World 2019 heptathlon champion and British record-holder eager to start 2023 outdoor season with a bang

Katarina Johnson-Thompson is in confident mood ahead of her season opener outdoors as she takes on some of the best heptathletes in the world at Hypo-Meeting Götzis (May 27-28).

The world 2019 heptathlon champion and British record-holder warmed up for her trip to Austria in style after winning both the 100m hurdles and being part of the successful England 4x400m relay team.

The 30-year-old clocked 13.73 (-1.0) in the 100m hurdles, threw a best of 13.13m in the shot put and rounded the day off by anchoring the English quartet to relay victory in 3:37.03.

It was really cool to do a mixture of events, Johnson-Thompson told AW. I did the hurdles, which I really just like to get out the way before I do a heptathlon. The shot put was probably one of the most consistent series [of throws] Ive done in my life and Im really pleased with it.

The 4x400m leg is probably the first and last time Ill do a relay I think! It was stressful competing for England and I normally dont like working in a team just in case I let them down. But it worked out well today.

Thats probably the first and last time Ill do a [4x400m] relay I think! @JohnsonThompson on representing @EnglandAthletic at the Loughborough Invitational

She prepared for @meeting_goetzis with the 100m hurdles, shot put and the 4x400m relay

@TimAdams76 pic.twitter.com/aj1j19iN5j

AW (@AthleticsWeekly) May 22, 2023

Ive done a few relays in France before when it took it a bit easy but this one was a bit more high pressured. Its great practice anyway for the 800m.

Johnson-Thompson flys out to Götzis on Thursday (May 26) and is no stranger to the event, having won it in 2014 and 2019, the latter occurring just five months before she claimed a maiden world heptathlon title.

However, last year she scored the lowest score of her career and Johnson-Thompson knows better than anyone else about the pressure that the multi-events mecca brings.

It feels like a world championships, she added. Theres always been exciting energy at the event and people are always optimistic in Götzis.

It can break your heart but it can also make your dreams come true.

To be fully prepared for the outdoor season and in a bid to reclaim her world heptathlon title, Johnson-Thompson skipped the indoor season and instead focused on her training camps in Turkey and South Africa.

Now coached by Aston Moore, Johnson-Thompson has found an extra spring in her step and last August she became a double Commonwealth heptathlon champion in Birmingham, her first major accolade in four years.

The next step is to raise that level again against the worlds best but Johnson-Thompson will likely not face Nafi Thiam until the World Championships in Budapest, with the double Olympic and world heptathlon champion missing Götzis.

It was really good as I didnt have an indoor season and its been really useful having that training, just to break it up and get some sunshine, Johnson-Thompson added. Ultimately, youll never know what youll do until you go out there and get to the start line. Ive had great preparation and everything has gone well so far.

[Nafi] Thiam is one of the greatest athletes of any generation. It was so good to see her break the world pentathlon record in Istanbul and its an exciting event. Everyone is raising the game and their levels and hopefully I can join them too.

Eyob Faniel and Hellen Obiri dominate as Britains four-time Olympic champion completes his penultimate race

Not so long ago, the sight of Mo Farah putting in a late sprint meant one thing victory. At the Great Manchester Run on Sunday (May 21), though, the four-time Olympic champions closing burst brought him only eighth place.

In truth, this penultimate race of his career was always likely to be far more ceremonial than competitive but his presence brought the crowds out in force once again. As with last months London Marathon, he was afforded the chance to soak up the acclaim of a huge public audience who were more than willing to urge him on.

There was to be no fairytale ending as he finished in 29:11, some way back from winner Eyob Faniels 28:27, but the sight of the 40-year-old trying to put his foot down as he approached the line betrayed the competitive character who has struck global gold no fewer than 10 times.
Farah knows, however, that his race is run.

I will miss it, he said. I loved doing what I did over the years and I will the miss the crowd, miss the support. My mind wants to do it but my body cant quite do it, and obviously youve got to call it a day. Im also looking forward to retiring, spending time with my kids and hopefully still be involved in the sport.

