an impressive win at the Millrose Games (8:31.62 PB), wearing On’s new spikes. Keep an eye out also for Gabriela Debues-Stafford, the former training partner of Laura Muir, who set a Canadian Record this winter (8:33.92) and will be looking for her first global medal.

European Indoor Champion Amy Eloise Markovc leads the British duo alongside Amelia Quirk, who has taken to indoor racing well after making her debut last year. Amy Eloise is one of many in the field to have set a PB in 2022.

Tsegay. Photo James Rhodes

Women’s 1500m

It feels fair to say that it is not every day you get to see a World Record holder in action, particularly given the age of some track records. Those in the Stark Arena may be in for a treat as the 1500m is headed up by World Record holder Gudaf Tsegay.

Her 3:53.09 run in Lievin last year is over two seconds faster than anyone else has run, and the Ethiopian has looked in equally fine form in recent weeks. A heavy fall in the opening laps derailed a record attempt at the mile in Lievin (a race she still managed to comfortably win), but she responded well to run the second fastest indoor 1500m in history – second to her own WR – a fortnight ago in Torun.

The 25 year old is yet to claim a major gold (with Olympic, World and World Indoor bronze), and one would bet good money that this will be the competition it happens.

She is joined by compatriot Axumawit Embaye who, in contrast to some of the athletes to have emerged on the international circuit in the past couple of years, has been a household name in athletics circles for a number of years – on the European circuit for a decade now. It has been a good indoor season for Embaye, with highlights including a 4:02.12 clocking in Karlsruhe in January.

Ellie Purrier St Pierre is one of a handful of athletes entered for both the 1500m and 3000m, alongside Jessica Hull.

It is hard predict who might complete the podium (which is why I don’t do predictions!), however I am looking forward to seeing how Americans Heather Maclean and Josette Norris runs after some good performances over the past twelve months.

From a British perspective, all eyes will be on Erin Wallace as she makes her senior champs debut after an excellent start to the year, culminating with a PB and Belgrade Q at the Muller Indoor GP.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – FEBRUARY 23: George Mills of Great Britain celebrates victory in the men’s 1500m during Day Two of the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships at Emirates Arena on February 23, 2020 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Stephen Pond – British Athletics/British Athletics via Getty Images)

Men’s 1500m

In case one 1500m World Record holder wasn’t enough, Jakob Ingebrigtsen headlines the men’s race in what will be his first outing since his 3:30.60 in Lievin that broke Samuel Tefera’s historic mark.

The Olympic Champion needs no introduction, and he will face the Ethiopian who finished almost three seconds behind him in that race in Lievin, although that time is the second fastest in the world this year by a comfortable margin.

This race has historically been a tactical and slow affair, but I can’t imagine the Norwegian allowing a slow pace to unfold come Sunday’s final.

Abel Kipsang will also likely play a role in the final, the Olympic fourth placer won in Birmingham last month (3:34.57) and has also run sub-1:46 at altitude over 800m.

After Piers Copeland declined his automatic selection as winner of the British Indoor Championships, it will be Neil Gourley and George Mills who run in the British vest.

Neil has improved his indoor best to 3:35.32 in February and finished second in the trials, whilst George has looked excellent in his races this year. He was the first Brit home at the Muller Indoor GP (3:36.03 PB), a race that acted as a potential preview of the British Championships – where Mills did not run due to a niggle.

Robert Farken, training partner of George Mills, and Oliver Hoare (who won the Millrose Games mile in 3:50.83) will both also look to make the final.

Adel Mechaal (fourth fastest this year of the entries) and Elzan Bibic are also entered, but I think it unlikely both will double up.

Credit: James Rhodes

Women’s 800m

One could argue that the women’s 800m is the event with the most likely British gold medal via Keely Hodgkinson. The 20 year old goes to Belgrade almost a second faster than the rest of the field, both by PB and SB, after her 1:57.20 at the Muller Indoor GP in Birmingham. That is the fastest time indoors since the day the World Record was set, which spookily was the day Keely was born.

Whilst Keely has demonstrated her tactical astuteness as well as raw speed, it will not be a straightforward task as three other women entered have run under two minutes this season; Natoya Goule (1:58.46), outdoor World Champion Halimah Nakaayi (1:58.58) and Catriona Bisset (1:59.46), with 2022 being the latter’s indoor debut.

Jenny Selman completes the GB entrants after her 2:00.70 PB and excellent first place at the trials. This will be her senior GB debut, her last British vest coming at junior level back in 2009. A prime example that the athlete journey is not always an instant one.

Finally, with PBs of 1:58.19 and 1:58.29 respectively, it would be remis to not mention Habitam Alemu and Ajee Wilson in this preview. Alemu has not raced the distance yet this year, whilst Wilson will be looking to improve on the silver medals she took home from the last two editions of these championships. Her best this year is ‘only’ 2:01.38, although she has won all of her 800m races in 2022.

