European sprint hurdles champion Tiffany Porter admits her 2015 World Championships disappointment is what is spurring her on this year, after she claimed the British indoor 60m title on Sunday.
The 28-year-old, a competitor for Team GB at the London Olympics, outclassed the rest of the field in Sheffield to win by seven-hundredths of a second, with Serita Solomon and Lucy Hatton completing the podium.
The gold medal secures Porter’s place on the British team bound for the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland in March, but after finishing fifth at last year’s worlds in Beijing, she insists she is more determined than ever for success with the Rio Olympics also on the horizon.
“I’m really happy to come away with the win but it was a bit sloppy – overall it was quite good though,” she said.
“I’m using Beijing disappointment as motivation this year. It all happened very quickly, I need to start quicker but my finish was okay.
“British hurdling is in phenomenal shape right now, I’m very happy to be pushed. Now I need to focus on the last bits of preparations for Portland.
“I’m racing in the Czech Republic next weekend and then I am going into the IAAF World Indoors hoping to win, like I do ahead of every race.”
Tom Bosworth also gave the capacity crowd plenty to cheer about as he smashed his own British record in the men’s 3,000m walk, knocking 17 seconds off the mark he set just last month.
The 26-year-old retained the title he won last year clocking 10 minutes 58.21 seconds, and with European and World Championships experience now under his belt, Bosworth believes the hard work is only just beginning if he is to make his mark in Rio.
He said: “The really serious stuff starts now. I have got the 20km Olympic qualifying time and I want to get better and improve my PB.
“I want to go to the Olympics knowing that I can be up there with the best. I have been getting quicker and quicker over short distances, and now I want to do it over 20km and show that I can do it internationally as well.”
The shock of the day came as a superb final 50 metres by Adelle Tracey meant she took the 800m title ahead of early leaders Lynsey Sharp and Jenny Meadows.
Sharp looked to have secured the win before fading in the final metres just as Tracey powered home, crossing the line in 2:02.99 to secure automatic qualification for the World Indoor Championships – the 22-year-old’s first senior vest.
Another youngster to hit the headlines was 17-year-old Toby Harries who won the men’s 200m in 21.13, having set a new European junior indoor record of 21.12 in the semi-finals.
There were also national titles for Nigel Levine and Meghan Beesley in the 400m, as well as Charlie Grice and Hannah England in the 1500m.
And, after booking her spot on the plane to Portland with a time of 4:15.44, 2012 Olympian England reflected on a job well done.
“I’ve never actually won the 1,500m here in Sheffield,” she said.
“I think I’m guilty of overthinking a race plan, so during this indoor season I’ve just been trying to run with my race instincts and using my experience. I thought about going earlier in the race but I felt it picking up.
“Every performance this year has been better than at this stage last season so am really happy and I’m enjoying my running.” Sportsbeat 2016