NINE Oxfordshire athletes will pit their wits against some of the country's best at the British Championships in Birmingham this weekend.
We have profiled all of our competitors, including triple jumper Nathan Douglas who bids for a sixth national title at the Alexander Stadium today.
NATHAN DOUGLAS – Triple jump (1.16pm today)
- Oxford City AC triple jumper Nathan Douglas, pictured competing at this year's Commonwealth Games, competes this afternoon Picture: Martin Rickett/PA Wire
The two-time Olympian, who finished fifth in this year’s Commonwealth Games, is eyeing a sixth national crown. A place in the top two would secure Douglas’ place in August’s European Championships in Berlin.
Club: Oxford City AC
Age: 35
Event history: 1st – 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2016. 2nd – 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015. 3rd – 2008. 4th – 2014, 2017
PB: 17.64m
SB: 16.77m (indoor)
TARA KAFKE – 400m (Heats: 1.20pm today. Final: 4.20pm Sunday)
- Tara Kafke, pictured in action at the British Championships in 2012, makes her second appearance at the nationals Picture: Jessica Mann
Heads into her second British Championships off the back of her 400m victory in the Southern League earlier this year. She has produced strong results in the 800m as well, winning bronze at the South of England Senior Championships earlier this month.
Club: Radley AC
Age: 29
Event history: 5th in heat - 2012
PB: 54.51secs
SB: 56.50secs
ALICE HOPKINS – 100m hurdles (Heats: 1.50pm today. Final: 4.34pm today) and long jump (3.08pm Sunday)
- Alice Hopkins (left) won U23 gold in the long jump at the England Championships
After an injury-hit 2017, Alice Hopkins has had a fine season so far. Having set personal bests in both events this year, the teenager also won U23 long jump gold at the England Championships earlier this month.
Club: Oxford City AC
Age: 19
Event history: 7th in heat - 2016 (100m hurdles)
PB: 13.94secs (100m hurdles) and 6.46m (long jump)
SB: 13.94secs (100m hurdles) and 6.46m (long jump)
JADE O’DOWDA – 100m hurdles (Heats: 1.50pm today. Final: 4.34pm today) and long jump (3.08pm Sunday)
- Jade O'Dowda has qualified for next month's IAAF World U20 Championships
Making her first appearance at the outdoor British Championships, the England U20 heptathlon champion competes in two events. O’Dowda has set personal bests in the 100m hurdles and long jump this year and will be hoping to continue her strong 2018 before heading to Finland to compete in next month’s IAAF World U20 Championships.
Club: Oxford City AC
Age: 18
Event history: N/A
PB: 14.21secs (100m hurdles) and 6.24m (long jump)
SB: 14.21secs (100m hurdles) and 6.24m (long jump)
BEN CLARIDGE – 400m (Heats: 3.27pm today. Final: 4.30pm Sunday)
- Ben Claridge is this year's U23 400m England champion
The Bath University student is another to head into this event in good form after being crowned U23 400m champion at the England Championships. Ranked tenth in the senior standings, Claridge will be bidding to squeeze his way into the final.
Club: Abingdon AC
Age: 20
Event history: 3rd in heat - 2017
PB: 46.59secs
SB: 46.59secs
HANNAH ENGLAND – 1500m (Heats: 6.31pm today. Final: 4.40pm Sunday)
- Hannah England has won the 1500m national title on three occasions Picture: Ian Rutherford/PA Wire
Three-time champion England makes her ninth appearance at the event. The Olympian, now ranked 13th in the country, knows she will need to better her season’s best by more than three seconds and finish in the top two to make the Great Britain team for the European Championships.
Club: Oxford City AC
Age: 31
Event history: 1st – 2010, 2011, 2013. 3rd – 2008, 2009, 2014. 5th – 2016. 8th – 2015, 2017
PB: 4mins 1.89secs
SB: 4mins 10.78secs
LUISA CHANTLER-EDMOND – Discus (11.32am Sunday)
- Luisa Chantler-Edmond is competing in her second British Championships
The U20 county champion will be bidding to improve on her 10th place finish on her British Championships debut last year. Chantler-Edmond, ranked second in the country in her age group, also won silver at this month’s South of England U20 Championships.
Club: Radley AC
Age: 19
Event history: 10th - 2017
PB: 46.48m
SB: 43.99m
KATHRYN WOODCOCK – Discus (11.32am Sunday)
- Kathryn Woodcock, pictured competing in the shot last year, goes in the discus tomorrow
This will be the Radley thrower’s third national championships. Concentrating purely on the discus this year, Woodcock saved her best performance of 2018 for the England U23 Championships where she produced a season’s best of 49.03m to clinch bronze.
Club: Radley AC
Age: 21
Event history: 6th – 2017. 7th - 2016
PB: 50.64m
SB: 49.03m
GEMMA BRIDGE – 5000m race walk (11.35am Sunday)
- Gemma Bridge only took up race walking full-time at the beginning of 2017 Picture: Martin Rickett/PA Wire
Runner turned race walker, Gemma Bridge will be hoping to avoid a third successive disqualification at the British Championships. This will only be her second 5000m race walk this year, but she can take plenty of positives from her last showing – a silver medal at the British Indoor Championships.
Club: Oxford City AC
Age: 25
Event history: DQ – 2016, 2017
PB: 22mins 48.29secs (indoor)
SB: 22mins 48.29secs (indoor)
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