Muir and KJT win Glasgow gold
Katarina Johnson-Thomson and Laura Muir won gold medals in impressive style on the first day of the European Indoor Championships in Glasgow. Niamh Emerson took silver behind KJT In the pentathlon and Melissa Courtney a bronze medal behind Laura in the 3000m.
KJT was within 2 seconds of a world record score in the indoor pentathlon. A very long jump showed it was within her grasp, but a red flag meant it would not count. After the event, Kat said, "It was a really good day. I was going to say I couldn't ask for more but I did want a little bit more. But what I did today was really high level. 4900 points is my second best ever so yes, I am very happy to come away with the gold." Niamh was only competing at the invitation of European Athletics, but she paid them back in style with a PB in all 5 events. She fell across the line in the 800m to hold on to second spot.
Read more: Muir and KJT win Glasgow gold
Indoor GP wins for Muir and Bradshaw
There were wins for Laura Muir and Holly Bradshaw in the Muller Indoor Grand Prix at Arena Birmingham. Laura broke two British records in the process - her own 1500m mark with 4:01.83 and Kirsty Wade's long-standing mile record with 4:18.75. Holly won the pole vault on countback with a season's best of 4.81m; she claimed close to a PB and national record at 4.88m.
Other standout British performances came in the 60m sprints. Asha Philip took 2nd just behind Olympic champion Elaine Thompson but ahead of Ta Loo. In the men's event, Reece Prescod ran a 6.53 personal best to take second place behind Su. Prescod has decided not to compete in the European Indoors, focusing on the World Championships, but selectors are left with a headache with other British athletes failing to beat the qualification mark. The same was true in other events, with the notable exception of Mari Smith who ran an 800m PB to book her place.
Read more: Indoor GP wins for Muir and Bradshaw
Dinner with Athletes
Would you like to meet famous athletes over dinner?
Former Olympian Abdul Buhari (Men's discus, Team GB London 2012) and his wife, Kay, have introduced intimate, private dinners with an athlete – former and current. You may have met Abdul at the BASC dinner last November as a guest of one of our members and as a representative of British Athletics Athletes Commission.
Kay Buhari has recently launched a cookery school in authentic Indian cuisine. To celebrate the launch, she has organised exclusive dinner dates with Olympians - Christine Ohuruogu MBE on Friday 15th February, Asha Philip on Saturday 23rd February and Linford Christie OBE at a date to be fixed shortly. They are hoping to host many more Olympians in the future. This is a unique opportunity for those who are supporters of athletics.
Landis Kitchen, in Redbridge, East London, will be cooking a 13 dish taster menu for these evenings. Full details are available at www.landiskitchen.co.uk
Dina Asher-Smith overwhelmingly voted BASC Athlete of the Year
Dina Asher-Smith received more than seven times the number of votes of her nearest rival in the members' poll for BASC Athlete of the Year. In a show of girl-power, Laura Muir and Katarina Johnson-Thompson came second and third respectively, demonstrating the health of women's athletics here in the UK. The result was announced at the Annual Dinner in Coventry.
Dina is a triple gold medalist from this year's European Championships. Her 100m and 200m times were world-leading for the year. Laura won 1500m gold in Berlin, and medals at the world indoor championships as well as winning the Diamond League. KJT came away with gold medals from the World Indoors and Commonwealth Games, and silver from the Europeans.
Other athletes on the shortlist were Aled Davies, Sophie Hahn, Matthew Hudson-Smith and Nick Miller.
BASC announce shortlist for Athlete of the Year
The shortlist has been announced for the BASC Athlete of the Year 2018. Seven athletes and para-athletes - Dina Asher-Smith, Aled Davies, Sophie Hahn, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Nick Miller and Laura Muir - have been unveiled for the vote by club members. (Find out more about the shortlisted athletes).
Voting instructions have been sent to members and they have until 21 October to make their choice. If members disagree with the shortlist, they have the option to vote for any other British athlete or para-athlete that has impressed them this season. The top three will be announced at the club's Annual Dinner in November.
2018 BASC AGM announced
Breakthrough Awards for Lansiquot and Duckworth
Emerson and Miller win BASC Awards
Brutal heat wrecks Hawkins' marathon bid