The opening event of the 2022 BMAF calendar is only two weeks away. The nation’s finest masters athletes are preparing for Sheffield, and it’s time to look at some lead entries. With the 3000 metre field already covered, here are the highlight entries for the British Masters Indoor Pentathlon Championships.
Another String to the Bow(man)
Holder of 7 British combined events records, Tony Bowman is sure to be targeting an eighth in Sheffield. The M85 pentathlon record currently belongs to the late Tony Rawlinson, and sits at 2261 points, having been set in the same competition 20 years prior.
Bowman eclipsed three of Rawlinson’s record-setting marks in the shot, long and high jump in 2021. A repeat performance could see him go close to the European and World record mark of Bruno Sobrero, 3085.
Sobrero’s record is all the more intriguing given that the Italian recorded a DNF in the 1000 metres.
Bowman will hope to continue recent success, being named European Masters Athlete of the Year in the male sprint category.
Second Attempt for Frisby
The other British record holder entered is Susan Frisby, now an age group up from her record-setting 4317 points in the W55 pentathlon.
The Leicester athlete was British Champion last year over both short hurdles and long hurdles in Derby. At the outdoor pentathlon championships, Frisby was just 60 points away from Carole Filer‘s British record of 4305, and she will again need to attempt to beat Filer if she wants to get her hands on the W60 record.
Hall Heading Indoors
Max Hall of Peterborough and Nene Valley is the highlight of the M35 field in the pentathlon. A 7000-point decathlete at his 2012 best, the recent addition to the masters ranks has already competed indoors this winter.
With a 9.14 performance over the slightly higher senior barriers and a 11.54 shot put performance in December, Hall looks in the kind of form to challenge Gavin Fordham‘s British record of 3387 points.
Intrigue in the Upper Age Groups
Other entries of interest include British M55 decathlon record holder Allan Leiper as an M60, and Caroline Marler, who may have a shot at Sally Hine‘s W70 British record.
Entries Still Open
For those looking to get in on the action, entries are open until close of play January 11th.
