Anning wins brilliant 400m gold for GB & NI at World Athletics Indoor Championships

Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove) put to bed the demons of European Indoor disappointment by fighting her way to a fantastic gold medal over the women’s World Indoor 400m final in Nanjing this evening.

The British record holder and World and Olympic medallist claimed her first senior individual medal on the global stage, and made sure it was gold with a demonstration of immense calm when coming under fire at the bell.

After a fast start and a lead at the break, she looked set to continue that lead in the bend when there was contact between her and USA’s Alexis Holmes. Initially pushed out of the racing line at the bend, she lost a metre or two but managed to keep her focus and maintain in contention down the back straight.

With Holmes beginning to fade in the home straight, Anning pulled ahead to take the win crossing the line in 50.60 to the joy of the British supporters and her team mates in the stands.

Anning said: “It feels amazing. It was a very close race probably not quite what I had imagined and pictured in terms of my execution, but I was just so grateful that I was able to come away and get the win and I fought to the end.

“I came here wanting the win after the disappointment of the Europeans. I wanted the gold and I’m grateful that I was able to get the job done and bring a medal back to the home city!

“I think I expended a bit of energy that was unnecessary, and I was a bit disappointed when I looked at the clock especially when I know there is way more in me especially when I ran yesterday. I knew with the calibre of girls in this race it was going to be close especially to get that break. But I stayed strong I had faith in myself, and I got to the end and I fought for that line.”

Later in the evening, as if inspired by her two gold winning team-mates, Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood) had a memorable session far out-performing against her own expectations in making the 60m final and finishing in a competitive fifth position.

Earlier, Hunt had celebrated making her first individual senior world final finishing second in her semi-final in 7.15 – a huge improvement on her morning effort of 7.26. In the final she improved further to 7.11 and was closing fast on the business end of the field.

“I can’t believe that I’m fifth in the world in an event that nobody thinks I can do apart from me and my coach! And it’s so special to know that we came fifth in my least favourite event so when we go to outdoors that’s where the real show begins and that’s where we begin to show people what we’re working on,” she said.

“It’s so, so, exciting. That was one of the most fun races I have ever done in my life and at the end of the day that’s what it is all about. I was smiling at the start line, I was stood next to the world champion and I nearly had them! A few inches off, a couple more metres I would have got them, I needed one more round. Give me another round in an hour’s time!”