The boss of UK Athletics has calmed fears that his governing body may go bankrupt - and confirmed Olympic preparations are not at threat from cutbacks.
Jack Buckner joined thousands in Highgate on Saturday to witness his first ‘Night of 10,000m PBs’ meeting and see clear evidence of how popular athletics can still be when done well.
The sport in Britain is in a parlous state post pandemic with warnings last month that UKA could go bust if it doesn’t not receive emergency financial support in the coming weeks.
Buckner, 61, expects to learn next week whether their application for a £300,000 grant from UK Sport has been successful and admitted to cautious optimism.
“It’s hard yards and it’s not pretty but we’ve got a good plan so I’m not feeling too bad about that,” he said. “It’s a bit like a hard season, you’ve got to work your way through it.
“We’re going to be okay. I’m optimistic I’ll be in front of you for a few years yet. But I’m not jumping around.”
Buckner, who joined UKA last year after earning plaudits for his work in helping transform British Swimming, is experienced enough not to assume anything.
“I’ve had to make some tough calls, let staff go,” he said. “I’m feeling I’m getting there. I’ve got some good ongoing discussions with partners but I’ve been here before. I wouldn’t say I’ve got a magic bullet.”
He is still trying sell a Drive to Survive-style documentary,. Following the nation’s stars as they build up to Paris. “I’m out there in the marketplace,” he confirmed. “If I could get that off the ground that would be brilliant.”
With the Paris Olympics only 14 months away an obvious concern is whether Team GB medal hopes could suffer from the sport in Britain’s wider cash crisis.
On that Buckner is emphatic.
“No, we’re fine,” he said. “All the performance funding is ring fenced. Like anything at the moment, it’s hard graft. There’s no getting away from that. But I’m talking to UK Sport every week.”
Saturday’s event in north London was notable for drawing crowds the like of which the British track and field Championships can only dream of in recent times.
Olympian Chris Thompson offered a theory as to why national champs and Diamond Leagues don’t have the same spectator appeal.
“It’s Higher, Faster, Stronger at the Olympics and you’re going there to watch at that moment in time the person that can jump the furthest, the highest or run the fastest,” he said.
“The concept sells itself. It’s not the athletes, it’s the concept of what track and field is and the core of the enjoyment of what the sport represents. The same, I believe, is true of Highgate.”
Jess Warner-Judd and Andy Butchart were crowned British champions at the Night of the 10,000m PBs.
A packed Parliament Hill track bore witness to Ethiopian star Mizan Alem Adane become only the 12th woman in history to break the 30-minute barrier.
Paul Chelimo smashed Yeman Crippa’s meeting record by four seconds to win the men’s 10,000m.
Butchart was first Brit home in 27:47.43 and raved about his first experience of the On Track Nights Highgate event.
“It’s not ‘track’, it’s like a different discipline,” he said. “It’s not dull. It’s not boring. Everybody loves it here.”
Warner-Judd retained her British crown on a chilly north London evening, finishing fourth overall in 31:9.32 seconds to book her place in August's World Championships.
