byStuart WeirThe Golden Spike Meeting in Ostrava had a strong showing by British athletes, and as that is the turf awarded to European senior write Stuart Weir, he has done a piece on this fine event. Stuart will be in Gateshead this weekend, attending his first actual track meet in 15 months at least! ( I was in Eugene, Oregon two weeks ago, visiting the Oregon Twilight, and will be around for the Portland Track Festival (May 28-29) and Stumptown Twilight (June 3).
Enjoy Stuart’s piece on the fine performances from chilly Ostrava!
Max Burgin, Ostrava 2021, Max takes WL at 800m, day prior to his 19th birthday! photo via WA TV by Stuart Weir
Keely Hodgkinson wins the Euro indoor 800m in Torun, March 2021, photo by Getty Images / European Athletics
British middle-distance running just goes from strength to strength with two teenage winners in the 800 in the Golden Spike in Ostrava. Keely Hodgkinson, 2021 European Indoor champion, won in 1:58.89, her first outdoor sub 2-minute run and Max Burgin finished in 1:44.14 to win in style. Keely is just 19. Max turns 19 Thursday this week.
Max Burgin, Keely Hodgkinson, Ostrava 2021, photo by Caroline Feith
Keely Hodgkinson took the lead with about 200m to run and never looked like being caught. As Ian Hodge pointed out she broke a GB Under 20 outdoor record set by Charlotte Moore when Keely was a few weeks old! She said afterwards: ““I knew I was in good shape but it’s different getting it out on the day. The pacemaker did an amazing job and it was a perfect race. I could not ask for more.”
Max Burgin battles in the 800m, Ostrava 2021, photo via WA TV by Stuart Weir
Max Burgin was with the pacemaker in an outside lane. He stuck with the pacer until he dropped out. Burgin, then in the lead by 10 meters of more, carried on to win comfortably. Jake Wightman was third in 1:45.47. He commented: “I saw the race of my good friend Keely who ran just before me and she ran so fast so I thought, ‘I just have to match it at least'”
Jesse Knight, Ostrava, two PBs at 400m hurdles in a row! photo via WA TV by Stuart Weir
You just can’t keep Jessie Knight out of the headlines! PR last weekend and another tonight as she won the Golden Spike 400H in 54.74, third in the world this year. Amazing progress. Lina Nielsen hit a hurdle and did not finish. The men’s hurdles Dai Greene was 7th in 51.66 and Chris McAllister 8th in 52.12
Phil Norman was second in the 3000m Steeplechase in 8.20.12, the fastest time by a British athlete since 1994 and securing an Olympic qualifying time.
👠ð€ð§ð¨ðð¡ðžð« ð¬ððšðð¢ð®ð¦ ð«ðžðœð¨ð«ð! ðŸ‘
🥇 @_PhilNorman takes the win in the men’s 3000m steeplechase with a new stadium record of 8:32.51!
🥈 Mark Pearce – 8:33.61 (PB)
🥉 Daniel Jarvis – 8:39.70 (PB)#MüllerBritishChamps #JoinTheJourney pic.twitter.com/1Y15qCzxop— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) September 5, 2020
End of Burgin’s race
https://twitter.com/i/status/1395064267754332165
