The England Athletics Podcast
England Athletics
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We want to hear your stories, feature your club and discuss the issues that matter to you in athletics, covering everything from participation to performance, nostalgia and mental health.
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Licencing: Please see soundcloud.com/englandathletics/ for details of the music used in this podcast.
Available episodes
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2 days ago
#56: Hurdles, the civil service and football team talks with Chris McAlister
In the latest episode of the England Athletics Podcast, world 400m hurdles semi-finalist Chris McAlister joins host Alex Seftel to reflect on his career to date.
The 27-year-old discusses how he combines athletics with being a government civil servant and describes his enjoyment of his training group led by coach Marina Armstrong.
England Athletics CEO also comes on to tell us what we have to look forward to ahead of a bumper 2024 season which will be headlined by the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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30 Oct 2023
#55: Commonwealth Youth Games Review
Commonwealth Youth Games gold medallists Maddie Down and Phoebe Gill join Team Leader Scott Grace and podcast host Alex Seftel to reflect on their experience in Trinidad and Tobago.
England won 24 medals to top the athletics table in August, with Down sealing T38 100m and long jump gold and Gill winning the 800m.
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29 Sept 2023
#54: Chair and CEO reflect on 2023 season
England Athletics Chair Gary Shaughnessy and CEO Chris Jones join the podcast to reflect on the 2023 season.
They discuss how all levels of the sport can benefit from an excellent World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Youth Games, before talking about priorities for the future of athletics including supporting clubs and competition providers experiencing rising costs.
Chris also visits Vale of York Athletics Community to hear of their ambition to grow one of the nation's newest clubs.
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18 Aug 2023
#53: Anna Purchase's journey to her World Championships debut
Hammer thrower Anna Purchase says it has been a "journey of determination" to make it to her World Athletics Championships debut in Budapest.
The 23-year-old started competing as an Under-11 athlete at Notts Athletic Club, and tells of how she persevered through a number of 4th and 6th places at English Schools Championships, before getting on the podium with silver in 2018.
Since then, she has made a breakthrough while studying in the USA and working with coach Mohamad Saatara, improving her lifetime best to 73.02m to move up to second on the UK all-time list behind Olympic medallist Sophie Hitchon.
Among her career highlights to-date was being part of the England team for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
In the podcast, Anna pays tribute to her mother who bought her a first hammer for Christmas before she sadly passed away. She also explains why she is passionate about showcasing strong and powerful women on social media.
Photo: Getty Images for UK Athletics
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7 Jul 2023
#52: World Para Champs special & Commonwealth Youth preview
This podcast is a World Para Athletics Championships special, with three of the nation's accomplished stars - wheelchair racer Karé Adenegan, sprinter Tom Young and high jumper Jonathan Broom-Edwards - talking everything from challenges they have overcome to best career moments and achieving more recognition.
This episode also marks the announcement of England Athletics' team for the Commonwealth Youth Games, which for the first time ever will include para athletes.
Our Team Leader for the Games, Scott Grace joins along with Welsh Athletics CEO James Williams and England Athletics Head of Talent Development Sarah Benson, with proposals to change age group categories for young athletes discussed.
Photo: Mark Shearman.
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3 Jul 2023
Coaching Voices: The past, the present and the future of coaching
In this final episode of the Coaching Voices series, Olympic coach Tom McNab describes his memories of watching great athletes and what he has learned from them.
Referencing discussion from the ten other coaches he has interviewed during the past year, the author and former athlete tells Alex Seftel how coaching has developed during his time in the sport and how it could change in future.
He also pays tribute to Dick Fosbury, who died earlier this year in March, and reminisces about his role as Technical Director of the famous film Chariots of Fire.
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26 Jun 2023
Coaching Voices with Hamish Telfer: International cross-country coach
In this latest Coaching Voices special episode, host Tom McNab talks to former international cross-country coach Hamish Telfer about his career in athletics.
Hamish coached the likes of Olympians Liz Yelling and Spencer Duval as part of World University Cross Country Championships teams.
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19 Jun 2023
Coaching Voices with Malcolm Arnold: The former coach of Colin Jackson
Malcolm Arnold, the former UK Athletics Head Coach and personal coach to hurdlers including Colin Jackson, Eilidh Doyle, Dai Greene and Andrew Pozzi talks about his life in athletics.
In this latest Coaching Voices special on the England Athletics Podcast, he describes to host Tom McNab about going to Uganda to coach the sport, where he worked with 1972 Olympic 400m hurdles Olympic champion and former world record holder John Akii-Bua.
Photo: Mark Shearman.
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9 Jun 2023
#51: Rio Mitcham's runner-rapper life & UK Coaching Week
European champion athlete and musician Rio Mitcham joins host Alex Seftel to talk about his running and rapping talents.
