In a fantastic meeting four World Championship qualifications and thirteen UK top-ten rankings were achieved in conditions ideal for the 800m and 1500m racing. This was possibly the strongest ever BMC meeting with the men's 800m bringing back memories of the 2006 meeting as once again three men went sub 1:46.
The all round depth was evident as Sarah McDonald like Jake Wightman in the men went second in the UK rankings. The 1500m were also great and competitive races with Andrew Butchart 6th in the UK rankings and Jess Judd 7th in the rankings being the leading Brits. Add in UK top 10 performances from Emily Hosker-Thornhill in the 5000m and Chris Perry in the steeplechase plus terrific in depth performance (25 men sub 1:50) .

Races:28
Finishers: 351
PBs 111 (32%)
Power of Ten results: Here

Photos
Photos from the meeting can be found HERE

Qualifications
World Championship 800m men 1:45.8, women 2:00.60
01:45.55 Jake Wightman Edinburgh Ac
01:45.72 Charles Da'vall Grice Brighton Phoenix
01:45.80 Elliot Giles Birchfield H
02:00.15 Sarah Mcdonald Birchfield H / Birmingham Uni

European U20 800m men 1:49.00, Women 2:06.0
01:46.84 Oliver Dustin U20 Border
01:47.93 Joshua Lay U20 Rugby & Northampton / Loughboroug
01:48.74 Alex Botterill U20 City Of York / Leeds Beckett Uni
:05.47 Katy-ann Mcdonald U20 Blackheath & Bromley / Louisiana

Euro U20 3000m men 8:20, women 9:30
08:18.41 Thomas Keen U20 Cambridge & Coleridge<
08:18.82 Max Heyden U20 Aldershot Farnham & District
09:20.82 Saskia Millard U20 Herne Hill / Birmingham Uni
09:21.96 Eloise Walker U20 Edinburgh Ac

Athletics Weekly Report Here

Report

In terms of quality this meet was right up there with the Best of the BMC. Despite the searing heat affecting longer events there were a remarkable 13 World or Euro Under 23/20 standards. 111 athletes (33%) left the stadium with new PB’s to their name.

Jake Wightman never doubted that he would be back when he took his first tentative steps in Spring, following a stress fracture of the sacrum that prevented him from competing in the European indoors in Glasgow. This two lap race had been given top billing, and those who emerged from the sanctuary of the tree shade were not disappointed. The athletes vied for pole position through 400m in around 51 seconds flat. First to show was World Champs 4th place Kyle Langford followed by training partner Elliot Giles.
Wightman moved into pole position, with just under 200m left to run, and the European and commonwealth 1500m Bronze medallist was never headed. For those who could see the figures 1:45.55 flashed up on the trackside clock.
Fellow 1500m specialist Charlie D’Vall Grice was second in 1:45.72 with Giles third in 1:45.80, also returning Doha standards. Spencer Thomas (1:46.19) could also celebrate European Under 23 selection.
“It was my first race since August, but I knew I always have decent races here, so I’m delighted to get the World Champs qualifying time,” said Wightman.
“It was great to see so many top athletes supporting the BMC. The BMC have been good to me over the years, so I was glad to turn out,” he added. Wightman will head next to the Lausanne Diamond League looking for the World Champs qualifying time of 3:36.00.

Saran McDonald looked in total control over two laps, to win an equally stacked women’s 800m. The Birchfield Harrier who already has a Doha standard with 4:01.50 in the Rabat DL 1500m, steered clear of trouble through 400m reached in 59 seconds and change.
McDonald, who is now a full-time athlete, after completing her medical studies at Birmingham University, pulled away in the last 200m, to break the tape, over a second clear of Alex Bell (who ran that famous sub-2 in 2018 at this fixture) to return a new best of 2:00.15, which was also a qualifying standard for the World Champs.
Bell looked hopelessly boxed on the back straight, but rallied to return 2:01.36, with European Indoor champion Shelayna Oskan- Clarke, third with 2:01.47.
“It was really good to win with a PB; it was such a great field. I’m from a 1500m background, so I just tried to run a steady pace and it paid off. I just managed to hold everyone off in the straight. I feel like sub-2 will is just around the corner so I’m hoping it will come soon,” she reflected afterwards.
Finland’s Sara Kuivisto recorded a new two lap best of 2:02.64 ahead of breakthrough athlete Kirsty Fraser (2:03.45). Katy Ann-McDonald became the fourth junior athlete to record a Boras qualifier with 2:05.47.

