Adam Gemili showed a glimpse of what success may be to come this summer after easing through to the 200m final on the opening day of the British Championships.
The 20-year-old was running his first competitive 200m race of the season but showed no signs of rust, coming home in 20.71 seconds having eased up way before the line.
And Gemili, became just the second Brit to run a 200m race under 20 seconds at last year’s World Championships in Moscow, insists a good run in the final this weekend will go a long way to securing qualification for the European Championships in Zurich.
“It was good, I came out here to qualify and that is exactly what I did,” said Gemili, who will compete at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
“I forgot how hard it is to run a 200m competitively, I am shattered but it is all part of the process.
“It is a good race to have as a season opener, I know Delano [Williams] and he is very talented and the back half of his race is strong but I just focused on my own race.
“I have made the team for Glasgow and I want to make the team for the Europeans and when you can put yourself in the British Championships you can do that.
“I knew my speed in the 100m was good and my flat speed was good so I was looking forward to it.”
James Ellington was another to ease into the 200m final, winning his heat comfortably, while in the women’s heats Anyika Onuora and Jodie Williams also qualified through.
Over one lap of the track, Conrad Williams pipped training partner Nigel Levine in a highly competitive first 400m heat – both easing into the semi-finals.
Martyn Rooney took the second heat in a time of 46.72, despite hoping for faster, while Michael Bingham progressed by winning heat four.
In the men’s 800m heats London 2012 finalist Andrew Osagie looked in good shape after winning his heat, as did Mukhtar Mohammed.
Michael Rimmer faced an anxious wait to see if he qualified through having been beaten on the line by James Bowness, but his time of 1:49.65 minutes sees him safely through also.
Hannah England, fresh from captaining Great Britain at the European Team Championships last weekend in Germany, comfortably negotiated her 1500m heat, winning in 4:21.82 to qualify for the final.
Laura Whiteman and Laura Muir will be her main rivals for the title after they both qualified as well, but England is determined to race well.
“It was good to get the race done and it was in terrible weather which adds another element when you are looking to recover for the final but it is the same for everyone,” said England.
“I felt pretty good coming in, it is always a little nerve-wracking running in the heats so I am glad it is over and I am really looking forward to the final.”
© Sportsbeat 2014