British Athletics Indoor Championships: Ben Higgins targets Commonwealth Games after men’s 400m gold

Higgins, who represents City of Sheffield & Dearne Athletic Club, set a new personal best time of 46.71 seconds in Saturday’s semi-final at the British Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham.

The Loughborough-based 21-year-old was marginally slower in Sunday’s final, finishing in 46.82 seconds, but a disqualification meant he was awarded first place.

"It’s definitely the greatest so far,” he said of the achievement.

"I was delighted but it was almost a huge relief. It was the first time I felt every ounce of blood, sweat and tears has been worth it.

"I had my family and friends there, it was special.”

Higgings studies sport and exercise therapy at Loughborough University and usually specialises in 400m hurdles during the outdoor season.

But with no indoor equivalent, he competes as a 400m runner over the winter months.

He joined Sheffield & Dearne three years ago to compete at a higher standard – a move which has paid off.

"Winning the British Championships has opened a lot of doors,” he added.

"Deep down I always knew the Commonwealth Games was an aim, now it’s become a bit more realistic.”

As well as Birmingham 2022, the World Athletics Championships and European Athletics Championships will also take place this summer.

"To make one of those teams would be an aim,” added Higgins, who is originally from Rutland in Leicestershire.

He just missed out on the individual qualifying time of 46.5 seconds for the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade this month but has been selected for GB’s men’s 4x400m relay team.

Elsewhere at the British Championships, Sheffield-based Jo Rowland was just two points shy of a bronze medal in the women’s pentathlon.

Another Sheffield & Dearne athlete, George Heppinstall, cleared a new personal best indoors of 5.07 metres to finish fifth in the men’s pole vault.

Hallamshire Harriers also enjoyed success at last weekend’s National Cross Country Championships.

Twelve-year-old Tom Thake finished second on his national debut in the under-13 boys 3km race.

Hallamshire’s women finished sixth in the 8km race, with the men twelfth on a 12km course, which also saw Sheffield half marathon record-holder Andrew Heyes finish ninth in a field of 3031 entrants.