Id just love to see youngsters not put hurdles in front of them. @Mo_Farah wants to stay involved in athletics after he retires

He finished eighth in 29:11 at the Great Manchester Run 10km and says hell miss these kind of atmospheres

@euancrumley pic.twitter.com/se1rKyZ3JV

AW (@AthleticsWeekly) May 21, 2023

While he considers was his next steps might be, Farahs final outing will come later this year, in September at the Great North Run an event he has won six times. I promised [Great North Run founder] Brendan Foster one day youll see me crossing the Tyne Bridge in the lead, and Ive done that six times. Hopefully one more time maybe, he said.

While the sight of Farah battling it out was one to which the crowd were accustomed, less familiar was Faniel being at the head of affairs.
It was perhaps fitting that, at a time when the BAFTA-winning Farah has been highlighting the difficulties which individuals can face when attempting to make a life in a new country, another man who once had to go through his own switch of national identity was leading the way.

Faniel was born in Eritrea but came to Italy as a 12-year-old and became an Italian citizen in 2015. He is no slouch, either, with a marathon best of 2:07:19 to his name and a 10km best of 28:08.

In Manchester, the man who won the 2017 Venice Marathon after he benefited from the leaders taking a wrong turn in the latter stages set out with clear intent and immediately established a gap.
I wanted to start off strong and told myself not to look behind, said the 30-year-old. After 1km, I decided to look and I couldnt see anyone so I said okay, lets push.

By the time Faniel reached halfway in 13:54, he held a 14-second cushion from a sizeable pack which contained last years runner-up Jack Rayner, his fellow Australian Stewart McSweyn plus British duo Omar Ahmed and Marc Scott as well as Commonwealth marathon champion Victor Kiplangat.

The Italian kept his lead, though, and while Scott did get close, his move came a little too late as he finished four seconds behind Faniels 38:27. Just as he had done 12 months previously, McSweyn came third in a time of 28:35.

Scott was happy with performance as he continues his return to form following a stress fracture in December. He now plans to attack the British 10km record of 27:44 which is jointly held by Farah and Emile Cairess in July, before making his marathon debut in the autumn.

The womens race followed a similar pattern to the mens as Hellen Obiri made it two Manchester wins on the bounce with a commanding gun to tape performance.

There were perhaps question marks as to how well she might fare so soon after winning the Boston Marathon last month, but the two-time Olympic 5000m medallist tore into the lead and put 14 seconds on her closest rival, fellow Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir, when the halfway mark was reached in 15:08.

Though she was ultimately some way slower in the warm and windy conditions than the time of 30:15 she clocked 12 months previously, Obiri did not let up and won by 45 seconds in 31:14, with Jepchirchir second and local favourite Calli Thackery (32:51) winning the battle for third with fellow Briton Steph Twell (32:54).

In the elite wheelchair races, the 2021 Great North Run winner Sean Frame secured victory in 21:52 with a late charge to overtake from Englands Commonwealth marathon bronze medallist Johnboy Smith (22:09). Spanish record-holder Rafa Botello Jimenez was third in 23:56.
The womens contest was won by Jade Hall, who obliterated her personal best to clock 26:27. Joanna Robertson also produced her fastest ever performance with 31:14.

Michael Jensen was overall winner of the half marathon, clocking 66:20. Next across the line was Long Eatons Simon Crawford in 68:27, with Chorlton Runners Thomas Charles completing the top three in 68:50. Caroline Brenchley won the womens contest in 78:44.

AW collaboration

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Mobile apps allow athletics fans to watch the races from their handheld devices

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People who like this sport and want to have an alternative when betting on it can access the live betting options via a mobile app. Not all apps are the same, but the best ones will always include all the athletic competitions on the desktop site. This also includes all markets and odds.

Some of the best applications will also provide mobile bettors with numerous features and even bonuses that are often not available to desktop bettors.

There are cases where people can scan QR codes while watching the races and access special perks

Some online bookmakers are always looking for new ways of gaining new customers, so they often decide to advertise what they offer. To achieve this, companies decide to sponsor some of the biggest competitions in the world of athletics because they know those things will attract a lot of customers.