Photo: James Rhodes

Men’s 800m

In previewing last year’s European Indoors 800m, I neglected to mention the eventual winner (Patryk Dobek). He does not go in Belgrade, and the task of predicting a winner come Saturday’s final is no easier as, unlike the women’s event, the men’s four-lap race has no clear-cut favourite.

Writing through a British lens, I will start with Elliot Giles – the fastest in the field on paper (but then, he is the second fastest ever indoors behind Wilson Kipketer). He has shown excellent consistency this year, finishing first or second in every race, with his last three (non-British Champs) races being within 0.01s of each other. Giles finished fourth in Birmingham in 2018 and will be looking for his first global medal.

His rivals are expected to include Spaniard Mariano Garcia. He had an excellent start to the year with a win at the New Balance Indoor GP, but was beaten in his most recent races at the Spanish Championships and World Indoor Tour in Madrid (by Giles). Expect to see his motorbike celebrations if he takes gold.

Garcia’s compatriot Alvaro de Arriba joins him in Belgrade, as Spanish Champion and having taken the European Indoor title in 2019.

Two Americans will take to the track, Bryce Hoppel and Isiah Harris. Hoppel was fourth in the World Championships 800m in Doha in 2019, and booked his spot in Belgrade with a comfortable looking victory at the USA Champs (1:45.30).

The British contingent is completed by Guy Learmonth and Charlie Grice, the latter finding himself in Belgrade thanks to Giles’ World Indoor Tour win and resultant wildcard.

In short, it is impossible to call how this one will go!

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Molly Scott (St. Laurence O’Toole’s AC) is set take the World Indoor Championships by storm after her incredible record breaking 60m performance at the Irish Life Health National Senior Indoor Championships in February, retaking the Irish Record with a time of 7.19.

Phil Healy (Bandon AC) has been a strong feature of the Irish indoor season, after winning the Irish life Health National Senior Indoor Championships Healy went on to set a new 400m PB, 51.66, at the World Indoor Tour in Madrid last week (2nd March).

Mark English (Finn Valley AC) takes to the 800m and the Men’s 4x400m. The 2022 season has seen a series of consistent and strong performances from the Finn Valley Star with a sixth-place finish at the World Athletics Indoor Tour in Poland before coming to the Irish Life Health National Senior Indoor Championships to take top spot.

15 July 2021; Israel Olatunde of Ireland competes in the semi final of the men’s 100 metres during day one of the European Athletics U20 Championships at the Kadriorg Stadium in Tallinn, Estonia. Photo by Marko Mumm/Sportsfile

Young athletes pushing Irish records

Israel Olatunde (UCD AC) features in the 60m after his incredible performance at the Irish Life Health National Senior Indoor Championships, securing both his standard to qualify for these championships, the 19-year-old also secured a new PB of 6.62 just 0.01 away from the National Senior record.

Sarah Healy (UCD AC) is set for the 1500m and will be pushing for the final or better at the World Indoor Championships. The 21-year-old has had a superb indoor season breaking her own U23 Record Number in February setting the time at 4:06.95, the second fastest ever by an Irish woman, after Ciara Mageean.

12 December 2021; Siofra Cleirigh Buttner of Ireland competing in the Mixed 4x1500m Relay during the SPAR European Cross Country Championships Fingal-Dublin 2021 at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

High Performance Director Paul McNamara commented on the selection

“Ireland had one athlete compete at the 2016 World Indoor Championships and five athletes compete at the 2018 edition, we have now selected a team of eleven individual athletes, plus the selection of two relay teams both of which will be pushing towards a final and new national record.

These figures underpin a significant increase in the strength and depth of indoor athletics in Ireland, which continues to bode well for the future, and this squad is confident of making an impact in on the global stage in Belgrade.”

The athletes and coaches

** = Denotes an athlete who is a non-travelling reserve

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Thompson was a shade outside his personal best as he took the British title at Sunday’s Vitality Big Half in 61:07, finishing second to Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) having disputed the lead for the first five miles, and the 38-year-old Briton earns his first British vest on the road, 22 years after making his track debut at the World Junior Championships.

Fresh from lowering the British Under-23 record for the half marathon to 62:00 in London, Jake Smith will also represent Great Britain & Northern Ireland on the roads for the first time, having made his British track debut at last year’s European Under-23 Championships in Gävle, Sweden.

Having finished as the third and fourth British athletes home at the trial, both Ross Millington and Mohamud Aadan declined selection for the championship.

Progressive selection policy

With the selection policy stating that automatic selection can be offered to the next eligible athlete if declined by auto-qualifiers (in part due to hard work by members of the Athlete’s Commission), 2017 British Marathon gold medallist Josh Griffiths earns his first British vest in almost three years courtesy of his eighth-place showing at the trials.

Doha team member Ben Connor, who has already clocked 61:34 for the distance in 2020, will look to improve on his individual 64^th place finish at the 2018 instalment of the championships in Valencia, while Matt Leach, who has twice run for Britain in the European 10,000m cup, completes the senior men’s team.

