Lausanne, Switzerland

Thursday 28th August 2008

MARTYN ROONEY has been nominated for the 2008 Waterford Crystal European Athletics Rising Star Awards, recognising the future stars of the sport in Europe.

Loughborough-based Rooney, 21, is currently Europe's fastest 400m runner in 2008 with a time of 44.60 seconds and won the SPAR European Cup individual event in Annecy – the Croydon Harrier coached by Nick Dakin has also broken 45 seconds three times in 2008 and Anchored home the British 4x400m relay team to 4th place in the Olympic final in Beijing.

Three British female athletes have also been nominated hoping to follow in the footsteps of Jessica Ennis who won last year – they are Ashlee Nelson, the World Junior 100m silver medallist, Steph Twell, the world junior 1500m champion and Meghan Beesley, the World Junior 400m Hurdles bronze medallist.

Voting takes place on the European Athletics website until 14th September 2008 from a shortlist including the European stars from this year's IAAF World Junior Championships & Olympic Games, as well as other athletes under the age of 23 who performed exceptionally well this year.

Winners will be decided by votes from the general public, media, European Athletics Member Federations, and a panel of experts, with the results from each group of voters counting for one quarter of the athlete's final score.

The winners of the Waterford Crystal European Athletics Rising Star along with the winners of the Waterford Crystal European Athletes of the Year will be invited to receive their awards at the European Athletics Convention in Amsterdam on October 18th.

Each voter must select their five preferred athletes and rank them in order of priority.

Members of the public who vote will be automatically entered into a prediction competition. Entrants who have voted for the top three male and female athletes in the correct order in the poll will be entered into a draw to win an all-expenses paid trip for two to the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Torino, Italy from March 6-8, 2009. There will also be some runners-up prizes.

Speaking about the award, European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz said: "European Athletics has always focused resources on the development of the next generation of athletes. I think you will find a number of future Olympic & World Champions on the nomination form and we look forward to seeing who will win the second Waterford Crystal European Athletics Rising Star Awards for 2008."

The nominations for the Waterford Crystal European Athletes of the Year will be available by mid September.

Last years winners of the inaugural Waterford Crystal European Athletics Rising Star awards were Andrew Howe (ITA) and Jessica Ennis (GBR).

To vote for the athlete of your choice click on the following link: www.european-athletics.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5560&Itemid=274

Thursday 21st August 2008

THE Mizuno Mile Festival staged on in Peterborough on Wednesday 13th August produced a British record and a host of personal bests... but not a sub-four minute mile.

But there were plenty of positives from an evening that saw Norwich's Jane Clarke break the British Over 45 women's record.

And while the senior men's race may not have produced that 'sub-four', it did see an exciting race for the £750 first prize with Loughborough-based Chris Warburton taking the honours in 4:02.02.

Warburton, representing Notts AC, took third place at the Olympic Trials 1500m last month and his victory came in the fastest track time ever seen in Peterborough, although slower than James Thie's 4:01.19 set when winning this race on the roads last year.

Organiser Julian Moorhouse, the former British international who works for Mizuno, was disappointed not to see a 'sub-four' but was delighted with how the meeting – supported by Advance Performance – went.

He said: "What more can you do? So many people came up to me and said: 'You've got a field worthy of a AAA Championships 1500m final' but I think they let too big a gap grow between them and the pacemakers.

"I'm very disappointed not to have given Peterborough its first sub-four minute mile but it was a very exciting race."

Former Asian Championships 5,000m gold medallist Abdul Aziz Abdulrahaman and Rick Ward, the talented Norwich youngster who had won the Under 20 men's race 45 minutes earlier, took on the pace and completed the first lap-and-a-bit (the mile consisting of just over four laps) in 60.5 seconds.

But with two laps to go (2:02.3) the 'sub-four' was looking unlikely and at the bell (3:03.6) – the pacemakers having by now dropped out – a sub-57 second final circuit was required.

Mark Warmby, last year's winner Thie and Warburton were all-prominent but national indoor 3,000m champion, Loughborough-based Nick McCormick, was moving through nicely.

As the field rounded the final bend and came into the home straight, eight athletes were still in the leading pack but it was Warburton who produced the strongest finish to win by four tenths of a second.

Warburton commented afterwards: "I was attracted to it by the decent prize money and the chance of running a fast time. It would have been nice to have broken four minutes but most athletes will say it's more about winning than running a fast time."

McCormick, who took a three-week break after missing out on the Olympics, felt this race was just too soon for him but believes it has done him good while Huntingdon's Neil Speaight ran well for fourth, just behind his Belgrave Harriers team-mate Stephen Davies.

As with the senior men, the senior women produced an exciting finish, Midland 1500m champion Rachel Felton took the honours but the Loughborough-based European Under-23 5,000m champion Laura Kenney was given the same time of 4:46.9 in second.

A pedestrian start saw Clarke lead through the opening lap in 81.14 seconds before Jess Sparke took over at the front and led through halfway in 2:33.47 and the bell in 3:40.78, but Kenney hit the front with 250m to go before Felton's late kick earned her the £750 first prize. Clarke was delighted to set a British Over 45 women's mark of 5:19.1.

Report by Bob Franks.

Thursday 14th August 2008

SIX-times British champion javelin thrower Goldie Sayers will be aiming to put previous disappointments behind her as she throws for a first major championship medal.

Sayers, (26) collected her sixth consecutive national title with a 62.62m throw at Birmingham in mid-July and followed up with second place in a strong field in the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace a fortnight later with 63.83m.

She was beaten by Germany's Christine Obergfoll, the double world silver medallist, who is among the favourites for Beijing along with Czech Barbora Spotakova and defending champion and world record holder Osleidys Menendez of Cuba.

Menendez, who was almost untouchable a few years ago, is not the force she was while Mariya Abakumova and Steffi Nerius are certainly beatable.

Sayers, whose British record stands at 65.05m, said she expected the competition to be won with a throw "in the mid 60s".

"I would be ecstatic to win any medal but all I can do is hit my distance and technical targets and then it just depends on what others do," she added.

Javelin qualifying Pools A and B take place at 2am and 3.30am GMT respectively on Tuesday 19th August with the final at 12.20am on Thursday 21st.

Lausanne, Switzerland

Wednesday 13th August 2008

RUSSIA'S queen of the Pole Vault Yelena Isinbayeva and Britain’s latest 400m star Martyn Rooney have been voted the European Athletes of the Month for July.

Isinbayeva had a dream month, setting world records number 22 and 23 with a 5.03m clearance in Rome on the 11th followed by a 5.04m clearance in Monaco on July 27th, installing herself as a red-hot favourite to successfully defend her Olympic title in Beijing next week.

She added to this by having big wins in Stockholm 4.85m on July 22 and at the London Grand Prix four days later, where she cleared 4.93m and narrowly failed at a new world record height.

The 26-year-old is now well on her way to becoming one of the greatest athletes in history, such is her vast array of major titles already won and is closing in on the 35 world records set by her hero the Great Sergey Bubka.

Martyn Rooney on the other hand has been unbeaten all season and has now clearly established himself as the number one 400m runner in Europe.