Besides offering special markets and odds for some things, confident bookies will offer unique options to those watching the event. However, the only way to access them is by scanning a QR code leading them to the prize.

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Athletics is among the few sports that bookies can provide more markets for if users use a mobile device

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Athletics is one of them because many fans of this sport havent decided to bet on it yet. Bookies realise that the potential exists, so they try to promote their apps while attracting new customers who like this sport. This explains why some companies have so many things that make it special.

Meeting records fall at Parliament Hill as Jess Warner-Judd and Andy Butchart emerge as top Brits

The Night of the 10,000m PBs once again saw a dizzying display of distance running with meeting records in the two blue riband races. Roared on by thousands of spectators at Parliament Hill in north London on Saturday (May 20), Paul Chelimo of the United States stormed to an emphatic mens victory in 27:12.73 while Mizan Alem Adane of Ethiopia destroyed a world-class field by more than a minute with 29:59.03.

Behind, Jess Warner-Judd and Andy Butchart won British titles in style. Warner-Judd successfully defended the crown she won at the same event 12 months ago whereas it was Butcharts first outing at the event. It definitely lived up to the expectations and more, he enthused. This is the way track needs to go. The guys here have absolutely smashed it. Its a whirlwind.

He added: Its not track. Its like a different discipline. Its not dull. Its not boring. Everybody loves it here.

The meeting was part of the On Track Nights series this year and the running shoe brand made the most of their sponsorship deal by sectioning off zones for athletes, media, VIPs and spectators. Amid the post-race pyrotechnics and beer-fuelled fans, ever-presents such as Dave Bedford, the former world 10,000m record-holder, rubbed shoulders with YouTubers from around the UK and as far afield as America and Japan. A pilgrimage to this event has become, it seems, an essential act for any fan worth their salt.

Age is no barrier either. From Chris Thompsons and Jemma Simpsons two-year-old son, Theo, through to the 94-year-old Eric Shirley, steeplechase finalist at the 1956 Olympics, spectators from multiple generations descended on the Hampstead Heath venue to see what all the hype is about.

When you arrive, theres an atmosphere, added Butchart. I dont want to be the grumpy old guy but track has lost that a bit elsewhere. But its definitely here the hype is real and its incredible. I dont think theres another event in the world like this.

Chelimo a class apart

Coming into this event there was talk of Paul Chelimo not being in good form. A global medallist in the 5000m in 2016, 2017 and 2021, though, he showed his class with a dominant run as he beat Yeman Crippas meeting record by four seconds.

People count me out sometimes and I like that, he said. I went to the Olympics and they counted me out. I went to the World Championships and they counted me out. I am a championship machine. I always show up!

The American went No.8 on the US all-time rankings as he won by 19 seconds from runner-up Vincent Mutai of Kenya, who ran 27:31.31, with Tadesse Getahon of Israel third in 27:33.99. Egide Ntakarutimana of Burundi was fourth in 27:37.09 with Ren Tazawa, who had made the long trip from Japan to chase the World Champs qualifying standard of 27:10.00, disappointed to clock 27:40.40 in fifth.

I was all alone and tried to go for it. The thing that makes me happy is that I got the course (meeting) record, said Chelimo, who would surely have nailed the World Champs qualifier himself if it wasnt for the chilly and slightly blustery conditions.

Chelimo, who passed halfway in 13:36.34 before pushing ahead, added: The crowd is amazing. Amazing! Thats what kept me going. I saw the (Wave) light was flickering and going away from me but I was just grinding because the crowds were cheering so hard. There are obviously a lot of people here who love running.

Will he be back? For sure. I wouldnt say no. Ive always had success in London. Last year I had a really bad track season so to get a good race here and to win is a good predictor for the season ahead. So now Ill get back to training and keep working hard.

In 10^th, Andy Butchart was 11 seconds outside his Scottish record with 27:47.43. Getting into the spirit of the evening, he grabbed a can of beer in the home straight and charged through the final metres swigging it to the delight of trackside fans. If we did any other discipline in athletics (like this) it would take off, he said.