In the same month that Rio was performing on the global stage, helping Great Britain and Northern Ireland to win the 4x400m title at Munich 2022, he released a dedicated song called "Euro Champs".
Also in this episode, England Athletics' Chris Mallender and Sarah Benson talk about UK Coaching Week including what can be done to support and attract recognition for coaches and details of changes expected to happen later this year.
Photo: Smokiecoco/Instagram.
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11 May 2023
#50: Five key people in athletics including inside look at Night of 10,000m PBs
In this episode, we hear from five people who play important roles in athletics from volunteering and coaching to officiating, team managing and event organising.
Ben Pochee is the race director of Highgate Harriers' Night of the 10,000m PBs, one of the nation's most popular and influential track meetings. He talks to host Alex Seftel about how the event became the so-called 'Glastonbury of Athletics'.
Lorna Boothe, Matthew Dalton, Janice Kaufman and Clive Poyner all serve on the England Athletics board. They come together as a panel to discuss what they enjoy about what they do, how they fit athletics around busy lives, and what they think needs to change in the sport.
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18 Apr 2023
#49: Jo Pavey surprises London Marathon debutants with expert advice
This weekend sees the return of the TCS London Marathon with around 50,000 runners expected to pass through the start line.
As a registered athlete in a club affiliated with England Athletics, you can gain spots to take part in this prestigious race. In this episode, we meet two athletes from Hereford Couriers who have just done that - Kate Morris and Clare Mallender!
What's more, we surprised them by inviting five-time Olympian and 2:28:24 marathon runner Jo Pavey to provide some top tips and insight into tackling the big race.
Also in this podcast, you can hear from young athletes who were part of one of our recent Talent Days in Loughborough.
Photo: Mark Shearman.
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10 Apr 2023
Coaching Voices with Mike Winch and Judy Oakes: Two UK shot put greats
Former shot putter and UK Athletics Vice President Mike Winch coached Judy Oakes for 25 years. During that time, Judy won three Commonwealth titles between 1982 and 1998, bringing their total number of medals in the Games between them to eight.
The pair join Tom McNab and Alex Seftel to discuss their best memories and what they're currently doing in the sport to try and get a better deal for coaches.
Photos: Mark Shearman.
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3 Apr 2023
Coaching Voices with Frank Attoh: International jumps coach
The latest episode of the Coaching Voices podcast from England Athletics features international jumps coach Frank Attoh, who has worked with established athletes such Yamile Aldama, Larry Achike, Holly Mills and Greg Rutherford.
In conversation with hosts Tom McNab and Alex Seftel, Frank - who was a keen footballer, table tennis and basketball player in his youth - reminisces about getting into triple jump as a teenager.
He also discusses why he became a coach, jumping technique and looks back on the Black Power salute that took place at the 1968 Olympic Games.
Photo: Mark Shearman.
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28 Mar 2023
#48: England Athletics leadership discuss key issues for 2023
A panel from England Athletics reflect on the positives from the year so far and discuss key issues and priorities ahead of the outdoor season.
Chair Gary Shaughnessy, Chief Executive Chris Jones and Head of Talent Development Sarah Benson join host Alex Seftel to reflect on topics such as competition, coaching, officiating and supporting athletes.
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27 Mar 2023
Coaching Voices with Tony Hadley: Birchfield Harriers Chair and sprints coach
The latest episode of the Coaching Voices podcast from England Athletics features Birchfield Harriers Chair Tony Hadley, the former coach of 400m runners Derek Redmond, Phil Brown, Du'aine Ladejo and Matt Hudson-Smith.
Tony provides a powerful eyewitness account of the famous moment when Derek's father Jim - who sadly passed away last October - helped his injured son to the finish line at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.
In conversation with hosts Tom McNab and Alex Seftel, Tony also reflects on his career as a sprinter and a PE teacher and describes a method he's devised for assessing the quality of a coach.
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20 Mar 2023
Coaching Voices with Peter Stanley: The former coach of Jonathan Edwards
Peter Stanley coached Jonathan Edwards, the world record holder in men's triple jump, for nine years. In that time they won Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth titles together, with Jonathan famously jumping 18.29m in Gothenburg in 1995.
Peter, who got into athletics through his daughter, coached alongside a full-time job in civil engineering, before later working for UK Athletics as a Head of Field and Combined Events until his retirement in 2020.
In this Coaching Voices episode, he talks to Tom McNab and Alex Seftel about his life experience as a coach and what he thinks should be done to improve the sport.
