I think we’re all in agreement that this indoor season in 2019 has been absolutely outstanding. Whether you’ve been involved at domestic level, or happened to have caught any world records or national championships, there’s been a plethora of jaw-dropping moments from a whole host of British athletes.
We’ve put our heads down and made you a list of who and what really impressed us this indoor season.
It’s been a tough on, so here goes.
1. Laura Muir: The double-double
It’d be a great travesty if we didn’t kick things off with the flying Scotswoman herself and her achievements at her home track in Glasgow at the European Championships. Off the back of breaking the British indoor mile record by over 5 seconds (and the 1500m record within the same race), Muir had been a class apart from the rest and had well and truly engraved her name in the record books. We all knew she was raring to go in Glasgow and would want to showcase her talent and infamous 1-lap-to-go surge, but in no way were we prepared for the sensational demonstration she produced in the final of the 3000m, followed up by the gold in the 1500m.
Her sudden switch from relaxed race leader face to this-title-is-mine-and-you’re-going-to-have-to-hunt-me-down-to-get-it face, is the epitome of the Glasgow athlete and a true tribute to her efforts. It also made some pretty funny GIFS.
WOW GLASGOW YOU ARE AMAZING!!!
European Indoor Champion! 😊
Atmosphere was unreal last night, so special for me to have lots of friends and family along to watch.
Thank you so much for all your lovely messages and huge congras to @mcourtney93 with her bronze! pic.twitter.com/ymkhK56GbT— Laura Muir (@lauramuiruns) March 2, 2019
2. Jeremiah Azu: Bronze at British Championships
Muir’s title was hers for the taking, and she was going to fight with everything she had to retain her status. In contrast, 17-year-old Welshman Jeremiah Azu is our second best highlight of the 2019 season. Despite him being the number one ranked Welsh junior athlete over the 60m and 200m, with countless Welsh Championship medals under his belt, he probably wasn’t prepared to be stood on that podium in Birmingham, and neither were we. But that’s the beauty of the sport. We got the chance to speak to him after his bronze medal at the championships and he was keen to express that the likes of himself and 19-year-old Dominic Ashwell medalling at major national events was so positive for the future of British sprinting. He expressed that he had a lot to learn in the sport, but also on the start line it’s anyone’s title to win. That really resonated with us, and that’s why he’s earned his place as our number 2 highlight for 2019.
3. Amber Anning: U20 British Record
From one youth to another, Amber Anning really blew us away at the British Championships, running the race of her life to to clock 53.00, a British junior record and also the European qualifying time, all in one. They say luck comes in threes, right? We could talk about her amazing silver medal achievement at the Europeans as part of the 4x400m relay team, alongside the experienced Eilidh Doyle, but her achievements on home soil, in her club vest, are far more impressive to us. So there you go, there’s number 3.
4. Abigail Irozuru: Battle to the top
You might look at this and think, “Well okay, she made the long jump final at the Europeans and finished 8th. But where is the big impressive moment? The eye-catching achievement? It’s 8th.” Well, let us tell you, Abigail even competing is an achievement in itself. A European finalist back in 2012, Abigail came out of retirement and a pretty unsalvageable relationship with the sport after a career threatening injury a couple of years old. Ever since then she’s been on a long and determined battle back up the ladder. So, her 8th place might not seem as impressive as a double-double, but after a bit of understanding, she has most definitely earned her spot in our top 10 highlights.
5. Sophie Mckinna: Furthest throw by a female shot putter in 19 years
In her post-event interview at the Europeans, Sophie was disappointed with her 10th place finish in the final, after she’s been throwing consistently so close to the 18m mark. But, her humongous throw at the British Championships of 17.97m whet our appetite for the rest of her season and impressed us for sure. The final proved something of a head-to-head, as it usually does, for the two leading ladies Sophie and Amelia Strickler. After Sophie’s record throw, Strickler responded with 17.28, and to be honest, we were glued to the shot put circle for a while.
6. Kristal Awuah: Berlin
There’s been countless times the 19-year-old has impressed us this season. But, one performance stood out to us. Living up to her name, Kristal Awuah was one of our Ones to Watch for 2019. Shining bright at Berlin’s ISTAF Indoor, the 19-year-old certainly didn’t disappoint. With a huge lifetime best of 7.19 over the 60m, she beat European bronze medallist Gina Lückenkemper to the post in style.
7. Dominic Ogbechie: Another record leap
This time, the European U18 gold medallist’s record didn’t come from the high jump bed, but rather the long jump pit. At the Welsh International over the weekend, he jumped a huge new lifetime best of 7.66, another British Age Group record. The sky really is the limit for this youngster.
8. Mari Smith: The big Q
We were all rooting for Mari at the Muller Birmingham Grand Prix. It was her final chance to get that all important qualifying standard for the Europeans. She had one last shot and she got it. But, we don’t know what was more impressive, her sub 2:03 clocking or her boyfriend’s sock washing abilities? We’ll let you decide that one.
Sock-Gate is now closed.
Get your boyfriend to hand wash them.@MariSmith141 #Glasgow19 https://t.co/WQKs8Ir3q0
— Vinco (@VincoSport) March 3, 2019
9. Dobrescu: 48.91 at 14
If you caught the England Athletics Age Group Championships U17 Men’s 400m Final, you would’ve seen the rocket that was Mario Dobrescu fly to a champion best performance of 48.91, a time which could have seen him win the U20 Men’s event quite comfortably. Let’s keep a close eye on him. He deserves a place in our top 10 with that kind of time for sure.
10. Record Miles
We know they’re not British, so we’re breaking the rules, but just like rules, records are made to be broken.
We all remember the Muller Birmingham Grand Prix, where Laura Muir smashed the British mile, but it was also the afternoon that a 22-year-old Ethiopian by the name of Samuel Tefera broke the 1500m indoor world record. The crowd and atmosphere were electric, everyone knew what could be and the significance of his efforts. It really did pay off. Clocking 3:31.04 and just dipping under the world record time by the skin of his teeth, the young Ethiopian athlete made history, and a lot of people lose their minds in Arena Birmingham on Saturday afternoon. Thank you Samuel. Embed from Getty Images
In the midst of all of the madness in Glasgow, you may have missed fellow Ethiopian, Yomif Kejelcha, smashing a world indoor record for the mile in Boston, stopping the clock at 3:47.01. Yes, you read that correctly. Thank you both.
