We look at some of the finest performances from the 1950s in our ‘greatest moments’ series to mark the 80th anniversary of AW Pioneering Parry American Parry O’Brien revolutionised the shot put in 1951 when he used a method that saw him face the back of the circle before rotating his right foot through 180 degrees and then releasing the shot. It didn’t take long to become known at the “O’Brien Glide” and helped him become the first man to throw 18.00m, in 1953. Zatopek’s Helsinki hat-trick Emil Zatopek very nearly didn’t make it to the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. He…
British runner is aiming to seal a golden double in Tampere this week when she tackles the 3000m Innes FitzGerald destroyed the best junior female distance runners in Europe on Thursday (Aug 7) when she clocked 15:09.04 to win gold in Tampere. Racing on a damp first day of the European Under-20 Championships in the Finnish city, FitzGerald went straight to the front and went on to win by more than half a minute as Edibe Yagiz of Turkey ran 15:43.60 in second and Julia Ehrle 15:44.06 in third. In fifth, FitzGerald’s GB team-mate Freya Bradley clocked a PB of…
Another world age-group mark for the prolific masters record-breaker Clare Elms consolidated her position as Britain’s most prolific 1500m and mile age group record breaker when she improved her own W60 world record at 1500m on Tuesday (Aug 5) in Tonbridge, Kent, Steve Smythe reports. In doing so she also strengthened her hold of being the world’s oldest woman to break five minutes as the 61-year-old ran 4:56.85 on a windy evening. Last year, she was voted AW’s female masters athlete of 2024 but she appears to be on for an even better 2025. Indoors she set world records at…
The full team of 37 para athletes have been confirmed for the championships in Delhi UK Athletics has announced the full Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the upcoming World Para Athletics Championships, set to take place in Delhi, India, from September 26 to October 5. With the latest additions announced today, the squad is now complete, bringing the total number of selected athletes to 37. The performance aims are for athletes to medal at these championships and to support the athletes’ potential for the LA 2028 Paralympic Games. Among the standout names is six-time world champion Hollie…
The 16-year-old clocks 1:42.27 to finish runner-up to Donavan Brazier’s 1:42.16 in the US Champs in Eugene With perhaps the most stunning running performance in the world this the year, Cooper Lutkenhaus evoked memories of Jim Ryun’s teenage athletics exploits from half a century ago. Born on December 19 in 2008, Lutkenhaus is just 16 years and seven months old. But despite his limited years, he stormed to a time of 1:42.27 in the 800m final at the US Championships at Hayward Field on Sunday (Aug 3). Only one man, Donavan Brazier, managed to beat him, with the 28-year-old former…
After 100m victory on Saturday, Hughes runs 200m championship record of 19.90 at the Novuna UK Athletics Champs at the Alexander Stadium on Sunday Zharnel Hughes showed the kind of form that should get him in the medal mix at the World Championships in Tokyo next month. One day after winning the UK 100m title in 9.94, he stormed to a championship record of 19.90 (1.3) in the 200m. Entering the home straight with a big lead before easing further away, Hughes beat Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake’s mark of 20.05 from 2022. Jereem Richards’ stadium record of 19.80, however, survived. Zharnel Hughes…
Croydon Harriers athlete throws 65.93m at the Novuna UK Athletics Champs in Birmingham on Saturday to beat a CBP that has survived since 1985 Lawrence Okoye broke a 40-year-old championships record to win the men’s discus with 65.93m. Okoye beat the 65.72m thrown by Cuban guest Juan Martinez at the 1985 AAA Championships at Crystal Palace. Contrary to stadium announcements, though, Okoye didn’t manage to break the stadium record, which is held by Kristjan Ceh of Slovenia with 71.27m from the Diamond League in Birmingham in 2022. Okoye put together a great series – 62.41m, 65.93m, 64.25m, 64.50m, 64.52m, 64.83m…
The European U23 champion heads to Birmingham as the top-ranked 400m hurdler in the women’s event As the Novuna UK Athletics Championships in Birmingham approach this weekend (August 2-3), one name generating plenty of excitement is Emily Newnham. The 21-year-old heads into the 400m hurdles riding a wave of momentum, fresh off a championship-record-breaking gold at the European U23 Championships, where she clocked 54.08 — placing her fourth on the UK all-time list. On top of that, she also walked away from Bergen with a second gold medal as part of the victorious 4x400m relay team. After a standout season,…
Global governing body brings in new method of determining biological sex for athletes wishing to compete in the female category World Athletics has approved the introduction of a cheek swab or blood test to ascertain whether an athlete is eligible to compete in the female category. The new regulations come into effect on September 1 and will be applied to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. All athletes wishing to compete in the female category at the World Championships are required to undergo a once-in-a-lifetime test for the SRY gene. This is to be conducted via a cheek swab…
Global governing body brings in new method of determining biological sex for athletes wishing to compete in the female category World Athletics has approved the introduction of a cheek swab or blood test to ascertain whether an athlete is eligible to compete in the female category. The new regulations come into effect on September 1 and will be applied to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. All athletes wishing to compete in the female category at the World Championships are required to undergo a once-in-a-lifetime test for the SRY gene. This is to be conducted via a cheek swab…