COLCHESTER Harriers sprinter Charlie Dobson was in outstanding form at the Muller Indoor Grand Prix.

The Colchester athlete is now the UK's joint number one 60 metres runner after excelling at the Utilita Arena - formally known as the NIA - in Birmingham.

Dobson was in excellent form at the event, which formed part of the prestigious World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold alongside world class athletes and was live streamed by the BBC and World Athletics You Tube.

The former Colchester Sixth Form College student claimed two huge new personal best (PB) times, in only his second competition back since recovering from a long-term injury.

 

Dobson lined up in the first heat of the day against USA Olympian Ronnie Baker, who holds the third fastest 60m time in history (6.40).

Also in his heat was Andy Roberston, the 2020 UK 60m national Champion who also boasts a couple of World Indoor semi-finalist placings and is a European Indoor finalist.

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After a controversial false start, Dobson maintained his composure to run a superb race.

He opened up his stride in the last ten metres of the race to win in a new PB and Indoor world qualifying time of 6.62 seconds.

As the fastest qualifier, he gained automatic entry through to the final where he faced 200m world champion and sub ten-second 100m sprinter, Noah Lyles.

Enforced rehabilitation has ensured Dobson has had time to work on his strength.

And it clearly showed in a a series of superb starts, with some of the quickest reaction times across this strong field.

The final was a match of four Britons facing four US athletes including legend Mike Rodgers and NCAA indoor champion Elijah Hall-Thompson.

With no expectation other than to enjoy racing again, Dobson excelled once again to cross the line in a great fifth place in another massive PB of 6.59s.

Just four one hundredths of a second separated winner Lyles with Dobson's placing, as he crossed the line as first Brit in a thrilling race.

Dobson's performance makes him the only Briton to ever have run sub 6.60s in 60m and sub 46.0sec in 400m - showing the huge potential of this young athlete.

And his time ranks him joint number one in the UK.

It was a brilliant return to form in the 60m for Dobson, following huge disappointment last year when an injury in May called a halt to his Olympic dreams.

The Colchester athlete has returned from ten months of rehab, sheer hard work and determination supported by British Athletics.

Having had not run a 60m since breaking a new Championship record at BUCS in 2020, Dobson opened up his 2022 indoor season with a win at a low-key meet at Loughborough University indoor track earlier this month, clocking 6.7s.

He was originally due to compete at BUCS last weekend but was delighted to accept an invitation to compete at the Muller Indoor Grand Prix and seized his opportunity with both hands.

Dobson will travel to Florida at the end of next month for some warm weather training, where he hopes to compete a 200m.