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28 Feb 2023
#47: Keely Hodgkinson and Trevor Painter feature in indoor season round-up
This episode is a journey through the indoor season, starting with 20-year-old Keely Hodgkinson who has won medals at all four major athletics championships in the last two years. Her coach Trevor Painter also explains the environment he tries to create in training to allow her to flourish.
Also this month, highlights from the UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham featuring Sophie McKinna, Ellie Baker, Morgan Lake and Jazmin Sawyers as well as the England Athletics U15, U17 and U20 Indoor Championships with Thea Brown, Cleo Agyepong, Success Eduan and Ashley Nemits.
Youth Development Manager Scott Grace also joins to talk about the PB Awards, an exciting incentive to keep young athletes in the sport.
Photo: Mark Shearman.
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30 Jan 2023
#46: Sam Harrison's rapid rise to become an international runner
Until a few years ago, running was something 27-year-old Sam Harrison did just for fun and to keep fit.
After joining an athletics club for the first time in 2018, her tumbling times and the guidance of her coach Vince Wilson, encouraged her to take the sport more seriously.
That resulted in a first Great Britain vest in 2020, before she made England Athletics' Commonwealth Games squad for the 10,000m last summer.
The fact that Sam finished sixth was an incredible achievement. She tells host Alex Seftel that along the way, she has had to give up some of her social life, and balance training alongside a busy job in a dental practice.
Photo: Sam Mellish / Team England
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9 Jan 2023
#45: Sally Gunnell on how she developed her winning mentality
Olympic 400m hurdles champion and former world record holder Sally Gunnell discusses the winning mentality that powered her to global success. She opens up on pressure and the impact of becoming a star athlete.
In conversation with host Alex Seftel, she also gives advice for people of all ages and abilities to get into exercise and gives her thoughts on the extraordinary times seen in her event over the last few years.
Photo: Mark Shearman
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25 Nov 2022
#44: England Athletics' awards season special
It's awards season! A range of great athletes give their reflections as a wonderful year - highlighted by a brilliant Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games - draws to a close.
European champion Alex Haydock-Wilson and Olympic medallist Katharine Merry talk about succeeding after disappointment and two-time Olympian Tom Bosworth discusses his recent retirement along with what a hypothetical Netflix series on athletics should include.
Also joining host Alex Seftel is Commonwealth champion Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker who wants to be a role model as a para sprinter, while Yemi Mary John remarks on her rise to win the world junior 400m title.
Photo: Mark Shearman.
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9 Nov 2022
Coaching Voices with Gordon Adams: Former national coach
Former national athletics coach Gordon Adams joins host Tom McNab for the final part of the first series of England Athletics' Coaching Voices Podcast.
He initially competed as a high and triple jumper in the 1950s and still holds Watford Harriers' record in the latter event, with a jump of 13.90m in 1967, but his move into coaching was accelerated by an ankle injury picked up while playing football.
Among his career highlights is working with the silver-medal winning men's 4x400m relay quartet at the 1984 Olympic Games.
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2 Nov 2022
Coaching Voices with Lorna Boothe: Commonwealth champion, coach and administrator
Lorna Boothe is a respected coach and administrator who won the 1978 Commonwealth Games 100m hurdles title as an athlete. She was a team manager for British Athletics for nine year which included the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
In this episode of England Athletics' Coaching Voices podcast series, she talks to Tom McNab about her transition from the track to the boardroom, the structure of competition within the sport, and the importance of high quality training for coaches.
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26 Oct 2022
Coaching Voices with Peter Warden: Commonwealth medallist and hurdles coach
Peter Warden, a two-time medallist at the 1966 Commonwealth Games and former national coach, is the guest for the third part of England Athletics' Coaching Voices podcast series, which aims to capture the wisdom of renowned coaches.
Predominantly a self-taught hurdler, he has coached ten English Schools champions during a distinguished career which led him to be awarded with a British Empire Medal for services to athletics in 2019. At the time, he joked in an interview that he has been so engrossed in the sport, that he'll one day be buried in a long jump pit.
Photo: Mark Shearman.
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19 Oct 2022
Coaching Voices with Carol Jackson: The former coach of Robbie Grabarz
High jump coach Carol Jackson is the guest for the second part of England Athletics' Coaching Voices podcast series which looks to capture expertise, personality and opinion from renowned coaches.
Carol is an accomplished coach and event organiser who has worked with the likes of Olympic silver medallist Robbie Grabarz and former British record holder Mark Naylor, but there is one thing about her that may surprise you.
"Never in my life have I cleared a high jump bar," she says. "I was a long jumper...I loved athletics but I was the basic, good team member that would do any event that you wanted me to...but for the points.
In this episode, she talks to interviewer Tom McNab about the biggest influences on her career and her desire to increase the number of female role models.
