by Stuart Weir
This is the third story on the 2025 British Indoor Championships, which are also the Trials for the European Indoors and World Indoors in March 2025! Those stories are written by our senior European writer, Stuart Weir.
Day 2 Round-up
On day 2 of the Microplus British Indoor Athletics Championships, the finals took place, as athletes battled for the title and selection for either the European Indoor Championships or the World Indoors—perhaps even both. There were excellent distance races—see the separate post.
Amber Anning won a high-quality 400-meter in 51.40, from Lina Nielsen, who ran a PR of 51.77 for second place. Last week, Nielsen set a new British record for 300m – and, of course, she’s a hurdler! Nielsen has battled illness throughout her career, and many people were delighted to see her having this success. Alex Haydock-Wilson, a serial relay medal winner, took the individual 400.
Anning commented: “It is a relief to win as the Euros was my goal for the indoor season, so it is good to come and put together some good performances to justify my spot. I only returned from America a few days ago, so I have been struggling with jet-lag and battling all those rounds. I will stay here until the Europeans arrive, and I will be based in Lee Valley, London. I am excited about what I can do individually and as a team in the relay”. Nielsen said she hoped her performance would get her into both 400 relay teams at the Euros.
Allyson Bell won the women’s 200m with a PR of 23.12. If there was a more delighted athlete, I would not have met them. Allyson told me that her coach had always told her that 200 might be her best distance, adding, “Now I might believe her!” She summed up her day: “This is the first season I have given indoor 200m a real try. Coming into the championships, I thought I was in a good place, but I was in better shape than I realised. In the last 50 meters, the crowd really helped, which is why I love running indoors. Getting a gold medal as my first indoor medal has given me a huge boost going into outdoors”.
Scott Lincoln (20.86 CR) won the shot and Morgan Lake the high jump – as usual. Morgan cleared 1.94 but failed at 1.97. She needs 1.96 to confirm her selection for the Europeans.
Jacob Fincham-Dukes won the long jump with 7.69 but then had to withdraw with an injury that looked serious.
Full day 2 results:
Women’s Shot: Serena Vincent 16.89
Men’s shot: Scott Lincoln 20.86 CR
Women’s Triple Jump: Georgina Forde-Wells 13.36
Women’s High Jump: Morgan Lake 1.94
Men’s High Jump: Otis Poole 2:20
Men’s Long Jump: Jacob Fincham-Dukes 7.69
Men’s 200m: Joe Ferguson 20.93 PR
Women’s 200m: Allyson Bell 23.12 PR
Women’s 400m: Amber Anning 51.40
Men’s 400m: Alex Haydock-Wilson 46.70
Women’s 800m: Isabelle Boffey 2:04.24
Men’s 800m Justin Davies 1:47.26
Women’s 1500m: Georgia Hunter-Bell 4:13.23
Men’s 1500m Neil Gourley 3:38.84 CR
Men’s 3000m: George Mills 7:40.16 CR
Women’s 3000m: Hannah Nuttall 8:49.49
