UK Relays - State of Play

[Christy93]

Asha Philip has just posted an IG of her exploring Munich... Could it be oh so reliable Asha to the rescue? With Luckenkemper a big fitness doubt and Kouni/Frey struggling individually, a team of Philip-Lansiquot-Dina-Nelson might actually still go off marginal favourites.

[SprintRelayFan]

Asha expressly said she was out of the 100 and not the relays….so maybe

[MysteryBrick]

Funny how things change.

The W4x100m was a possibility of a major silver or even gold with a Jamaican messup, and is now a car crash. Meanwhile, the M4x400m now has European Gold and Bronze, along with an athlete who Iwan Thomas has said should break the British 400m record.

I'm also hoping that Victoria Ohuruogu stays at this level or even improves for a good 3 or 4 years, and also *stays on leg 1*. It's something GB often struggle with at a global level - the leg 1 runner is comparatively weak and is out of the race before it's even begun. Tokyo 1991 theory always stays true for me - give the next leg runner a chance by actually being in the race! If it's Paris 2024, Ed Faulds is fit again and splitting 44-lows for fun, AHW has improved a little, Dobson is fit and firing with 19.9 pace and MHS is still 2022 edition, a team of MHS-Dobson-AHW-Faulds could be stupid.

[Occasional Hope]

That's a lot of if though...

[MysteryBrick]

Where's the fun with no if...? 😉

[Ladyloz]

Well with Dina looking better tonight and Asha being available looking more promising for the 4x1

[jjimbojames]

It would actually make sense to leave Ashleigh on 3rd, as she and Imani have practiced that, and put DAS back on anchor…although, if they then win, people will have a field day about what DN thinks about that…

[alfie]

I did think when Asha pulled out of the individual and implied she might still be OK for the relay that this was a two-edged sword : saving all her petrol for the relay but might still be affected and not quite at her best . But hopefully she will be fine. I like JJ's projected line up.

[Christy93]

So, how are we feeling? I thought Bianca actually looked better than Ash. Wouldn't be surprised if Dina in for Ash on anchor is the only change.

[RunUnlimited]

Considering what happened with Dina in Eugene, I'll hold off making any predictions until I see her and the baton safely crossing the line at the end of the relay, with them both being in 1st place.

If Dina's outing in yesterday's 200m was any indicator though, then I'm more confident that the issues she had in the World Championships and what occurred in the 100m here in Munich, have been sorted out and behind her. And a fully fit Dina is not getting beaten by *anyone* who isn't named Jackson, Frasier-Pryce or Thompson-Herah currently.

[Sovietvest]

The Darryl Neita situation is disappointing. Not claiming injury, just implying she's tired and needs to recover for end of the season. Does anyone know if athletes like her who are on the relay squad get the £28k Athlete Performance Award for the relay on top of the £28k individual funding? I know they have to sign an agreement that presumably commits them to competing if fit and selected. Regardless of the funding / contractual situation I personally think that someone who has committed to the relay squad should prioritise a major champs like this over Diamond League races. She would have been less tired if she hadn't run Monaco.

UKA seem to be being lenient about this. Maybe they judge it's better for the team dynamic if Darryl doesn't race.

[Ladyloz]

You either get relay funding or Individual funding not both Sovietvest. Daryl is on Relay Funding

[Runner88]

Soon to be upgraded to individual funding I am sure for next season. But yes very curious for her to skip the relay. And even the 200m where looking at the opposition she would be in for a shout of a medal in the final. And as she’s said - she doesn’t have a cabinet full of individual medals (yet)

[Occasional Hope]

Who knows what's going on really behind the scenes.

[marra]

It's also worth noting that the UKA approach to these championships generally has seemingly been relatively relaxed because of the wider busy summer. So on top of whatever else is going on with DN et al they may have decided not to kick up a fuss generally.

[Ladyloz]

Also worth remembering that Christian Malcolm is leaving at the end of these champs.

[SprintRelayFan]

Daryll fact fans she’s been at pudding mill Lane this afternoon, just down from the London stadium…reposted stories about the mens 200 and Laura but nothing on the womens 200….clearly a rift going on

[jjimbojames]

I’m sure they’ll sort it out, but the current order of them on 3rd/4th would be a tad awkward!

[Runner88]

I think this is all being blown way out of proportion.

