Manheim International

26 June 2016

Mollie Courtney and Sophie Yorke travelled to Mannheim in Germany to compete in the Bauhaus Juniorengala as part of the GB team preparations for the IAAF World U20 Championships in Poland next month. According to British Athletics “The Mannheim International is one of the highest junior level competitions outside the World or European Junior Championships each year”. With progression to the final based on race times Courtney won her heat in 13.42 secs, her second fastest time ever, and she went into the final ranked second on time. In the final she claimed silver in 13.43 seconds demonstrating once again her great consistency. Already selected for the World U20s, both times were within the qualification standard set by British Athletics and Courtney is currently ranked 4th in Europe in the U20s.

Yorke was primarily selected for the 4 × 100m relay squad but was given the opportunity to race in the individual 100m. She finished 3rd in a very fast heat and her time of 11.61 secs was good enough to allow her to progress to the A final as 5th fastest overall. Actually the time, a new Cheltenham Harriers senior and under 20record, was her fastest ever and just 0.01 secs outside the qualification standard for the World U20s but unfortunately hers was the only heat in which the wind speed was not legal. In the final Yorke finished 5th with a new legal PB of 11.74 secs. On the Sunday she then anchored the GB Junior 4 × 100m team to second place behind the German A team in a time of 45.04 secs. The Dave Warner coached athlete must now wait to hear if she has made the final cut for the 4 × 100m relay team for Poland.