by Larry Eder
Jemme Reekie, photo by British Athletics
Cindy Sember, photo by British Athletics
Stuart Weir wrote this piece on the plethora of British athletes competing at Mt. SAC.
Brits in action at Mt Sac
With the proviso that it is early season, that some athletes have not run yet this season – or last season – and that several were running a distance that is not their preferred distance, there were a number of things we could learn from British performances.
Jemme Reekie, photo by British Athletics
The highlight was Jemma Reekie running a PR of 1:58.27 to win the 800m from friend and training partner, Laura Muir (1:58.46). My only caveat was that it was Laura’s birthday – come on Jemma, didn’t you get the email about letting Laura win on her birthday?
Laura Muir, photo by European Athletics
Coach, Andy Young, told me he was delighted with the way the two athletes ran. Jemma said afterwards: “It all went to plan. I was so happy to be able to run so fast and take the win”. Asked about the Californian weather, she confirmed that it was warmer than it would be when she was back in Scotland next week!
Ellie Baker, photo by British Athletics
The pacemaker went through 400m in 57.41 followed closely by Melissa Bishop-Nriagu and Jemma Reekie. Reekie took it on with Laura Muir coming strongly in the last 100m. Adelle Tracey who had beaten Reekie in Eugene was fourth (1:59.66). In the B race, Ellie Baker was third in a PR of 2:00.24. Back in Manchester, Alexandra Bell ran 2:00.14 while European Indoor 800 champion, Keely Hodgkinson was running a 53.73 400m. British women’s 800m running is alive and well.
Cindy Sember, photo by British Athletics
Another stand-out performance was Cindy Sember taking second place in the 100 metres hurdles in a PR of 12.53 – a second PR of the year. Sister, Tiffany Porter was sixth in 12.69.
CJ Ujah, photo by British Athletics
CJ Ujah ran 10.03 for fourth place in 100m, his fastest time since 2017.
Eilish McColgan who is targeting the 10,000m in Tokyo, the city in which her mum won world Championship gold at that distance in 1991, was fourth in the 1500m in California in 4:03.89, showing the range of her talents. Holly Archer ran 4:08.81 for ninth. Katie Snowden won the B race in 4:06.06, a time which would have given her a good place in the A race.
Jess Judd ran a PR of 15:06.02 for fourth place in the 500m, with Steph Twell seventh in15:36.07. Twell has been selected for GB in the Marathon in Tokyo.
There were three British athletes in the 800m, Josh Kerr fifth in 1:45.74, Guy Learmonth eighth in 1:46.85 and Kyle Langford ninth in 1:47.08
Other British performances
Jodie Williams won the 200 B race in 23.03
Elizabeth Bird came seventh in the women’s3000 steeplechase in 9:36.36
Adam Visokay was 14th in the men’s 3000 steeplechase in 8:45.76
Matthew Hudson-Smith seventh in 400m in 46.03
Nathan Douglas 8th in the Triple Jump with 15.94m