On the back of his impressive victory at the SPAR European Cup in Annecy in June, the 21-year-old of Irish parentage, ducked under the elusive 45 second barrier on two occasions the first of which was in front of his delirious home fans at the IAAF Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace on July 26th with victory in 44.83.

He then improved further in Monaco two days later with a 44.72 victory for a European leading time to give himself a big confidence boost of at least making the final of the 400m in Beijing next week.

Also in July he easily won the British Olympic trials in Birmingham with a 45.31 run to bring his 2007 outdoor season tally to 9 victories from 9 races.

The runners-up in the women’s poll were Croatia’s Blanka Vlasic, Portugal’s Naide Gomes and Poland’s Anna Jesien while Russia’s Olympic 800m champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy, Poland’s Marek Plawgo and Belgium’s Monder Riski took the runners-up spots on the men’s side.

The European Athlete of the Month initiative was launched in January
2007 and is designed to recognise outstanding performers at all levels of the sport in Europe.

Wednesday 13th August 2008

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY alumnus and one of China’s best known sporting figures had the honour of carrying the Olympic torch on its final journey at the opening ceremony of the Games on Friday (8th August).

In a dramatic end to the 129-day torch relay, world renowned former gymnast Li Ning was winched to the top of the stadium and suspended as he did lap of honour before lighting the Olympic flame to mark the start of the Games.

Li was presented with an honorary doctorate by Loughborough University in 2005 for his services to sport and business. A triple gold, double silver and bronze medallist at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, he earned 106 international medals during his 19-year Olympic career before retiring in 1989.

Following retirement he established the Li Ning Company Limited which has grown to become China’s largest sporting goods company with over 4,000 retail outlets throughout the country.

He was awarded his honorary degree at a special celebration in Singapore in 2005.

“It is an honour for Mr Li to carry the Olympic torch on its final journey,” said Loughborough University Vice Chancellor Shirley Pearce. “We are immensely proud of him as one of our honorary graduates and are delighted that he has been recognised at the most prestigious sporting event in the world.

“The University has strong business, education and sport links with China, with more than 750 of the county’s students currently studying at Loughborough.

Article from Loughborough University.

Macau, China

Tuesday 12th August 2008

FORMER Loughborough student Barbara Parker is preparing for her Olympic debut at the Beijing games where the 25-year-old will compete over the 3,000m Steeplechase, reflecting on her breakthrough season the Florida-based athlete is in positive mood ahead of the athletics programme that begins at the Bird’s Nest National Stadium on Friday (15th August) in the Chinese capital.

Having set a big personal best and then a British record on May 31st in Indianapolis, subsequently improved by Helen Clitheroe - how much of a lifetime best was that and how did it feel? Can you pinpoint what you did differently this year to be able to make such an improvement?

“The PB was long overdue. The two races before that, this season were both solo runs, so it was good to get in a race where I had someone in front of me. It was a load off my mind to have run the ‘A’ standard, and to have ran a British record was very motivating. This year I have a new coach, Karen Harvey (coach at Florida State and former steeplechaser for Canada). The training she sets has seemed to work great for me. This year was about working out what works and what doesn’t. I have set a lot of PB's so it seems to be going pretty well so far!”

How long have you been the steeplechase? When and why did you start?

“My first 'chase was in 2003, in a training camp in Los Angeles I was due to run a 1500, but when we got there my coach (back then John Anderson) said I was to run the steeple. I had never even thought about running the steeplechase! I ran over 12 minutes! But I did another one a few days later and ran 11 minutes and then another a week after and ran sub-10:40. So it seemed steeple was for me. I was U23 at the time and that time qualified me for the European U23 champs.”

What have you been doing since racing the Norwich Union GP in London to prepare for the Olympics? Where have you been staying and when did you go over to China? What family & friends are (or will be) there to support you?

“Since London I have just been training as usual. I actually ran a 1500m at a small meet, sat in for 800m and then kicked. Just to sharpen up a bit. Right now I am in Macau, at the Great Britain training camp. The hotel is amazing, and the food - I have to control my appetite! My husband Sean and his brother will be coming from Florida to watch, so that will be nice. My family will be watching from the UK; it is a very expensive trip, so they will save it for other championships and of course London 2012.”

What is your mentality going into the heats in Beijing? What kind of time do you think it will take to get into the final? Are you basing any part of your strategy on the air quality in Beijing?

“I am very excited to run. At London I took a bit of a break with 1k to go, and I have been kicking myself ever since. I am in 9:30 shape for sure. It is just a matter of pushing through that comfort zone. I know I can make the final. I have a strong finish and I think that is very important. A lot of people run well until 2k so that will be the time I need to focus most. Running in a large pack will be messy, but London was a good practise run.

”I am not thinking to much about the air. Everyone will have to deal with it, so I think the best thing to do is realise it may make a difference to [my] breathing, etc., but just to get on with it and not worry.”

UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins has laid down the gauntlet to Parker - saying it's time to deliver in Beijing.

Despite only triple-jumper Phillips Idowu and heptathlete Kelly Sotherton being considered realistic Team GB gold-medal contenders in China, Collins insists a personal best for Parker would represent an impressive showing in Beijing.

And Collins wants to see the steeple-chaser, who finished second to Helen Clitheroe at the National Championships in Birmingham in July and saw her British record eclipsed in the process, mix it with the sport's big guns in Beijing.

He said: "I want to see Barbara achieve a season's best and I will be looking at the manner of her performance under the greatest of pressure.

"I want to see people get into semi-finals that were tipped for quarter finals, people get into finals that were tipped for semi-finals and that includes Barbara in the steeple-chase.

"Especially in the Olympics when you get into the final all sorts of things happen - so watch this space.

"I am sure she will be very keen to mix it in a final and make some magic happen.

"This will be a great experience for a lot of the athletes, including Barbara, but they are not here for the experience, they are here to perform."

Parker switched from Loughborough University two years ago and is now based in Florida at the State University - where her fees and regular trips back to the UK are taken care of by her sponsor, New Balance.

The athletics programme at the XXIX Beijing Olympic Games begins on Friday 15th August.

Macau, China

Saturday 9th August 2008

COMMONWEALTH champion Lisa Dobriskey will be looking to add and Olympic medal to the one she achieved two-years ago in Melbourne as the 24-year-old Loughborough-based athlete prepares to make her debut at the Beijing games in the 1500m.

Speaking form the Team GB holding camp in Macau, the Kent-born middle distance star reflects on her Olympic experience so far including being delayed five hours on departure from London.

Dobriskey maintained her excellent recent form by storming to a new personal best time of four minutes 00.64seconds over 1500m in her last race before the Olympics and there are now strong hopes she can at least reach the final.

The encouraging result follows hot on the heels of her impressive tactical triumph over high-class opposition at the Aviva IAAF London Grand Prix, while she also became national champion earlier in July.

“So far things haven't gone as smoothly as I would have hoped for but touch wood things are starting to get a bit better. I left the UK on Monday night but our plane was stuck on the runway for five hours due to a technical fault. The delay meant we missed our ferry when we landed in Hong Kong. Once we were safely in Macau we were told a typhoon was on its way and so had to spend all of the first day in the hotel.

