GB Indoor Champs – Sprint
The first event of the program Novuna Great Britain Indoor Athletics Championships 60m premiered, women and men. It was the first of three races of the day, preparing the athletes for the Los Angeles schedule. The main thrill among the men was to see Jeremiah AzuEuropean and world indoor championships champion in action. The women’s race was Dina Usher-Smith’s first appearance for several years. Dina was the fastest in the preliminary stage: 7.17; in the semi-final Dina 7.11 was again fastest and Amy Hunt second fastest (in individual semis) at 7.2. The final is over.
1 Dina Usher-Smith 7.05 championship record
2 Amy Hunt 7.15
3 Aleah Sibbons 7.29
Dina Usher-Smith “I’m really happy with that time. At the end of the day, I came here to win, to perform well and have a good championship, so I’m happy that I was able to develop the rounds. 7.0 is always great so I’m really happy. Women’s sprints have been the highlight of the last decade, there is so much talent now and we are winners of different championships every year. As an athlete it forces you to bring your A game to any race, I’ve always been happy to train with great partners and that’s basically what I need to be happy and enjoy as an athlete.
Amy Hunt said: “Obviously, it’s not nice to lose to one of your biggest rivals, so I’m a little disappointed. But on the plus side I am becoming much more consistent. For me, being disappointed with the 7.15 shows how far I’ve come in the last 12 months. I’m very excited going to worlds, I still have six weeks to work on some things, but I’m already seeing a lot of improvement. If I can keep this momentum going, I’ll be extremely happy.
I was really smart today; My strength is being able to judge rounds well, so I don’t always have to handle heats or semis. Especially after racing the last few weeks. I came back from Serbia two days ago, I try to run the rounds in the best way for my body. I’m really proud of how I navigated the rounds. It’s a shame that Dina and I couldn’t be side by side, I think it would have made it a much more interesting race and we would have been closer.”
In the men’s race Fish “It’s never easy to defend these titles, as expected, won by Rommel Glaivets (6.62) commenting. “It’s never easy to defend these titles and it’s not easy for me. I’m excited because my family is here, my son is here, it’s such a privilege. The emotions of running in competition can’t always do it. So today it gives me confidence.
