The last time Louie Hinchliffe competed at the British Championships two years ago he failed to advance from the 100 heats. This weekend he returns to Manchester as one of the Olympic trials’ least likely headline attractions after a shock 9.95sec run when he became the first European to claim the NCAA 100m title in the United States.
The 21-year-old had all but given up on athletics during his first year at Lancaster University, but has excelled since moving his studies across the Atlantic where he is guided by the nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis at the University of Houston, drastically improving his personal best from 10.17sec last year.
