The hurdler celebrates an impressive 400m victory over the European champion, while Matt McKenna breaks the British U20 800m record and Joey Eze takes his chance at the EAP International.
Youth came to the fore at the scottishathletics EAP International in Glasgow on Saturday (January 31) as a number of emerging athletes took their chance to step up against more established names at the Emirates Arena.
Nowhere was this better illustrated than in the men’s 400m, as 21-year-old Jake Minshull beat former world and reigning European champion Alexander Doom.
The Coventry Godiva athlete got exactly the fast start he was looking for and despite a late charge from the Belgian returning to the venue of his 2024 world indoor title, he hit the line first to win by 0.11 in 46.51, a second off his personal best.
Unsurprisingly, the 400m hurdler, who finished fifth at last year’s European Under-23 Championships, was delighted with the evening’s performance, which set him up perfectly for the British Indoor Championships later this month.
“When I first saw (who was participating in) the race, I thought: “Oh, God, I don’t know if I want to do this,” Minshull said. “But then I started thinking. “I’m going after it, I want to beat him. If I can get that scalp, what better way to start the year?
“I ran 100m and thought: “I’m on him. Shall I go?” so i went for it and after that i was just trying to hang on. I’m new to the 400m indoors but it’s going well so far. It’s a great way to start the season. We have the British Indoor Champions and after that I want to go there to win.”
There was also a surprise in the women’s 400m as Louisa Stoney continued her excellent start to the year by finishing fastest of the three stages, winning the final heat in a personal best of 52.08 ahead of Portugal’s Sofia Lavrecina in 52.19. Olympic and world 4x400m relay medalist Lavia Nielsen, returning to competition after a break from the sport last summer, was third overall after winning in 52.37.
For Stoney, his time was only partially out of Commonwealth Games qualifying time as he eyed the Wales squad heading to Glasgow this summer.
“I was definitely after the PB,” said the 24-year-old. “I’m going to push 51 seconds now, but I can’t complain. I want to get that (qualifying) time. I know it’s there. Setting a goal (playing the Commonwealth Games) is really motivating. I’m hungry and motivated to push for it every day.”
Matt McKenna There is clearly no shortage of inspiration either, and the 18-year-old was in record form, clocking 1:48.20 to take down David Sharp’s 40-year-old British indoor U20 mark of 1:48.53 in 1986.
The European Under-18 champion finished second to David Race (1:47.66) in the first of two meetings in Glasgow, with Race fastest. McKenna’s performance took Guy Learmont’s 1:48.58 from 2011 to third on the British U20 list and the Scot, on the comeback trail at 33 as he bids for Commonwealth Games qualification, has work to do as he ran 1:51.01.
Sale Harriers’ Lucy Armitage clocked 2:02.55 in the second heat of the women’s 800m, with Emily Simpson (2:02.66) second fastest and 17-year-old Sheikira King rounding out the podium in 2:04.44.
Another young athlete to enjoy a fine victory was Joy Eze who took the honors in the women’s 60m, the former European Under-20 champion beating Jasmine Wilkins by just 0.01 in a time of 7.26.
“I was a bit disappointed with the time but I’m happy to have had a good race and the times are closing in,” said the 21-year-old. “My start in the heat wasn’t so great, so I just said to myself, “Forget it, it’s just another race.” I’m excited (about the UK Indoor Championships). The races I’ve had so far have been building up to this, so I’m excited to see what I can do.”
The men’s 60m was even closer, with Ireland’s Toluabori Akinola taking victory in a photo finish after he and Hungary’s Dominik Illovsky both clocked 6.59. European indoor bronze medalist Andrew Robertson was third in 6.70.
Complete EAP International Results here
