Uni hosts indoor event

LOUGHBOROUGH University hosted one of the very few domestic indoor athletics competitions last week, abiding by strict COVID protocols to allow athletes an opportunity to qualify and prepare for the upcoming European Indoor Championships in March.

Andy Robertson (Sale Harriers) started the day on Saturday with a win in the 60m, running 6.61, a European Indoor qualifying mark and his fastest time for the distance since 2017. He was followed across the line in both series of races by former Loughborough student Harry AikinesAryeetey running 6.71 and 6.73.

The women’s 60m was won by Loughborough scholar and Scottish record holder Alisha Rees (Edinburgh AC/LSAC, Leon Baptiste) in a season’s best 7.37, running marginally faster in the second round in 7.36. In the women’s B Race, Loughborough based World and Paralympic Champion Sophie Hahn (Charnwood AC, Leon Baptiste) ran close to her PB in 8.01.

On day two in the high jump, scholars Will Grimsey (WGEL/LSAC, Fuzz Caan) and Morgan Lake (WSE&H/ LSAC, Caan) both took victory in their respective fields with 2.16m and 1.88m. Also competing in the men’s competition was former Loughborough student and Para World Champion Jonathan Broom-Edwards (Newham, Graham Ravenscroft), jumping 2.12m for his best jump since 2017.

Elsewhere around the UK and the world, Loughborough athletes have been negotiating travel restrictions to have great success this 2021 indoor season.

Holly Bradshaw travelled to France at the end of January to commence a period of quarantine to allow her to compete in two meetings there. The World Championships finalist took advantage of the celebrated ‘Perche’ pole vault meeting to vault a world class 4.85m, her second best vault ever, and highest vault since setting her British record in 2012. A temporary world lead after winning the meet, she remains ranked 3rd in the world for 2021 behind world medallists Sandi Morris and Anzhelika Siderova.