AthleticsWeekly.com

Apr 23, 2024

Exciting athlete goes third all-time as an under-17

BMC REGIONAL RACES, Gillingham, April 21

Shaikira King broke the UK age-15 800m record with a sensational 2:02.60 which went third all-time among UK under-17s after Phoebe Gill (2:01.50) and Jo White (2:02.0) who were both aged 16 when they set their times.

However, King achieved this performance in a mixed race so it won’t count as a qualifying time for the World Under-20 Championships (2:04.00) and European Under-18 Championships (2:06.00) though both seem a formality.

King’s previous best was 2:03.79 in the English Schools heats last June although the older Gill beat her in the final on that occasion.

This winter King won the Midland cross-country title, she also ran a 4:43.23 indoor mile, which is quicker than the UK under-17 outdoor record, so on this form could be targeting more records in the summer.