Fellow Brit Zak Mahamed smashed his PB with 27:56.70 in 13^th as the top 14 runners broke 14 minutes and he said: Its an amazing event and Im really happy with the way I ran. The way the crowd carry you and the noise is unbelievable. I was struggling mid-race but the crowd kept me going.

Alem Adane stuns crowd with sub-30min win

Mizan Alem Adane arrived at Heathrow on the eve of the race with no English language skills and merely a phone number for one of the organisers. Yet the Ethiopian found her way to the athlete hotel in Archway near Hampstead Heath and on Saturday night stunned the crowd with a runaway victory in 29:59.03, making her the 12th woman in history to break the 30-minute barrier.

From sunny conditions for the opening races earlier in the day, temperatures plummeted in the evening as the championship races approached. Yet Alem Adane turned up the heat on the track as she lapped most of her rivals.

On her final lap the Ethiopian almost caught and lapped runner-up Weini Kelati of the United States, who ran 31:04.16, with third-placed Nadia Battocletti of Italy finishing strongly to clock 31:06.42, just ahead of fourth-placed Jess Warner-Judds 31:09.29.

Most peoples pre-race favourite, meanwhile, Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia, was fifth in 31:09.85 as Miriam Dattke of Germany was sixth in 31:10.21 and Sam Harrison of Britain a fine seventh in 31:11.40 less than a month after her 2:25:59 marathon in London.

Two years ago Alem Adane won the world under-20 5000m title in Nairobi by eight seconds in 16:05.61. She is now aged 21 and not much is known about her, although she finished a relatively unnoticed and distant runner-up to fellow Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay over 3000m indoors in Birmingham at the World Indoor Tour final in February.

She certainly made a name for herself on Saturday, though. Paced by Melissa Courtney-Bryant through 3000m in 9:11.86, Alem Adane went through 5000m in 15:09.85 and forged ahead, building up a bigger lead with every lap.

Among other things the meeting record-holder Steph Twell vowed to donate money to the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund if anyone could beat her meeting record and Alem Adanes impressive feat means Twell will now give 350 to the charity.

Kelati and Battocletti were delighted to run PBs behind the winner. The latter destroyed her previous best of 33:06.25 and told AW she plans to return to the event in future years, although her immediate goal for this summer is to move back down to 5000m.

Warner-Judd was also happy after struggling with illness during March. My aim was to finish in the top two of the Brits, she said. Thats what I needed to do for the Worlds. To be British champion, Im really proud and happy with that.

She told AW she has partly come off social media as well in the run-up to this summers races in order to focus on her own training. I deleted twitter and Facebook but kept Instagram as I liked posting pictures of my dogs! she revealed. Ive just got back to basics and wanted to train smart and enjoy my running again.

Looking forward, she added: I know Ill be better in a couple of months time. The base is there and I think Ill be a lot sharper in August.

Harrison nearly didnt race here after coming down with a cold following the London Marathon but she felt better in the past week or so. I was contemplating whether to do it but its a great race and event and I love it doing it every year. So I thought Id give it a blast, she said.

On a night of superb performances, Amy-Eloise Markovc was third Brit home in a PB of 31:17.81 after having earlier boldly gone with the fast early pace with Abbie Donnelly fourth Brit in 32:10.16.

Young athletes races are a hit

Iris Downes and Finlay Hutchinson won the under-20 800m races as a series of events for young athletes held just before the championship 10,000m races went down a storm.

Hutchinson clocked 1:50.43 to win a close mens race while Downes was more emphatic as she ran 2:05.95 and told AW: Im very good at coming second and third in races so today I was really pleased to win a decent race for once. With the crowd it was phenomenal. I didnt feel any pain whatsoever. I just heard the crowd.

Ive never experienced anything like this and its amazing that On Running is putting events like this on and giving under-17 and under-20 athletes the opportunity. I ran in the Diamond League last year but this event is something else.