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12 Oct 2022
Coaching Voices with Tom McNab: Olympic coach, author and athlete
Tom McNab has enjoyed a long and successful career as an Olympic coach and novelist after starting out in athletics as a triple jumper.
The former RAF Flying Officer's experiences also include preparing Great Britain's bobsleigh team for the Winter Olympics and England for the Rugby World Cup. He was also Technical Director of the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire.
In this episode, Tom talks to producer Alex Seftel about a time where there were no coaches in the UK, the idea of 'sliding doors' moments, and his emphasis on creative thinking.
This is the introduction to a five-part special series for England Athletics, in which Tom sits down for conversations with coaches to discover more about their personalities, knowledge and expertise.
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29 Sept 2022
#43: Jona Efoloko's journey to the top and Sarah Benson's role in nurturing talent
Commonwealth 4x100m relay champion Jona Efoloko discusses his journey from junior to senior success in the sport, having had a phenomenal breakthrough season winning medals at all three major championships in 2022.
Complimenting that conversation is England Athletics' new Head of Talent Development, Sarah Benson, who discusses her background as a steeplechaser, what the athlete journey pathway entails and her vision for the role.
Photo: Mark Shearman
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7 Sept 2022
#42: Our Chair and CEO discuss improving the sport
England Athletics CEO Chris Jones and Chair Gary Shaughnessy join the podcast to reflect on some of the challenges facing the sport and how they can be seen as opportunities to make positive changes and improvements.
We cover everything from athletes and officials to coaches to competitions, clarifying the difference in focus between UK Athletics and ourselves, and discussing what we can do to embrace technology and increase numbers of participants, spectators and volunteers.
We also talk up the wider health and community benefits of the sport, including links between schools and clubs, while analysing the potential impact of the cost of living.
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22 Jul 2022
#41: Matt Hudson-Smith and Holly Mills preview Birmingham 2022
As our #EAJourneyto22 nears its conclusion, Team England athletes Matt Hudson-Smith and Holly Mills preview the Commonwealth Games. Hudson-Smith, the British 400m record holder says it's 'nostalgic' to be picked for an event hosted in the home stadium of his Birchfield Harriers club. Mills asserts that she is going for gold and is excited about the new experience of going into a senior championship as a major contender.
Also in this episode, you can hear from European under-18 gold medallist Ophelia Pye who set a 400m hurdles championship record in Jerusalem this month.
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15 Jun 2022
#40: Aimee Pratt, Ben Pattison and Isabelle Boffey look ahead to big summers
As we continue our #Journeyto2022, this episode features three talented athletes looking forward to big summers. Olympic steeplechaser Aimee Pratt, who has gone from strength to strength making international teams over the last few years, discusses her beginnings in the sport at the age of 14 and the disappointments she has learnt from.
European under-20 800m silver medallist Ben Pattison talks about his recovery after being asked to stop athletics by doctors who told him he required an operation on a heart problem.
After winning double gold at the British Universities' Athletics Championships for the University of Birmingham, European under-23 800m champion Isabelle Boffey describes the buzz around the city which will host this summer's Commonwealth Games.
You'll also hear from an official preparing for the Games as part of a visit to the Norfolk County Championships by our CEO Chris Jones.
Photo: Mark Shearman
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24 May 2022
#39: Unique athlete art exhibition includes multi-talented hurdler Marli Jessop
This month's episode focuses on The Art of the Athlete exhibition, which showcases the likes of Olympic 800m medallist Keely Hodgkinson. The project at London's Zari Gallery during the month of May is raising money for the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund and Lloyd Cowan Bursary Fund.
One of the artists, Marli Jessop talks to host Alex Seftel about the inspiration behind her art and also discusses what it meant to receive her first Great Britain call-up to the Loughborough International event, in the same month that she showed celebrities how to hurdle on television for ITV show The Games.
Photo: Marli Jessop / Instagram
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28 Apr 2022
#38: David King on a bumper 2022 season, plus our vision for Commonwealth Games legacy
Olympic semi-finalist and three-time British champion sprint hurdler David King talks about falling back in love with the sport while based in Arizona and how he made the World Athletics Indoor Championships final in bizarre circumstances.
Also this month, an England Athletics discussion on what the legacy of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games might look like.
Photo: Mark Shearman
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8 Mar 2022
#37: IWD Special - Celebrating women in athletics
In this special episode for International Women's Day, four women who are passionate about athletics come together in conversation to celebrate, reflect, discuss barriers and where they would like to see change in the sport.
Former international medallists Jenny Meadows and Kelly Massey are joined by respected coaches Sharon Morris and Janice Kaufman.
Jenny is a former European indoor champion over 800m who now plays an important role in British Athletics' Futures Programme. She has also turned to broadcasting over the last few years and has recently become a mum.
