The 2026 Novuna UK Athletics Indoor Championships kicked off with a bang on February 14 at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, delivering a day packed with electrifying races, jaw-dropping jumps, and a national record that lit up the arena. Athletes from across the UK battled it out in heats, semis, and finals, showcasing world-class talent and setting the stage for the World Indoor Championships in Torun next month. Drawing from the official highlights, here’s a breakdown of the standout moments from Day 1.
Sprints Steal the Show: 60m Finals Deliver Speed and Drama
The 60m events were a highlight, with British sprint stars dominating the track.
In the women’s 60m final, Dina Asher-Smith (Blackheath & Bromley) stormed to victory with a championship record time of 7.05 seconds, marking her first national indoor title in over a decade. Her explosive start left the field in her wake, securing gold ahead of Amy Hunt (Charnwood), who clocked 7.15 for silver, and Aleeya Sibbons (Newham & Essex Beagles), who took bronze with a personal best of 7.29.
The men’s 60m final was equally thrilling, as defending champion Jeremiah Azu (Cardiff) retained his title with a blistering 6.56 seconds. His quick acceleration proved unbeatable, edging out Romell Glave (Croydon Harriers) at 6.62 for silver and Jody Smith (Thames Valley) at 6.63 for bronze.
Hurdles Action: Close Finishes and Personal Bests
The 60m hurdles finals brought edge-of-your-seat excitement.
Abigail Pawlett (Trafford) defended her women’s title with a personal best of 8.05 seconds, pulling away decisively after a strong semi-final PB of 8.06. Emma Nwofur (Thames Valley) claimed silver in 8.14, matching her position from last year, while Thea Brown (Sale Harriers) rounded out the podium with 8.22 for bronze.
In the men’s race, Daniel Goriola (Blackheath & Bromley) edged a photo-finish victory over Tade Ojora (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow), both clocking 7.78 seconds—Goriola’s season best. Ethan Akanni (Bexley AC) took bronze in 7.90.
Middle-Distance Mastery: Keely Hodgkinson’s Record-Breaking 800m Heat
Keely Hodgkinson (Leigh) delivered the performance of the day in the women’s 800m heats, shattering her own British indoor record with a world-leading 1:56.33—the third-fastest time ever indoors. She blasted through the first 400m in 56.2 seconds, opting to race only the heats as preparation for the World Indoors. This emphatic run underscores her dominance and sets high expectations for the final on Day 2.
In the men’s 800m heats, Ben Pattison (Basingstoke & Mid Hants) led the qualifiers into the final, setting up an intriguing showdown.
Field Events: Vaults and Jumps Reach New Heights
The pole vault competitions showcased resilience and comebacks.
Molly Caudery (Thames Valley), the 2024 world indoor champion, captured her sixth British title in the women’s pole vault with a clearance of 4.65m. Overcoming recent injuries, she progressed smoothly through heights and nearly cleared 4.70m. Jade Spencer-Smith (Lee Valley) earned silver at 4.25m, and Jade Ive (Sutton & District) bronze at 4.15m.
Owen Heard (Harrow AC) won the men’s pole vault on his third attempt at 5.55m, with Jax Thoirs (Glasgow Jaguars) taking silver at 5.45m after a five-year hiatus from the sport. Thomas Walley (Wrexham AC) secured bronze at 5.25m.
In the women’s long jump, Lucy Hadaway (City of York) claimed her first British title with a 6.45m leap in round five. Alice Hopkins (Harrow AC) jumped 6.26m for silver, and Molly Palmer (Thames Valley) 6.22m for bronze.
The men’s triple jump saw 16-year-old Tito Odunaike (Marshall Milton Keynes) become the youngest ever British men’s champion with a 15.75m mark in the final round. Jude Bright-Davies (Thames Valley) snatched silver at 15.58m, and Harley Henry (Shaftesbury Barnet) bronze at 15.46m.
Para Athletics: Explosive Starts and Personal Bests
The para 60m finals added inspiration to the day.
Maddie Down (Halesowen AC) dominated the women’s race in 8.24 seconds, ahead of Rebecca Scott (Stevenage & North Herts) at a PB 8.36 and Sophie Hahn (Charnwood) at 8.38.
Kevin Santos (City of Norwich) won the men’s title in 6.93 seconds—his third British crown—with Zac Shaw (Cleethorpes) in silver at 7.08 and Thomas Young (Charnwood) in bronze at a season’s best 7.21.
Looking Ahead to Day 2
Day 1 set a high bar with records, personal bests, and fierce competition. As athletes gear up for finals in events like the 400m and 800m, the championships continue to highlight the depth of British talent. For full results and more details, check the official British Athletics site.
Video Source: YouTube