”I managed to get out for a training run in the evening though and a very close encounter with a snake but managed to come away unscathed! The GB team were based here prior to the World Championships last year so it has been easy to settle in. However I've been struggling with jet lag a lot more this time round but hopefully I'll be so tired by tonight that I'll be able to sleep a bit better.

”I’ve had a pretty light training schedule for the first couple of days but have got my final big track session on Saturday. I'm sharing a room with pole vaulter Kate Dennison who is also based in Loughborough. My physio back in Loughborough is also out here and my coach George Gandy arrived on Thursday so things pretty much feel like home and I'm settling in nicely.

”I did a couple of TV interviews this morning but that's been about as exciting as it gets so far. It's nice to have a bit of time to relax after travelling, it's important to be as rested as possible as things are going to start getting very hectic in the next few days!

“Things are starting to brighten up in every sense of the word! The weather has picked up after the typhoon, I slept so well last night and to make things even better today is my rest day and the start of the official Olympic Games.

”We have a nutritionist here with us who advises the hotel staff on the menus to make sure they're healthy and suit all our needs. Last year, before the world championships, she had a day off and was visiting Hong Kong, so while she was away the staff brought out a chocolate fountain and lots of puddings!

”Our team manager and some of the staff left earlier today and the rest of the team leave on different days depending on their event. I'll be one of the last to leave as I'm competing towards the end – it's strange to think some people will be finished before I'm even there.”

Dobriskey’s medal chances in Beijing were increased when the IAAF banned seven leading Russian female athletes from the Olympics after charging them with manipulating drug samples, they include twice world 1500 metres champion Tatyana Tomashova and the world indoor 1500 metres champion Yelena Soboleva. Tomashova was the runner up to Kelly Holmes four years ago in Athens.

Dobriskey admits the doping suspension of key Russian 1500m competitors leaves the event wide open in Beijing but is saddened by their absence from the competition.

There is a BBC interview with Lisa Dobriskey at the Team GB holding camp in Macau available on the following link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/7547694.stm

Wednesday 6th August 2008

MARTYN ROONEY is raring to go out of his blocks in the 400 metres on the track of Beijing’s Bird’s Nest National Stadium as the Loughborough-based athlete prepatres to make his Olympic debut.

The 21-year-old coached by Nick Dakin has been in superb form over recent weeks which has seen him emerge as outside hope for a 400-metre medal in Beijing having broken the 45-second mark twice in quick succession.

The Croydon Harrier made a significant breakthrough at the recent Aviva IAAF London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace where he won in a personal best time of 44.83secs, however, just a few days later in Monaco he went even quicker, clocking 44.72 to secure another impressive victory.

As a result Rooney has put himself right in contention to not only reach the Olympic final in Beijing, but perhaps even gain a place on the podium with the likes of the American powerhouse athletes and gold medal favourites Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merrit.

Rooney commented: "To run sub 45 is a massive step in the right direction and I've just got to build on it now. I'll be disappointed if I don't make the final and when I'm there anything can happen.

"I want to emulate anyone who has an Olympic medal. It doesn't matter who they are, they all trained hard and that's what I aspire to be like.

"Obviously there's Roger Black, Iwan Thomas, Jamie Baulch - guys who ran 44s for fun - so I want to be at least at the same level as they were.

"I've now just got to look after my body and make sure I stay healthy and not do anything stupid."

This will be Rooney's first Olympic Games and unsurprisingly he can not wait to be caught up in the thick of the global spectacle - but he says that this will not affect his own performances.

"When I did the kit pick-up for the Olympics that was quite a big thing for me, as I realised I was becoming an Olympian. I'm very excited.

"I've been to Beijing before in 2006 for the world juniors and I really didn't get to see too much of it other than my hotel room and the track.

"Hopefully this time I will see the Great Wall and Tiananmen Square which would be great.
"I would love to see some of the boxing and lots of other sports like hockey and swimming. I want to see them do well and hopefully I'll get that chance.

"Although I'll make sure it doesn't get in the way of my own warm-ups and preparations for my event, I'd love to get involved with the Olympic experience."

Great Britain has a strong history in the 4x400m relay but have won an Olympic medal since the silver performance of Atlanta 1996 but now Rooney, who is expected to run the anchor leg, is determined to put the record straight.

"Andrew Steele has been running back into form after his injuries and we've also got Michael Bingham and a crop of youngsters coming through.

"Anything can happen in the relay. Last year the Polish team medalled (Osaka World Championships) and on paper they didn't deserve to. We've got to put ourselves in the medal position and I know I can run 43s in the relay.

"The glory leg is just as important as all the legs but we've got a very strong team and we can go out there and do the business."

Wednesday 6th August 2008

IRISH international sprint hurdler David Gillick is fully aware of the political conflict and social tensions that may surround China's hosting of the 2008 Games, however, he insists the athletes are solely focused on competing.

Gillick had his first taste of the Olympics when Ireland's athletics team landed at Beijing Capital Airport on Saturday, greeted by smiling volunteers and some eager local journalists.

"It's not something I really want to comment on, to be honest. I can't help what goes on in China," said the Irish 400 metres record holder.

"The Olympics are there, it's not going to stop me from going and competing.

"I've worked hard for the last four years. So wherever the Olympics are going to be, I'm going!

"It's unfortunate, all the negative press about it and hopefully it won't interfere too much.

"But I think it's going to be a great occasion in China and from what I can gather, the Chinese are well up for it."

Gillick, a first-time Olympian, is currently in Matsue in Japan, taking part in a ten-day training holding camp the Ireland team.

His 400m heat does not take place until Monday, August 18th and the Dubliner cannot wait to step onto the Beijing \bird's Nest National Stadium track.

"It's great that the Olympics are finally here, I'm looking forward to it and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it.

"It's just a case of getting out there and running to our potential - that's the excitement side of things and we'll see how it goes.

"It's a four-year cycle and you've major championships every year, everything leads onto this.

"The Olympic Games defines people's athletics careers, there's a lot of sweat and tears and hard work have gone into it (the preparation).

"I'll be very proud - competing at the Olympics is something that I've always dreamed of, representing your country on the biggest stage.

"Hopefully there'll be a few of us around for 2012 as well," he added.

Gillick, coached by Nick Dakin, reached the 400m semi-finals at last year's World Championships in Osaka and has had a number of 45-second runs this summer, including a solid effort at the recent Aviva IAAF London Grand Prix.

But he will almost certainly need to better his Irish record (45.12) in order to reach the semi-finals in Beijing.

Gillick was satisfied with his final pre-Olympics race in London, where he finished third behind his Loughborough training partner Martyn Rooney.

"Tactically, my race didn't go the way I wanted it. But it was a good meet, great competition and I managed to beat a few people I'll be racing against in Beijing."

The 25-year-old will not be lacking support for his Olympic debut, with a certain suburb in Dublin 16 already beginning to empty.

"We had a few relatives and cousins up on Thursday (for a send-off). The parish of Ballinteer has been very good to me when I've been home and Ballinteer St. John's (my old GAA club) had a night for me as well.

"I've three friends that have cycled over (to Beijing), they left Dublin last September.

"All their families are coming out as well. So there will be a great load of us from Ballinteer out there."

