On American Independence Day, two accents straight out of Ypsilanti, Michigan, rang out from the podium of the Alexander Stadium. “It was really special,” said Tiffany Porter, reflecting on her 100m hurdles victory over her sister Cindy Ofili which secured them both a place in the British team for the world championships in Beijing. “It’s been such a great experience,” added a smiling Ofili, who transferred her allegiance from the US a fortnight ago and only set foot in the UK for the first time last week.
Meanwhile, down the final straight, a distraught Lucy Hatton was being helped to her feet, having tumbled over the fourth hurdle. It was Hatton, the European Indoor 60m hurdles silver medallist, who had warned Ofili she was “not taking my spot” for Beijing. Only now she had. With only the top two at these UK trials being automatically selected – provided they have the qualifying standard – Hatton will have to rely on the selectors’ grace for the one remaining place.
And so once again the debate over so-called plastic Brits – which began when Porter and others moved to the UK to benefit from lottery funding before London 2012 – was reignited. Porter and Ofili have an English-born mother, and so are fully entitled to represent the UK. Both are talented too, as they hinted at while finishing first and second in 12.83sec and 12.96 respectively, with Jessica Ennis-Hill third in 13.10. Yet it was hard not to feel sympathy for Hatton, a 20-year-old who has improved enormously this season, but is now crossing fingers and toes as she waits to discover whether she will make the world championships.
Afterwards, as Hatton was being treated for a back spasm, Porter and Ofili expressed their delight at their one-two. Porter said: “It was really special. This was the first time we’ve ever raced each other over 100m hurdles. I’m just so proud of her and the way she executed.” Ofili, meanwhile, praised her new supporters, adding: “It’s nice being in front of the GB crowd and representing them.”
But when Ofili was asked about Hatton’s comments last week, which included a suggestion that she had come to Britain because “America’s a bit too hard for her at the moment”, she clammed up, saying: “Every time I race I just focus on myself and executing the cleanest race possible and running well.”
In the men’s 200m Zharnel Hughes – another recent transfer, this time from the British colony of Anguilla – insisted there was much more to come after winning the final in a modest 20.42sec, with Danny Talbot second in 20.61 and James Ellington third in 20.62.
The likeable Hughes, who turns 20 next week, claimed he was only running at “85%” and reckons he is in shape to smash his personal best of 20.15 later this season. “That time is going lower man,” he said smiling. When he was asked whether dipping below 20 seconds for the 200m was on he replied: “Definitely, I’m in shape for it right now, because I’ve been running 20-flat in training so I know I can go sub 20.”
In the women’s 100m heats, Dina Asher-Smith looked a class apart as she qualified fastest for Sunday’s semi-finals easing down in 11.31sec ahead of Asha Philip (11.47) and Desiree Henry (11.51). “It was decent,” she said. “My start was a bit iffy so I’ve got bits to improve on. But I was happy. It felt comfortable.” The men’s 100m heats also went as expected with James Dasaolu, CJ Ujah and Harry Aikines-Aryeety showing the ravine in class between elite and club level.
Elsewhere on the second of three days at these British Athletics Championships, Isobel Pooley equalled Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s British high jump record with a leap of 1.97m, while Holly Bradshaw made a welcome return after injury in winning the women’s pole vault in 4.50m. Several World or European Championship medal winners also went through to Sunday’s 22 finals, including Christine Ohuruogu in the 400m, Eilidh Child in the 400m hurdles and Lynsey Sharp in the 800m.
