Unlike other sports, BUCS athletics does not have any kind of league format. Instead, there are two competitions every year, where the best from each university come together to see who will come out on top. The indoor event took place in February earlier this year, and was a huge success. The outdoor event is taking place this weekend in Chelmsford, and is set to be an absolute cracker. As the competition has not run for the past two years because of COVID-19, there will almost certainly be some new faces at the top of the podiums in this edition. Here are three of the athletes who I believe are well in contention to win gold medals at this year’s BUCS athletics championships.
Laura Zialor (High Jump)
The University of Birmingham’s Laura Zialor has gone from strength to strength in the past few years. Coming into BUCS athletics this weekend, it is no surprise that the English athlete will be a firm favourite for the women’s high jump.
Already taking home the indoor British Championship gold medal this year, her season has been a great success thus far. She also equalled Olympic gold medalist Mariya Lasitskene in an international competition. Currently ranked second in the UK this year with a season’s best of 1.91m, the lack of Emily Borthwick (currently first in the UK) means that Zialor will be very tough to beat.
Jeremiah Azu (200m)
Jeremiah Azu has burst onto the global stage in recent years, and is an incredible name racing in the BUCS athletics championships. So far this year, he has only raced in the 60m event, but with a personal best of 21.09 seconds, he will certainly be a tough athlete to beat.
That being said, Azu will have some stiff competition in this year’s BUCS athletics championships. Joe Ferguson has come close to breaking the 21 second barrier this year already, and other athletes like Jason Kalala, Derek Kinlock and Cameron Bailey will look to challenge for top spot. Therefore, although Azu comes in as the most internationally established athlete in this field, he will have to produce his best to come out with a victory.
Thomas Young (Ambulant 100m)
Like Jeremiah Azu, Thomas Young comes into this BUCS athletics championships as an established international athlete. In fact, Young came home with a gold medal from the Tokyo Olympics in the T38 category. Young has already broken the 11 second barrier this year, and seems to be on track to produce something special in his last year as an under-23.
A fantastic role model, Young will look to bring home his second BUCS gold medal this year, having won the 60m at BUCS indoors just a few months ago. Similar to Laura Zialor, it is hard to see Thomas Young being beaten, and with him being such a popular athlete, I do not think many would ask for anything more.