The British high jumper equaled her personal best of 2.27m in Birmingham to secure the British title, a European Championship qualification mark and a remarkable reward for her resilience through injury and self-belief.
With a best of 2.31m this year and an NCAA title under his belt, Kimani Jack was favorite to win the men’s high jump at this weekend’s Novuna UK Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
But Joel Clark-Khan’s comeback is gathering pace. After winning the British indoor title earlier this year, he claimed the outdoor crown on Saturday (June 19), equaling his PB of 2.27m. Jack was second with 2.24m and Charlie Husbands took bronze with 2.21m.
“I’ve broken my leg over and over again,” said an emotional Clarke-Khan. “I can’t believe I did it after having a screw in my leg.”
Her 2.27m was also the European Championships qualification mark and marked the first time Clarke-Khan has cleared that height since 2023.
After that superb season three years ago, however, she suffered injuries and disappointment in 2024 and 2025 after missing out on the Paris Olympics, losing her love for the high jump and almost quitting altogether.
He says if it weren’t for the support of friend and fiancee Molly Coudrey, he might have hung up the high jump during that time.
Breaking a bone in her leg during the long jump was also a catalyst for her return to the high jump. Going back to her old high jump coach Deirdre Elmhurst also worked.
However, it was a nail-biting competition for Clarke-Khan as she cleared 2.24m and 2.27m in her third attempt each time.
“I just thought the moment I cleared it, this is the moment I’ve been dreaming about,” Clarke-Khan said. “This is a moment that will remain in memories for a long time. I don’t even mean if I clean, even if I don’t clean, be in position, fight for the gold, the final flight, the whole crowd behind you, I thought I was living for the moment. The result is a bonus.
“So I just kind of embraced it and the next thing I know, I’m over the bar. And then, to be honest, I can’t really remember. It was just an emotional explosion, like tears, tears, tears literally welling up in my eyes.
“I was happy with 2.24m, to be honest I was happy with 2.21m. But I kept telling myself I’m going to win, I’m going to win, I’m going to win. Nothing.
He continued. “These little moments are the moments you work for your whole career. I was kind of living in that moment in the London Diamond League in 2023, which has been keeping my fire burning for a long time through injuries, and it was burning pretty thin. So it’s nice to have something to stoke that fire.
“I’ve broken my leg over and over again…I can’t believe I did it after having a screw in my leg.”
An emotional Joel Clark-Khan reacts to his incredible 2.27m winning clearance in the high jump, his biggest in three years 🇬🇧
That sign was also just what he needed… pic.twitter.com/Z1ThM7H5AG
— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) June 20, 2026
“I’ll review the actual jump later. But I think it was a good omission. And I think that tells me there’s more in the tank, that we’re back, and we’re not just back, we’re better. So I’ve got to try and put it all back together and then build for the next one and hopefully keep going.”
Runner-up Jack said: “Today’s performance was a bit disappointing. What I’ve learned is to put things into context and my season isn’t over yet. I just wanted to compete and have fun. Yes, the result was not what I wanted. Sometimes you have to lose and I learned that. I’m going to move on and hopefully do better in my upcoming competitions.
“My goal was to come and have fun and I did. This competition was probably the best championship I’ve been in and that’s really special. I wanted to win, but I just have to be patient and my time will come.”
