Reece predicts a Euro clean sweep
Sprinter Reece Prescod believes Great Britain can complete a 100-metres clean sweep at the European Championships.
The 22-year-old defended his title at yesterday’s British Championships to book his spot at the Europeans in Berlin in August.
He won in 10.06 seconds with Zharnel Hughes runner-up in 10.13 and CJ Ujah third in 10.18 at the meeting in Birmingham – although there was hope before the race that Linford Christie’s 25-year British record of 9.87 may be beaten.
Hughes also qualified automatically, with Ujah needing a selectors’ pick to make it to Germany, but he has the qualification standard. And Prescod, who has run a wind-assisted 9.88 this season, feels the trio will be the ones to beat in Berlin, saying they could take all the medals.
He said: “Me and the boys are doing well. Zharnel is in good shape, CJ has come back and we are training together. Me and CJ will be ready to go, hopefully he gets picked, and Zharnel is on form, so I don’t see why not. “Everyone wants me to run sub-10, but I have no rush to run it. Everyone now knows me as a racer – I turn up for the occasion and I do what I need to do to win.
“As for sub- 10, I am racing Diamond League this year so it will come eventually. But today was about defending my title and qualifying for the Europeans.”
Hughes added: “It’s good to see that we are now able to reckon with the rest of the world.”
Dina Asher- Smith took the women’s title in 10.97, a championship record and her third sub-11 seconds run of the season.
“Yo u can never feel unbeatable, that’s when you get beaten. When you step onto the line you have to be confident in your own ability, but no-one is unbeatable,” she said.
“You have to run with confidence, but also a bit of vulnerability to give yourself that extra push.”
Laura Muir returned from a training camp in St Moritz to win her 800m heat ahead of today’s final in 2 min 03.15 sec. Katarina Johnson-thompson failed to clear 1.93m in the high jump, but still posted a season’s best of 1.90m, as she continues her build-up to the heptathlon at the European Championships.
She said: “I’m pleased with a season’s best. There was more in the bag because I got that height relatively easily, but I’m starting to get back into the swing of competitions.
“I tried to couple everything up with the indoors and I feel a bit rusty, but this is just the start of the season.”
Morgan Lake set a high-jump personal best of 1.97m and just failed to set a new national record but qualified for the British team at the Europeans. Holly Bradshaw will also represent her country in Berlin after winning the pole vault, with Nick Miller taking the hammer title. Meanwhile, former Olympic and world 400 metres champion Christine Ohuruogu admitted it is the right time to quit after announcing her retirement.
The 34-year-old won Olympic gold at Beijing 2008 and silver in London four years later.
She also claimed world titles in 2007 and 2013, but her last major medal came two years ago, with 4x400m bronze at the Rio Olympics. Ohuruogu, who is halfway through a law degree at university, said in a statement on her website: “Today is the start of the British Championships and, as I won’t be there competing, I feel it is a good time to announce my retirement from competitive athletics.”