Monday 4th August 2008

THE news Michelle Carey had been waiting for finally arrived on Sunday 20th July when it was announced that the sprint hurdler would be included in the Irish team travelling to compete at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Carey a graduate of Loughborough University, whose parents Kevin and Carmel live in the town of Trim in the County of Meath, has been selected to represent Ireland in the 400m Hurdles in the uniquely designed 'Bird’s Nest’ National Stadium in the Chinese capital where the Games will get underway on this Friday 8th August.

Carey was not included in the original Irish squad as she had not attained the 'A' standard for automatic qualification. However, the (OCI) Olympic Council of Ireland decided to add three further athletes with 'B' standards to their squad.

The OCI had originally stated that it would only accept those athletes who had attained the Olympic 'A' standard. They eventually changed their stance and Carey was drafted into the full Irish squad along with Pauline Curley (Women’s Marathon) and Thomas Chamney (Men's 800m).

The announcement came much to the delight of Michelle and her parents who have called Trim their home for the past few years. The Carey's had previously lived in the capital city of Dublin.

Carey, (27) is a qualified primary school teacher and is now based in Loughborough where she has trained since arriving in 2000 along with other Irish athletes such as double European indoor 400m champion David Gillick and Joanne Cuddihy as part of Nick Dakin's group.

When she finally heard that she was Beijing bound, Carey was understandably delighted to be part of the biggest sporting event in the world. Despite not been included in the original squad she had not given up hope that she would be selected.

“I’ve lived in England for nine years now but when I go home - I go to Trim,” said Carey who took part in the IAAF World Championships in Osaka last year and narrowly missed out on the semi-finals.

“Now I can get myself back into training because I’ve been racing a lot so I haven’t had much time for training. I’ll go back and do some training over the next 10 days or so and take it from there.”

Carey has won seven national titles with her personal best in the 400m Hurdles standing at 56.19secs and if she surpasses that in the white-heat of Beijing she will surely be pleased.

Wednesday 6th August 2008

LOUGHBOROUGH student Dani Christmas competed over 800 metres at the Amsterdam (EAP) Open meeting in The Netherlands on Saturday 2nd August.

In a very physical race, in which the 20-year-old Crawley Harrier was bumped and spiked, she finished sixth in a time of 2mins 07.27secs. The race was won by Natalya Lupu of the Ukraine in 2:03.39.

Full results are available on the following link: www.phanos.org/wedstrijden/2008/amsterdam_open/index.php?cat=results&lang=eng

Saturday 2nd August 2008

EUROPEAN indoor gold medallist Nicola Sanders finished runner-up to compatriot Christine Ohuruogu at last year’s IAAF World Championships in Osaka, but hopes to go one better in the Beijing Olympics later this month.

Four years ago, the 26-year-old was a student at Loughborough University watching the Athens Olympics on television and not even an athlete in the event she will contest in Beijing. She was a hurdler and cannot particularly remember watching the Women’s 400m final.

“The 400m wasn’t my event then so I was just watching everything. Obviously, like every athlete watching, you think it would be fantastic to be at the Olympics but I was running 58 seconds for 400m hurdles so the Olympics wasn’t exactly on my radar,

“I was running inter-counties stuff rather than a Grand Prix, however, until you have made your first team it is a completely different world.

“I have always dreamed of the Olympics but you have to get there for them to become more than a dream. With the times I was running then, going to a Games wasn’t realistic.”

Sanders is confident she can win a medal in Beijing. Belief stems from that silver medal in the 400m at the world championships in Osaka but her lack of recognition is understandable. This is her first Olympics.

It became possible a year later when she made the British team as a hurdler but only in 2006, after finishing fourth as a hurdler at the Commonwealth Games, did a persistent injury force her to switch to the flat race. From there, her career entered Olympic realms.

“Obviously, now I am in the Olympics I look back and realise how far I’ve come. Things evolve but you think four years ago I was not even in the equation — in a different place, a different event — and you realise how much has changed.”

Not her everyday life. Even though the British Olympic Association made her Athlete of the Year — a deliberate snub to Ohuruogu who had beaten her but served a year’s suspension for missing three drug tests — the most exciting invitation that came her way was to BBC’s A Question of Sport.

For the most part it was all local stuff from ‘people popping out of the woodwork and saying things like “I met your mum 10 years ago, will you come and do this, that or the other?”

“I have learned to say no except to friends and people I know or to things that interest me. Like a friend who teaches and invited me into her school to talk to her pupils.”

Superstar athletes are not supposed to come from places such as Amersham in Buckinghamshire but Sanders doesn’t see herself as an Olympic star.

“Not really. Before Osaka it never occurred to me I might do anything at the Olympics but obviously coming away with a silver medal, just four-hundredths of a second or whatever behind, you’ve got to be pretty confident.”

There is the formidable American IAAF world ranked number one Sanya Richards and fellow Brit Christine Ohuruogu to defeat in Beijing and her goal for the year is ‘an Olympic medal.

“You don’t want to look past it before you have done it, just focus on getting out there and running the race.’ she said. ‘It’s never crossed my mind what would happen. You can’t possibly imagine it, can you?”

Saturday 2nd August 2008

SPRINT hurdler Andy Turner is hoping he can put his injury worries behind him and realise his Olympic dream in Beijing later this month.

The 27-year-old Loughborough graduate has struggled to find his best form during a troubled season and could only finish sixth in the 110metre Hurdles with a disappointing time of 13.72 seconds at the recent Crystal Palace Aviva IAAF London Grand Prix.

Turner nearly pulled out with a hamstring problem shortly before the start but having battled though his latest test he's now confident that an epidural will help him return to full fitness in the nick of time.

He said: "I nearly pulled out of the race because of a problem with my hamstring - a minor tear which is causing nerve pain.

"The physio says the actual hamstring tear is so minor it's nothing to worry about but the nerve thing makes me feel my hamstring has no give in it. And this makes it hard to be efficient over the barrier.

"But if the brain doesn't register the pain, which the epidural will take away, hopefully it will be fine. Other people have had the same thing and it's worked for them.

"The last couple of years I've been so fortunate with injuries but this season every week I seem to be picking up something new.

"Going to the Olympics I just want a solid block of training but I've been unable to do that. But I've been making the best out of a bad situation. People around me have done everything possible to try and get things right.

"I think once I can go to Macau and put two weeks of solid training in I'm confident I can get into the shape I need to be in."

Turner, who stuttered his way to a third straight national title at the UK Championships earlier in July, heads to the Team GB pre-Olympics training camp in Macau and knows he must quickly fine tune his technique if he's to progress far in Beijing.

The European and Commonwealth bronze medallist said: "It's just technical at the moment, finding that timing over the barriers. And when you find that timing that's when the times will come.

"When it's not quite there you're constantly stopping and starting over the hurdles rather than taking your momentum through to the next barrier, physically I feel in better shape than last year but the timing is not there."

The Olympic 110m Hurdles final is one of the most eagerly anticipated on the track given the hype surrounding China’s great hope Liu Xiang and world record-holder Dayron Robles of Cuba.

"It's going to be a fantastic race and it will take a time of 13.25 just to get there. The way those guys are running right now, you just don't know what they're going to do.

"Dayron Robles can quite easily go out and run 12.7 in his next race so it's exciting times for hurdles at the moment and I want to be a part of it - it's what dreams are made of."