Kelly is a former 400m runner and a mainstay in successful British relay teams in recent years. She is now a UK Anti-Doping educator who also does research around elite athlete mothers.
Sharon has worked for British Athletics for 16 years. She oversees GB teams at international age group championships as Team Manager and is also a coach with Birchfield Harriers.
Janice is a Non-Executive Director on the England Athletics…
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23 Feb 2022
#36: Joel Clarke-Khan, Eton visit and BUCS reaction
High jumper Joel Clarke-Khan - the 2020 British champion - joins host Alex Seftel to talk about everything from his senior international debut last year, to his 2022 Commonwealth Games ambitions. The 22-year-old also discusses representing his city of Worcester and being a model on the side.
Meanwhile, CEO Chris Jones has been to visit Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow, and we catch up with Jake Watson, who won pole vault gold at the British Universities' (BUCS) Indoor Athletics Championships.
Photo: Mark Shearman
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21 Jan 2022
#35: Jess Mayho and Hannah Cockroft
Two-time British hammer champion Jess Mayho discusses the incredible rise that has seen her go from having a 63-metre best in 2018 to 69 metres last season, giving her aspirations of success on the international stage.
Also in this episode, seven-time Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft talks us through the very beginnings of her journey in the sport as part of a feature that will continue across England Athletics social media platforms in the coming months.
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31 Dec 2021
#34: Self-coached athlete and maths teacher James Williams' international breakthrough
Self-coached 400m runner James Williams talks about combining athletics with being a maths teacher and a brilliant couple of years that have seen him win his first British title and break through on the international stage.
The European indoor relay medallist and Liverpool Harrier only took up the full-lap distance in his late twenties, having previously done the shorter sprints.
Also in this episode, our CEO Chris Jones has been to Mansfield Harriers who recently returned home to a revamped Berry Hill Park track after a nine-year absence.
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8 Dec 2021
#33: European gold has Charlie Carvell dreaming of Commonwealth Games
England Athletics has launched its 'Journey to 2022' campaign to celebrate a wide range of individuals in the sport ahead of next summer's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
In this episode, you will hear from a teenage runner dreaming of a place in the team, and his Midlands club which is hoping to benefit from the Games.
Telford Athletics Club's Charlie Carvell fell off his bike and broke his arm during lockdown, which prompted him to take athletics more seriously. The 17-year-old won European junior 4x400m relay gold in his first competition abroad.
You'll also hear from Gary Shaughnessy, the new Chair of England Athletics on his background in community sport, his quest to raise awareness of Parkinsons, and his vision for track and field.
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27 Oct 2021
#32: End of year review including the British Milers' Club's 'best year ever'
This end of season review episode includes an exclusive interview with the British Milers' Club - which describes 2021 as its 'best year ever'.
Also on this month's England Athletics Podcast, our top team discuss the positives to take from the past ten months, as well as the challenges currently being tackled.
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17 Sept 2021
#31: Olympic stars round off seasons plus Hercules Wimbledon visit
In this episode of the England Athletics Podcast, you'll hear from some of the stars of the Olympic Games who are getting excited about the idea of competing for Team England at next summer's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham including Jazmin Sawyers, Daryll Neita and Jodie Williams.
We also get soundbites from Keely Hodgkinson and Holly Bradshaw as they round off their seasons after picking up medals in Tokyo.
Meanwhile, Chris Jones has been to visit Hercules Wimbledon, where the club are seeking to raise awareness of the need to renovate their track. World 4x400m medallist Dwayne Cowan and coach and author Patrick Hutchinson were there.
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28 Jul 2021
#30: Tokyo 2020 Olympic Special
As athletes eagerly await the start of their Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan, it is a great time to remember the individual journeys that each competitor has been on in order to reach the most prestigious sporting stage of all.
63 of the Team GB squad are England athletes competing across track and field, with a range of youth and experience, as well as eligibility to build on Tokyo by representing Team England at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in a year’s time.
Ahead of the Olympic athletics getting underway, we sat down with four athletes in Japan, namely race walker Tom Bosworth (Tonbridge AC, Andi Drake), high jumper Emily Borthwick (Wigan and District, Fuzz Caan), hammer thrower Taylor Campbell (Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow, John Pearson), and pole vaulter Harry Coppell (Wigan and District, Scott Simpson).
Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson via Flickr with creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
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22 Jun 2021
#29: Scott Lincoln's delight after achieving Olympic standard
Hear Scott Lincoln's delight as the 12-time British shot put champion reacts to achieving the Olympic qualifying standard for Tokyo 2020.
Also in this episode, hear from five newly-crowned champions at the England Under-20 and Under-23 Championships in Bedford.
