National championships at Sportcity in Manchester will see athletes aiming to make the Paris Games this weekend
The UK Athletics Championships might not be as cut-throat as the US Olympic Team Trials but this weekend’s event in Manchester promises to be just as exciting for British fans.
Unlike the brutal elimination of athletes such as Athing Mu at the US Trials in Oregon, the British system has some leniency. Mu’s rival Keely Hodgkinson, for example, is allowed to run the 400m at the British trials. Similarly, world 1500m champion Josh Kerr is going to test his speed in the 800m. Zharnel Hughes, the UK 100m and 200m record-holder, meanwhile, has been given the nod by UK Athletics medics to miss the event entirely due to a recent hamstring injury.
Still, the majority of places in the British team for Paris will be hard fought this weekend (June 29-30) at Sportcity. The predicted heatwave doesn’t look set to fall on the North West of England either but the athletics action will definitely be hot (and hopefully drier than last year’s rain-soaked event).
As usual the top two athletes at the trials will be selected if they have a qualifying standard. For the the full selection criteria, see here.
BBC will be covering the action live on both Saturday and Sunday too on its website, red button and iPlayer.
Looking for potential highlights? Here are 10 to watch out for.
Hinchliffe the breakthrough Brit of the sprints scene
The North West of England enjoyed the surreal experience of a visit from Carl Lewis seven months ago when the nine-time Olympic champion descended on the Liverpool Cross Challenge. It could happen again this weekend too if Lewis travels over from the Houston to support one of the athletes he coaches, Louie Hinchliffe.
The last time the Sheffield athlete Hinchliffe raced in Manchester he finished a modest fourth in an indoor 60m race in 2022 and was then sixth in his heat at the UK Indoor Championships a few weeks later in Birmingham.
Louie Hinchliffe (Shawn Price)
What a difference a couple of years makes, though, as he started this summer with a wind-assisted 9.84 before winning the NCAA title in Eugene in 9.95.
Can he repeat that form on Saturday as he takes on Jeremiah Azu, Eugene Amo-Dadzie, Ojie Edoburun, Romell Glave, CJ Ujah and Reece Prescod among others?
Ready for another men’s 800m battle royale?
Last year’s 800m final was a humdinger with Max Burgin taking out the pace in 49.74 at the bell before faltering in the…
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