| 2021 British Athletics Championships | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 25–27 June |
| Host city | Manchester,United Kingdom |
| Venue | Manchester Regional Arena |
 | |
| Level | Senior |
| Type | Outdoor |
The 2021British Athletics Championships was the national championships in outdoortrack and field for athletes in the United Kingdom, which also served as the main qualifying event for athletics competitors for the delayed2020 Summer Olympics. In addition, the Championships included a number ofparasports events, with a total of 36 competitors in these competitions. On 29 June 2021,UK Athletics announced 65 athletes that would compete forTeam GB at the Olympics, taking the total number of British athletics competitors at the Games to 72. In July 2021, four more athletes qualified for the Games based on theirWorld Athletics rankings.
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The 2021 British Athletics Championships were held between 25 and 27 June 2021 at theManchester Regional Arena.[1] Manchester has the rights to host the Championships from 2020 until 2022.[2] Due toCOVID-19 pandemic related capacity limits, the number of fans were limited to 1,500 per day.[3]
The Championships served as the trial event for competitors to qualify for the2020 Summer Olympics.[1] In order to guarantee selection for the Olympics, competitors had to finish in the top two places at the Championships, and also have achieved the Olympic qualification standard. UK Athletics then awarded any unfilled selections with competitors of their choice.[4]
Olympic qualification for themarathon and20 kilometres race walk events were determined following aseparate trial event inKew Gardens, London, in March 2021.[5] A separate 10,000 metres qualification event was held on 5 April inBirmingham, as part of the2021 European 10,000m Cup.[6] Typically, the Night of 10,000m PBs event inHighgate, London, is used as the British Championships event for this distance, but that event was cancelled in 2021 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[7] AfterMo Farah failed to reach the Olympic qualifying standard at the 10,000 metres trial event,UK Athletics decided to organise a one-off event at the 2021 British Athletics Championships, to give Farah a final chance to qualify for the Olympics. The competition contained international runners andpacemakers.[8]
The Championships also included a number ofparasports events. The events included were the 100 metres and 400 metres mixed classes races, as well as shot put, discus, long jump, high jump and javelin field events. A total of 36 athletes competed, some of whom had been included in the British squad for the delayed2020 Summer Paralympics the previous week.[9]
For the first time in the 21st century, the British Athletics Championships were not broadcast on live television, as theBBC and UK Athletics did not reach a broadcasting rights deal.[10] The Championships were instead broadcast on the UK Athletics website andYouTube channel. Several athletes includingDina Asher-Smith were critical of this decision.[10]
On 29 June 2021, UK Athletics announced 65 athletes to compete forTeam GB at the delayed2020 Summer Olympics, based on performances at the Championships. Including the marathon and 20 km walk competitors, it meant that 72 Britons were chosen to compete in athletics at the Games.[11] On 2 July 2021, four more athletes were awarded places byWorld Athletics, based on their rankings.[12]
Mo Farah finished the 10,000 metres race in a time of 27:47.04, 19 seconds slower than the Olympic qualification standard.[13] As such, he failed to qualify for the Olympic 10,000 metres event.[14]
The women's 800 metres race featured five athletes who had previously attained the Olympic qualifying standard:Jemma Reekie,Laura Muir,Alexandra Bell,Keely Hodgkinson andAdelle Tracey.[1] Hodgkinson finished first, in a time of 1:59:61. Reekie finished second and Muir was the third finisher.[15] Muir was initially selected alongside Hodgkinson and Reekie for the Games,[11] though she later decided not to compete in the 800 metres event at the Olympics, as she wanted to focus on the 1500 metres race. Her place was reallocated to Alexandra Bell.[16]
Pole vaulterHolly Bradshaw was aiming for her ninth British title, and seventh in a row.[3] She won the event with a British record of 4.90 metres, beating her own previous outdoor record by 8 centimetres (3.1 in).[17]
Dina Asher-Smith won the women's 100 metre event. She was originally clocked in a national record time of 10.71 seconds, although this was later corrected to 10.97 seconds, which did not beat the previous record.[14][18][19] Asher-Smith qualified to compete in the100 and200 metres individual events, and the4 x 100 metres relay.[11]
Jodie Williams won the 200 and 400 metres races, the first time since 2005 that a woman has won both events.[14]
The men's 800 metres race was a close finish, with the top three separated by 0.03 seconds.Elliot Giles won the event, ahead ofOliver Dustin andDaniel Rowden.[15] All three athletes were later selected for the Olympics.[11]
Key: Q – qualified for the2020 Summer Olympics.[11]
In addition, Adam Gemili,Zharnel Hughes,Richard Kilty,Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake,Reece Prescod and CJ Ujah were selected for the men's4 x 100 metres relay. Niclas Baker, Cameron Chalmers,Matthew Hudson-Smith, Michael Ohioze andLee Thompson were chosen for the men's4 x 400 metres relay.[11]
In addition, Dina Asher-Smith, Beth Dobbin,Imani-Lara Lansiquot,Daryll Neita,Ashleigh Nelson and Asha Philip were selected for the women's 4 x 100 metres relay.Zoey Clark,Emily Diamond, Jessie Knight,Laviai Nielsen, Ama Pipi, Jessica Turner,Hannah Williams, Jodie Williams and Nicole Yeargin were selected for the women's 4 x 400 metres relay.[11]
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 metres mixed class[59] | Thomas Young | 11.23s | Ola Abidogun | 11.42s | Shaun Burrows | 11.91s |
| 400 metres wheelchair race[60] | Nathan Maguire | 49.78s | Moatez Jomni | 51.70s | Dillion Labrooy | 53.74s |
Note: UK Athletics only published results for parasport track events. No results for field events were published.[61]
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 metres mixed class[62] | Sophie Hahn | 12.77s | Ali Smith | 13.35s | Sophie Kamlish | 13.47s |
| 400 metres wheelchair race[63] | Hannah Cockroft | 56.43s | Samantha Kinghorn | 56.60s | Melanie Woods | 59.99s |
Note: UK Athletics only published results for parasport track events. No results for field events were published.[61]
Key: Q – qualified for the2020 Summer Olympics.[11]
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon[64] | Chris Thompson Q | 2:10:52 | Ben Connor Q | 2:12.06 | Mohamud Aadan | 2:12.20 |
| 20km walk[65] | Callum Wilkinson Q | 1:22:47 | Tom Bosworth Q | 1:26:24 | Guy Thomas | 1:30:19 |
| 10,000 metres[66][c] | Marc Scott Q | 27:49.94 | Mo Farah | 27:50.64 | Emile Cairess | 27:53:19PB |
In addition,Callum Hawkins was pre-selected for the marathon event prior to the trial event.[67]Sam Atkin was additionally selected for the 10,000 metres race.[11]
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon[68] | Stephanie Davis Q | 2:27:16 | Natasha Cockram | 2:30.03 | Rosie Edwards | 2:31:56 |
| 20km walk[69] | Heather Lewis | 1:35:44 | Bethan Davies | 1:37:04 | Erika Kelly | 1:46:31 |
| 10,000 metres[70][c] | Eilish McColgan Q | 31:19.35 | Jessica Judd Q | 31:20.96SB | Verity Ockenden | 31:43.70SB |
The two remaining places for the marathon were awarded toJess Piasecki andStephanie Twell, neither of whom participated at the trial event.[71] No British women were selected for the 20 km walk event at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[11]