On the women’s side, Partridge earns her first British vest since the 2018 European Championships in Berlin and will look to better her 70:31 personal best clocking, set in 2015, when she takes to the start line in Poland. Sarah Inglis, who moved 13^th on the all-time British list with a strong run in Houston in January, also gains selection.

British debuts are handed to Samantha Harrison and Stephanie Davis, who clocked respective personal bests of 71:01 and 71:15 for second and third-place finishes at the Big Half, with fourth place finisher, Hayley Carruthers, also earning her first British vest.

Good to see a full squad going

Ahead of the championship, team leader Chris Jones said: “The full squad of 10 for the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships in Gdynia showcases some of Great Britain’s most in-form athletes over the distance, exemplified by the performances at the trials and the form we have seen already this season.

“The team we have selected shows a good range of previous British international experience and features new names to the international scene and I hope this strength will be reflected in the overall outcome.

“The championships will serve as an excellent opportunity for athletes to continue their upward trajectory on the roads and I hope that we can achieve a strong team position overall.”

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This edition of the championship, the longest event of the official IAAF championship calendar, was already looking like a weekend for superlatives as the start list included more countries and the highest number of athletes of any previous event. Whether it was the course, the weather or the depth of competition, this astonishing weekend saw 30 new national and age group records.

The two winners started the race in emphatic fashion, although Herron’s unbelievable start made Sorokin look unusually conservative. While Herron led from the beginning, Sorokin was only sixth after the first hour. Both avoided the expected decline as the hours took their toll and finished strong enough to win by clear margins.

Brits compete against high quality opposition

The British are often a medal threat at these championships , but the extremely high overall standard in both male and female fields meant that the individual and team podium positions were not forthcoming. It was, however, a successful weekend for the teams.

Jess Baker (227.558km) repeated her performance from Belfast to be the highest placed British female athlete in 16th. She was backed up in the team results by an outstanding debut from Cat Simpson (23rd with 220.301km) and an impressive 27th from Wendy Whearity (217.174km). Ali Young (211.113km) and Sarah Morwood (186.169km) completed the women’s team.

Paul Maskell (251.261km) also had an impressive debut as the first British man in 15th place. Experienced GB athletes James Stewart (17th with 250.696km) and Dan Lawson (23rd with 244.732km) were the other two team counters.

A good indicator of the standard is that we have never had three athletes over 240km without medalling at previous championships. Team stalwart Steve Holyoak once again delivered a strong performance and debutants Grant MacDonald and Mike Stocks completed the men’s team.

Paul Maskell. Credit: Norbert Mihalik

War of attrition

GB team manager John Pares: “I was incredibly impressed by the gutsy performances of the athletes. 24 Hour racing is a war of attrition and we have never had 100% of our athletes on track at the end. These totals would have been rewarded with medals in any other championship. It shows how the standard is rising in the world of ultra-running, but also that the British standards are rising with it.”

Paul Maskell: “For a first-time GB athlete I was blown-away by the team atmosphere in what is normally an individual event. The crew support behind the scenes was phenomenal. I’m looking forward to building on this performance and helping the team win medals at future championships.”

Jess Baker: “I always run my own race but it was great to share the track with such high calibre athletes and to see Camille smash her own world record. It’s always so inspirational to see my fellow athletes, often against great adversity, pushing themselves to new limits.”

Cat Simpson. Credit: Norbert Mihalik

Women

1. Camille Herron (USA) 270.116km
2. Nele Alder-Baerens (GER) 254.288km
3. Patrycja Berenznowska (POL) 247.724km
16. Jess Baker (GBR) 227.558km
23. Cat Simpson (GBR) 220.301
27. Wendy Whearity (GBR) 217.174km
33. Ali Young (GBR) 211.113
66. Sarah Morwood (GBR) 186.169km

Men

1. Aleksandr Sorokin (LTU) 278.973km
2. Tamas Bodis (HUN) 276.222km
3. Olivier Leblond (USA) 275.485km
15. Paul Maskell (GBR) 251.261km
17. James Stewart (GBR) 250.696km
23. Dan Lawson (GBR) 244.732km
35. Steve Holyoak (GBR) 234.590km
43. Grant MacDonald (GBR) 227.734km
71. Michael Stocks (GBR) 209.145km

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What must have been going through Lord Coe’s mind as he breezed onto the airless start line of the World Championship women’s marathon last night?

Stepping off a golf cart without a drop of sweat to mark his pristine suit the former endurance star has done enough hard miles on the road to know what the athletes behind him were about to face.

As he took his place amongst the dignitaries I couldn’t help thinking it was a little like Caesar looking down on gladiators and slaves in the colosseum. The inevitable happened. Around 40% of athletes dropped out despite the pedestrian pace at the race started at. Only the top seven broke 2:40.

Athletes who gave every bit of themselves for months of hard training set up to fail on what should have been one of the proudest moments of their lives.

Building atmosphere

This builds on the irony of atmosphere having to be pumped into a half empty stadium at vast monetary and environmental expense. Literally pouring cold air into atmosphere already as chilled as you might expect given the rent-a-crowd audience looking on.

