Potential Breakthrough British Athletes In 2023

[RunUnlimited]

Seems weird to call it a breakthrough since he won British Champs in 2021 and 2022, but I think Tade Ojora might have more for us yet: he is at an advantage in the NCAA with Trey Cunningham and Eric Edwards Jr. having gone pro, and he has Zeller there with him who will hopefully drag him up. I wouldn't be surprised if they went 1-2 at British Trials again, and since it's their last year of college it might be the start of a new hurdling era in the UK, with Pozzi leaving much to be desired recently.

I also am interested to see what Yemi Mary John gets up to in college at USC (the same college as Ojora incidentally)

Been awhile since Ojora was mentioned on this thread, but with the NCCA DI Indoor Championships upcoming this weekend, I thought it was time to revisit this guy as a potential breakthrough athlete.

Already this indoor season, he's run 7.53 for 60mH, a time that if replicated at the European Indoors last weekend, would have won him the silver medal. And Ojora has also run 7.58 this winter. He'll go into those Indoor Championships as one of the top seeds.

Also, more significantly, these 60mH times Ojora has run, indicate to me that he is ready to substantially improve upon his 110mH PB of 13.38 he set in 2021. Tade currently sits joint 5th on the UK all time list for the 60mH, sharing it with William Sharman. Of those men on that list, it is only Allen Scott who never made it to an Olympic, World and/or European Championship final, or run sub 13.2 in the 110mH. (Scott's 110mH PB was 13.53, also from 2008. He still made an Olympic team, 2 EIC and a WIC, reaching the finals in the latter two in a career blighted by injuries.)

This rather suggests to me that Tade Ojora could be set for big things in the coming months at least.

[SprintRelayFan]

This aged well

[MysteryBrick]

I don't think anyone's bigging him up, but I am intrigued as to his progress. I agree, our men's multieventers are sub-par...

[RunUnlimited]

Considering what we just saw in Istanbul, having to try and big up our British guy who might *perhaps* get close to 7800 points, let alone 8000 points and above, is pretty depressing. Skotheim, for instance, will get to 8400+ points this year.

[Occasional Hope]

7291 was his u20 PB. He scored 7659 with the senior implements in 2021. He did a couple of decathlons last year, finishing third in the UK champs with 7121, and got a windy 7487 at a US comp.

[Occasional Hope]

Talking of Jack, he PB'd in two events yesterday: 400m (48.32) and 110 hurdles (14.32). The latter a big improvement, down from 15.13.

[Ladyloz]

And her indoor season isn't done with the NCAA Indoors next weekend

[MysteryBrick]

I'm interested in what Jack Turner, US-based decathlete, can do this outdoors. Hasn't done a Decathlon in a couple of years, but based on indoors it looks like his 7291 PB is due a big revision, and he could threaten 7800.

[Occasional Hope]

Amber Anning might finally be ready this year, after her 50.68 indoors.

[carterhatch]

I sat through last weekend's Indoor Champs hunkered over my laptop hoping for a young athlete to have a major breakthrough. Sadly the one or two I had in mind didn't meet my expectations and on the whole I was rather 'underwhelmed' by the whole event.

However, given Gourley's performances I'd like to nominate him for the 'breakthough' award for the indoor season. I realise this might be premature, given that we still have the Europeans next weekend, and yes I know he is not quite the age-group one has in mind for this thread, but he has produced the sort of results that deserve recognition.

[RunUnlimited]

Over at the DNA meeting in Madrid just now, Daniel Goriola further lowered his 60mH lifetime best with a storming 7.69.... That time moves him up to 6th on the UK U20 all time list, replacing Josh Zeller.

Goriola was pipped to the line by Spaniard (we think?) Daniel Castilla however, who set a Spanish U20 record of 7.67 in winning the 12 points for the event.

[RunUnlimited]

@Paps

And if I remember it correctly, not only was 2023 Heinrich's first year running the 400m, but she'd only run *two* 400m races prior to the EU18 Championships... and then proceeded to run 3 consecutive PBs on her way to a surprise gold medal, out-racing the pre-race Czech favourite to boot!

[Paps]

So raw at the event and already running it so well… I’d argue she’s probably the most exciting of the lot

[RunUnlimited]

D'oh! I can't believe I left out the winner of the EU18 400m gold! Yes, absolutely she would be there too, and might even be a factor in the individual 400m at the EU20 Championships. Good call.

[Mikka]

Another name to keep an eye on from last weekend's EA U20/U17/U15 Indoor champs was the winner of the U20 400m title, Ashley Nemits. She started that championships with an indoor PB 56.65 and outdoor PB of 55.39. She then preceded to run 54.99 in winning her heat, and sailed to victory in 54.17, an improvement of over 2 seconds in the space of 2 races!

With Yemi Mary John moving into the U23 age group, its possible that another talented one lap athlete is coming through to sorta fill the gap. Certainly, GB could be sending a pretty strong 4x400m squad to the European U20's this summer, with Nemits, Newnham, relay-stalwart Sission, Grieve, Astil, and the EU18 400m hurdles medallists, Pye and Okoro, all in contention.

Also, I'm sure it helps that Nemits is being coached by Trevor Painter....

Charlotte Henrich is likely to be involved, if fit, I would imagine.