Rising GB Star Hinchliffe Secures Olympic 100m Spot
Rising sprint star Louie Hinchliffe shocked Britain’s best athletes at the UK Athletics Championships, securing his place in the Olympic 100m qualifiers, while Daryll Neita claimed the women’s title in Manchester.
Hinchliffe continued his sensational breakthrough year by defeating 2022 champion Jeremiah Azu in dreadful conditions, clocking 10.18 seconds. By finishing in the top two, he secured his spot in Team Great Britain.
At 21, Hinchliffe had become the first European man to win the US collegiate 100m championship with a time of 9.95 seconds, placing him sixth on Britain’s all-time list.
“Going to Paris means everything,” Hinchliffe said. “I’m going with the attitude that I can win. I seem to do well in high-pressure situations, so who knows.”
Neita, aiming for individual medals in both sprint events in Paris, started her bid for double British gold by winning the women’s 100m final in 11.24 seconds.
World indoor pole vault champion Molly Caudery also confirmed her first Games appearance after securing victory at the opening height, showcasing her form.
To earn a chance to compete in individual events at the Olympics, athletes must finish in the top two at the qualifiers held in Manchester on June 29 and 30 and meet the World Athletics qualification standard.
A selection meeting will follow the championships next week, and the final Team GB athletics squad for Paris 2024 will be announced on Friday, July 5.
Hinchliffe Continues Remarkable Rise Under Icon Lewis
Neither Hinchliffe nor his coach, nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis, could have predicted this.
However, on a gloomy Saturday night in Manchester, amidst incessant rain and unseasonable cold, the Sheffield-born athlete penned the latest chapter of his sports fairy tale.
Previously hampered by injury and not taking his studies seriously as a UK university freshman, Hinchliffe turned to athletics icon and Houston University coach Lewis last August.
In the 10 months since, his rapid progress has been extraordinary, and there couldn’t have been better timing as he sped down the rain-soaked track.
After breaking the 10-second barrier for the first time under legal conditions with a wind-aided 9.84 seconds to win the prestigious NCAA championship in May, Hinchliffe announced himself as a genuine contender for Paris. This achievement came a year after finishing last in the semi-finals.
The ambitious target set by Lewis in their first phone call last August was to get Hinchliffe into the Olympic relay team; however, once again, he exceeded expectations, turning what once seemed an unlikely dream into reality.
Unfazed by the magnitude of the opportunity, Hinchliffe returned to race in front of his home crowd, overtaking Azu, who himself had become champion two years ago at 21.
They will join Zharnel Hughes in Paris; the world bronze medallist secured his spot in the Olympic 100m but will miss the championships due to a hamstring injury.
Neita, who narrowly missed her first major championship gold by a hundredth of a second in the 200m at this month’s European Championships, continued her bid for an individual medal in Paris with a dominant performance here.
With five global medals to her name in the British relay team, Neita has prioritized major individual awards this year, and the 27-year-old, who secured Olympic qualifications in both sprint events, will now face Dina Asher-Smith in the 200m on Sunday evening.
Caudery Confirms Stylish Olympic Debut
A first-time clearance at 4.41m was enough for Caudery to clinch the women’s pole vault title, confirming her first Olympic appearance in Paris, where she will be one of the favorites for gold.
A week after breaking the UK record with a 4.92m leap in France – a world-leading mark this year – the world indoor champion once again performed in front of her home crowd, just as she did when she won her first major title in Glasgow in February.
The 24-year-old, who settled for European bronze in Rome, cleared 4.83m and came close to achieving 4.93m in each of her three attempts, aiming for another British record.
Caudery said, “I’ve had to push myself to review my expectations. Heading into the season, the goal was definitely reaching Paris, now it’s about the medal.
“Of course, gold is a dream, and having won indoors, I know what winning feels like, but I’ve also felt disappointment.”
Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who won her second world heptathlon gold in Budapest last summer, had less pressure to impress in the trials, finishing ninth in the women’s javelin with 42.83m.
The 31-year-old, who had to withdraw from this month’s European Championships due to a minor issue with her right leg, will only compete in one event in the trials – but plans to compete in the 200m and high jump on Sunday to complete her Olympic preparations.
Cindy Sember, who claimed a big win in the women’s 100m hurdles with 12.85 seconds, will compete in Paris. Elizabeth Bird also topped the women’s 3,000m steeplechase with a championship record time of 9:29.67.
However, Jacob Fincham-Dukes, who defended his men’s long jump title with a best leap of 7.95m, will await the decision of the team selectors, as will Anna Purchase, who won the women’s hammer title with a best throw of 68.79m.
Kerr, Hodgkinson, and Muir Among Those Qualifying for Sunday Finals
World 1500m champion Josh Kerr and world 800m bronze medallist Ben Pattison, both having already secured their Olympic qualifications, advanced to Sunday’s final in a packed men’s 800m heat.
Max Burgin crossed the finish line first in 1:45.52, while defending champion Daniel Rowden was among those missing out.
In the women’s 800m heats, Jemma Reekie won her heat in 2:01.00 to reach the final, and 17-year-old Phoebe Gill, the European U18 record holder, achieved an impressive victory in her heat (2:05.33) to join her in the final.
Keely Hodgkinson, Team GB’s Paris 2024 medal hope and Olympic and world 800m silver medallist, having secured her Olympic spot, will compete in the women’s 400m final after finishing second in her heat (52.06) behind Nicole Yeargin (52.01).
Amber Anning achieved the fastest time, clocking 50.65 seconds, while Victoria Ohuruogu (51.49) and Laviai Nielsen (52.14) also staked their claims, and Charlie Dobson effortlessly qualified fastest for the men’s 400m final with 45.75 seconds.
Strong favorite Laura Muir controlled and won the women’s 1500m heat in 4:16.30, while Olympic hopefuls Katie Snowden, Melissa Courtney-Bryant, Georgia Bell, and Revee Walcott-Nolan also qualified for the final.
In the men’s 1500m heats, European 5000m silver medallist George Mills (3:40.34), Neil Gourley (3:44.33), and Adam Fogg (3:39.45) finished first.
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