With the BUCS Outdoor Championships fast approaching and final preparations taking place, we take a look at the athletes that could shine this weekend in Bedford.
Men’s Entries
Eyes will be looking towards the men’s 100m on the opening day, where UEL’s Adam Gemili will be looking to take his first BUCS title. The 2013 European U23 100m gold medallist and Olympic semi-finalist would be the stand out favourite if he takes to the start line, but will need to fend off last year’s champion Adeseye Ogunlewe (Essex), and the European U23 silver medallist, Deji Tobias (Hertfordshire).
BUCS 2014 indoor 200m champ, Jordan Kirby-Polidore (Loughborough) is the athlete who looks set to take the crown as the only runner to have been sub-21s in the field. Last year’s silver and bronze medallists, James Williams (Leeds) and Tom Holligan (Aberdeen) will surely feature, along with a host of quality sprinters in what could be one of the closest races in the championships.
The men’s 400m will see the 2013 indoor and outdoor double champion, Michael Warner (Nottingham Trent) look to retain his title against 2013 European Indoor relay champion and fastest in the field, Richard Buck (Loughborough). Brunel’s James Forman, who won the 2014 indoor title in emphatic fashion, could also feature along with Christian Byron (Nottingham Trent), last year’s indoor and outdoor bronze medallist.
The men’s 1500m was perhaps the best race of the 2013 championships, and could yet again see James Shane (Anglia Ruskin) retain his title, with Loughborough’s James McMurray and Scottish 800m specialist Guy Learmonth set to be amongst the medals.
Niall Flannery (Loughborough) will be looking for his 5th BUCS 400mH title in as many years, but will be pushed by Olympic Semi-Finalist and former NCAA champion, Cristian Morton (UEL) whose PB is almost a second faster.
David Guest (Loughborough) will be looking for distance in order to beat the challenge of Feron Sayers (UC Birmingham) and Adam McMullan (Ulster) to retain his long jump title. The men’s pole vault will be hotly contested by Nick Cruchley (Birmingham) the 2012 and 2013 champ, and the two Loughborough boys, Daniel Gardener and Paul Walker, with latter recently breaking the Welsh indoor record.
Women’s Entries
In the women’s 100m, multiple Canadian champion Toyin Olupona (Birmingham) is the lead athlete in the field, but could be pushed for the title by Bianca Williams (UEL). The 400m could see a new championship record, with Amy Allcock the 2014 indoor champion and record holder set to go head-to-head with Loughborough teammate Emma Pullen.
Claire Tarplee (Loughborough) will look to make it a 2014 double of BUCS 800m titles, going up against Adelle Tracey (St Mary’s) whom she beat to the indoor title this year. Scottish athlete and 2013 bronze medallist, Emily Dudgeon, also looks set to feature.
Melissa Courtney (Brunel) will have to face stiff competition from the likes of Gemma Kersey (Middlesex) and Amy Campbell (Loughborough) in order to retain her 1500m title.
Over the sticks, Karla Drew (Sheffield Hallam) will be looking to add to her BUCS medal tally with another 100mH title, but it won’t be at all easy with Lucy Hatton (Leicester) and Marilyn Nwawulor (Middlesex) set to star in the line-up.
If you can’t get down to watch the action in Bedford, don’t forget you can watch the Vinco live stream on your phone, laptop, games-console, SmartTV or tablet! The live Stream will take place throughout the duration of the three-day competition with action being shown from both the track and the field events, followed by the uploads of HD highlights and interviews from 2012 Olympian Jack Green.
