Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Molly Codery, Jazmin Sawyers and Jeremiah Azu were in attendance at the opening of the traditional British indoor season pipes.
Molly Codery opened her summer campaign after a short run at Loughborough International on Sunday (May 17) with a smooth-looking 4.61m pole vault.
It was a day where many established athletes hit their stride ahead of the busy 2026 season, but it was also an opportunity for younger up-and-coming athletes to make their mark.
Codery used an eight-pitch approach in this contest and broke Holly Bradshaw’s stadium record. He said: “I’m learning a lot all the time. Every practice and every jump session, I’m improving and it’s great fun.”
During a short run he said: “The mark seems so much higher because you’re so close to it. But I always focus on the jump and not so much on the run. We wanted to try something new today and challenge myself a bit.”
Cowdery’s fiance Joel Clark-Khan continued the good form he showed in the indoor season with a 2.21m men’s high jump win.
Heptathlon star Katarina Johnson-Thompson took the opportunity to focus on the ball and threw 12.97m for sixth place as Adele Nicoll won with 17.50m.
Just ahead of Johnson-Thompson was Niamh Emerson, the 2018 under-20 world hurling champion who has struggled with injuries in recent years. Emerson threw 13.95m and also recorded an encouraging 13.90 in the 100m hurdles.
Elsewhere, Jazmin Sawyers cleared 6.46m in the long jump, Jeremiah Azu won the men’s 100m in 10.15 (1.6) and Nick Percy cleared 60.09m in the men’s discus.
In the men’s pole vault, British record holder Harry Coppell made a welcome return to competition after a long layoff with a 5.35m victory.
Also impressive was Charlotte Henrich who won the women’s 400m in rough conditions in 51.48 and Daniel Goriola won the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.65 (1.3).
Young athletes who shone included Sheikira King who won the women’s 800m in 2:03.65, while Freddie Rowe, 17, continued her recent fine form to win the Gandy Mile in 4:04.10 as she edged out Ted Higgins.
Later that day the track saw the British 10,000m championships, with races won by Izzy Fry and Kadar Omar; full coverage of those events. here.
