With stars of the future in attendance, Commonwealth Games standards achieved and a golden performance from the 2004 Olympic 4 x100m champions, the Manchester International lived up to expectations on Wednesday night.
The meet involved teams representing England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Great Britain Juniors, an International Select, and a marquee fundraising relay with GB’s Olympic champions Jason Gardener, Darren Campbell, Marlon Devonish and Mark Lewis-Francis rolling back the years to take the win.
Olympic champion Campbell called his teammates back into action to raise funds for the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund, with the quartet receiving a rapturous reception from the crowd.
In a tightly contested women’s 800m Khahisa Mhlanga, who was representing GB juniors impressed as took the victory ahead of 2011 World Championships 1500m silver medallist Hannah England.
England’s Dan Bramble came out on top in the men’s long jump after a competitive battle with Northern Ireland’s Adam McMullen. The 26-year-old clinched the win with a 7.95m jump, while McMullen’s jump of 7.80m achieved the Commonwealth Games standard.
The Commonwealth Games standard was also meet by England captain Nathan Douglas in the triple jump, who lept to 16.80m, a meet record.
It was 100m double for England as Andy Robertson took the win in the men’s race and Diani Walker clinching victory in the women’s race.
GB Juniors’ Joel Leon Benitez impressed in the pole vault, clearing 5.50m for a meet record, while England’s Margaret Adeoye won the 400m.
Iona Lake finished the year on a high, winning the 3,000m steeplechase in personal best 9:48.89, ahead of Northern Ireland’s Olympian Kerry O’Flaherty. In the men’s event, Jonathan Hopkins of Wales took the win.
At the beginning of the night, fellow Welsh athlete Guy Thomas took victory in the 3,000m race walk.
Watch Lewis-Francis bring home the baton in the men’s 4x100m race
Emphatic victory for the Golden Quartet! @mlewisfrancis brings the baton home in 43.72 #Mancint2017 pic.twitter.com/c1bDSbCq4v
— England Athletics (@EnglandAthletic) August 16, 2017
In the women’s 100m hurdles Northern Ireland’s Mollie Courtney crossed the line in 13.40 for victory, but a 2.4 following wind will exclude her time from Commonwealth Games consideration.
Competing for GB Juniors, Scottish athlete Alisha Rees stormed to victory in the women’s 200m in 23.32, ahead of compatriot Beth Dobbin. It was a personal best performance for Rees. Also impressing for GB Juniors was fellow Scot Jemma Reekie in the mile.
There was a win for Northern Ireland in the men’s 4x400m relay, with the Scottish quartet winning the women’s race.
At the end of the night’s action, England received the top prize for winning the Manchester International.