Golden moment for Neil in Manchester and Laura, Jemma make Paris

Sunday 30th June 2024

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Neil Gourley punched his ticket for Paris with a successful defence of his Men’s 1500m title at the UK Champs.

Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie will head for France, too, with their selections confirmed by silver medals in Manchester over 1500m and 800m respectively.

Erin Wallace claimed a bronze medal in the Women’s 800m final to add further gloss to a good weekend for Giffnock North.

With Nicole Yeargin’s fourth place in the 400m looking good for relays selection, it was a solid afternoon for the Scots.

Josh Kerr missed the podium as he crashed off the track in collision with Elliot Giles in a dramatic finale to the Men’s 800m.

Josh, of course, is confirmed for the 1500m at the Olympics and there looks now to be one discretionary slot in the two-lap distance – with Jake Wightman top of the UK rankings.

Neil delivered almost the perfect tactical race over 1500m, putting himself in the right positions and out of trouble.

With 150m to go, he cruised beyond George Mills to repeat his 2023 title win here . . . and become an Olympian at 29. Neil won it in 3:37.67 with Cameron Boyek placed 11th in 3:44.10.

After three medals on Saturday, there were three more in Para events as Steven Bryce won 1500m Ambulant gold and Samantha Kinghorn and Melanie Woods went 1-2 in the 400m Wheelchair race.

Para duo enjoy track victories

Jemma finished second in the Women’s 800m to teenager Phoebe Gill. Just behind those two was Erin Wallace with a solid run for third – after also being on the UK Champs podium indoors.

‘I knew it was going to be a really tough race out there today and Phoebe has been going so well,’ said Jemma, who clocked 1:59.28 to Gill’s 1:58.66.

‘She’s such an exciting talent and I am really happy too as I’ve booked my spot to my second Olympics. Preparations have gone well but it has been hard as the focus has been training for Paris but alongside it also training to qualify.’

It was similar in the Women’s 1500m as Laura was overhauled on the home straight by winner Georgia Bell.

The Scot had to settle for second but qualification for her third Olympics felt like more than compensation for Laura

‘I just wanted to come away from today and ultimately book my spot for Paris, so I am very happy,’ said Laura, with Sarah Calvert placed eighth in that final with 4:15.58.

‘I didn’t run the race very well. People were getting clipped and tripped a little bit, so I didn’t run it well but I confirmed my place at the Olympics, so I am pleased with the result. The other girls are running so competitively right now that you can’t make mistakes now.

‘This is the most nervous I have ever been for a UK Champs. It is the most nervous I have been for a race in a long time. Five of us had the standard, so I had to really run the best I could.’

Nicole had a solid run for 51.34 for fourth in the Women’s 400m final as Brodie Young came home in seventh in the Men’s race.

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Kirsty Law missed out on the medals in the Women’s discus by just one centimetre.

A throw of 52.74m had Kirsty in the podium positions briefly but Jade Lally came up with 52.75m to take the bronze – with the title won at 54.78m.

Greg Millar was the first Scot in action on Sunday and he finished seventh in the Men’s javelin. Greg’s best throw was out to 64.84m.

Allie Routledge featured in the Women’s high jump, Teddy Tchoudja in the Women’s shot put and three Scots contested the Men’s triple jump final as Bera Ajala, Henry Clarkson and Aidan Quinn all lined up.

Henry and Aidan made the final eight with Bera out at 14.89m. Henry finished fifth with 15.43 and Aidan was seventh with 15.05.

On the track in early heats events, there was a 14.40 seconds performance from Scott Connal in the 110m hurdles. Adam Hoole clocked 14.37 in his heat.

Dean Patterson clocked 21.30 in his 200m heat to finish fourth in a race won by Matt Hudson-Smith.

In the men’s 500m final, Ben Potrykus was competitive for a long spell before coming home in 11th place with 13.57.00 – with the James West winning at 13.43.

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Tags: Manchester, UK Champs