Photo: Mark Shearman
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21 May 2021
#28: Holly Mills and Laura Turner-Alleyne
Holly Mills is one of Britain's most exciting young talents - a winner of multiple titles in the long jump - she decided to take on the challenge of switching to the heptathlon in 2018.
Three years later, the 21-year-old is in contention to compete at the Olympic Games after forming a great partnership with Olympic sprinter and Commonwealth gold medallist Laura Turner-Alleyne, her coach.
You'll hear how the change towards multi-events has been approached mentally and physically, as Holly explains that her big recent improvements have come as a result of incredible hard work.
Also in this episode, Kelly Sotherton discusses England Athletics' Commonwealth Games selection policy for Birmingham 2022.
More information can be found at englandathletics.org.
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30 Apr 2021
#27: Taking positives and learning from the last 12 months
In this episode, you will hear a panel discussion on what we have learnt over the past year and what positives clubs around the country have taken.
Topics covered include everything from virtual and covid-secure competition, to running a club during a pandemic, and supporting and engaging athletes and volunteers. Joining us are Emma Hurst (England Athletics), Les Grant (Doncaster AC), Mick Bond (Cambridge Harriers), Keith Reed (Devon Athletics).
The discussion is in association with the free England Athletics virtual Club Conference on 15th May 2021. For more information, head to englandathletics.org/clubconf2021.
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16 Apr 2021
#26: Excitement builds for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
In this episode, you will hear from England Athletics Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Team Leader Kelly Sotherton who has been chatting to Rob Walker about her excitement for next summer's event.
Also looking to be there is The Athletics Museum and you can get involved if you have any ideas for objects that could feature.
We also catch up with Thames Valley Harriers and Avon Valley Runners as they return to training.
Photo: Birmingham City Council.
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17 Mar 2021
#25: What makes an athletics competition great?
England Athletics' Martin Rush and Nichola Skedgel are joined by Cherry Alexander OBE for an episode about competition.
Having enjoyed the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, now is a great time to look forward to what is to come in 2021. In a week where we published guidance on the return to competition, you'll hear us take positives from the last year and outline what is being planned with the aim of bouncing back from the effects of the pandemic.
We also discuss the key topic of what makes an athletics competition great.
Got any questions or thoughts to add? Check out englandathletics.org, where you will find the latest guidance.
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22 Jan 2021
#24: Lucy-Jane Matthews on success in spite of the pandemic
In spite of all of the COVID-19 restrictions of 2020, plus several injuries, sprint hurdler Lucy-Jane Matthews had a fantastic breakthrough season, coming second at the British Athletics Championships aged just 17.
Find out how she did it, and hear from England Athletics CEO Chris Jones, who reflects on the last 10 months and shares hopes for the upcoming year.
Photo: Trevor Painter
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18 Nov 2020
#23: Mental health in depth with Jack Green, Joe Fuggle and Darcey Kuypers
Alex Seftel is joined by athletes Jack Green, Joe Fuggle and Darcey Kuypers for an in-depth discussion on mental health, covering everything from pressure to burnout and comparison to wellbeing within the sport.
Jack is a two-time Olympian and a long-time advocate for speaking out about depression. Joe is an English Schools-winning 400m hurdler who recently founded a platform called 'The Athlete Place', aimed at improving mental health. Darcey, who runs an Instagram page called 'Not Just Physical', is an international sprinter who has battled with anxiety disorders from a young age.
Looking for help or guidance? Check out the 'Supporting Mental Health' section of englandathletics.org.
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26 Oct 2020
#22: Crowdfunding delight for Harry Hughes plus EA Covid-19 update
British javelin thrower Harry Hughes has high hopes for 2021 after successfully raising £5,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to pay for surgery on his elbow. Last year the 23-year-old became the first Brit to throw a javelin over 80 metres since 2012, but he has had to battle with a number of injuries in recent seasons and has two screws in his elbow.
Alongside that, England Athletics' Head of Coaching and Athlete Development, Martin Rush and Competition Partnerships and Innovation Manager, Nichola Skedgel provide a coronavirus update, looking back on how the 2020 season has gone, outlining current guidelines and looking ahead to plans for cross country and indoor competitions over the next six months.
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1 Sept 2020
#21: Junior doctor Phil Sesemann combines running with A&E work
In our latest episode you will hear a chat with international distance runner Phil Sesemann, who combines athletics with working as a junior doctor in an accident and emergency department in Leeds.
Meanwhile, Chris Jones has visited Peterborough and Nene Valley Athletics Club to learn more about their success since merging to form one club last year, and to see how they are managing the impact of coronavirus restrictions on track and field activity.
Photo Credit: Mark Hookway.