Wednesday 30th July 2008

LISA DOBRISKEY, the 2006 Commonwealth 1500m champion, has gained inspiration for the forthcoming Olympic games in Beijing by studying Kelly Holmes and Paula Radcliffe to help her realise her true potential.

The Loughborough-based athlete coached by George Gandy has been selected for the British Olympic team and heads to Beijing in great form, having won the 1500m in fine style at on the Aviva IAAF London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace on Friday evening (July 25th).

The 24-year-old could be in line for a medal of some colour at the Games after her Commonwealth success two years ago in Melbourne and, after her win over America's Erin Donohue and Agnes Samaria of Namibia in a time of four minutes 8.97 seconds she looks in great shape.

However, like Olympic legend Holmes and world marathon record-holder Radcliffe, Dobriskey has had her fair share of injury problems.

'I really liked watching Kelly and Paula compete and have read their books, which I found a great help,' said Dobriskey.

“They inspire me. I had injuries myself and saw how both of them overcame problems to become the best themselves.

“People around me have also been in similar situations so I have seen how other people have come back to athletics at the top level.

“Now, though, I think I'm in the best shape of my life. It's fantastic to be feeling so great about my chances after everything I've had to put up with.”

Dobriskey, originally from Kent but is based in Loughborough at the UK Athletics High Performance centre as part of George Gandy’s group that includes fellow GB internationals Laura Kenney, Charlotte Best and Abby Westley, started 2006 in superb form, taking Commonwealth gold. But later that summer she discovered she had been running with a stress fracture of the thigh during the entire outdoor season.

Then at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka last year she made the semi-final’s for Team GB alongside Westley but lost a shoe in the process and finished back in tenth place. Having qualified for her first Olympics, Dobriskey sees a chance to put the disappointment behind her.

“I'm really chuffed with my performance to beat Donohue and Samaria, this was a really solid race but now I have to look to the Olympics.

“To make the final would definitely be an aim, I really think middle-distance running is going through the roof in the UK right now.

“There are five girls in both the 800m and 1500m who could have gone to Beijing and I'm just one of the lucky ones.”

Wednesday 23rd July 2008

SEVEN of the United Kingdom's most talented young female middle distance athletes will benefit from the fantastic opportunity of competing in an 800m exhibition race during the Aviva IAAF London Grand Prix on Saturday 26th July.

The annual IAAF Super Grand Prix is UK Athletics most prestigious televised meeting. The athletes are all part of double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes’ ‘On Camp with Kelly’ mentoring initiative, supported by Norwich Union.

The athletes competing in the race have been selected from the 45 athletes who are members of ‘On Camp with Kelly’ based on their performances to date in 2008.

The line-up will include from Loughborough University - Dani Christmas and Laura Finucane.

Danielle Christmas (Crawley AC), age 20, who has set a new personal best of 2:05.59 this season and won 1500m silver and 800m bronze at the England Athletics Under 23 Championships. She was a semi-finalist in the 800m at the IAAF World Junior Championships in 2006.

Laura Finucane (Pendle AC), age 21, who has made a late start to her season after recovering from injury. She was a finalist over 800m at both the European Athletics Under 23 Championships and the World University Games last year and has a personal best of 2:01.35.

Other Athletes to compete at Crystal Palace:
Tara Bird (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies)
Rowena Cole (Coventry Godiva Harriers)
Hannah England (Oxford City AC)
Alison Leonard (Blackburn Harriers)
Rachel Stringer (City of Norwich)

For the first time this year two international athletes have been invited to take part in an ‘On Camp with Kelly’ race, they are Machteld Mulder (Netherlands) and Agnieszka Sowinska (Poland).

Dame Kelly said: “It has been a great year for ‘On Camp with Kelly’ athletes so far and I am expecting more good performances at the Aviva London Grand Prix. It is a fantastic opportunity for the athletes to compete in front of a large crowd in one of the biggest athletics meetings on the Grand Prix circuit. ‘On Camp with Kelly’ is about giving the athletes all the tools they need to achieve at the highest level in athletics and this is another part of the learning process.”

Tanya Veingard, Head of Sponsorship at Norwich Union, said: “We are committed to providing opportunities for young athletes and helping to make it easier for them to achieve their dreams. Through our support of ‘On Camp With Kelly’ we are delighted to be helping nurture and develop talented girls into world class athletes that Britain can be proud of and we look forward to seeing them progress from strength to strength. As the team behind UK Athletics we are proud to be able to offer support for all levels of athletics – from grassroots through to elite – and ‘On Camp with Kelly’ is a fantastic programme for young girls who dream of winning gold.

Tuesday 22nd July 2008

REIGNING European Indoor 400 metres champion David Gillick and one-lap hurdles specialist Michelle Carey are two of eight first-time Olympians selected for the Irish athletics team for Beijing.

The Irish team's departure for a pre-Beijing holding camp begins on Friday week, but before that Loughborough-based Gillick will compete at the Aviva London Grand Prix - IAAF World Athletics Tour.

A knee injury prevented Gillick from defending his Irish title over the weekend but he has been given the all-clear to run in London this Saturday.

"I just had a niggle in my right knee and that's why I didn't run over the weekend, I just wanted to be cautious about it," the Dubliner explained. "I'm quite confident that everything is okay and it hasn't inhibited me much in training or races recently."

The 25-year-old clocked 45.12 seconds in Villeneuve-d'Ascq last month for a new Irish record and is looking forward to the tough competition in London.

"It's a very good meet over there, an excellent standard. It's great to see that there is a good Irish contingent heading over."

Loughborough University graduate Michelle Carey (27), will compete over 400m Hurdles having qualified for Beijing with the Olympic 'B' standard.
Full Ireland Athletics Team:
Fionnuala Britton (3000 metres steeplechase) Michelle Carey (400 metres hurdles) Thomas Chamney (800 metres) Jamie Costin (20 kilometre walk) Pauline Curley (marathon) Alistair Cragg (1500 metres/5000 metres/10000 metres) Martin Fagan (marathon) David Gillick (400 metres) Colin Griffin (50 kilometre walk) Robert Heffernan (20 kilometre walk) Paul Hession (100 metres/200 metres) Joanne Cuddihy (400 metres) Olive Loughnane (20 kilometre walk) Roisin McGettigan (3000 metres steeplechase) Eileen O'Keeffe (hammer) Derval O'Rourke (100 metres hurdles)

Saturday 19th July 2008

EUROPEAN and Commonwealth bronze medallist Andy Turner warmed-up for next months Beijing Olympic Games with a fourth place finish over the 110m Hurdles at the Mitin de Atletismo Ciutat de Barcelona European Athletics Permit Meeting.

In front of a 7,000-strong Catalan crowd gathered to witness international athletics returning to the historic 1992 Olympic stadium after a break of eight years - the venue that will stage the 2010 European Championships, former Loughborough student Turner recorded a time of 13.61secs as Spain’s Jackson Quiñonez prevailed in 13.41.

World University Games bronze medallist Charlotte Best finished in 7th place over the 800m in the race won by Cuba’s 2005 Helsinki World Champion Zulia Calatayud in 1:59.16, her fastest of the season. Loughborough University graduate Best - coached by George Gandy, clocked a time of 2mins 03.11secs.

