Flashback to the Friday of 2015 Anniversary Games
On the 24th July last year, a crowd in excess of 40,000 packed the Olympic Stadium to watch the World’s greatest athletes, including Usain Bolt and Mo Farah, compete on the opening night of the 2015 London Anniversary Games at the Olympic Stadium.
Despite some less than ideal weather, the athletes contributed towards a spectacular evening of competition with Jamaican superstar Bolt grabbing the headlines with a clinical win in the 100 metres final. Marking a return to form, Bolt asserted his dominance once again, clocking a time of 9.87 to win ahead of America’s Michael Rodgers and fellow countryman Kemar Bailey-Cole. Rising British sprinter Chijindhu Ujah claimed fifth place after producing a stunning performance from the inside lane to clock his second ever sub 10 race to in a time of 9.96.
On the whole it was to prove an extremely successful outing for British athletes to the joy of the home crowd. Returning to the stadium where he transformed into an Olympic legend, double Olympic Champion Mo Farah, produced the goods once more with a world leading performance and stadium record for the men’s 3000m. A typically strong sprint finish from the distance runner helped him to a time of 7.34.66 and ultimately a comfortable victory in front of jubilant home crowd.
Sprinter Zharnel Hughes made an instant impact in British colours winning the 200m with a personal best time of 20.05 into a strong 1.4m/s headwind, a performance that would set him up for a fifth place finish in the IAAF Beijing World Championships.
American Natasha Hastings finished strongly to record a seasons best time of 50.24. Up against her were two Britons, Christine Ohurougo and youngster Seren Bundy-Davies. They finished fourth and seventh respectively, Bundy-Davies registering a new lifetime best of 51.48 in the process.
There would also be a stunning win for Laura Weightman who was made to work mightily hard all the way to fight off the USA’s Gabrielle Grunewald.
Britons Tiffany Porter and Jessica Ennis-Hill featured in the women’s 100mH. Eventual winner Jasmin Stowers breaking yet another record on the opening day of competition with a meeting record time of 12.47.
For tickets to the 2016 London Anniversary Games please visit www.britishathletics.org.uk