Pozzi strikes gold while Clark is eventually awarded team bronze in 4x400 relay
So often when battling injuries, it would have been easier to retire than carry on, Andy Pozzi admitted, but persistence paid off for the Englishman when he struck gold in the 60 metres hurdles on the final afternoon of the world indoor championships in Birmingham.
The 25-year-old, who won the European title 12 months ago, delivered a spurring surge to land victory in 7.46 seconds, 0.01 ahead of American rival Jarret Eaton.
“To be a world champion in Birmingham makes the achievement tenfold,” Pozzi said. “The first competition I watched was the trials here 15 years ago. My heart stopped at the end. I knew I was behind and I can’t describe how much I wanted it.”
It was a good day for his GB&NI co-captain Shelayna Oskan-clarke, who landed 800m bronze behind Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba and Ajee Wilson of the USA. And the hosts eventually ended up fourth in the medal table at the very last when the women’s 4x400 relay squad received bronze.
Anchored by Aberdonian Zoey Clark, the British quartet were originally fourth, then promoted one spot following Jamaica’s disqualification, then ejected for an alleged jostling offence. Eventually, at the bitter end of an event where the judges were involved as never before, they were recalled to join the USA and Poland on the podium.
“It was such a rollercoaster two hours but it’s great to have this bronze,” Clark revealed.
Elsewhere, Jake Wightman was sixth in the 1,500m final while Chris O’hare, in eighth, could only rue the foot injury that derailed his hopes. Meanwhile, Poland set a world record of 3:01.77 to pip the USA to men’s 4x400 gold with the hosts sixth.