British Championships 24th-26th June

[Occasional Hope]

Men's 200: without Dobson no one has the standard if Gemili's recent time isn't registered, but NMB has a quota spot atm. Interesting to see if Reece can do something here, and how Adam does on home soil.

Men's 400: we'll see if MHS is fit after recent FS, and see if AHW or one of the other younger runners can make a step forward.

Women's 400: could be quite competitive, several women with the standard and without Jodie no obvious winner. Plus Keely giving it a go, although I think it's shame she's not doing the 800.

[Occasional Hope]

800 is my favourite event generally, and both should be good races. We've discussed elsewhere that Max should make it an honest race with an opportunity for athletes on the verge of getting the standard to do so.

Both 1500s are likely to be nervy tactical affairs though, and not impossible that the selectors will have a tricky decision.

Elliott Giles is entered in both, but is not in the best shape after his injury indoors.

[Occasional Hope]

McColgan obviously the clear favourite for the w5000. The mens' could be more open, with Marc Scott not quite in his indoor form.

Bird and Pratt a likely 1-2 in the women's steeplechase, but can Elise Thorner take a couple of seconds off her pb to join them in Eugene? Can one our men get the standard? Seddon is currently in the very last rankings place, which I don't think will be good enough.

[Occasional Hope]

110h: new star Josh Zeller has to be the one to watch. Pozzi has the standard but is not at his best. Dave King hasn't quite replicated his indoor form. 400hL it's Chalmers' to lose, but interesting to se if some of the younger athletes can improve SBs or PBs.

100h: no one is likely to challenge Cindy but the battle for 2nd could be close. Women's 400h is more competitive.

[Occasional Hope]

Men's jumps are all in pretty dire straits. Most interested in seeing if any of the younger (u20 and u23) PVers can progress a bit.

Women's jumps are more interesting, with a genuine competition in the HJ. Lorraine Ugen a clear favourite in the LJ but I'd like to see the others battling it out for 2nd and maybe at least one more woman get the standard. A fairly routine day for Bradshaw too. Can Naomi Metzger finally jump the WC standard? Even the Euro standard would involve a PB, but I believe she can do it.

[Occasional Hope]

Hammer is one of our most competitive events with six women over 68 metres this year. I wold say Anna Purchase is in the driving seat but any of them could win. If only one can push on to WC standard.

Strickler is showing better form than McKinna atm so could pull off an upset.

The men's throws shouldn't have any surprises.

[trickstat]

I suppose there are some who might view Percy beating Okoye in the DT as a surprise. Not me though.

[Sovietvest]

The selectors could do themselves and the athletes a big favour by announcing now - as a one-off, with no intention of creating a precedent - that for the Men's 8 and 15 they will select the first three who have the W Ch Q time. Otherwise I can see them having to make some very difficult decisions on the discretionary places. Even in the case of the 15, if Kerr comes 4th or 5th (which I can see happening), it would be harsh to not select a Gourley, Wightman or Heyward, who have all made global finals and seem to be in great form.

The discretionary place is a sensible policy when there are standout athletes in an event or when people are coming back from injury or injured on the day of the trials. But Eugene is so close now, if someone is injured or out of form this weekend, they won't have much time to turn things around.

Back to Kerr, I've listened to him and Mackie on podcasts talking about his training and their attitude to competitions. Compared to most other groups, they race lightly, bring speed work into the programme late and as a consequence peak just for the major champs. I think that makes Kerr vulnerable this weekend. Should be exciting!

[Laps]

The whole point of selectors and the discretionary pick is to stop making the mistake of leaving someone like Josh Kerr behind. Assuming the selectors know Kerr's fitness is on the way to peaking at the right time and his health is OK then the rest of the field are running for 1st and 2nd only, and they know it.

[Sovietvest]

What if Wightman is 3rd and Kerr 4th, Laps?

[Laps]

What about it? Kerr has established his position as No.1 with times and an Olympic medal.

As said many times I am in favour of Championships which are not trials. Selectors should pick the best team taking all relevant criteria into account.
Wightman would be on my team, no hesitation.

Ours is a crap system. Top 3 in trials is even worse. It encourages those who can excel in one-off races often run at slow pace. At the Championships they are usually the first to go as making the games is the limit of their ambition/ability.

[treadwater1]

The mens 15 trumps the mens 8 this year for me, it’s good to see Gourley back in shape and in better form than ever, he’s recorded PBs over the 8, 15 and mile. Wightman and Heyward are 2nd and 3rd quickest in the world this year, then there’s Kerr who hasn’t competed much this year, but didn’t compete much last year pre trials, 1 race each season in the May-June period. I’ve talked up Copeland’s fast finish before, don’t forget he was beaten by Stonier at the Emsley Carr mile. So it could be any 3 from 6.

