Wednesday 7th May 2008

THE Loughborough International Athletics (LIA) meet turns 50 this year as around 400 of the country’s most talented athletes descend on the University on Sunday 18th May.

Many of Britain’s Beijing hopefuls are in town for the annual one-day event which has seen a host of Olympic stars compete since its inception in 1959.

This year two Great Britain teams plus squads from Scotland, England, Wales and a Loughborough past and present contingent go head to head in what has become the traditional curtain raiser to the outdoor season.

Previous participants have included Sebastian Coe, Jonathan Edwards, Paula Radcliffe, Geoff Capes and Denise Lewis and this year is set to be no different with teams being confirmed over the next 10 days.

“The LIA is one of the longest standing annual representative athletics fixture in the UK’s calendar and provides competitors with a challenging high level track and field meet,” said Loughborough University Director of Athletics George Gandy. “Spectators will see virtually all the best young athletes in Britain with more than a sprinkling of current top international seniors.

“The LIA marks the beginning of the serious business of the season, and in an Olympic year for those going to the Games every time they step up in an athletics stadium is important.

“A lot of athletes need to gain Olympic qualification performances and World Junior Championship times over the next couple of months and the LIA is one of the few remaining opportunities for them to produce the goods.”

The LIA is a fantastic opportunity for local residents to see the cream of British athletics in action as momentum builds towards the Beijing Olympics. Tickets cost just £5 per person (£3 concessions) and are available on the day or in advance from selected University sports facilities and the Students Union Shop. Gates open at 10.30am with the first event at 11am.

Friday 2nd May 2008

LIZ YELLING preparing for the Olympic Games marathon in August will use the BUPA Great Women's Run in Sunderland on Sunday June 15th as part of her build-up towards Beijing.

Former Loughborough resident Yelling assured herself of selection for Team GB when the first Briton across the line in the recent Flora London Marathon where she also broke the two-and-half hour barrier for the first time.

The 33-year-old Bedford runner had already pencilled in returning to Wearside for a third successive year but decided to see how her body recovered from London before committing.

"Liz gave me the good news at the weekend she would be ready to race and it will be good to have her in the field again," said Andy Caine the event's elite athlete manager.

"She produced a fantastic performance in London and although she will be running just 10 kilometres that is a distance she also has massive ability over."

Yelling who clocked two hours 28minutes 33minutes, makes no secret that now Olympic selection is virtually assured when the team is announced shortly, that remains her top priority.

But the former training partner of world marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe knows the importance of building up some speed to add to the massive stamina she already has with her marathon training schedule.

Yelling said: "The Great Run Series is excellent for bringing the most talented British runners together and providing them with a spring board to earning from their sport.

Competing together helps to raise everyone’s game and they always have such a buzz to them and they really test you with their great international fields. These races let me know where I am at and motivate me to try harder."

Yelling who finished 25th at the 2004 Olympics, added: "I am excited about Beijing and I want to do better than I did in Athens. It was only my second ever marathon and I have progressed a lot since then, but it will be hard."

Caine has yet to announce overseas entrants but is confident he can attract some world class talent for the third successive year to the meeting. "Gete Wami and Rose Cheruiyot have won the titles for Ethiopia and Kenya and that's the sort of quality runner I'm aiming to sign up for this year's race. There's plenty of irons in the fire," he insisted.

Thursday 1st May 2008

FORMER Loughborough student Andy Turner is convinced he can reach the Olympic 110 metres hurdles final this summer despite suffering an injury setback training in South Africa earlier this year.

The 2006 European and Commonwealth bronze medallist quickly recovered from his setback in Potchefstroom and proved he is back to full fitness after some high-quality workouts in the United States.

Turner, who opens his season at the IAAF Doha Super Grand Prix on May 9th, said: "I've just come back from California where I was getting in some warm weather training.

"I actually opened my season over there in the Long Beach event, I wasn't aiming to be really competitive. I used it purely to look at a few things we've been working on in a race situation.

"I head for Doha for a proper season opener then follow that with the European Club Cup with Sale."

The 27-year-old high hurdler believes his hopes of achieving his aim in China will be boosted by returning to the British Olympic Association's preparatory camp before the Games get under way.

"I've been there before and I believe it will be the perfect place for preparing for Beijing," said Turner. "I'm looking forward to getting there to begin the final few weeks countdown."

The reigning British champion is realistic enough to realise that despite his vast improvement in recent years, he is not rated a medal candidate.

But that has not stopped him studying his rivals for the title and he would not be surprised if Liu Xiang, even with the support of the host nation crowd, fails to retain his crown.

"My biggest aim for this year is to be in that final," said the Nottingham-born star.

"It's going to fantastic to be on the start with nearly all the 80,000 there cheering for Liu Xiang.

"I'm clearly going to be motivated by this atmosphere. (But) I, for the record, don't believe that Liu Xiang will win it."

Article by PA Sport.

Wednesday 16th April 2008

CALLING all Senior Sprinters (U20 and above), the England Athletics East and West Midlands Regions, working in partnership with the Midland Counties AA and supported by UK Athletics, are pleased to announce an exciting new competition concept.