It seems symbolic for where we are at the moment in world athletics. All the sugary social media in the world cannot deflect from reports of stadiums packed with bussed in migrant workers and amdist more relvations on suspicious payments made to IAAF officials.

I fully understand the IAAF’s desire to spread the sport. There’s a lot of money in that. I am however confused about how an empty stadium, and races where 41% of the field cannot finish contribute to spreading the appeal of athletics? There is an overriding feeling that money, greed and corporate interests will leave us with a championships heavy on polish, light on soul.

I don’t spread a sport from the top down. You dont drive participation and fans by throwing billions at at problem. Holding a major championships seems to make more sense to be the icing on the cake of a nation’s passion for a sport not a way of creating a passion that doesn’t exist. Even of this honestly were the goal of the IAAF the empty stadiums tell us it’s not suceeded. Of course there may be a longer term legacy for participation and interest in athletics in Qatar but there evidence from the past doesn’t leave me with much faith.

Of course, as always the athlete’s will save the IAAF and the games. They always do.

The athletes will still provide a fine show

The problem with criticising a games is that it somehow feels it takes something away from the athletes competition. It doesn’t. Quite the opposite the athletes who toed the line last night were faced with unique challenges.

A midnight start, crippling humidity and uncertainty about whether the race was going to go ahead right until the last minute. Every one of those athletes should command our respect. There were incredible performances with 2:17:08 marathoner Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya winning in 2:32:43 and 41 year old Roberta Groner of the USA running 2:38:44 for sixth.

Charlotte Purdue will have prepared as well as any British athlete could possibly have prepared. My heart goes out to her – a hugely talented athlete who works incredibly hard and was valiant in the face of a an international federation whose priorities seem further from athletes than ever before putting every obsticle in her path.

Will the rules and politics bring the demise of our sport?

However all three Ethiopian athletes, some of the favourites for the win, dropped out before halfway. In tough conditions 28 of the 68 starters didn’t make the finish on the seven lap course. What will happen in the four to five hours of race walking in the 50km at the same time tonight where only 24 women and 46 men due on their respective start lines.

Even one of the more crowd pleasing moments of the Champs, Braimar Suncar Dabo of Guinnea-Bissau helping Jonathan Busby of Aruba to the finish in the 5000m, was tarnished by the IAAF. Social media was awash of pictures and videos of the emotional  moment that showcased one of the true values of our sport.

The IAAF even tweeted about it themselves, taking the clicks and likes, before DQing Busby, who was nearly five minutes back from the winner.

Not a new opinion

Of course none of these opinions are new or original. Far better informed and more eloquent people than me have been saying this for a long time and predicted what we are now seeing.

Last night however crystallised opinion into fact. Doha is the Games where sports governance seems to lost touch with its core purpose.

In a political age of ‘double-downing’ on bad decisions let’s not hold our breath for those in sports governance positisions to accept the errors that have been made.

Let’s get behind the athletes now, cheer their incredible talent and hard work and dedication, but when the heat and humidity of Doha is over let’s take a long, cold look at the IAAF who are there to represent our athletes and our sport.

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Among those securing their place on the team are multiple World & European medallist Sarah Tunstall (Kendal), 2016 European champion, Emmie Collinge (Alta Valtellina) and 2017 world bronze medallist and 2019 European senior men’s and junior men’s champions, Jacob Adkin (Robbie Simpson; Keswick) and Joe Dugdale (Copeland).

Tunstall, who was fourth at the recent European Champs in Zermatt, leads the senior women’s team alongside Collinge which sees the experienced medallists joined by Phillipa Williams (Sheffield RC) and Heidi Davies (U.S. Malonno).

Williams will make her debut for Great Britain & Northern Ireland following a solid performance at the trials where she finished second. Meanwhile, Davies, a junior bronze medallist from the 2016 European championships, completes the quartet.

Admin en route to winning the European Uphill Championships in July. Photo: Robbie Britton

A strong men’s team, but only three

After his European success earlier this year, Adkin will be a contender once again in the senior men’s race. Andrew Douglas (Sophie Dunnett; Inverclyde), winner of the trials, will go into the championship in supreme form having already secured the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) World Cup title with one race to spare.

Following injury, Joe Steward (Harry Kelly; East Cheshire) makes his comeback appearance after a second-place finish at the trials in Wales last weekend.

It’s a shame there is only three men named in the squad as it takes three to score and the men’s senior team, that consisted of Adkin, Douglas and Robbie Simpson, are the current European Champions. Steward can be a strong third counter, but a bit of insurance to support the stand out pair of Adkin and Douglas would give a higher chance of medals.

Junior mountain running looking strong

European champion Joe Dugdale spearheads a strong junior men’s team which includes fellow European team gold-medallist, Matthew Mackay (Steve Duxbury; Rossendale). Joe Hudson (Alan Buckley; Keighley & Craven) and Matthew Knowles (Lancaster & Morecambe) will make their first appearances for GB & NI.

