ISTAF Berlin Meeting, Berlin, Germany, 27 August

Continuing her sensational comeback, Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie) tasted victory in Berlin as she got the better of London 2017 silver medallist Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast. Having shocked everybody in regaining enough form, having broken her foot in February, to finish fourth over 200m in London, the 21 year old has only got better, taking the 200m at this IAAF World Challenge meeting in 22.41 (+0.2) to edge out Ta Lou by three hundredths of second.

Eilish McColgan (Liz McColgan-Nuttall) also continued her brilliant recent form with another PB, this time over 1500m. Running the distance for the first time this year, the Scot took over two seconds off her old best to finish a fantastic second in 4.01.60. Her fellow Scot Andrew Butchart (Derek Easton) also ran extremely well, fourth in the 5,000m in 13.12.73, just a second outside his season’s best, whilst Rosie Clarke (David Harmer) was just two seconds outside her personal best as she clocked 9.38.85 for ninth in the women’s steeplechase.

Back with the sprints, Adam Gemili (Rana Reider) and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Benke Blomkvist) were third and fifth in the 100m with times of 10.10 (1.0) and 10.13 respectively, while Desiree Henry (Reider) was third in the 200m in 11.26 (-0.2). In the long jump, Shara Proctor (Reider) wasn’t far off her season’s best with a 6.62m leap for third, whilst Lorraine Ugen (Shawn Jackson) was seventh with a best of 6.48m.

Results

Internationales Stabhochsprungmeeting der Frauen, Beckum, Germany, 27 August

The world’s best female pole vaulters assembled in this small town in northern Germany, Holly Bradshaw (Scott Simpson) among them. Jumping off a twelve stride approach, Bradshaw cleared 4.70m at the second time of asking, only losing out on third to Yarisley Silva on countback. Olympic silver medallist Sandi Morris took victory with a 4.80m vault. Bradshaw will now head to the Diamond League final in Brussels.

Results

Internationales Hochsprung-Meeting, Eberstadt, Germany, 27 August

In a similar style meeting to where Bradshaw was competing, Robbie Grabarz and Morgan Lake (both Fuzz Caan) were in high jump action in Eberstadt. Fresh from a sixth place finish at London 2017, Lake cleared 1.91m for fourth in Germany, whilst Grabarz was seventh in the men’s event with a best of 2.24m.

Results

Scottish Athletics Senior/U17 Championships, Grangemouth, 26-27 August

Despite the absence off their London 2017 stars, the Scottish Championships still showcased a lot of talent during its 125th edition.
Leading the way on the track were the likes of GB junior internationals Jemma Reekie (Andy Young) and Alisha Rees (Willy Russell), however there were some strong performances in the field also.

Reekie stepped down to the 800m, having won European Junior 1500m gold last month in Grosseto, and she showed impressive speed to take a narrow victory in 2.08.39. Her Grosseto teammate Rees was also in good form, running 23.38 (2.6) to take the spoils in the 200m.

In the throws, Kirsty Law (Zane Duquemin) won her tenth Scottish title, launching the discus to 54.54m, just shy of her season’s best. At the other end of the spectrum, Myra Perkins (John Pearson) won her first Scottish senior hammer title with a 61.48m best, although just short of her second Team Scotland Commonwealth Games qualifying standard. In the jumps, Jax Thoirs (Colin Sinclair) took gold with a 5.32m vault, whilst Dave Smith (Paul Harrison) won the men’s high jump with a 2.21m best.

Results

England Athletics Under 15/17 Championships, Bedford, 26-27 August

Having already taken the U15 boys 100m title the previous day, Jaleel Roper (Paul Miller) ran a stunning 22.13 (1.3) 200m to add that title and equal the British Under 15 record.

There was an outright age group record in the U17 women’s 80m hurdles however, Pippa Early (John Shepherd/Lloyd Cowan) running a stunning 10.97 (0.1), however oddly it wasn’t a CBP as Alicia Barrett (Toni Minichiello) ran a windy 10.87 clocking in 2014. Amy Hunt (Joseph McDonnell) also looked in commanding form in taking the U17 women’s 100m title in 11.72 (1.1).

There were also standout performances in the longer hurdles races, Ben Lloyd (Stanley Madiri) clocking the fastest time in the country this year – and the tenth best ever – as he powered off the final hurdle to win in 52.98. Karl Johnson (Tony Jarrett) had looked smooth and likely to win until the last 100m, although he too was rewarded with a 53.21 personal best.

The U17 girls 300mH was even more exciting as Amy Pye (Gary Myles) flew through the first 100m to build up a huge lead that she held onto in the final straight, despite a late challenge from Jasmine Jolly (Paul Noblett). Her winning time of 41.96 was a huge PB moving her all the way down from a pre-championships best of 43.06 and up to number five on the all-time rankings.

Elsewhere, Eve Walsh (Roger Sexton) moved to fourth in the 2017 world rankings in the T36 200m after a 31.73 clocking in the ambulant 200m. It was a significant improvement to the Northern Irish athlete who recently enjoyed success at the World Para Athletic Junior Championships with two gold medals. The North Down athlete’s previous best was 32.04 so it was a significant improvement on this mark.

World Para Athletics T34 800m bronze medallist Isaac Towers (Pete Wyman) was in fine form, winning the wheelchair 400m race in 53.40 and the 1500m in 3:29.18

Another who enjoyed success at the juniors in Nottwil earlier this month – Craig Boardman (Paul Smith) – won the 100m wheelchair final in 15.95 (-0.1) and the 200m in 28.35 (-1.6).

Results

Watford Open Graded Meeting, Watford, 23 August

Elliot Giles (Jon Bigg) was in action over 1500m on Wednesday night, revising his personal best with a 3:41.27 winning run, taking victory by one and a half seconds from Loughborough University’s James McMurray (Deborah Steer).

Results