There was a brilliant victory for Lee Emanuel from Hastings on the first day of the British Trials and Indoor Championships at Sheffield on Saturday and Top Ten placings for both Livvy Connor from Lewes and Brighton & Hove’s Tom French.
Racing in the 3000 metres, where he was the reigning champion, Emanuel ran the perfect race steaming clear of favourite Tom Farrell from Border Harriers over the final 300 metres to win by some ten metres in 7:55.67.
Unfortunately the early pace was not fast enough to push him to World Championship standard of 7:50 but he may still make the team as he already has the 1,500m standard under his belt this year.
Both Connor and French were below their bests at Sheffield with Connor clearing 3.74m for her tenth place in the pole vault while French leapt 7.05m for his tenth place in the long jump.
Three Brighton Phoenix athletes fought their way through to Sunday’s middle distance finals with a commanding victory for Charlie Grice in defence of his 1500m title and at one stage it looked like Robbie Fitzgibbon was going to finish second. Unfortunately he got swallowed up in the home straight and finished fifth but he still qualified as a fastest loser.
In the 800 metres Spencer Thomas found himself in the final after taking second place in his heat.