The reigning British 800m champion went under 54 seconds in the indoor 400m for the first time.
Phoebe Gill showed off her sprint work in the 400m to start the track and field season in style.
The reigning British 800m champion, who has competed in three 400m races in the past year, has already won two of them in 2025.
On New Year’s Day, Gill clocked 54.14 at the Lee Valley Open, a closing time much faster than her previous best of 54.82.
The 17-year-old has now gone even faster, clocking 53.65 at the same venue (Jan 18), the best indoor 400m.
It puts him fifth on the all-time British under-20 indoor 400m list. only Amber Anning, Yemi Mary John, Emily Newnham and Lavai Nielsen have gone faster domestically in that age category.
Phoebe Gill (Getty)
Gill posted a 53.3 at the Southern Athletics League meet last July, but that was outside.
Such focus on the 400m in January underscores Gill’s ambition to improve her speed in the 800m.
Last year she became the youngest British athlete to compete at the Olympics in 40 years, securing her place at the Games by becoming national champion over two rounds.
Gill has been rocking the junior circuit for some time, including winning the 800m title at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games, but last season’s results catapulted him into the national spotlight.
Phoebe Gill (R) (Keith McClure)
At the Irish Milers Meet in Belfast, she clocked 1:57.86 and in the process broke Marion Geisler-Hübner’s 45-year-old European Under-18 record.
Gill not only improved her personal best by nearly four seconds, but also broke the Olympic 800m qualifying standard of 1:59.30.
Gill reached the semi-finals at the Olympics and, in an exclusive interview with AW in Decembersaid that “I was very proud of myself for how I handled the games” and “looking back, I didn’t think I’d be in the position I’m in now”.
For 2025, his immediate focus is on education and completing his A-level exams in June in biology, chemistry and maths.
The World Championships in Tokyo in September allow some breathing space to start the outdoor season later.
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