Oliver Dustin was the latest U20 to put himself into contention for Euro U20 selection.
Dustin, who finished 8th in the England Champs, took over two seconds off his previous best, with a negatively split 1:46.80 800m, ahead of another U20 Joshua Lay (1:47.93). Alex Botterill (1:48.74) became the sixth UK junior to claim a Euro Standard.
The fast times kept on coming in the other races, the men’s C saw a win for Ben Lee (1:49.36) ahead of Alexander Birkett who also broke 1:50. Callum Dodds took the D classification win in an even quicker time of 1:49.17, with the first four home breaking the 1:50 barrier.
Mukhtar Massa could be an athlete to watch in the future, based on his 1:52.97 win in the G race, a time which puts him fourth in the UK U17 age-group rankings.
Saskia Huxham is a redoubtable racer and tenacity paid off for the Hallamshire runner, with a 2:07.89 win in the C race over two laps.

Andrew Butchart looks set for another vintage year over 5000m based on his metric mile win over James McMurray. The Olympic finalist was through 800m in around 1:56 with McMurray, Archie Davies and George Mills in contention.
Showing an impressive turn of speed in the straight the Scottish 5000m record holder just had enough to reverse the St Albans man 3:38.84 to 3:39.02. Davis (3:40.30) and Mills (3:40.32) both broke new ground over the distance. The next four men home also broke new ground all going under 3:44 for the metric mile.
“I’ve already qualified for Doha over 5k, with 13:09.33 in Rome, so I’m focusing on improving my speed said Butchart afterwards. “That was an outdoor PB for me, as I’ve run 3:37.58 indoors, so I’m delighted with today, “he added.
The B race saw an impressive win for Ricky Harvie (3:42.32) over Eoin Pierce 3:42.87. Tom Dodd looks set for promotion to the B race after his 3:45.63 win in the C category. The quality continued right down to the E race with U17 Ben Reynolds taking the spoils in 3:55.15.
The women’s 1500m saw Euro U23 XC champion Anna Moller set a decent pace to return 4:09.12 in coming home over a second clear of Jessica Judd (4:10.74). The time was a new best for the Danish star, who will be looking towards the Gavle Euro Under 23’s over 3k steeple, where she has a best of 9:31.66, set in the European Champs last year.

Chris Perry blazed away from competitors to run in a new 3k chase best of 8:44.55, ahead of Jayme Rossiter (8:46.81). This event looks to be on the rise again, with nine men breaking the 9-minute barrier. Michelle Finn was fairly satisfied with her 9:51.22 win, after travelling from Cork, Ireland.

Darragh McElhinney reversed an athlete of the calibre of Jonny Davies with a sub 60 last lap to return new Irish Junior record figures of 8:01.48 over 3000m. He then revealed that he would be looking at the Euro Under 20’s over 5k where he also has taken the Irish Under 20 record with 13.54.10, this year.
The BMC also hosted the Euro U20 3000m trial and it was the current U18 3000m champion Thomas Keen, who outkicked Max Hayden to take the spoils and selection for the Euros with 8:18. 41 to 8:18.42. Katie Holt won the women’s 3000m (9:15.34) where Saskia Millard (9:20.82) and Eloise Walker (9:21.96) both returned Boras standards.

Emily Hosker-Thornhill decimated a top-quality 5k field where she recorded new figures of 15:46.22 well clear of Amelia Quirk (16:02.54). Hosker- Thornhill may be another breakthrough athlete this year having dipped under 9 minutes for 3000m this year.
The 5000m men gamely competed in the heat of the day, but made a remarkable effort as Daniel Mulyran won the B 5000m in 14.39.45, with Mitchell Byrne (14.45.35) the only man to run a PB in the searing heat.
The spirit of the club was epitomised when Andy Butchart returned less than an hour after his 1500m win to pace the men’s 5k won by Mohamed in 14:07.35.

This vintage season stays down South in Eltham on the 20th of July, where we hope these halcyon days will continue.
Thanks again to our members, families, friends and guests who continue to help our events to thrive and grow.
Thank you to our officials and helpers at Watford Harriers and other clubs, who give up their time and energy to help this great sport of athletics, it is truly appreciated by all of the BMC.