Other highlights for British athletes in action in Barcelona included Michael Rimmer recording a season’s best of 1:45.89 in the 800m to finish in 6th place, showing good form ahead of Beijing. Morocco's Amine Laalou, winner at the Rome leg of the IAAF ÅF Golden League prevailed in 1:44.85.

Germaine Mason finished third in the High Jump with a leap of 2.20m as Spain’s Javier Bermejo delighted the home crowd taking victory with a height of 2.27.

Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown ran a superb 200m recording atime of 21.98, the reigning Olympic champion over the distance producing the individual highlight of the meeting which included a compelling Women's Triple Jump won by Cameroon's Francoise Mbango with a mark of 14.95m; Kenya's Moses Masai won the Men's 5,000m in 12:55.72 and a 3,000m Women's Steeplechase victory in 9:18.76 by his compatriot Eunice Jepkorir.

Full results are available on the following link:www.european-athletics.org/files/barca_results.pdf

Nike BMC Grand Prix Series

Trafford Athletics Stadium, Stretford, Manchester

Saturday 19th July 2008

ONE of the most welcome sights on the track of the Trafford Athletics Stadium at the latest round of the Nike BMC Grand Prix Series was the continued return to racing of Loughborough student Laura Finucane - the 21-year-old Pendle athlete making a belated start to the 2008 outdoor season following a ten-month injury break.

The British Under-23 international and World University Games relay bronze medallist, coached at Loughborough by John Nuttall, suffered knee problems in October of 2007 which subsequently required surgery back in January of this year resulting in a long period of rehabilitation and came into the Trafford BMC meeting off five weeks of training and a 5th place finish (2:08.71) on her season debut at the Watford Gold standard races at the beginning of July.

In the 800m ‘A’ race in Stretford, Finucane, despite the windy conditions clocked a respectable time of 2mins 06.23secs to finish in fourth place narrowly edged out by university team mate and fellow Kelly Holmes ‘On Camp with Kelly’ training group member Dani Christmas (2:06.10).

Sushma Devi claimed victory in 2:04.78, the Indian athletics team who have been training in UK for last 51 days and have enjoyed a string of fine performances at the BMC meetings will now return back to India in preparation for next months Beijing Olympics.

In the Men’s ‘A’ race Enfield’s Darren St Clair prevailed in 1:47.53 ahead of James Shane (Basildon) and Ed Aston (Cambridge).

Loughborough’s Kieran Flannery finished runner-up in the ‘B’ 800m race in a time of 1:50.78, Edinburgh Harrier Mark Mitchell taking the win in 1:50.33.

Leicester Owls Tom Bell ran a fine race to take second place in the 800m ‘I’ race, the 18-year-old Leicestershire county champion over the distance clocking 1:57.80 to finish second to Newbury’s Robert Ridley (1:57.65).

Bruce Raeside out sprinted the vastly experienced British international James Thie to take victory in the 1500m ‘A’ race, the 26-year-old Notts AC athlete - winner of the UKA Indoor City Challenge Final over the distance indoors in Sheffield back in February, winning in a time of 3mins 45.34secs.

American international Mark Thompson claimed third in 3:46.33 as Loughborough University’s Lewis Moses clocked 3:47.41 to take 7th, whilst, Leicester Owls Rory Fraser dropping down from his preferred distance of 5,000m finished 9th in 3:47.75.

Rachel Ogden prevailed in the Women’s 1500m ‘A’ race, the 29-year-old Sussex county champion representing Worthing, winning in a time of 4:14.66 ahead of Stoke’s Emma Jackson (4:15.53) and Loughborough graduate Alexa Joel (4:22.77).

Scottish junior international Eilish McColgan, daughter of Britain’s 1991 IAAF World Championship 10,000m gold medallist Liz, finished fourth in 4:27.11.

Over the longer 3,000m events Liverpool Harrier Jonathan Mellor won the Men’s ‘A’ race in a new lifetime best of 8mins 01.70secs ahead of Blackpool’s Antony Ford (8:08.78) and Loughborough-based Elswick Harrier Ryan Mcleod (8:13.68), whilst, the Women’s ‘A’ race featured an international flavour as Aldershot’s Andrea Woodvine finished clear of Sweden’s Lena Orn and Alicia Evans of New Zealand in a time of 9:32.81.