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30 Jul 2020
#20: Businessman Barrie Wells on giving £2 million to help athletes
What would you do if you had the chance to give away millions of pounds?
Entrepreneur Barrie Wells decided to donate the money to fund athletes including Katarina-Johnson Thompson on their journeys towards the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Barrie - the grandson of a former world pole vault record-holder - has also supported a huge number of seriously ill children as part of an initiative called Box4Kids.
After being awarded an MBE earlier this year, he took some time out to talk to Alex Seftel about his career, philanthropy, and his love of sport.
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30 Jun 2020
#19: Alex Bell on taking positives from 2020
After postponing plans including her wedding day, 800 metre runner Alex Bell talks about where her mindset is without a major competition to focus on this year.
She also reflects on the agony faced over selection and funding issues and hopes she can be a "brick in the wall" when it comes to changing the sport.
Meanwhile, England Athletics' Andy Anstey joins Alex Seftel to discuss an exciting set of virtual competitions on offer, including the chance to create your own challenge with friends.
Photo: Matthew Quine
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31 May 2020
#18: Young shot putters Serena Vincent and Lewis Byng
Young international shot putters Serena Vincent and Lewis Byng tell Alex Seftel about the best things they've learnt in their careers to date and explain how they've been competing virtually in lockdown.
Meanwhile, Chris Jones has been on a tour of Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club, where he met RaceRunning teenager Thomas Talbot, and Invictus Games champion Debbie O'Connell.
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25 Apr 2020
#17 Kelly Sotherton and Gavin Johnson-Assoon
Olympic medallist Kelly Sotherton speaks about her excitement after being named as Team England's track and field Team Leader for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Meanwhile, having started out as a kickboxer, 37-year-old athlete and artist Gavin Johnson-Assoon says he feels "as powerful as ever" after claiming the England javelin title last summer.
You'll hear interesting discussions at Stratford AC, while we also take a closer look at some of the activities that can help you stay active or continue training while restrictions are in place.
Photo: Wiltshire Council via Flickr. Creative Commons licence: https://bit.ly/3f35Onc
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26 Mar 2020
#16: EA advice and Marilyn Okoro on overcoming uncertainty
Join us for a panel discussion with advice on how we can all adapt to the coronavirus situation including information on support available from England Athletics.
Fresh from being rejuvenated by a charity dance competition, Olympic medallist Marilyn Okoro chats to Alex Seftel about her fight for a place in the sport, whether to prove to her mum that she had chosen the right career path, or to gain selection for major championships.
Hurdler Daniel Rees also shares positive, motivational messages from coaches around the country.
Check out englandathletics.org and our social media channels for the latest updates.
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29 Feb 2020
#15: Kelly Massey on life after athletics
Olympic medallist Kelly Massey chats to Alex Seftel about what she does and doesn't miss now she's hung up her competition spikes.
Kelly opens up on the anxiety around choosing when to call it a day and tells us about a study she is doing on athletes who have retired from elite sport.
You'll also hear from young hurdler Joe Harding, while Chris Jones has been on a club visit to Guernsey and has caught up with colleagues back from a recent European Athletics Congress meeting in Estonia.
Photo: Matthew Quine
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28 Jan 2020
#14: Improving support for athletes, coaches and volunteers
Recorded at the Combined Events Indoor Championships in Sheffield, this month's podcast hears from parents, athletes, coaches and officials with a range of views on what can be done to support them.
It comes as England Athletics looks for feedback on its Future Strategy to improve the sport and help more competitors reach their potential.
To have your say, head to englandathletics.org or search for 'England Athletics Future Strategy' online.
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30 Dec 2019
#13: 50 years of British Athletics League history
Alex Seftel looks at what has been done to celebrate 50 years of clubs competing against each other in the British Athletics League.
Meanwhile, world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson explains our funetics programme to get children active with running, jumping and throwing, and Chris Jones goes on a club to visit to Cornwall.
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7 Nov 2019
#12: Competing at the World Transplant Games
Chris Jones meets a member of Great Britain's World Transplant Games squad on a visit to Leighton Buzzard.
Also this month, you'll hear about track and field innovation in Denmark, a thriving club in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and what it's like to be a dedicated volunteer official.
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18 Sept 2019
#11: What would Holly Bradshaw change about athletics?
If you could change one thing about the sport, what would it be?
Pole vaulter and British record-holder Holly Bradshaw and former sprinter Montell Douglas are among those asked this question by Alex Seftel in our latest podcast.
We've also been to visit Redway Runners in Milton Keynes to find out how the club has gone from being a small group of individuals to having more than 2,500 members.
Photo: Matthew Quine.
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13 Aug 2019
#10: How can we keep young athletes in the sport?
