Merry was one of the first to congratulate her, with the Olympic bronze medallist posting on X, external: “The record stood for a good amount of time. Amber wasn’t even born when I sped my short back and sides around the NIA [National Indoor Arena]!”
Anning has already had a taste of medal success, winning 4x400m relay bronze at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, following a silver in the same event at the 2019 European Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
The Scottish city will host the World Indoors in March and that could be where Anning breaks her next target – the 50.02-second UK indoor 400m record, held by five-time world medallist Nicola Sanders since 2007.
Anning is one of a number of British athletes hoping to improve their performances by training in America, with three of the women’s relay quartet that won world bronze last year all living there.
There will be fierce competition for places in Team GB’s Olympic squad this summer, with a top-two finish at the UK Athletics Championships needed to guarantee individual 400m selection.
A lower finish at those trials will leave selectors to consider other criteria, including world rankings, form and previous international success.
“There is lots more to give – I don’t want to be complacent,” said Anning, who was disappointed to miss out on the previous Olympics in Tokyo three years ago.