Brits in Brussels
Katerina Johnson Thompson, picking a javelin, photo by Getty Images/ British Athletics
Dina Asher-Smith, some big races, photo by Getty Images / British Athletics
In his final piece from lovely Brussels, Stuart Weir used his 5th piece to espouse the success of British athletes. Now, Stuart will take a well earned vacation, and we shall see him in Doha!
The stand-out performance by a British athlete in Brussels was Dina Asher-Smith winning the 100m. Her time was a season’s best 10.88 with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce second in 10.95, the only two under 11 seconds. I have this thing with Dina that I regularly ask her if she is better at 100 or 200 and she always says she does not know. I asked last night if being DL champion in 100 made it any clearer – but it didn’t.
Andrew Pozzi, WC 2018, photo by PhotoRun.net
Andy Pozzi was sixth in the 110m hurdles in 13.50. Not a great performance, but Pozzi is recovering from an ill-timed injury, which caused him to miss the UK trials and rely on a discretionary selection for Doha.
Matthew Hudson-Smith, photo by PhotoRun.net
Matt Hudson-Smith was second in a non-Diamond 400 meter race in 45.63 beating a brace of Borlées.
Lynsey Sharp, photo by Getty Images/ British Athletics
Lynsey Sharp was sixth in the women’s 800 in 2:01.47. It was a curious race in which the pacemaker took them through 400 meters in 57 seconds but no one finished in under 2 minutes. Whether a Diamond League final should have a pacemaker is a good question but that is for another occasion.
Holly Bradshaw, photo by Getty Images/ British Athletics
Holly Bradshaw was fifth in 4:70 in the women’s pole vault. Holly commented: “11 girls over 4.63 & 7 girls over 4.70. So much fun as always & some really exciting feelings in the jumps for me. I am super grateful to be involved in another class competition”. Isn’t it lovely the way the camaraderie among vaulters transcends winning and losing?
Heptathlete, Katerina Johnson-Thompson jumped 6:73 for third place in the long jump with Lorraine Ugen fifth with 6.70, a frustrating distance as the Doha qualifying distance is 6.72. Britain has so far selected Abigail Irozuru and Shara Proctor leaving one spot open as no other GB long-jumper has achieved the qualifying standard – apart from KJT who will only compete in the heptathlon. Jazmin Sawyers (6.71) and Lorraine Ugen (6.70) are tantalizingly close and may get an IAAF wildcard.
KJT’s assessment of her performance was: “I have mixed feelings about my competition. I am sure that I can do better than 6m73, but it was OK for now. I came here as one of the weakest jumpers and I finish in third position so I can´t complain.
This is definitely good for my confidence. I feel like I am ready for the heptathlon. Everything is falling into place”.
And now, on to Doha.
