Magnificent Melissa Wins First British Senior Title

By Owen Morgan

Melissa Courtney-Bryant claimed her first ever senior British title with a perfectly judged tactical run in the British Athletics Indoor 3,000m final in Glasgow.

The Welsh Commonwealth Games 1500m bronze medallist showed great patience during the earlier stages of the race which were run at an almost pedestrian pace.

When Rosie Clarke upped the pace with just under 1,000m to go, Courtney-Bryant was one of three athletes who went with her.

With 400m to go, the Poole AC athlete hit the front and eased away from the field to take gold comfortably in 9:48.54.

Melissa Courtney-Bryant celebrates winning the 3000m. at the UK indoor champs. in Glasgow @NewBalanceUK @AthleticsWeekly @mcourtneybryant @pooleAthletic pic.twitter.com/Y3nedVAOGb

— Mark Shearman MBE (@AthleticsImages) February 23, 2020

Silver went to England international Verity Ockenden, of Swansea Harriers, who ran a season’s best 9:50.39. Clarke eventually finished third.

Olympic Games hopeful Courtney said afterwards: “That was really good and it feels great to win my first senior title. I’ve competed at eight senior championships and not won any, so it’s nice to get that title.

“Indoors the plan was always for it to be a short season and see where I’m at. The training group is really strong and it all bodes well for the summer.

“I’ll get a few days off but now we go back to the ground and build towards a huge summer and see what we can do.”

Courtney’s gold was Wales’s first of the championships, following a silver and three bronze medals on the first day thanks to Sam Gordon, Sarah Abrams, Patrick Swan and Mike Ward.

Adele Nicoll claimed bronze in Glasgow.

There had been hopes of gold in the women’s 5,000m walk, but outdoor champion Bethan Davies, of Cardiff didn’t start the final.

However, Sunday got off to a medal-winning start for the Welsh contingent in the first field event of the day where Birchfield Harrier Adele Nicoll, claimed bronze in the women’s shot put final.

The Welsh indoor champion’s success was made all the sweeter as she saved the best until last by producing a new personal best of 16.19m with her final throw of the day to seal her medal behind Amelia Strickler and Sophie McKinna.

A delighted Nicoll said: “Coming here, the aim was to medal and sometimes it isn’t about how you perform, it’s about getting on the podium and I did both. I got an indoor PB and a medal and you can’t ask for more.

“The frustration of not throwing a PB until now has all built up and to do it at British Champs is a great thing. It shows the winter training wasn’t a waste of time and it shows the progress I’m making.

Wales’ third medal of the day came in the 400m final where Joe Brier claimed bronze in the 400m final in a time of 47.92.

Joe Brier claimed bronze in Glasgow.

The Swansea Harrier led earlier on, but James Williams just managed to beat him to the lane break and the Liverpool athlete managed to hold off the Welshman to the tape.

Brier said: “It was a good run with three solid runs over the course of the weekend. I wanted the gold but it wasn’t to be today. It’s my first senior medal at the age of 20 so I can’t complain.

“If I want to go to the Olympics, I know I need to drop my times by about half a second and it’s definitely something I can focus on.”

There were a couple of near medal misses in the men’s and women’s 1500m. Brighton Phoenix’s Beth Kidger ran a new PB of 4:22.75 but was edged out into fourth place by 0.17 of a second, while James Heneghan, of Cardiff Athletics, finished fourth in the men’s race, clocking 3:52.89.

The full results from both day’s action can be found on the British Athletics website.