The British Championships were held at a windy and cold Sportcity last weekend. The Championships also double up as the qualifying event for selection to the World Athletics Championship to be held in Oregon, USA late July.
Bolton Harrier Hannah Kelly was lining up against the elite female athletes in the country over 400m with less thought about selection for the World Championships but more about cementing her place towards the top of the UK rankings.
Conditions were tough and the wind in the home straight was gusting up to + 5.5m/s which meant the 400m runners had a big headwind on the back straight. It was unlikely that athletes would run PB’s in those conditions so placing was all important. Hannah ran a very controlled race, hit her split times at 200m and 300m and finished her heat in 3rd place.
Qualifying for the final was the winner of each of the 4 heats plus the 4 fastest losers and after heat 3 Hannah was lying in 4th fastest loser spot. Unfortunately a place in the final wasn’t to be as Hannah finished 9th quickest of the athletes and missed out on a final spot by 0.25 seconds.
Although initially disappointed Hannah realises that to finish 9th in these championships is a huge achievement against older and more experienced runners. Hannah next competes at the England Athletics U23 championships where she is defending champion.