Tsegay misses on WR as Asher-Smith, Hodgkinson, and Gourley storm to British records in Birmingham

Gudaf Tsegay and Keely Hodgkinson

ATHLETICS Tsegay misses on WR as Asher-Smith, Hodgkinson, and Gourley storm to British records in Birmingham

Funmilayo Fameso 19:30 - 25.02.2023

Report on the World Athletics Indoor Tour meeting in Birmingham, where Gudaf Tsegay and three other British athletes shone at the meet.

Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay agonisingly missed out on erasing Genzebe Dibaba's indoor 3000m World Record (WR) by 0.09s as she raced to the second-fastest time in history at the final leg of the World Athletics Indoor Tour in Birmingham.

She went to the British city intending to erase her fellow countrywoman's record but fell short, speeding to a Personal Best (PB) of 8:16.69, behind the WR of 8:16.60.

Fellow Ethiopian Mizan Alem was second in 8:31.20, while Germany's Koko Klosterhalfen was third in 8:35.14

The indoor 1500m WR holder and World 5000m Champion will take solace that her time is the second fastest in world history and can try again in another meet.

Three British athletes storm to National Records

Spurred by her home crowd, Keely Hodgkinson lowered her own 800m NR of 1:57.20, with a new world-leading and British record of 1:57.18. Catriona Bisset was second in 1:59.83, while Isabelle Boffey ran a PB of 2:00.25 for third.

It is the third time she's going under the 1:58s mark in 2023, and will focus on winning the European title next week.

Neil Gourley smashed Josh Kerr's indoor 1500m record of 3:32.86 with a blazing time of 3:32.48. Only Jakob Ingebrigsten has gone quicker in 2023.

Finally, in the women's 60m, Dina Asher-Smith ran a blistering 7.03s to erase her British record of 7.04s in the qualifying heat.

She would later claim victory in the final with a time of 7.05s. Daryll Neita finished second with 7.13s, Destiny Smith-Barnett in 7.15s, and Shericka Jackson fourth with a season's best time of 7.18s.

Holloway remains unbeaten in the 60m Hurdles

Grant Holloway remains the master of running 60m Hurdles, as the American sped to a massive world-leading time of 7.35s, ahead of Daniel Roberts with 7.47s and Roger Iribarne in 7.58s.

Only he, Colin Jackson, and Dayron Robles have gone quicker than that time, and he remains unbeaten in the event since 2014.

In the men's 400m final, Jereem Richard won in 45.74s, Vernon Norwood was second in 45.94s, and Jack Raftery third with a time of 46.66s.

Meanwhile, the men's long jump final saw Marquise Dendy take victory with a distance of 8.28m on his lastt attempt, Tajay Gayle runner-up with 8.13m, and William Williams third also over the 8m distance in 8.03m.

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