Indoor British Championships: Adelle Tracey wins in Sheffield to book World Indoors spot
By Mark Crellin
Last Updated: 28/02/16 7:54pm
Adelle Tracey caused a shock at the Indoor British Championships in Sheffield as she got the better of some more established rivals to claim gold in the 800m.
The 22-year-old, who was a torch-bearer at the London 2012 opening ceremony, beat the likes of Lynsey Sharp and Jenny Meadows to book her spot in the British team for the World Indoors in Portland next month.
Tracey conjured up a strong finish at the English Institute of Sport to overtake Sharp and triumph in two minutes, 02.99 seconds.
Sharp (2:03.50) faded into third behind Leah Barrow (2:03.18) but could still be in line to get the second discretionary spot on the team for Oregon, although she said she was undecided about whether she would make the trip.
Tracey will definitely be going to the United States and said: "I'll be so happy to wear my first senior vest and to do it so early in the season is amazing.
"I'm working part time as a freelance hair and make-up artist and it's good because it fits around my training. I do prosthetics and model making as well, so it's very diverse.
"I did Lenny Waite's wedding this summer and Andy Vernon's wife and Gemma Hillier-Moses (all fellow athletes), because it works very well with training, it's just one morning."
Meadows has been a fine servant to the British team over the years but the 34-year-old faded in the closing stages to finish fourth in 2:03.81.
In other events, Charlie Grice guaranteed a spot at the World Indoors by winning the 1500m in 3:46.50.
Michigan-born Tiffany Porter sealed her qualification by winning the 60m hurdles in 7.98 and Steph Twell will join her in Portland after she comprehensively won the 3,000m in 8:54.99.
Chris Baker won the high jump with a clearance of 2.29m, beating Olympic bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz (2.26m) into second, but both men are set to be on the team.
And 17-year-old Toby Harries claimed the men's 200m title, finishing with a flourish to win in 21.33 seconds from Ben Snaith and David Lima.
Hannah England, the 2011 World Championship silver medallist, won the 1500m in 4:15.44 but is due to skip Portland.
Elsewhere, Paralympic champion Aled Davies threw a new F42 shot put world record of 16.14m.
The British team for the World Indoors (March 17-20), will be selected on Monday and named the following day.
But many athletes are skipping the event in order to focus on preparing for the outdoor season, so the team will have a slimline look and comprise 20-30 athletes.
