by Stuart Weir
GB Indoor Champs – sprints
The first event on the program of the Novuna UK Athletics Indoor Championships was the 60m prelims, women and men. It was the first of three races in the day – getting the athletes ready for the LA schedule. The main excitement in the men’s was seeing Jeremiah Azu, European and World Indoor Champion in action. In the women’s race there was the first indoor appearance by Dina Asher-Smith for several years. In the prelim Dina was fastest in 7.17; in the semis Dina on 7.11 was again fastest and Amy Hunt second fastest (in separate semis) on7.2. The final ended:
1 Dina Asher-Smith 7.05 Championship record
2 Amy Hunt 7.15
3 Aleeya Sibbons 7.29
Dina Asher-Smith said afterwards: “I am really happy with that time. Ultimately, I came here to win, to put together a good performance, and run a good Championship, so I am glad I have been able to build through the rounds. 7.0 is always great, so I am really happy. The women’s sprints have been a highlight for the last decade now, there is a different Championship winner every year, and we are all running incredible times. There is so much talent around. As an athlete it always makes you bring your A game to any race you run. I have always been blessed to train with great training partners. I have just been having fun, and that is essentially for me as an athlete to perform. Every time I step on the track now, I have to be happy and I have to be enjoying myself”.
Amy Hunt said: “Obviously, it not nice to lose to one of your biggest rivals, so I’m slightly frustrated. But on the plus side I am getting a lot more consistent. For me to be frustrated with a 7.15 clocking shows how far I have come in the last 12 months. I am super excited heading into worlds, I’ve got six more weeks to work on some stuff, but I’m already seeing big a improvement. If I can keep this momentum rolling, I will be super happy.
Today I was really smart; my strength is being able to judge rounds well, so I don’t always have to blast the heats or the semi-finals. Especially coming of the back of racing over the past couple of weeks. I got back from Serbia two days ago I am trying to manage the rounds the best way for my body. I am really proud of how I navigated the rounds. It’s a shame Dina and I couldn’t be in the lanes next to each other, I think that would have made a much more exciting race and we would have been closer”.
In the men’s race Azu won as expected in 6.56 from Romell Glave (6.62), commenting: “It is never easy to defend these titles, and it is not something I take for granted. I am getting emotional because my family are here, my son is here, it is such a privilege. I will be going to world indoors to go and defend my title. This was a dress rehearsal. I actually wanted to run quicker, well I always want to run quicker. The emotions of running in competition always have an impact. Training can’t do that. So, getting through this today gives me confidence going into world indoors. My life has changed so much over the last 12 months. It is never easy and nothing is guaranteed, no matter how hard we train”.
