As our countdown to BUCS Nationals continues, today we look at the upcoming BUCS Indoor Athletics Championships.
Over 1,100 student-athletes are set to test their speed, endurance, strength, and technique at this year’s UK University Indoor Athletics Championships in Sheffield.
A total of 15 events will be taking place over three action packed days of university sport, as some of the most talented student-athletes in the country attempt to make history and become National Champions!
With just three days to go, we look at where the Indoor Athletics Championships will be taking place and highlight some of the most hotly anticipated events scheduled to take over the weekend.
Where are the Indoor Athletics Championships held?
This year’s championships will once again be taking place at the English Institute of Sport (EIS) in Sheffield, the largest multi sports centre in the UK.
The centre’s 200m track provides world class facilities for students taking part in high performance sport alongside their studies. As well as the annual Indoor Athletics Championships, EIS also hosts several other sporting arenas as well including a large gym and extensive sports medicine facilities.
Which titles are on offer?
The Indoor Athletics Championships will see 15 events take place from Friday 24th to Sunday the 26th.
The action begins at 1pm on Friday afternoon as preliminary heats begin on the track. With medals being awarded every day of the Championships, Friday is no different as the first National Champions of the event will be announced following the 60m sprint and 60m Hurdles finals at the end of the day.
More heats and qualifying rounds will take place on Saturday with several long distance semi-finals taking place in the afternoon. Over 20 finals will follow on the final day of the competition, as students who progressed in the earlier heats will battle it out to win gold for their university.
Almost 90 universities will be represented across all events, with some students returning to defend their titles having been successful last year. We look at some of the most anticipated events taking place at this year’s Championships and which students will be looking to defend their titles.
On the track
With over 800 accepted entries for both men’s and women’s track events, this year’s Championships promise to be an exciting and competitive showcase of athletic talent from universities across the country.
From displaying explosive speed and power in events such as the 60m and 200m to testing endurance in long-distance races such as the 1500m and 3,000m, the athletes are sure to push their limits and deliver another thrilling and memorable event. The three highly anticipated ambulant events at this year’s Championships highlight the various opportunities across track, field, and throwing disciplines for ambulant, seated, and wheelchair participants.
Loughborough’s reigning 60m Hurdles champions Josh Armstrong and Marli Jessop both return to defend their titles. Long-distance runner Saskia Millard (Birmingham) will be hoping to retain her 3000m crown and Sharhnee Skervin (NTU) will attempt to do the same in the 200m. Thomas Young (Loughborough) will also look to retain his title in the Men’s Ambulant 60m.
In the field
In addition to the track events, the upcoming Championships will also feature a variety of five field events including the High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Pole Vault, and Shot Put.
Over 300 student-athletes will be representing their institution this weekend, combining strength, technique, explosive power, and coordination across every discipline.
Seven students will return to defend their national titles in various field events.
These include High Jump champions Kelechi Aguocha (Loughborough) and Hannah Tapley (Cardiff Met), Triple Jump champions Josh Woods (Birmingham) and Lily Hulland (Loughborough), and Shot Put champions Eli Pawliw (Brunel) and Serena Vincent (Portsmouth). Jodie Smith (Brunel) will also look to retain her title in the Long Jump.
Stay tuned for all the results coming next week!
Find out which students were victorious here as we will be bringing you all the important results from each Championship event at the 2022/23 BUCS Nationals.
Check back in to discover which universities have claimed the championship titles next week!
In the meantime, you can learn more about athletics at the UK university level here.
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