In the junior women’s team, trials winner Lauren Dickson (Andrew Henderson; Lasswade) joins debutant Eden O’Dea (Deeside), and Eve Pannone (Derek Hurton; Eden Runners) – the highest placed Briton at the European championships earlier this year – as the trio to face the best in the world.

A word from the management

Team Leader, Anne Buckley, said:

“This year’s championship in Patagonia are going to provide a unique challenge to all teams, so I am pleased to have selected such a strong British team who are contenders for the top positions, both individually and as a team.

“The team includes several athletes who have previously won individual and team medals on the world and European stage, so they have experience of the championship environment which is invaluable. For the debutants, they have earned their places on the team and demonstrated they are ready for this level of competition.”

The British Athletics team for the World Mountain Running Championships (up and down) in Villa La Angostura, Argentina on Friday 15 November 2019.

Senior men:

Jacob Adkin (Robbie Simpson; Keswick)

Andrew Douglas (Sophie Dunnett; Inverclyde)

Joe Steward (Harry Kelly; East Cheshire)

Senior women:

Emmie Collinge (Alta Valtellina)

Heidi Davies (U.S Malonno)

Sarah Tunstall (Kendal)

Phillipa Williams (Sheffield RC)

Junior men:

Joe Dugdale (Copeland)

Joe Hudson (Alan Buckley; Keighley & Craven)

Matthew Knowles (Lancaster & Morecambe)

Matthew Mackay (Steve Duxbury; Rossendale)

Junior women:

Lauren Dickson (Andrew Henderson; Lasswade)

Eden O’Dea (Deeside)

Eve Pannone (Derek Hurton; Eden Runners)

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The a first wave of endurance athletes was announced back in May and there were few surprises in the press release yesterday.

Wightman makes the cut

One of the most difficult calls for selectors will have been in the men’s 1500m. Despite leading the UK rankings in 2019 Charlie Da’Vall Grice misses out on selection after finishing 4th at the British Championships.

Instead the top three from the championships are selected with Neil Gourley, Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman make up the men’s 1500m team and despite moving to 4th on the UK all time list Grice misses out.

High hopes for Muir

Laura Muir won individual European gold last summer and earns selection for another World Championships and will be one of GBs leading medal hopes in the endruance events. Currently number one in the World on the IAAF rankings Muir has had a quite summer after winning the 1500 at the Anniversary Games in July.

Jemma Reekie and Sarah McDonald are also selected having finished 1st and 2nd at the British Champs both having previously bagged the qualification time. 3rd ranked Laura Weightman is selected in the 5000m.

Photo: Getty Images

800m selections in line with rankings

In total six women and eight men had achieved the standard in the 800m and the selections made are in line wit the 2019 rankings. With Laura Muir running the 1500m Shelayna Oskan-Clarke is selected as the winner of the British Championships in August. After the disappointment of missing out on Commonwealth Games selection last year Alex Bell will be a popular selection having finished third at the British Championships and third ranked in 2019.

The top three men in the 2019 rankings achieve selection led by Jamie Webb. Despite finishing 1st and 2nd at the British Championships neither Spencer Thomas nor Guy Learmonth had achieved the standard so Kyle Langford and Elliot Giles.

Griffiths injured as Hawkins and Purdue lead marathon challenge

In a post on his Twitter account Dewi Griffiths announced his decision to pull out of the team due to injury. As one of only three British men to have run inside the qualifying standard of 2:13 British distance fans will have been excited to see Griffiths and Hawkins leading the charge in Doha. We wish Dewi all the best for a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him in Olympic year!

The last few months haven’t been easy both physically and mentally. Unfortunately I’ve had to accept it wasn’t meant to be and I will not be running for in the world championships next month. I still believe my best race is still yet to be run, but first I have to get healthy. https://t.co/J3euy1zJMB

— Dewi Griffiths (@dewigriff10k) September 3, 2019

After his fantastic 2:08:14 at London this year Callum Hawkins moved to 3rd on the UK all time list over the marathon distance. Hawkins should be considered a serious medal contender. He equalled the best performance by a British man at a World Championship marathon when 4th in London 2017 and led the Commonwealth Games marathon until his collapse in the closing stages. 

Charlotte Purdue was the leading British female at the 2017 World Championship marathon when she finished 13th. Since then she has taken her running on to a different level with a huge PB of 2:25:38 at London also taking her to 3rd on the UK all time rankings. Purdue should be considered as a potential medallist, in 2017 Amy Cragg took home a bronze medal with a time of 2:27:18.

Having finished London bang on the qualifying mark of 2:31:00 Tish Jones runs in her first major championships as the final marathon selection.

Callum Hawkins GBR crosses the finish line to place tenth and earn himself a PB. The Virgin Money London Marathon, 28 April 2019. Photo: Ian Walton for Virgin Money London Marathon

In form Twell in the 10000m

Steph Twell leads the UK 10000m rankings and is selected along with Eilish McColgan. Twell has a had an excellent year having taken the decision to self coach she has achieved PBs at 10000m and 10km and also set a half marathon best of 71:33 to finish 2nd at the Big Half.

