Preview: Sainsbury's British Championships
Zurich will be the target for many athletes at the Sainsbury's British Championships this weekend where selection for August's European Championships is up for grabs as well as UK titles.
The first two eligible athletes from this weekend's trials will be automatically selected for the European Championships - to be held August 12-17 - providing they meet the qualifying mark during the selection period (January 1 to July 13).
Here we take a quick look ahead to some of the action. For a much more in-depth preview together with event timetable, see the latest issue of AW, out Thursday June 26.
An intriguing 100m battle is in store with Dwain Chambers – the defending and seven-time champion – up against a number of young athletes itching for his crown. Fresh from his 9.96 clocking in Hengelo, 20-year-old Chijindu Ujah leads the way. Martyn Rooney has been knocking on the door of the 45-second barrier for 400m this season and a top field and kind weather could push him into 44-second territory. In the sprint hurdles, William Sharman - fresh from a PB at the European Team Championships - is No.1 on paper, while Niall Flannery leads the 400m hurdles rankings going into this weekend.
With British women's sprinting at an all-time high, some exciting tussles and fast times look on the cards in the 100m and 200m. Keep your eyes on the likes of Bianca Williams, Asha Phillip, Jodie Williams and Dina Asher-Smith and in the 400m Shana Cox should start as favourite. Tiffany Porter should be a class apart in the women's 100m hurdles, while in the 400m hurdles Eilidh Child looks close to her best-ever shape.
Andrew Osagie is favourite to win the men's 800m and like the world indoor bronze medallist Charlie Grice is also the sole runner with the qualifying mark in his main event - the 1500m. The steeplechase line-up is led by James Wilkinson, while Andy Vernon will be looking to dominate the 5000m. The 5km walk saw a UK record last year from Alex Wright and this year Tom Bosworth leads the entries.
The women's 800m offers a strong field as Jess Judd goes up against the likes of Lynsey Sharp and Jenny Meadows. Laura Muir, Laura Weightman and Hannah England are set to run the 1500m while Lennie Waite leads the rankings in the 3000m steeplechase. Jo Pavey leads the six athletes who have the qualifying standard for 5000m. The 5000m walk is not a trials event, but the entries are led by Commonwealth 20km champion Johanna Atkinson.
Tom Parsons and Chris Baker are among those to do battle in the high jump, while Steve Lewis will be looking for a solid performance having no-heighted in the pole vault on his last two outings. With Phillips Idowu looking unlikely to compete, Nathan Douglas heads the triple jump line-up. Chris Tomlinson and Greg Rutherford could go head-to-head in the long jump, should the Olympic champion decide to compete.
UK high jump record-holder Katarina Johnson-Thompson may compete in both the high jump and the long jump as she makes up her mind in which event or events she hopes to contest at the European Championships. With Holly Bleasdale missing this season, Lucy Bryan leads the pole vault entries.
In the shot, Zane Duquemin is the man to beat on paper, but everyone is still striving to nail the tough 20.00m European standard. The discus is a similar story, with Brett Morse favourite to win the title. In the hammer, Nick Miller is the man to beat, while Lee Doran is favourite to defend his javelin title.
Eden Francis is the UK No.1 in the shot and in the discus Jade Lally will be looking to get close to her PB of 60.76m to gain the Zurich qualifier. Sophie Hitchon will be seeking a third national hammer title in four years, while Goldie Sayers will be going for her 12th consecutive national javelin title.
» See next week's AW, out Thursday July 3, for full coverage from our team in Birmingham and keep an eye on our website and Twitter feed over the weekend for updates
