The Arena Birmingham brought the very best of Britain’s elite athletes for a weekend of SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships with Saturday’s action brimming with world class performances from wold class athletes on top of their game, with 26 British titles being awarded to the victorious athletes across events stretching from the 60m sprint to the pole vault and 5000m race walks.
Yesterday’s events saw Team GB No.1 sprinter, Asha Philip and 3000m runner, Laura Muir, living up to all expectations, coming out on top of their respective races in front of a jam-backed, hugely excited arena.
10-times British title winner Philip, who took gold with a 7.19s finish at the tape said: “I'm really happy because I had to work for that. None of my races are ever easy but I really had to dig in for that. It was a fight to the line and I'm really happy I came away with the gold.”
Ahead of the coming Indoor European Championships, in Glasgow, Muir, who won in 8:48.03 seconds, said: “I'm purely excited for the Championships after that performance. I feel so comfortable indoors in Glasgow, I know the surroundings and I'm in great form.”
There was a surprise winner in the Men's 60m final with Dominic Ashwell crossing the line in 6.64s, whilst Women's Pole Vaulter, Holly Bradshaw, winning comfortably with a height of 4.80m – a new Championship Record. “I've got the Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham next week and then I'll head to Glasgow,” said a delighted Bradshaw said. “These comps are about having fun and it's going amazingly well.”
Ashwell said: “I would say it's been a very good day to say the least, especially after the semi-final. I think to come into the final and produce that is just massive.”
Other Day 1 winners include; Naomi Ogbeta in the Women's Triple Jump final, Cindy Ofili in the Women's 60m Hurdles, Chris Baker in the Men's High Jump, with Men's Shot Put gold going to Scott Lincoln