Toni Minichiello, Abigail Irozuru and Naomi Ogbeta join Chris Jones, Dean Hardman and Martin Rush from England Athletics for a special debate to discuss what can be done to improve track and field participation and keep young people in the sport for longer.
It follows research by England Athletics on the number of young athletes dropping out of the sport. Read more on the research here: https://buff.ly/33tuNv2
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28 Jun 2019
#9: Delight for record breaker Max Burgin
This podcast has an uplifting tone that you'll want to savour!
There is delight for young athletes qualifying for the European Under 20 and Under 23 Championships in Sweden, while masters runners put on an England vest for the first time at the Great Birmingham 10K.
If you have anything you would like us to discuss, get in touch via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or e-mail info@englandathletics.org.
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23 May 2019
#8: The story of 'the ghost runner'
Hear the fascinating story of John Tarrant, who was dubbed "The Ghost Runner" for his habit of gatecrashing races from which he was barred, after he was judged to be a professional for taking money for boxing fights as a young man.
Also this month, Chris Jones has been to visit Vale of Aylesbury Athletic Club in Buckinghamshire to find out what makes it successful.
As ever, if there's anything you'd like us to discuss, get in touch on social media or via englandathletics.org. Thanks to BBC Hereford and Worcester for their help with this episode.
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25 Apr 2019
#7: Meet the dragon marathon runner
In this episode, you'll hear from a man who took up running aged 55 and is about to embark on his ninth London Marathon. Dana Power runs as "Puff the Asthma Dragon" for charity and is something of a cult hero in his hometown of Bridgnorth in Shropshire.
Meanwhile, Chris Jones has once again been out reporting at a club visit. This time he is hosted by Winchester and District Athletics Club.
There is also a discussion about TrackMark, a scheme introduced last year to encourage investment in track and field facilities around the country. As ever, there are more details at englandathletics.org, where you can get in touch if you have any points to add or questions you want answered.
Photo: Dana Power
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27 Mar 2019
#6: Young athletes making headlines
The indoor season has seen emerging young prospects battle it out for national honours at the England Athletics Indoor Age Group Championships in Sheffield.
As well as going behind the scenes there, CEO Chris Jones has been to visit Gateshead Harriers to meet everyone from those running the club, to veterans and aspiring teenagers.
Got something you'd like us to discuss? Get in touch via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
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15 Feb 2019
#5: From footballer to international road runner
This month you'll hear stories from our Road Running Roadshow in Crawley.
We chat to James Westlake, who was released by Millwall Football Club aged 15, and is now an England international marathon runner.
Meanwhile, Chris Jones has been out visiting Stevenage and North Herts Athletics Club, talking to coaches, volunteers and participants to find out what makes it tick.
Want to join in the discussion? Find England Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to share your views.
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11 Jan 2019
#4: Taking up running later in life
Hear details of proposed changes to England Athletics' volunteer-led council system. There's a full set of documents on the plans at englandathletics.org.
Also in this episode, find out what it was like for a masters athlete to make his England debut after taking running seriously later in life.
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19 Dec 2018
#3: The next generation of coaches
This winter, England Athletics launched the #gocoach campaign to find 10,000 new coaches. In episode 3 of the podcast, you'll hear Dina Asher-Smith and her coach John Blackie discuss what makes their relationship so special.
There's also the 100th visit as part of the Club Run initiative, which sees England Athletics go out to clubs around the country to help develop coaching skills.
This month's featured club is West Cheshire AC and you'll hear a range of enthusiastic people explain why it is a thriving place to be.
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19 Nov 2018
#2: Stars welcomed into the Hall of Fame
Our Hall of Fame and Volunteer Awards night is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the great contributions made by people throughout the sport - from achievers at the highest level of track and field competition - to the officials and coaches who work in grassroots.
Soak up the atmosphere in this episode as you hear from inductees including Katharine Merry, Aston Moore, and Peter Matthews, along with some of our unsung heroes. There's also a posthumous award presented to an Olympic champion.
Photo: Mark Shearman
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22 Oct 2018
#1: What inspired Jess Ennis-Hill?
Introducing the England Athletics Podcast.
In this first full episode, you'll hear from Olympic champion Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and meet volunteers who love running.
Meanwhile, Dean Hardman and Chris Jones give a flavour of the work that goes on behind the scenes to make our sport a success.
You can always get involved if you have any stories or anything you'd like to be discussed. Head to the England Athletics Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to share your views.
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9 Oct 2018
Podcast Preview
A taste of what's to come on the all new England Athletics podcast.
We want to hear your stories, feature your club and discuss the issues that matter to you in athletics, covering everything from participation, to performance and nostalgia to mental health.
Interact with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to share your views.
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