Report by Mark Woolley. Copyright athletics-leics.com

Full Results:
BMC 800m A (Mens)
1---01:47.53-Darren St. Clair -Enfield & Haringey / St. Mary's U-
2---01:48.61-James Shane U20-Basildon / Newham & Essex Beagles-
3---01:49.41-Ed Aston U23-Cambridge & Coleridge / Birmingha-
4---01:49.54-Oliver Blake U23-Oswestry / Loughborough Uni-
5---01:50.11-Chris Smith U20-Wirral / Birmingham Uni / Liverpool-
6---01:51.25-Damien Moss -Rugby & Northampton / St. Mary's -
7---01:53.15-Sajeesh Joseph U23-India-
BMC 800m B (Mens)
1---01:50.33-Mark Mitchell U23-Forres / Edinburgh / Edinburgh Uni-
2---01:50.78-Kieran Flannery U23-Gateshead / Loughborough Uni-
3---01:50.84-Steve Evison -City Of Sheffield / Sheffield Hal-
4---01:51.62-Steven Morrow U23-Ballymena & Antrim / Border / Lough-
5---01:52.55-Sam Evans U20-Cannock & Stafford-
BMC 800m C (Mens)
1---01:52.22-Nick Samuels -Sale Harriers Manchester / Loughb-
2---01:52.59-Philip Burkart -Belgrave / Loughborough Uni / Unite-
3---01:52.69-Andrew Stanton U20-Chester-le-street / Gateshead / Bir-
4---01:52.89-Mitch Goose U20-City Of Norwich / St. Mary's Uni-
5---01:53.69-Paul Laslett -Shaftesbury Barnet-
6---01:54.05-Tim Hawkes -New Zealand-
BMC 800m D (Mens)
1---01:52.06-Ian Munro -Cambuslang / Glasgow Uni Ac-
2---01:53.14-Tom Druce U23-Channel Islands / Bath Uni-
3---01:53.28-Jack Hallas U20-Wakefield-
4---01:54.34-Matt Carlisle -Herts Phoenix / Windsor Slough -
5---01:54.94-Carl Goose -City Of Norwich-
6---01:55.04-Douglas Selman U23-Corstorphine / Edinburgh / Edinburg-
7---01:55.21-James Miller -Cheltenham / Police-
8---01:55.38-Martin Stjernlof U23-Sweden-
BMC 800m E (Mens)
1---01:50.88-Thomas Minshull U23-Trafford-
2---01:52.52-Andrew De-camps U23-Gloucester / Swansea Uni-
3---01:53.26-Jacob Harman U23-Leeds City-
4---01:53.50-Craig Robertson U23-Pitreavie-
5---01:53.71-Paige Haines U20-Basildon-
6---01:53.96-Robert Hodges U23-Kingston Upon Hull / Loughborough-
7---01:54.40-Matthew Nicholson -Gosforth / Pudsey & Bramley / Newca-
8---01:54.69-Rory Graham-watson U20-Berkshire Schs-
9---01:56.87-Martyn Gibbons U23-Notts / UWIC-
BMC 800m F (Mens)
1---01:54.29-Steve Mitchell U23-Bristol & West / Bristol Uni-
2---01:54.47-Nigel Malkin U23-Sale Harriers Manchester-
3---01:54.86-James Russell U23-Liverpool H-
4---01:56.10-James Griffiths U20-Vale Royal / Loughborough Uni-
5---01:56.11-Dave Mckinlay -Blackheath & Bromley / East Angli-
6---01:56.26-Richard Warburton U23-Notts / Loughborough Uni-
7---01:56.37-Ronan Duggan U20-Bandon / Ireland-
8---01:56.95-Thomas Meakin -Owls Leicester-
9---02:00.47-Scott Pilkington U23-Corstorphine-
BMC 800m G (Mens)
1---01:54.05-Thomas Atkinson U17-Wakefield-
2---01:54.44-Chris Kays U17-East Cheshire-
3---01:55.06-Tom Smith U17-Kingston Upon Hull-
4---01:55.76-Cameron Strachan U20-Aberdeen-
5---01:56.07-Mark Fallaize U23-Vale Of Aylesbury-
6---01:56.93-James Bowness U17-Trafford-
7---01:57.29-Daniel Ryan -Blackheath & Bromley / Loughborou-
BMC 800m H (Mens)
1---01:56.70-Chris Lamb -Rugby & Northampton-
2---01:56.81-James Toohey U20-Liverpool H-
3---01:56.93-Richard O'Donnell U20-Birchfield-
4---01:56.97-Michael Hobson U20-Bexley / St. Mary's Uni-
5---01:58.04-Daniel Grant U23-Ealing S & M-
6---01:59.61-David Horniman U20-Trafford-
7---02:01.04-Lee Reynolds -Herts Phoenix-
BMC 800m I (Mens)
1---01:57.65-Robert Ridley U23-Newbury-
2---01:57.80-Tom Bell U20-Owls Leicester-
3---01:58.58-Dale Worton U17-Wakefield-
4---01:59.13-Richard De-camps U20-Gloucester-
5---01:59.47-Adam Clansey -Liverpool Pembroke Sefton-
6---02:00.46-Bobby Whittaker U23-Sale Harriers Manchester-
BMC 800m J (Mens)
1---01:57.38-Jack Cutsforth U20-Kingston Upon Hull-
2---02:00.19-James Bleakley -Trafford-
3---02:00.82-Chris Thornton U23-Skyrac / Sheffield Hallam Uni-
4---02:01.23-Sam Yates U17-Ribble Valley-
5---02:01.42-Chris Gallagher U23-Team Bath / Birmingham Uni-
6---02:01.47-Phil Hall V45 -Clayton Le Moors / Northern Vets / -
7---02:01.99-Daniel Heathcote U20-Aldershot Farnham & District-
BMC 800m A (Womens)
1---02:04.78-Sushma Devi -India-
2---02:05.44-Celia Brown -Rugby & Northampton-
3---02:06.10-Danielle Christmas U23-Crawley / Loughborough Uni-
4---02:06.23-Laura Finucane U23-Pendle / Loughborough Uni-
5---02:06.50-Karen Johns -North Shields Poly-
6---02:06.71-Kelly Johnson -Wakefield-
7---02:06.96-Claire Nichols -Woking / Team Southampton-
8---02:07.35-Rebecca Sweeney -Sale Harriers Manchester / Salfor-
BMC 800m B (Womens)
1---02:08.81-Georgia Bell U15-Ealing Southall & Middx-
2---02:11.39-Joanne Dawes -Trafford-
3---02:11.81-Suzi Boast U20-Bedford & County / Team Bedfordsh-
4---02:12.56-Sarah Hood -Edinburgh / Edinburgh Uni-
5---02:13.09-Jenna Hill -Sale Harriers Manchester / St. Ma-
6---02:13.32-Anouska Mcconnell -Birchfield-
7---02:16.42-Jade Allen U20-Rotherham-
BMC 800m C (Womens)
1---02:10.74-Beth Duff U20-East Kilbride-
2---02:13.25-Rebecca Newton U17-Hallamshire-
3---02:13.28-Jade Williams U17-Radley / Amman Valley-
4---02:13.47-Laura Kirk U23-Skyrac / Leeds Metropolitan Uni-
5---02:13.52-Natalie Sharp U20-Kilbarchan-
6---02:14.79-Cally Read U20-Cannock & Stafford-
7---02:17.08-Natalie Shaw U23-Loughborough Uni-
BMC 800m D (Womens)
1---02:14.26-Ellie Buchan U17-Aberdeen-
2---02:14.83-Hollie Young U17-Victoria Park City Of Glasgow-
3---02:15.60-Sara Dobler U20-Swansea-
4---02:15.98-Alex Snook U23-Shildon / Loughborough Uni-
5---02:16.06-Abbie Vernon U17-Rotherham-
6---02:17.12-Catriona Lockie U17-Giffnock North-
BMC 800m E (Womens)
1---02:16.24-Victoria O'donnell U23-Trafford-
2---02:17.49-Bethan Strange U23-Cardiff / UWIC-
3---02:17.92-Debbie Nicol -Bristol & West-
4---02:18.10-Nicola Pugh -Trafford-
5---02:18.84-Kristie Leybourne U17-Blackpool Wyre & Fylde-
6---02:20.63-Jodie Spencer U20-Kingston Upon Hull-
BMC 1500m A (Mens)
1---03:45.34-Bruce Raeside -Notts / Cambuslang / Nottingham Tre-
2---03:45.37-James Thie -Cardiff-
3---03:46.33-Mark Thompson -United States-
4---03:46.54-Garry Bristow U23-Trafford-
