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24/02/2025 00:00, In Blog /

Justin Davies and Sabrina Fortune headlined another successful day for Welsh athletes at the UK Indoor Athletics Championships on Sunday.

Fortune extended her shot put para world record while Davies claimed the 800m title and selection for next month’s European Athletics Championships.

The duo led the way as another four medals were added to the previous day’s tally which had included gold medals for Abi Pawlett and Jeremiah Azu.

Team Bath athlete Davies, who already had the qualifying standard for the Euros in Appeldoorn, clinched automatic selection as he cruised to 800m gold in dominant style.

In the final, the 22-year old was content to slot in at the back of the field in the early stages before making his way up the placings.

With a lap-and-a-half remaining, Davies made the decisive move which saw him race to the line in a winning time of 1:47.26.

Afterwards, the Welsh outdoor 800m champion, said:

It hasn’t really sunk in; it means more than I can appreciate just now.

 

There were a lot more here than at BUCS and it was a great atmosphere. Going at 300m was probably the right decision.  

Looking ahead, Davies said:

After the Euros which I am very excited about I will need to do a lot of base work to be ready for the outdoors where I will target the Euro U23s.

The men’s 800m final was the penultimate race of the championship and rounded off another eventful day for Welsh athletes.

Justin Davies with his gold medal after claiming the 800m title and selection for next month’s European Athletics Championships.

Fortune (Deeside AAC), who clinched Paralympic Gold in Paris last summer by extending her own F20 world record to 15.12m – improved the distance once again in Birmingham.

In the second round, the reigning Para Athletics Champion launched the shot out to a staggering 15.50m to shatter her existing best.

The throw was good enough to secure Fortune third place overall in the women’s shot put final, which was won by Serena Vincent (City of Portsmouth) with a best of 16.89m

After receiving her bronze medal, Fortune, who was awarded an MBE earlier this month, said:

I really wasn’t expecting this today; I really didn’t sleep well last night but it seems to work as I didn’t sleep well before my bronze medal in Tokyo!

 

I just wanted to get something that was ok today so I am really happy with that.

In the men’s shot put, serial UK championship medallist Pat Swan (Cornwall AC) added to his collection by securing a second consecutive silver at these championships.

The reigning Welsh indoor and outdoor champion was beaten to the top step of the podium by Scott Lincoln (City of York AC) who has now won a remarkable 19 indoor and outdoor British titles.

Swan produced a best distance of 16.97m with his fourth round effort, while Lincoln secured gold with a championship best of 20.86m. 

After the medal ceremony Swan shared:

It feels good to still be in a medal position.

 

It is a long way from Cornwall but I feel lucky enough to be here so I wanted to do my best and show that anyone can do sport.

 

Today I didn’t really reach my PB levels but the main goal is to get the Commonwealth Games qualification going forward.

Patrick Swan on his way to silver in the men's shot put.

In the women’s high jump, only Olympians Morgan Lake and Emily Borthwick finished above Hannah Lake (Cardiff Athletics) who claimed a new personal best.

The Welsh Athletics Performance Pathway athlete matched her personal best of 1.81m and then set a new PB of 1.84m as she went toe to toe with the two established Great Britain internationals.

At the end of the competition, Lake secured bronze as her namesake, who had placed fourth at the World Athletics Championships, took the title with a best of 1.94.

The delighted Welsh athlete said:

This feels amazing as it’s been a long time coming. I’ve jumped over 1.75m for nearly seven years but today was my breakthrough.

 

Coming off an injury it feels so good to be back and feeling like myself, healthy and happy.

 

I love Wales and it was great to represent Wales this week and fly the Welsh flag, especially because Welsh Athletics have been supportive helping me with preparation and competitions.

Hannah Lake with her bronze medal in women’s high jump.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Welsh athletes on Sunday as misfortune befell the likes of Olympian Joe Brier (Swansea Harriers) and reigning 1500m champion Piers Copeland (Pontypridd Roadents).

Having qualified for the 200m semi-finals by clocking an indoor PB of 21.78 in his semi-final, Brier looked well placed for a possible final place when he pulled up clutching his hamstring.

Alex Azu had earlier run a new indoor PB of 22.14 in his heat, but it wasn’t enough to progress. Likewise, the challenge of Joe Berry (Newport Harriers) ended in the heats as he clocked 22.42. Aron Tugwell (Cardiff Archers) finished fourth in his heat in 21.87.

In the men’s 1500m final, James Heneghan (Pontypridd Roadents) made the early running, while Piers Copeland was in contention until he limped out of the race after what appeared to be a collision in what was a large field of athletes. Heneghan eventually finished 11^th in 3:47.76.

In the men’s 3,000m there was a brave effort from Osian Perrin (Menai Track and Field), who claimed a silver in these championships in 2023.

But having tracked the leaders through the majority of the race, he fell away in the closing stages to finish eighth in 7:54.07.

The 2023 champion Melissa Courtney-Bryant (Poole AC) was one of the favourites for the women’s 3,000m final but was a late withdrawal.

Like Perrin, Cari Hughes (Cardiff Athletics), who has enjoyed an excellent start to the year, was in contention for much of the high quality race, before eventually finishing a creditable fifth in 8:59.24.

Following her record breaking feats the previous day in the women’s 400m, Darcy Coslett (Llanelli AC) finished fourth in her heat in a new PB of 24.61 to qualify for the semi-final where she bowed out finishing fifth in 24.81.

Millie Webb (Cardiff Athletics) also reached the semi-finals where she finished sixth in 25.24. Sian Harry (Belgrave Harriers) finished fifth in her heat in 25.02.

Sam Davies (Swansea Harriers) registered a best height of 2.03m finish 10th in the men’s high jump final.

DAY TWO RESULT