Photo by www.lboro.ac.uk

Loughborough University were the proud hosts to the 65th anniversary of the Loughborough International Athletics (LIA) event on Sunday 21st May 2023. Brooke Ironside (Zak Kerin) was selected to compete and commented that she was “grateful and excited to be representing team England in the Long Jump.”

LIA is widely recognised as the curtain raiser to the outdoor season with an action-packed day of first-class athletics hosted at the Paula Radcliffe Stadium on campus.

Loughborough athletes competed against teams representing England, Wales, Scotland, GB & NI Under-20s and the National Athletics League. This year also saw the sport welcome Ukraine international Danylo Danylenko who clocked 47.47 in the 400m.

The day was filled with sun, smiles and celebrations for the England Athletics team as their athletes lit up the Paula Radcliffe Stadium in front of a mega crowd.

Hundreds filled the grassy banks to watch some of the best track and field athletes the nation has to offer.

England won overall with a team score of 202 points with Loughborough in second (154) and the NAL third (153). Brooke played her part in bumping up the points. She nailed her best long jump at the first attempt with 5.82m.