Bell crowned national indoor champion on Belgrave debut; Axford kicks to stunning bronze
Georgia Bell won the 1500m at the UK Indoor Athletics Championships in devastating fashion, marking a perfect debut for the club.
Georgia Bell crosses the line. Photo: British Athletics
Belgrave Harriers were represented at the Championships in Birmingham by Georgia Bell and Emily Lowery in the 1500m, while Kate Axford ran in the 3000m final. The 1500m unfolded over two days, with Bell and Lowery competing in separate heats on February 17. The top five finishers in each heat would progress to the final on the following day.
Bell sailed through her heat in 4:17.39 - the fastest time of the day - while Lowery registered a new personal best of 4:26.75. In a stacked heat that included GB runners Sarah McDonald and Revee Walcott-Nolan, Lowery set off with intent and mixed with the frontrunners before finishing seventh, and having only recently joined the club, we’re excited to see her rub shoulders with the best runners in the country for years to come.
Bell is also a newcomer to the club, having transferred from Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers this year. She led the final from gun to tape, finishing in 4:09.66 ahead of Walcott-Nolan and McDonald.
“I’m pretty happy with how the whole weekend’s gone,” Bell told Athletics Weekly after the final. “I didn’t know how the race was going to go, I hoped that I would be able to get that inside lane and hold it.” This meant “leading quite a lot of the race and doing quite a lot of work” she added, “but for me that was going to be the most important thing coming in with 600m to go.”
“I wanted to make sure I had a clear run to the finish. I’m very happy”.
As a result of her victory, Bell has earned her GB vest for the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow, which take place next month.
Axford kicks to bronze
A happy Kate Axford shows off her bronze medal. Photo: James Rhodes
Shortly before Bell commenced her destruction of the 1500m final, Kate Axford took a brilliant bronze in a field that included Olympian Laura Muir, who would go on to win the race.
Axford’s Belgrave story can largely be summarised as a tale of new beginnings - but not beginner’s luck - having only really raced in anger since the start of last year. The former GB hockey international was racing in just her second indoors race in Birmingham but looked comfortable in a competitive race.
Axford ran with the leading group for the majority of the race, before Muir and Hannah Nuttall set off into the distance towards the end of the race. The Belgrave Harrier was left with Jennifer Nesbitt and Amy Eloise-Neal in the hunt for third, entering the final bend in fourth place.
But with bronze in her sights, Axford delivered a sweeping kick and exploded round the outside of Nesbitt in the last corner, securing third at the death and a personal best of 9:08.03.
Sam Ige and Siân Harry, meanwhile, represented the club in the 60m and 400m respectively. To have five Belgrave Harriers at UK Indoors is a significant achievement for the club. For two of them to get medals is astonishing; for one to win defies description. Bell and Axford have written their names into Belgrave lore, and there is much more to come from both.
A proud coach Charlie Dickinson celebrates with Kate in the stands at Birmingham. Photo: Jack Elliss