British athletes battle for Worlds places at trials

This weekend, Britain’s top athletes will compete in Birmingham to qualify for the World Championships.

A top-two finish at the UK Athletics Championships, combined with a World Athletics entry standard, will help the nation’s stars place in Tokyo’s squad.

Josh Kerr, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, and Georgia Hunter Bell, who won gold in the summer, will all be in the lineup on Saturday and Sunday, but they are each assured of selection based on their victories last summer.

Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson is one of the notable absentees as she recovers from injury and will have to work up a sweat to prepare for the competition that will take place in Tokyo’s capital from September 13 to September 21.

The formula is straightforward for the majority of athletes competing at the British trials this weekend.

A top-two finish in their respective Birmingham event, as well as a World Athletics entry standard that has been established since August 1, 2024, will confirm their place in Tokyo.

Selection is guaranteed for individual medal winners from the 2024 and 2023 world championships, as well as for those who won a World Athletics wildcard, as long as they have demonstrated “current form that gives confidence in their ability to fulfill the performance objectives of the championships.”

Hodgkinson hasn’t competed in almost a year since winning the gold at Paris 2024.

The 23-year-old will focus on proving her fitness in the final weeks before the British squad is announced on August 27 after meeting the entry-level requirements for World Athletics with her performance at the last summer’s Games.

The two-time Olympic champion’s return has been deterred further by a hamstring injury suffered in February, which caused her to recover from a frustrating start.

Additionally, Matthew Hudson-Smith and George Mills are unable to attend the trials, where a person’s medical condition or injury prevent them from competing.

Training partner Hunter Bell competes in both the 800 and 1500 meters in Hodgkinson’s absence as she chooses which Tokyo event to target.

Laura Muir, Revee Walcott-Nolan, and Katie Snowden compete in the 1500-meter race alongside Jemma Reekie, who won the medal for the Olympic 1500m bronze medal in the 800m.

The men’s 800m competitors Jake Wightman and Neil Gourley are competing against each other in the 1500m category, while Max Burgin and Ben Pattison lead the men’s 800m competitors.

Dina Asher-Smith competes in the 200-meter race in the women’s 200-meter race, while Amy Hunt and Daryll Neita both add the 100-meter.

In addition to Jeremiah Azu and Zharnel Hughes, Louie Hinchliffe is focusing on keeping his 100m crown, while Jeremiah Azu and Zharnel Hughes are competing for glory in men’s events.

In the women’s event, world indoor champion Amber Anning and world champion Charlie Dobson are both favorites to keep their 400-meter titles in place of Hudson-Smith.

High jumper Morgan Lake will look to build on her recent success in the field events while pole vault champion Molly Caudery will try to keep up her good form following her victory in the London Diamond League.

As Johnson-Thompson prepares to defend her third world title, she also competes in the 100-meter hurdles, javelin, and shot put.

All times BST

On August 2nd, 2018,

Sunday, August 3rd,