[alfie]

Yes let us not make more of it than necessary . We don't know what has really gone on ; DN may just be a bit overwhelmed by her personal disappointment in "only" ending up with bronze , and is deflecting her feelings onto peripheral issues. She may also be in no fit mental state to contribute to the relay - I mean who knows what is going on in her head ? I certainly don't and am just offering possibilities.
Wait and see how it all blows out , eh ?

[carterhatch]

I think UKA athletics might well be dipping into their pocket to fund 3/4 athletes on the men's 4x400 relay [in addition to MHS/AHW/Dobson as individuals] . From what was said by MHS in the post race interview, I hope that gets young Davey a coach!

[jjimbojames]

His coach was Lloyd Cowan. I wonder if Christine might pick him up….

[MysteryBrick]

That would be about the best decision he could make.

[Runner88]

And let’s not forget it’s a young mens 4x400m team. Lewis Davey 21, Charlie Dobson 22, Alex HW 23, MHS 27

[Christy93]

And let’s not forget it’s a young mens 4x400m team. Lewis Davey 21, Charlie Dobson 22, Alex HW 23, MHS 27

If you asked me to draw a 400m runner, rightly or wrongly Davey is what I'd come up with. Quite excited to see what he can do over the next few years - No reason he can't get himself under 45.5 and become a reliable relay leg. Faulds 19, Brier 23, Mitcham 22 and new to the event... Plenty to be hopeful about even before looking at the juniors. If Chalmers can take another ½ second off his 400h PB, I'd be interested to see what he can do on a relay... Yes, Jack Green's 4x4 leg in 2012 is on my mind!

[SprintRelayFan]

What was mitcham doing before?

[trickstat]

He was a 100/200 runner. He was generally better at 200 (PB 21.12) than 100 although he does have a 10.41 at Loughborough to his name.

[SprintRelayFan]

Thanks very much. Good for him for making the move!

[Loop-guru]

There must be a host of potential sub 45 runners in the 200M ranks at the moment as we have 30 sub 21.00 performers this year (a best ever?). AHW 200M pb 20.86 currently maps across to 45.08 so theoretically there are some sub 45 performers lurking there.

I also think that Zharnel Hughes could break the British / European Record if he wanted to.

[Occasional Hope]

I feel any 200 runner who is clearly significantly better than at 100 ought to at least give 400 a go, and sooner rather than later. It might not work out but worth considering.

[carterhatch]

A good summary by Runner88

'Seeing Vicky O 50.7, Ama 50.8, Jodie 50.5 and Yeargin 49.7

Jodie will drop that time for sure next year provided she’s healthy and it would be hard to argue against Vicky O to not keep up her improvements.

Nielsen, Pipi, Knight, Clark, Anning and maybe even the likes of Liverpool and Mary John will be all be in contention for the other spot. Exciting times'


Worth repeating that the time of 3:21.74 was the second fastest time by a British women's 4x400 - totally unexpected I would venture.

It made me return to the quartet with the GB record - Christine Ohuruogu, Marilyn Okoro, Lee McConnell, Nicola Sanders in a time of 3:20.04 ... I'd forgotten the line up, to be honest, had included Okoro, with Donna Fraser having run the qualifier.

Had we the luxury of fantasy line-ups, CO and Sanders would be in my all time four, probably on the same legs as they had in Osaka ... and of the current four, the Jodie Williams of Tokyo final makes leg 2, and we can debate forever who would be third [you know I might actually go for PSD at her galloping best]

However, for the women to medal at Paris is a very tough ask. There is a fine group of 6-8 ladies from which to draw from, but unless Jodie Williams commits to 400 and makes high 49s [her run in the 200 here in Munich might rekindle her love for this event], we are going to need at least one, maybe two, to emerge as consistent sub50 runners to stand a chance of meddaling. Put another way, we need a 'superstar' in the event. I think the Hodge's brief experiment has shown she as her limitations, an Amber Anning free of NCAA commitments might get sub 50 next season but it’s a long shot, but might, might, Amy Hunt, injury free, realise a future lies in this event ?

[Loop-guru]

That team could actually challenge the British Record at some point. Jodie is down well over a second on her best of last year so could conceivably run 49.5. The rest would then only have to improve 0.25 seconds each to knock 1.75 off their time in total. I think VO, AP & NY will further improve between now and Paris. The risk might be in terms of age with VO and JW who will both be year 9 athletes come Paris 2024. I also think Yemi Mary John will almost certainly be challenging strongly by Paris 2024 though she could end up being another one where we have to wait for her NCAA obligations to be completed before we get the full benefit.