Seventh Heaven for Meadows at Sainsbury's Indoor British Championships

2011 European Indoor champion Jenny Meadows (handicap -2.0) used her experience to great effect on day two of the Sainsbury’s Indoor British Championships in Sheffield to take gold in the women’s 800m and, in doing, move herself into 2nd on the National Ladder.

Meadows controlled the race from the front as she secured a remarkable seventh British title in 2:01.43 and took 0.4 off the handicap score that she set the day before in the heats. Fastest in the world this year, the 33-year-old heads to the European Indoor Championships in Prague next month as the one to beat.

“I went off way too quick! I was a bit shocked at how fast I ran the first 400m so I backed off but then that made me lose momentum so I should have had more faith in myself to carry on at that pace,” she said.

“I wanted to kick myself as I could have run quicker and maybe got another sub-two minute clocking. It’s my seventh title and I’m starting to feel in the form of my life so I hope to get some true results in the major championships this year.”

Silver medallist Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (handicap -0.9) also ran a great race, setting a new personal best of 2.02.91 to dip inside the European standard. She knocked 0.6 off the handicap score that she had set in the heats. Before going into the weekend ,Shelayna was on 0.0 and so has taken almost a full point off her score over the weekend and moved into a top ten position on the ladder.

Indoor British champion over 800m in Sheffield last year, Laura Muir (handicap -1.6) added the 1,500m title to her collection with a dominant performance on the EIS track, clocking 4:13.06 to finish ahead of Alison Leonard (handicap -0.5) who clinched silver for the second year running.Laura, who was in joint 2nd with Jenny on the ladder, is now in 3rd place and Alison will move up from 20th to 15th.

“I feel I’m running well – I’d like to medal at the Europeans. I’d really love to get my first major championship medal there,” said Muir.

Victory in the men’s event went to Charlie Grice (handicap -4.9) who ran a superb last lap to secure gold in convincing style, clocking 3:49.79. Post-race he said:

“It planned out how I wanted it to and I learned from the mistakes I made in last year’s race. A medal in Prague at the European Indoor Championships is definitely my aim – the races will be tactical but I’m confident and happy with my speed.”

Guy Learmonth (handicap -5.6) converted multiple silver and bronzes to gold as he led from the gun in the men’s 800m, holding off a spirited late challenge by James Bowness (handicap -5.2) to take the title in 1:49.00.Guy now moves into 5th on the National Ladder and James' performance takes him from 41st to 9th.

“I didn’t really realise how close it was,” said Learmonth afterwards.

“It wasn’t too quick- it was a decent pace. I felt in control. I felt them come onto my shoulder with 200m to go but knew if I had enough in the tank at 600m, then I’d be in a position to win it. It’s my first senior national title and I’m absolutely delighted.”

Ireland’s Sara Treacy (handicap -0.1) left it until the final lap before storming through to victory in the women’s 3,000m in 9:06.23, a new personal best and 0.2 off her handicap score. Emelia Gorecka (handicap -1.3) also recorded a new personal best, chasing Treacy hard in the closing 20m to take the top spot on the podium as the first Briton over the line in 9:06.27. Jessica Judd (handicap -0.5) clinched silver whilst bronze went to last year’s winner Charlene Thomas (handicap 1.7).

After leading overnight, Shaftesbury Barnet and Birchfield Harriers carried on where they left off to win the male and female Club:Connect titles respectively.

Full results can be found here: http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/british-athletics-series/sainsburys-indoor-british-champs/athlete-information/

Sainsbury’s is proud to be a long-term supporter of British Athletics and a champion of inclusive sport for all, from grassroots to elite level.