5---03:47.10-Mikaek Bergdahl -Finland-
6---03:47.28-Chris Moss -Cardiff-
7---03:47.41-Lewis Moses U23-Newton Aycliffe / Loughborough Un-
8---03:47.53-Drew Graham -Gosforth-
9---03:47.75-Rory Fraser U23-Owls Leicester / Leeds Metropolit-
10---03:47.77-Jonathan Taylor U23-Morpeth / Teeside Uni-
11---03:47.99-Gareth Price -Shaftesbury Barnet / Black Squirr-
12---03:48.28-Richard Peters U20-Bristol & West-
13---03:48.94-John Laselle -Sweden-
BMC 1500m B (Mens)
1---03:49.07-Niall Brooks U20-Sale Harriers Manchester-
2---03:50.39-Tim Egerton -Trafford / UWIC-
3---03:52.40-Chris Hart U23-Blackburn / St. Mary's Uni / Newham-
4---03:53.21-James Mills U23-Wrexham / Bath Uni-
5---03:53.38-Soren Molbech -Denmark-
6---03:55.90-James Bailey -Sale Harriers Manchester / Loughb-
7---04:00.52-John Millington -Tipton-
8---04:02.08-Tom Marley U23-Bristol & West / UWIC-
BMC 1500m C (Mens)
1---03:49.16-Darren Gauson -Edinburgh / Belgrave / Butler Uni-
2---03:50.54-Chris O'hare U20-Edinburgh-
3---03:51.73-Paul Erwood U23-Marshall Milton Keynes / Bournemo-
4---03:53.73-Gareth Hill -Ballymena & Antrim / Border-
5---03:53.85-John Mccole -Liverpool H-
6---03:53.97-Ben Lindsay U23-Aldershot Farnham & District / S-
7---03:54.54-Rick Ward U20-City Of Norwich-
8---03:55.15-Jeremy Bradley -Cheltenham-
9---03:57.40-Ieuan Thomas U20-Cwmbran-
10---03:58.82-Craig Ruddy U23-Inverclyde / Central-
11---04:09.03-James Poole U23-Blackheath & Bromley / Loughborou-
BMC 1500m D (Mens)
1---03:55.84-Tom Cunningham U23-Blackpool Wyre & Fylde / St. And-
2---03:55.85-Richard Morrell U23-Middlesbrough (mandale)-
3---03:57.00-Stephen Emery U23-Rugby & Northampton-
4---03:57.49-Rob Hodges -Hull-
5---03:57.63-Mathew Jackson U20-Warrington / St. Helens Sutton-
6---03:57.66-Daniel Cotterill U20-Tipton-
7---03:57.79-Peter Street U20-Preston / Loughborough Uni-
8---03:59.94-Fabian Downs U23-Chiltern / Uw Bangor-
9---04:02.46-Alexander Soderberg U23-Sweden-
10---04:06.00-Robbie Schofield -Ribble-
11---04:14.00-Alistair Smith U23-Coventry-
12---04:21.39-Andrew Mariani U20-Woodford Green With Essex Ladie-
BMC 1500m E (Mens)
1---03:49.70-Hamza Chatholi -India-
2---03:58.32-Paritam Bind -India-
3---04:00.01-James Philipson U23-Sale Harriers Manchester / Bath U-
4---04:02.70-Jonathan Henderson -Edinburgh / Highgate / Edinburgh Un-
5---04:03.33-Kris Lecher U20-Hull Achilles-
6---04:08.68-Michael Tarpey -Herts Phoenix-
7---04:11.63-Declan Murray U20-Macclesfield / Cheshire Tigers-
8---04:12.19-Andrew Kaar U23-Solihull & Small Heath-
9---04:22.99-Tom Mahon U20-Owls Leicester-
BMC 1500m A (Womens)
1---04:14.66-Rachael Ogden -Worthing-
2---04:15.53-Emma Jackson U23-City Of Stoke / Keele Uni-
3---04:22.77-Alexa Joel -Havering Mayesbrook-
4---04:27.11-Eilish Mccolgan U20-Dundee Hawkhill / Kingdom Athleti-
5---04:27.27-Morag Maclarty U23-Central-
6---04:27.50-Vicky Gill -Aldershot Farnham & District-
7---04:27.63-Sonia Samuels (was Thomas) -Sale Harriers Manchester / Loughb-
8---04:27.83-Lauren Howarth U20-Leigh / Wigan & District-
9---04:28.10-Flo Jonsson -Sweden-
10---04:28.21-Helen Singleton -Wakefield-
11---04:28.38-Julia Russell -Hallamshire / Trafford / Sheffield -
12---04:29.22-Charlotte Purdue U20-Aldershot Farnham & District-
BMC 1500m B (Womens)
1---04:19.66-Sinimole Paulose -India-
2---04:29.29-Katie Knowles U20-Bristol & West-
3---04:31.02-Jaki Fairchild U20-Trafford / Loughborough Uni-
4---04:32.41-Lauren Deadman -Havering Mayesbrook-
5---04:34.35-Abbey Mcghee U20-Victoria Park City Of Glasgow / L-
6---04:39.36-Kirsty Milner U20-Trafford / Loughborough Uni-
7---04:40.34-Rosanna Iannone -Vale Of Aylesbury-
8---04:41.37-Nicola Hood U20-Victoria Park City Of Glasgow / N-
9---04:42.54-Leigh Lennon U20-Newham & Essex Beagles / Wigan & -
10---04:43.25-Alison Lavender U23-Oswestry / Loughborough Uni / Borde-
11---04:50.36-Amy Talbot U20-Warrington / St. Helens Sutton-
12---05:00.87-Siobhan Harrison U17-Aldershot Farnham & District-
BMC 3,000m A (Mens)
1---08:01.70-Jonathan Mellor U23-Liverpool H-
2---08:08.78-Antony Ford -Blackpool Wyre & Fylde / Wiscons-
3---08:13.68-Ryan Mcleod -Elswick / Loughborough Uni-
4---08:14.13-Neilson Hall -Bedford & County / Herts Phoenix-
5---08:14.48-Matt Janes -Bedford & County / W’minster U-
6---08:15.24-Jonathan Wills -Bristol & West-
7---08:17.15-Simon Deakin -Leeds City-
8---08:17.90-Andrew Rayner -Blackheath & Bromley / Butler Uni-
9---08:18.00-Paddy Hamilton -Annadale / Border-
10---08:20.79-Craig Murphy U20-Ireland-
11---08:21.07-Mark Hood -Sunderland / Northumbria Uni-
12---08:22.26-Martin Gostling -Leeds City-
13---08:23.20-Owain Matthews -Bedford & County-
14---08:26.73-Dean Lacy -Cambridge H-
15---08:28.39-Steffan North -Sale Harriers Manchester-
16---08:47.03-Matthew Harris U23-New Zealand-
17---08:52.83-Tobias Lundgren U23-Sweden-
BMC 3,000m B (Mens)
1---08:20.29-Chris Sampson -Morpeth / Gateshead-
2---08:23.26-Craig Peters U23-Bristol & West-
3---08:24.56-Martin Graham -Shettleston-
4---08:25.27-Michael Johnson -Cardiff-
5---08:25.61-Nick Swinburn U23-Morpeth / Bangor Uni-
6---08:25.76-Adrian Holliday U23-Trafford / Birmingham Uni-
7---08:36.48-Simon Mills U23-Sale Harriers Manchester-
8---08:37.05-James Mee U20-Mansfield / Birmingham Uni-
9---08:39.85-Tim Prendergast -New Zealand-
10---08:43.64-Carl Smith U20-Chester-le-street-
11---08:47.66-Dale Williamson U20-Bedford & County-
12---08:51.34-Hywel Care -Woodford Green With Essex Ladie-
13---08:52.73-Thomas Cornthwaite -Blackburn-
14---09:02.17-Christopher Price U23-Wakefield-
15---09:17.51-Andrew Inskip U23-Bedford & County / Birmingham Uni-
BMC 3,000m A (Womens)
1---09:32.81-Andrea Woodvine -Aldershot Farnham & District / B-
2---09:46.36-Lena Orn U23-Sweden-
3---09:50.73-Alicia Evans U23-New Zealand-
4---09:51.17-Joanna Emery -Rugby & Northampton-
5---09:55.00-Carolyn Summersgill -Middlesbrough & Cleveland-
6---09:55.79-Emma Reed U20-Bristol & West-
7---09:56.51-Kathleen Upton -Liverpool H-
8---10:20.63-Mary Ferrier U23-Gateshead / Leeds Uni-