The World Athletics Indoor Championships are drawing to a close, with several British athletes in contention for medals. Action continues in Kujawy Pomorze.
Kerr and Hodgkinson Aim for Gold
Keely Hodgkinson qualified for her 800m final this morning. She will look to join Josh Kerr on the top of the podium. Georgia Hunter Bell will also look to join Josh Kerr on the top of the podium tomorrow.
Hunter Bell made it into through the 1500m heats on Friday. The 1500m final is at 18:22 tomorrow, while the 800m closer is at 18:53.
Josh Kerr won his second world indoor title in style, moving to the front for the final lap of the men’s 3,000m final and holding off his rivals. He’ll now look forward anot
Ehammer’s Heptathlon World Record
Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer reached 6670 points in the men’s heptathlon, setting a new world record. He beat the previous mark of 6645 set by Ashton Eaton back in 2012.
Asher-Smith Reflects on Performance and Future
Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith finished seventh in the women’s 60m final. Asher-Smith spoke to BBC Two, saying: “It wasn’t the most fabulous final. I’m a bit disappointed but overall happy with my indoor season and how things are going with my new coach.”
She added: “We changed something slightly going into the final and obviously it didn’t pan out, but ultimately that’s why I’m doing this indoor season as we are still working out how to communicate with each other. I’m obviously disappointed but, at the same time, it is all part of the learning process.”
Asher-Smith continued: “Everybody changes things ahead of finals – sometimes it goes well, sometimes you might not execute it in the right way. This is why we race, it really is.”
On what she was hoping to get out of the indoor season, Asher-Smith said: “I was ultimately just having fun to be honest. I haven’t been having the most fun for the past few years. It has never been that I wasn’t capable, wasn’t talented enough, didn’t work hard enough etc. It was more that things just weren’t coming together. I definitely feel so much more stable and happy in terms of going out there and putting out these performances.”
She also noted: “That’s the most important thing because mentality is everything. If you’re not in an environment where you’re happy then the results aren’t going to come.”
Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill said on BBC Two that there’s absolutely no doubt there will be an element of disappointment for Dina. Ennis-Hill added she knows Asher-Smith is talking about racing again and having fun, and that’s really important, but of course she’s going to be disappointed. Ennis-Hill also said that Asher-Smith is 30 years old with so much experience in this sport, so of course she wanted to come here and pick up a medal and would’ve wanted to come away a medal in her first world indoors final.
Coverage of Sunday’s evening session action will be available on BBC Two starting at 17:00 GMT.