[Ladyloz]

As things stand Copeland & Stonier don't have the Qualifying time

[carterhatch]

If only the type of discussion being had about 800/1500 could be applied to some men's field events, just one would be a start ...

I am a little disappointed about the 400, at the start of the year, Ed Faulds and Charlie Dobson promised much, and what of MHS, any news on his recent DNS? I know one or two of the others such as AHW and Brier offer some hope, but it could have been so exciting ...

[marilyn1]

The mens 15 trumps the mens 8 this year for me, it’s good to see Gourley back in shape and in better form than ever, he’s recorded PBs over the 8, 15 and mile. Wightman and Heyward are 2nd and 3rd quickest in the world this year, then there’s Kerr who hasn’t competed much this year, but didn’t compete much last year pre trials, 1 race each season in the May-June period. I’ve talked up Copeland’s fast finish before, don’t forget he was beaten by Stonier at the Emsley Carr mile. So it could be any 3 from 6.

Every athlete knew what the date of WC was this year and the rules of selection, either auto selection with top two if entry standard met, or discretion based on his or her place at the week end with entry standard or quota. The only commiseration for not making it is the CG or Munich. The 800m does not quite enjoy last years 800m fascination, but no finalist in 800m in Tokyo.

[marra]

I do wonder how a lot of athletes have approached this year. We've seen in swimming that some people (notably a bunch of Aussies) have openly decided to favour the CG over the world championships that have been stuck into the calendar at short notice.

I know athletes had more notice, but that is roughly similar to what has happened with the WC, adding it into a summer that already had home CG for the Brits and ECs.

Then you add in the fact that a bunch of athletes out there probably know that even making a WC at all would be a huge achievement for them, whilst they have a realistic chance at a CG or EC podium.

Rright now this year's times would have Brits winning 26 medals at the Euros and 24 at the CG if they panned out (obv they won't do that exactly, but it gives us a rough idea).

Even 4 medals at the Worlds (one from Dasher, Keeley and the 2 4x100m) would represent a realistic haul with anything else being a real bonus.

It might smack of limited ambition but on the other hand, it could be argued as the best way to 1) get a medal and 2) maximise any sponsorship.


In those circumstances, saving yourself for later in the season might well be the smart move to maximise your chances.

[Loop-guru]

There are a few I rate as no more than underdogs but sometimes that's the best place to be with no weight of expectation on your shoulders. In the 800M I am going with Alex Botterill. He has only ran 1 race, a BMC event at 800M which he won convincingly in 1.47.30 There could be more to come and I do feel he could join the sub 1.45 brigade at some point.

In the 1500M George Mills strikes me as a real gutsy competitor who has been going round europe chasing the world standard and not getting it but seems to be improving week by week. Finished last year in 7th place but I am expecting better.

Nothing much to back this one up but I really like the look and progression of Josh Lay. Similar to Josh Kerr in the sense he is very picky about when he races and these type of athletes seem to come to the boil at the right time.

[Occasional Hope]

I hope the travel disruptions don't stop anyone making it there.

[MR_ME]

I think most athletics clubs can put a mini bus on for national champs.

[MR_ME]

The entry lists have all been updated now. KJT only down for the javelin. MHS still in the 400m. Laura Muir the 1500m.

[marilyn1]

The selectors could do themselves and the athletes a big favour by announcing now - as a one-off, with no intention of creating a precedent - that for the Men's 8 and 15 they will select the first three who have the W Ch Q time. Otherwise I can see them having to make some very difficult decisions on the discretionary places. Even in the case of the 15, if Kerr comes 4th or 5th (which I can see happening), it would be harsh to not select a Gourley, Wightman or Heyward, who have all made global finals and seem to be in great form.

The discretionary place is a sensible policy when there are standout athletes in an event or when people are coming back from injury or injured on the day of the trials. But Eugene is so close now, if someone is injured or out of form this weekend, they won't have much time to turn things around.

Back to Kerr, I've listened to him and Mackie on podcasts talking about his training and their attitude to competitions. Compared to most other groups, they race lightly, bring speed work into the programme late and as a consequence peak just for the major champs. I think that makes Kerr vulnerable this weekend. Should be exciting!

Cannot be more ruthless than what's gonna hapappen in Eugene , starting tomorrow. I note quite a few American fans have doubts about the first 3 criteria for selection