Eilish McColgan finished 10th in the 5000m at London 2017 but in Doha the versatile athlete will mount her challenge over 10000m. Having set a PB of 31:16.76 at Parliament hill McColgan is now ranking in the UK all time top 10 over 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and 10000m.

No men achieved the standard of 27:40.00 but the two men who have run inside 28 minutes, Marc Scott and Ben Connor are both selected in the 5000m.

Full teams for the 5000m

A full complement of six athletes are selected in the 5000m. The men’s selections are in line with the UK rankings with Andrew Butchart leading the challenge after his 13:06.21 at the Anniversary Games. British 10000m Champion Ben Connor is selected in the 5000m after hitting the qualifying mark with 13:19.47 at the Anniversary Games. Marc Scott will look to build upon his 5th place in the European Championships last year with another strong major championship performance.

As one and two in the UK rankings and Eilish McColgan and Laura Weightman join Jessica Judd in the team. With PBs at 1500m, 300om, 5000m and 10km Weightman is in fabulous form this year. Eilish McColgan’s 14:47.94 at the IAAF World Challenge saw her move to 3rd on the UK all time list and both will hope to push the likes of Obiri, Hassan and Klosterhalfen at the championships. Judd Judd is selected after winning the World University Games in July.

All three women who have run the steeplechase qualifying standard have been selected with Rosie Clarke the only athlete currently inside the world top 30. Elizabeth Bird and Aimee Pratt will both be competing at their first senior major championship. Zac Seddon was 5th in last year’s European Championships and also competed at the 2017 World Championships and will be hoping to make the final this year.

Tough decisions

British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black said: “It gives me great pleasure to name the 72 athletes selected to compete for Great Britain & Northern Ireland at the IAAF World Championships in Doha, starting later this month. Given the standard of performances from British athletes this season, and the strength in depth we possess in several events, finalising the team was far from easy and there were some tough decisions to make.
“In the 72 athletes, I truly believe we have selected the strongest team possible to compete for medals on the global stage. The team is full of world-class athletes who over the past two years since we were hosts in London have proven that they belong on the global stage.

“It is great to see so many athletes return having competed in London and also see so many make the step up to the world level for the first time. We have selected more women than men once again for a major championships and special mention needs to go to Martyn Rooney, who is competing at his eighth World Championships, a truly remarkable feat for a great athlete.

“The Championships are going to be held in a challenging climate at the end of what has been a long season already but what pleases me the most is how our athletes and their coaches have approached the challenge and are ensuring that they peak when it matters most. The next three and a half weeks are key in preparing for the Championships and I look forward to watching our athletes flourish in Doha.”

The endurance athletes selected in the British team for the IAAF World Championships Doha 2019

MEN:

800m
Elliot Giles (Birchfield Harriers; Jon Bigg)
Kyle Langford (Shaftesbury Barnet; Jon Bigg)
Jamie Webb (Liverpool Harriers; Adrian Webb)

1500m
Neil Gourley (Giffnock North; Mark Rowland)
Josh Kerr (Edinburgh; Danny Mackey)
Jake Wightman (Edinburgh; Geoff Wightman)

5000m
Andrew Butchart (Central; self coached)
Ben Connor (Derby; Steve Vernon)
Marc Scott (Richmond & Zetland; Jerry Schumacher)

3000m Steeplechase
Zak Seddon (Bracknell; Jeff Seddon)

Marathon
Callum Hawkins (Kilbarchan; Robert Hawkins)

20km Race Walk
Tom Bosworth (Tonbridge; Andi Drake)
Callum Wilkinson (Enfield & Haringey; Andi Drake)

50km Race Walk
Cameron Corbishley (Medway & Maidstone; Andi Drake)
Dominic King (Colchester Harriers; George Nibre)

WOMEN:

800m
Alexandra Bell (Pudsey & Bramley; Andrew Henderson)
Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow; Jon Bigg)
Lynsey Sharp (Edinburgh; David Harmer)

1500m
Sarah McDonald (Birchfield Harriers; David Harmer)
Laura Muir (Dundee Hawkhill; Andy Young)
Jemma Reekie (Kilbarchan; Andy Young)

5000m
Jessica Judd (Blackburn; Mick Judd)
Eilish McColgan (Dundee Hawkhill; Liz Nuttall)
Laura Weightman (Morpeth; Steve Cram)

10,000m
Eilish McColgan (Dundee Hawkhill; Liz Nuttall)
Steph Twell (Aldershot Farnham & District; self coached)

3000m Steeplechase
Elizabeth Bird (Shaftesbury Barnet; George Harrison)
Rosie Clarke (Epsom & Ewell; David Harmer)
Aimee Pratt (Sale Harriers Manchester; Vicente Modahl)

Marathon
Tish Jones (Belgrave Harriers; Nick Anderson)
Charlotte Purdue (Aldershot Farnham & District; Nic Bideau)

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Callum Hawkins and Charlotte Purdue earn selection for the men’s and women’s marathons respectively following career best performances in London on Sunday.

