Dina Asher-Smith, Zharnel Hughes, Max Burgin, Amber Anning, Josh Kerr, and Georgia Hunter Bell were amongst a host of stars who featured over two action-packed days of the Novuna UK Athletics Championships, at the Alexander Stadium, in Birmingham.

With the World Championships in Tokyo very much on their minds, former world champion Asher-Smith, who chose not to contest the 100m, just managed to hold off 100m winner Amy Hunt to triumph in 22.14 seconds in the women’s 200m final, whilst in the men’s, British record holder Hughes took a popular win, ahead of world indoor champion Jeremiah Azu, whilst previous champion, Louie Hinchliffe taking bronze in a hard-fought race – it was the first of a sprint double-header for Hughes.

“It could have been a faster time,” Hughes said, “but I can build on this.” Meanwhile, Asher-Smith said: "It was an excellent race.

“I didn't know who had got it,” she went on. "I'm in great shape, it was a great run and there are still a few things I can tweak, so I'm happy."

Burgin finished ahead of favourite, Charlie Dobson, to claim a win in the men's 800m, while Amber Anning earned a strong 400m golds in a tight women’s final. With his place already secured, World 1500m champion Josh Kerr won in the closing stages of a comfortable 5,000m win, whilst in securing her spot in Tokyo, Olympic 1500m medallist Georgia Hunter Bell won in the 800m final.

Kerr was the class act as he was more than eight seconds ahead, as Hunter-Bell also secured a seat on the plane going Far East, after moving ahead of Jemma Reekie to win in one minute 59.53 seconds. "It's a good problem to have,” said Hunter Bell, who trains with Keely Hodgkinson under coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows.  

“I have a lot of thinking to do," she went on. Other headlines saw world indoor champion Molly Caudery claiming a third consecutive women’s pole vault British title with 4.85m, with Tilly Hooper claiming silver and Felicia Miloro bronze.

In the women’s 3000m steeplechase, UK leading runner, Elise Thorner, the UK leader, the trio of Thorner, Sarah Tait and Cari Hughes continued to clip round and leave the other five in the field in their wake. In booking her ticket to Tokyo, Thorner said: “I just knew I had to execute my plan.

“I wanted to get top two to guarantee selection. I attacked each barrier, so I was so happy to get the win.”

In a field of 15 led by two athletes with the qualifying time for Tokyo, the women’s 5000m proved a cagey and bunched affair as running got underway. Controlled throughout by Hannah Nuttall, who led at the bell from Fitzgerald, with India Weir, Nuttall took her shot at the front of the race, the pace left the race as a three-way shoot-out for the title. 

In holding off an advancing attack from Weir, last year’s champion, Nuttall, managed to get away down the home straight, before crossing the line to register a time of 15:46.90 and secure her spot for Tokyo. Fitzgerald make the required automatic qualifying top two finish, but the impressive Weir had something left in the tank to keep her at bay, taking silver for herself with 15:47.98 to Fitzgerald’s 15:48.66 for bronze.

Hammer thrower, Anna Purchase produced the second-best throw of her career, as a 72.96m effort in round two smash the Championship record – before a near-73m throw saw to a gold medal win. Multi-British medallist, Charlotte Payne won silver courtesy of her 67.59m, while Amber Simpson secured bronze following a consistent series, and a best effort of 65.64m.

The women’s 100m hurdles final saw a dramatic race where Alicia Barrett came through for the win in 13.06 (+0.4), to win her first British outdoor title since 2018. The men’s javelin saw the lead change hands multiple times before Michael Allison took command with a monster personal best 78.48m - edging ahead of eventual silver medallist and 2023 champion, Ben East, who also produced a personal best, throwing 77.40m on the day, with Daniel Bainbridge completing the podium, with a personal best for him of 76.86m.

A delighted and relieved Allison said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic - it’s nearly a two metre PB, but more importantly it’s an 11m season’s best.

“It was awesome to compete here - I competed two years ago in Manchester and the crowd here is five times the size. The fact all three of us on the podium PB’d just shows how good the crowd is.”

In the shot-put Scott Lincoln threw 20.77m and 20.62m, before finishing with 20.25m to make it yet another domestic title to add to his already massive haul, while a throws of 18.15m and 18.14m saw Patrick Swan take silver. “It is always nice to come and win the UK Championships, especially with the big crowd that really got behind us,” Lincoln said.

“I am excited about getting out to Tokyo and see what I can do there.” In the women’s triple jump, Adelaide Omitowoju produced the competition of her life, leading from round one to six and jumping a personal best to win her first ever British senior title, with Shanara Hibbert continued her personal best form this year, claiming silver, and Silver Nwabuzor winning bronze behind the pair.

The men’s long jump competition unfolded with just 8cm separating the top four come its finale. Winning his first ever British title with what was his first jump of the day, Alessandro Schenini’s 7.85m (+2.7) led the way, with silver going to Archie Yeo (7.81m (+2.2)) - 1cm further back, and Samuel Ebonine jumping 7.80m to set a personal best by 14cm, and getting himself a bronze medal. 

There was a share of the gold in the men’s high jump, with Divine Duruaku and Charlie Husbands unable to be separated following identical scorecards, their best clearances on the day coming at 2.14m. UK leader this year, bronze medallist Kimani Jack also went clear at 2.14m at the third time of asking - his scorecard carrying one more failure at the height leaving Jack to settle for British bronze.

Victory was accompanied by a Championship and stadium record for Lawrence Okoye in the men’s discus, his second-round mark of 65.93m putting him in a league of his own as he reclaimed his British crown after missing last year’s championships. Nick Percy came out on top by just 6cm as his 58.95m beat out coach Zane Duquemin’s 59.89m.

Para-athlete talent, Dan Greaves, Harrison Walsh and Aled Davies all lined up in the same event, with Greaves throwing a best mark of 55.63m, while Walsh went out to a best of 54.04m, and Davies finding his best throw of 46.59m. Of his performance, Okoye said: “I’m actually really happy - this is my best result at this event by a long way, and it felt nice to be able to do that in front of a home crowd.

“There’s still a lot still to come, and I’m encouraged with where things are going now.”