Northumbria University athletics bosses will be keeping a close eye on the action in Germany this weekend as the annual Mannheim invitational event takes centre stage.
With the 2018 outdoor season reaching crunch time ahead of this month’s British Championships, next month’s World Junior Championships and August’s European Championships in Berlin, a number of rising stars are making their mark.
This weekend will see vaulter and Northumbria student Charlie Myers go in search of another PB after the Teessider achieved the qualifying standard for the Europeans.
And joining Myers in Mannheim is former Northumbria student Jason Nicholson with the Gateshead Harrier in red hot form over the sprint hurdles.
“Charlie and Jason are both looking good right now,” said Northumbria’s head of track and field, Nick Ridgeon.
“We’re continuing to support Jason at Sport Central with strength and conditioning work as he looks to switch courses and return to the university.
“And Charlie is enjoying the best summer of his career as he bids to clinch a place on the plane to Berlin.”
Nicholson raced to victory in the 110m hurdles at the 2018 England Athletics Under 20/23 Championships.
And although his winning time of 13.41secs was wind assisted it was a performance that caught the eye of a big Bedford crowd.
“Jason’s coach, Janice Kaufman, told me that the strength and conditioning work must be paying off as he stormed through the hurdles,” added Ridgeon.
“It’s great to see him bringing down those times and I think there’s much more to come from both lads this summer.”
Nicholson will represent the 20-strong British Athletics junior team for the Mannheim Gala – taking place on Saturday and Sunday.
Myers will compete as in independent athlete and faces strong competition from Australia’s Kurtis Marshall, Finn Urho Kujanpaa and German duo Tobias Scherbarth and Torben Laidig.
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