Hawkins and Purdue both recorded significant personal bests at the London Marathon, which acted as the British Championships and world trial, to move into third on the respective all-time UK lists, finish in the top ten and confirm their place in Doha later this year.

Hawkins, who finished fourth in the marathon at the IAAF World Championships in 2017, took more than two minutes off his personal best to set a Scottish record of 2:08:14 while Purdue shaved almost four minutes off hers in recording 2:25:38 to win the British title and underline her status as a world-class marathon runner.

Selected alongside Hawkins for the men’s marathon is Dewi Griffiths, who confirmed his place with a solid run of 2:11:46 at the London Marathon on Sunday, only his second ever outing over the 26.2-mile distance.

Purdue, the first European home in 13th in London two years ago, will be joined in the women’s marathon by Tish Jones, who earned automatic selection and a British debut for Doha by finishing second in the British Championship race nailing the exact qualifying standard of 2:31:00.

Mo Farah and Steph Twell were both eligible to earn selection for the marathon for the IAAF World Championships in Doha but have chosen to decline their place.

“I am pleased to announce the first athletes selected for the British team for the IAAF World Championships in Doha later this year following what has been a high-quality qualifying period.’ said British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black. “Each of the six athletes selected have performed extremely well to confirm their places in Doha, many setting personal bests and establishing themselves among the UK’s best all-time in their events.”

“The IAAF World Championships in Doha are a very important marker ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and we look forward to being as competitive as possible in both events.”

RELATED: Standout performances by British stars at London Marathon

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The much feted “toughest ever cross country course” at Aarhus in Denmark did not disappoint with the sight of athletes battling up the man-made hill atop the roof of the museum, which two time champion Geoffrey Kamworor after described as the hardest part of the whole course after battling against a Uganda duo throughout.

With mud, sand, hills and water features it was an fantastic event to watch with the five races of the day bringing some great racing. The crowds may have paled in comparison to the huge atmosphere at Kampala last year, but viewing online would have been a large part of the World Cross 2019.

Senior Women

From a British and Irish standpoint the greatest results came in the senior women’s race. With Hellen Obiri becoming the first women to win world championships outdoor, indoor and on the cross country the athlete joked afterwards that it was “the only medal missing from my cupboard”. One can only imagine how big a cupboard that is to hold all of the Kenyan athlete’s trophies.

Fionnuala McCormack of Ireland produced an astounding performance just six months after giving birth to finish 18th and second European of the race, with Anna Moller of Denmark also producing an inspired run in front of her home crowd. McCormack is known for her high-level of cross country running and gave the Aarhus course a good showing. Fellow Irish athlete Sara Treacy finished in 73rd position.

The British senior women, led home by Kate Avery in 30th place, took a brilliant fourth place in the team competition. Avery was closely followed by Mhairi McLennan in 32nd, Jenny Nesbitt in 34th, Jessica Piasecki in 36th with the four athletes producing a solid team performance to take fourth overall. Welsh international Nesbitt said “it was a real ride but we packed really well as a team. I saw the girls ahead of me and thought “I have got to keep grinding this out” for a result like that as a team.”

Emily Hosker-Thornhill finished in 48th and Amelia Quirk in 79th with both commenting afterwards on just how hard the course was. “I think it was the hardest race of my life.” said the young athlete Quirk. “I seriously considered pulling out but you just don’t do that, you keep going and sometimes when you keep going, it gets better.”

Senior Men

In his challenge for a third World Cross Country title Geoffrey Kamworor came up against a Ugandan duo with other ideas. Joshua Chepetege and Jacob Kiplimo were both with the Kenyan on the last lap and did not want to give the twice champion an easy ride. After having an 11-second last lap lead disappear in heartbreaking fashion in Kampala last year, Chepetege wanted the last word this time round.

Both Ugandans really surged on the museum roof climb to push the race and Chepetege was the stronger of the two during the final lap and took a very deserved first World Croos Country title for Uganda, with his compatriot in silver position. Kamworor settled for bronze on the day.

Patrick Dever was the first finisher for Great Britain as the Preston Harrier continues to impress on the cross country and show maturity beyond his young years. “It was a pretty incredible experience. I’m delighted with how it has gone” said the Loughborough student “I think pretty much everyone I went ahead of, I stayed in front of. That really couldn’t have gone any better. I think if I had gone off harder I’d have expended all my energy early on.”

Mahamed Mahamed was the second Brit to cross the line in 44th place and afterwards said “Top 50 is amazing. The aim was to finish there so I’m really happy that I could achieve it”. Adam Hickey was not far behind in 51st and next was Oliver Fox (51st), Ross Millington (65th) and Luke Traynor (107th).

For Ireland there were tough days out for Sean Tobin in 61st and last year’s Fast 10 athlete Kevin Dooney in 105th place.

