Liverpool Harriers athlete Jamie Webb picked up a bronze medal yesterday in the 800m final of the European Indoor Championships.
And his club mate James Williams also won bronze helping the 4x400m relay team to third at Torun.
Webb out-performed three World Championship medallists as he raced against world indoor champion Adam Kszczot, double world medallist Amel Tuka and 2017 world champion Pierre Ambroise-Bosse.
The Liverpool-born athlete, who picked up a silver medal two years ago in Glasgow, had to settle for third place this time around after Poles Patryk Dobek and Mateusz Borkowski, secured the top two places.
The 26-year-old, who outside of athletics teaches Chemistry, was the front runner the whole way recording a time of 12.49 through the first 100m but slowed down drastically during the second lap as he reached 300m with a time of 40.04 (14.12 when passing the 100m stage).
Webb was still ahead at 500m (68.08) but Dobek, powered past to lead through 600m in 80.66 with Webb in pursuit in 80.87 hotly pursued by Bosse (81.09).
Through 700m, Dobek (1:33.33) stayed ahead but Webb was fighting and was still determined to grab that top spot.
However, Borkowski (1:34.23), who had blasted that last 100m in 12.56, was moving faster than anyone else and coming up behind for the takeover.
Dobek kept his distance and secured the gold medal with his fellow countryman Borkowski securing second, which meant Jamie Webb who had run a brilliant race had to settle for third.
The Liverpudlian tweeted: “Gave that a good go today. Another European Medal. Thanks for all the support again. Catch you in the summer. All about Tokyo now!”
🥉 BRONZE for @jamiewebb800!
A gutsy front-running display earns Jamie a podium finish and a second European indoor medal 🙌
🇬🇧 absolutely smashing it at #Torun2021 pic.twitter.com/9hJEB5h5nw
— Team GB (@TeamGB) March 7, 2021
Williams also helped Team GB to a bronze medal in the 4x400m relay whose task was made slightly easier by Poland having to withdraw because of positive COVID tests to some of their athletes.
Williams, who made the individual semi-finals, is also a teacher and actually carried out a Zoom teaching lesson on Friday between his heat and semi-final.
He ran a 46.09 split which was the fattest time recorded in the relay team.
🇬🇧 Double relay delight!@leethompss_ anchors the 4x400m men to 🥉 and @Jessie_Knight brings home🥈 for the women 💪#Torun2021 pic.twitter.com/YGXEeMtb4S
— Team GB (@TeamGB) March 7, 2021
(Featured image author Filip Bossuyt under creative commons)
