A look ahead to this weekend’s British Universities Championships in Bedford

The British Universities Championships in Bedford this weekend provides one of the early highlights of the 2015 domestic track and field season.

The men’s 60m medallists from the BUCS Indoor Championships are entered in the 100m, with Imran Rahman (Birmingham), Elliott Hurley (Leeds Beckett) and Daniel Obeng (Loughborough) set to renew their rivalry if they all show. Brunel’s GB decathlete David Hall hopes to add the outdoor 400m title to his indoor gold in the same event.

BUCS indoor 60m hurdles champion David King (Bath) will look to go one better than his outdoor silver from last year. The 400m hurdles could be a battle between last year’s bronze medallist and World Juniors representative, Jacob Paul (Bath), and last year’s indoor 400m champion, James Forman (Brunel).

European junior champion Jake Wightman (Loughborough) heads the 1500m entries, but could face competition from St Mary’s duo Shaun Wyllie and BUCS indoor champion Ben Coldray. Birmingham pair Jonny Hay and Jonathan Davies head the distance line-ups.

In the field, respective indoor long and triple jump champions Joshua Olawore (Bath) and Sam Trigg (Oxford) are in action. Last year’s champion, Michael Painter (Cambs), and World Juniors representative Taylor Campbell (Loughborough) are the leading entries in the hammer and Matt Blandford (Exeter) and last year’s champion Alan Toward battle it out in the discus.

Runner-up to Bianca Williams indoors in 60m, Ivory Coast’s Adeline Gouenon (St Mary’s) is entered in the 100m, but could face opposition from Commonwealth Games 4x100m athletes Rachel Johncock (Loughborough) and Mica Moore (Cardiff Met), as well as last year’s silver medallist Marilyn Nwawulor (Middlesex). Nwawulor claimed silver in 60m hurdles indoors and is also entered against Sheffeld Hallam’s indoor 60m hurdles champion Karla Drew and Durham’s Olivia Walker in the 100m hurdles.

Amy Allcock (Loughborough) will start favourite over 400m, having won the indoor title in a championship best. Queen’s Belfast’s Christine McMahon is fastest on paper at 400m hurdles.

Jessica Judd (Loughborough) is an impressive sub-two-minute 800m entrant, with 2:02 athlete Adelle Tracey (St Mary’s), last year’s silver medallist Katie Snowden (Nottingham) and indoor champion Georgia Bell (Birmingham) among the other entrants. European under-23 cross country champion Rhona Auckland (Edinburgh) is entered in 5000m. Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jazmin Sawyers (Bristol) hopes to defend her long jump title.

» See next week’s AW, out May 7, for in-depth reports, results and pictures from Bedford