Johnson-Thompson lives up to top billing at curtain-raiser
HEPTATHLON STAR THRILLS CROWDS AT LOUGHBOROUGH
TEAM GB star Katarina Johnson Thompson lit up the Loughborough International Athletics (LIA) event on a glorious spring day at the Paula Radcliffe Stadium, writes Dan Trussell.
The 30-year-old heptathlon star, who won gold at last summer’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, wowed the crowd by winning the guest 100m hurdles final in 13.74 seconds.
It was a fitting start to proceedings as teams from Loughborough, England, Scotland, Wales, GB&NI U20s, and the National Athletics League all went head-to-head in the curtainraiser to the outdoor season.
Johnson-Thompson also featured in the women’s 4x400m final as England dominated the field to take a comfortable team win in 3:37.03.
On a day of high sporting drama, two-time Paralympic Games gold medallist Sophie Hahn stormed to victory in the women’s para 100m final, crossing the line in 13.11 seconds.
In the men’s event, England’s Kevin Santos (11.35 secs) pipped Loughborough’s Thomas Young (11.38 secs) in a truly absorbing race.
The women’s 100m final proved to be an explosive race as England’s Imani Lansiquot crossed the line in 11.32 secs, ahead of Scotland’s Alyson Bell (11.55), and Charnwood’s Amy Hunt (11.61).
England also took the spoils in the men’s 100m final as Oliver Bromby claimed first place in 10.56 secs. Loughborough’s Elliot Jones secured second place (10.61), with Andrew Robertson in third (10.71).
Alex Haydock-Wilson showed his credentials by claiming maximum points for Loughborough in the men’s 200m, sailing over the line in a rapid 21.35 seconds.
Elsewhere, Columba Blango (England) powered through in the men’s para 400m final to notch an impressive season’s best in 49.61 secs.
In the men’s hammer, England athlete Jake Norris recorded a fine 70.40m to break his five-year personal best, taking victory ahead of Loughborough’s Craig Much (71.89) and GB’s Owen Merritt (69.11).
With temperatures rising on campus, GB & NI U23s managed to keep their cool to record a double success in the 4x100m relay events.
The women’s team showed perfect teamwork and power to win in 43.91 secs, with the men’s side looking equally impressive in 39.83 secs.
In the men’s 400m final, Loughborough’s Rio Mitcham produced a calm and collected performance to record a personal best of 46.13 secs.
Back in the field, Loughborough’s Benjamin East landed a personal best of 70.08 to win the men’s javelin event, and the women’s shot put saw two-time British champion Amelia Strickler continue her fine form to take full points for England with a throw of 17.25m.
There was also an impressive personal best for Rebekah Walton (Loughborough) in the women’s javelin.
The 23-year-old recorded a distance of 56.66m to take second place. On the track, The George Gandy Mile – held in tribute to the late Loughborough endurance coach – was won by Wales’ James Heneghan in 4:05.46.
In a thrilling men’s 110m hurdles final, Loughborough’s Cameron Fillery clocked 14.07 secs to edge out close competitor Edson Gomes of the National Athletics League in 14.19 secs.
Elsewhere, in the women’s triple jump, Loughborough’s Lily Hulland claimed first with an outstanding jump of 12.81m.
To conclude a fine day of athletics, England’s Laura Zialor added yet more points for her nation in the women’s high jump to take the win with a best height of 1.84m.