Whilst hundreds of the UK’s finest masters athletes spent two days battling it out at the EIS in Sheffield this past weekend, spare a thought for those over 35s still competing at the highest level in the senior ranks.
At the UK Athletics Indoor Championships, taking place at Arena Birmingham, three masters athletes competed against Britain’s best across two events.
Men’s shot put
The men’s shot put had a pair of masters athletes competing, as M35 Angus McInroy and M40 Greg Beard took on a talented field on the Sunday of the championships.
http://gty.im/1467608744While Scott Lincoln was a runaway victor, Beard put together a strong series, capped off with a 16.10 put in the fifth round that placed him sixth.
British outdoor champion in 2013, the Newham athlete has recently entered the M40 age group, and is ranked 2nd M40 all-time in the event by virtue of his 16.28 put from Sheffield earlier this month.
http://gty.im/1467885161McInroy is best known as a discus thrower, ranked 35th senior all-time.
Despite being some way off his 15.30 PB from the 2022 indoor season, the Shaftesbury Barnet Harrier put together three throws over 14 metres to place ninth with 14.30.
Women’s 60 metre hurdles
W35 Angelita Broadbelt-Blake raced the women’s hurdles at the championships, taking part in the first heat of four.
With athletes qualifying straight into the final, competition was fierce, and the Thames Valley Harrier finished third in her heat, crossing the line in 8.55 behind eventual silver medallist Marli Jessop and British international combined eventer Holly Mills.
12th-fastest on the day, missing out on qualifying by just six-hundredths of a second, Broadbelt-Blake is 2nd W35 all-time over both the 60 and 110 metre hurdles behind Olympian Clova Court.
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