Emily Marmion-Williams rolled back the years with her first National Championship podium finish since 2019 with a hard fought Bronze medal at the BUCS 800m. Marmion-Williams who is continuing her come back has been in great from twice beating the Senior Women’s 1500m Club Record in recent weeks, and clocking her fastest 800m in four years, was delighted to be selected for her first BUCS track event. The three day competition would be a tough test with 6 Heats and a semi-final to navigate and some top level competition from the best athletes currently studying at some of the top UK Universities.
The opening Heat was navigated to perfection with Marmion-Williams keeping out of trouble to finish in a comfortable 2nd place with automatic qualification for the following’s days semi-final in 2:14.61. Marmion-Williams turned 21 on the day of the semi-final and it turned out to be a terrific birthday as she ran a brilliant semi-final in the toughest heat chasing down two of the favourites, Molly Hudson & Steph Driscoll both bosting fine PB’s of 2:05 & 2:04 respectively. Marmion-Williams stuck to her task and produced an outstanding performance to finish in third place with an indoor PB of 2:08.72 equalling one of the oldest record on the KTH books dating back to 1956 by KTH legend & established GB athlete Betty Loakes, finishing in one of the automatic qualification places.
The final on the following day Marmion-Williams competed in her first National Final in four years, but perhaps not feeling the nerves as she had not even expected to get selected for BUCS a few months earlier, so she had nothing to loose. As expected the final saw a repeat for Marmion-Williams semi-final with Hudson & Driscoll both setting a fast pace and both chasing down the Gold, Marmion-Williams had settled in 4th place behind the second semi-final winner Jodie Martin and sensing she had the legs on Martin she kicked on the final bend to race home to snatch the Bronze in 2:09.38 behind Hudson (2:06.29) & Driscoll (2:06.95), a magnificent return to form.
Emily Marmion-Williams (right) with a Brilliant BUCS Bronze medal in 800m
Marmion-Williams was ecstatic with her performance over the weekend and in winning the Bronze Medal and she will take enormous encouragement to continue her comeback in the upcoming outdoor track season with the possibility that her lifetime bests for 800 & 1500m will come under real pressure.
Congratulations Emily!
Elsewhere there was also a double medal winning performance from two of the Harriers up and coming youngsters, competing in the Essex and Eastern indoor championships at Lee Valley U13’s Tiggy Guthrie-Brown & Clara booth both set new 800m PB’s. Guthrie-Brown dominated the race leading from gun to tape with a fine run with 2:30.50 to take the Gold and move to UK 9th. Booth sliced another 3 seconds from her best to finish in 3rd place to take the Bronze with 2:37.92 (UK 30th). Booth has been in fine form and the week earlier she competed at the English National XC at Bosworth Castle finishing in a superb 96th place out 254.
Tiggy Guthrie-Brown (left) & Clara Booth medal winners at the Essex & Eastern Indoor Championships
Also running well is British Masters V45 Silver medallist David Locker who continues his preparations for the World Masters in Poland in late March with a rare outing over 1500m at Lee Valley with a V45 UK leading time of 4:17.18, fractionally slower than his 2022 best. Locker will race under distance this weekend over 600m as part of his final preparations for Torun.
Well done to everyone!