Tough work for the lads. Sean Tobin 61st and Kevin Dooney 105th in the senior men’s race @Aarhus2019 pic.twitter.com/PX0OrlKS3P

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) March 30, 2019

Ugandan continued to impress with a victory in the senior men’s team event too, the first time since 1980 that a nation other than Ethiopia or Kenyan has won the senior men’s race.

Junior Women

There was some drama at the finish line of the junior women’s race with Kenyan Beatrice Chebet celebrating just before the line and the win actually being given to Ethiopia’s Alemitu Tariku and Tsigie Gebreselama getting the silver. Inspection of the finish line video did however look like Chebet had crossed the line first.

It was not long until a review had been undertaken and the Kenyan was rightly given the victory, with the Ethiopian athletes in second and third. Remember though, celebrate after that line, unless you’re really sure.

Cornish youngster Grace Brock was the first across the line for the British team with a 25th place finish. “Amazing – and the European champion only overtook me on the last bit. To make that jump from 11^th at Europeans and to be second European here is more than I could have asked for. It was am amazing atmosphere all around the course and that really spurred me on in the closing stages.”

Brock was followed home by Amelia Samuels (35th), Becky Briggs (44th), Charlotte Alexander (49th), Eloise Walker (51st) and Olivia Mason (57th).

Junior Mens

At the front Milkesa Mengesha of Ethiopia took the gold medal in line with the East African dominance of the day. Mengesha surged on the penultimate lap and was clear ahead of compatriot Tadese Worku with Uganda’s Oscar Chelimo in the bronze medal position.

Norwegian super talent Jacob Ingebritsen battled with the leaders for most of the race but could barely stand when crossing the line in 12th place and first European. It’s been quite a year already indoors so seeing the world record holder put to the test in such a quality field, and rise to the occasion, was a great sight.

In the same position as Brock in the junior women, Matt Willis was ” just over the moon to finish in 25th”. The U20 Inter-Counties champ said that “the hills were hard but I adored the downhills; I used my strength wisely to make up for my weaknesses on the uphill sections.”

Fellow Brit Rory Leonard was 33rd, Euan Brennan was 50th, Albert parkrun regular Josh Cowperthwaite was 62nd and Zakariya Mahamed was just behind in 65th, setting a mark for his brother in the senior race to follow.

Mixed Relays

The day was started with a competitive mixed relay event, with teams of four taking on loops of the course in turn. It wasn’t until the final lap that any ground appeared between Ethiopia and Kenya at the front, but Fantu Worku absolutely tore apart the race when handed the ‘baton’ (which was actually a wrist band).

The racing of the final lap took such a toll on Kenya’s Mbinthe that the Morocco quartet could sneak silver and Kenya had to settle for Bronze. After the all round dominance of the Kenyans in Kampala 2017, the Ethiopians were hungry for revenge and did so in dramatic last lap fashion.

Not fair behind the Moroccans was the USA’s quartet but it was a little disappointing that only a handful of European teams featured in the newer format mixed relay event.

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The post Kate Avery leads British senior women to fourth at World Cross Champs appeared first on Fast Running.

The IAAF announced on Tuesday (December 4) that Budapest will host the World Athletics Championships in 2023.

Budapest is an experienced organiser of major athletics events, having hosted the IAAF World Indoor Championships in 1989 and 2004, one of just two cities to have staged the event twice. The city has also hosted the European Athletics Championships on two occasions, in 1966 and 1998.

More recently, Budapest hosted the FINA World Swimming Championships and the World Judo Championships in 2017 and has been awarded the title of European Capital of Sport for 2019.

“In the past 30 years Hungary has organised every single world and European Championships, indoor and out – on the road, cross country – available to us except for the World Athletics Championships, and we are incredibly proud that this collection will be complete in just under five years’ time,” said Marton Gyulai, CEO of the Bid Committee for Budapest 2023.

A key component of the bid is the construction of a new stadium that will serve primarily as an athletics facility.

The new stadium will be built on the eastern bank of the Danube River on the city’s south side, with a capacity of 40,000 for the championships, which will be reduced to 15,000 for future events.

“We are delighted to award the 2023 World Athletics Championships to Budapest in Hungary, a country of extraordinary athletic tradition and great experience in organising world-class sports events,” said IAAF President Seb Coe. “It has been the scene of some of our greatest moments as a sport. We are excited about their plans for a new stadium that will become a great legacy for athletics.”

Budapest is the first IAAF World Championships host to be named under the new bidding process announced in February 2017 through which the IAAF assesses its strategic goals for growing the sport, targeting cities from countries and regions which will best assist in delivery of those aims. The aim is to create a true partnership matching the hopes and ambitions of potential hosts with those of the IAAF.

“We have been trying to become a partner for the IAAF as opposed to just a bidding city. As part of that process we have also been able to offer advice on seeing from the outside of things how things can be fine-tuned,” Gyulai added.

The Council also considered a bid from Australia to host the 2021 World Cross Country Championships but no decision was reached.

“We had an initial presentation from Athletics Australia outlining a proposed bid concept,” Coe said. “The Council requested further development of aspects of this bid concept.”

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