James Dasaolu immediately turned his attentions to medalling on the world stage after winning his third Indoor British Championships 60m title on day one in Sheffield.
The 28-year-old European 100m champion had to work hard to catch early leader Andrew Robertson, who enjoyed a sensational start out of the blocks in the men’s 60m.
But Dasaolu did exactly that and crossed in a season’s best 6.53 seconds to take the victory, and secure himself a seat on the plane to the World Indoor Championships in Portland, USA.
“I am so pleased, honestly, it was so tight I didn’t know if I had got it,” he said. “The win means so much to me after the season I had last year.
“I am happy to return to winning ways with a season’s best and cement my place in Portland.
“I’m feeling confident and will go in [to the World Indoor Championships] looking to pick up a medal. We have a good bunch of 60m runners and the goal will always be to win a medal now.”
Meanwhile, Asha Philip sped out of the blocks and hold off British 100m and 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith to take the win in the women’s 60m.
Philip clocked a season’s best 7.10 – just 0.02 seconds shy of the national record and well inside the qualification time required to line up at the World Indoor Championships, meaning Asher-Smith finished 0.05 off the pace in second.
“I am happy to get the win,” Philip said. “I didn’t do any indoors last year so I was a bit rusty but I am getting faster, so it is going well for the World Indoors.”
Elsewhere, a terrific run by Andrew Pozzi secured the 23-year-old victory in the men’s 60m hurdles – and a place on the Great Britain & NI World Indoor Championships team.
Pozzi clocked a season’s best 7.61 to get the better of 2015 indoor champion Lawrence Clarke, who finished second with 7.65, while David Omoregie secured bronze in 7.71.
Lee Emanuel notched up his second indoor 3,000m title and a seat on the plane to Portland after taking to the front with just over one lap to go.
The 2015 European Indoor silver medallist was clearly delighted with his win, saluting the crowd as he powered home to gold in a season’s best 7:55.61 minutes ahead of 5,000m British outdoor champion Tom Farrell.
Multi-eventer Morgan Lake improved on her second-place finish a year ago as she cleared 1.90m in her first attempt to take the win in the women’s high jump ahead of British outdoor record holder Isobel Pooley.
Victory in the men’s long jump went to defending champion Dan Bramble, who held on to his British title with a new personal best of 7.94m.
Bramble, who achieved automatic qualification for the World Indoor Championships, said: “Indoor British champion sounds pretty good especially second year in a row and an indoor PB.
“I felt good going into this, I was a little bit nervous after last week’s five no-jumps so to get six on the board this week is very good and a real confidence booster.”
And Rachel Wallader broke the stadium record in the women’s shot put as she notched up her third indoor title with a second round throw of 17.23m.
Sportsbeat 2016