We will be supporting a series of six open races linked to Grand Prix-style Finals at the new outdoor Birmingham Games, this Summer.

All Senior Sprinters (U20 and above) from across both regions will have the chance to qualify for finals over 100m, 200m and 400m, to be staged on Sunday 20th July, at the Alexander Stadium, Birmingham.

The venue of, course, will have just played host to this year’s Olympic Trials and the Birmingham Games will also be providing one more big chance for qualifying times and great performances before Beijing.

To qualify for the Finals, sprinters will need to compete in at least 2 of the 6 meetings that will be staged between April and June. Points will be awarded at each meeting and a league table will be compiled.

Three meetings in each region will be supporting promoters within existing and new meetings. Electronic timing will be added to each event to offer a high quality environment at which they hope to see standards rise!
Qualifying Meetings for the Grand Prix Sprint finals are:
Birmingham University - 5th May
Loughborough - 18th June
Coventry - 28th May
Worcester - 19th June
Corby - 4th June
Derby - 25th June

Every performance, from all 6 qualifying meetings will be fed into the Power of 10 site and the regions will highlight their Summer Sprints Series winners across the Athletics and local media.

The top four performers, from each region and in each event – both men and women – will be invited to the Birmingham Games finals, with a prize package that will support each finalist.

For more information including entry details visit: www.englandathletics.org or www.midlandathletics.org

Wednesday 16th April 2008

WORLD 400m Hurdles champion Jana Rawlinson of Australia will return to her base in Loughborough to commence her campaign on the European circuit this summer at the Golden Spike of Ostrava on 12th June 2008, an IAAF Grand Prix status meeting as part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour.

The double global gold medallist (Paris ‘03 and Osaka ‘07) will compete at meetings in USA meetings in May.

"I am very excited about starting my European season in Ostrava in this Olympic year. I hope to put on a good performance and will be happy to be introduced to the crowd again as the World champion," confirmed Rawlinson.

"We will move to Loughborough, our European base in England. I love Loughborough. We’re only there for seven weeks this time. We’re renting a place. It’s in our favourite town, and it’s got lots of lovely walks that I take Cor on every morning. I’m looking forward to being back in an environment that I know will be great for our training."

The hope is that Rawlinson can attack the meet record of Romanian Ionela Tirlea which has stood at 53.87secs since 2003 but that will not be an easy task early in the season, as is testified by the three serious tries were have previously been organized in the past with the likes of Yulia Pechonkina or Lashinda Demus unsuccessful.

Tuesday 15th April 2008

TEAM ENGLAND have selected the following athletes for the Marseilles International 10km to be held in the South of France on Thursday 1st May 2008.

The Women’s squad includes from Charnwood AC, Jane Potter, the 25-year-old British international who recently ran the fastest overall individual leg for the Loughborough-based club at their successful title defence of the Nike Midlands Six-Stage Road Relays at Birmingham’s Sutton Park.
Full England Team:
Men
Ian Boneham
Neil Speight
Mark Miles
David Wardle
Women
Sophie Morris
Jane Potter
Michelle Ross-Cope
Charlene Thomas

Thursday 10th April 2008

THE World Marathon Majors Tour roles into the capital this weekend and despite Paula Radcliffe's non-appearance, there is still considerable British interest in the battle between Hayley Haining and Liz Yelling for a place in the Great Britain Olympic marathon team and fellow Commonwealth bronze medallist Dan Robinson’s performance in the men’s race up against compatriot Tomas Abyu all chasing their Beijing dreams.

After the farcical and surreal scenes of the previous Sunday (6th April) with the Beijing Olympic Torch parade disrupted by protesters where sport and politics - different as oil and water, but forever intertwined - normality will return to the streets of London with the resumption of the 2007/08 World Marathon Majors series which will witness a galaxy of the sport's brightest stars get back in action in both London and in the Netherlands port city of Rotterdam for a chance of winning the $850,000 prize money, and claiming the highly prestigious World Marathon Majors title.

The London Marathon, began in 1981, is now firmly established as part of the British sporting calendar - it’s rather like the Boat Race, the Grand National, the FA Cup Final and Wimbledon, you may not be a fan of the various sports all year round but you always sit down and watch the drama unfold.

So millions across the United Kingdom will sit down armed with the Sunday newspapers and their breakfast to switch on BBC One and hear Ron Goodwin’s stirring music ‘The Trap’ role over the opening credits as Sue Barker guides the viewers through the event.

At the sharp end of the women’s race Olympic hopeful Liz Yelling will not be taking any of her rivals lightly in London, even though she believes she is in the best form of her career and will face a tough battle against Haining.

The two are separated by just one second on their lifetime best with Scotland's Haining running 2:30.43secs in Berlin last September and Yelling a couple of strides slower when finishing eighth in London last April.

Although the Great Britain team has not officially been released for Beijing, world record-holder Paula Radcliffe and Mara Yamauchi seem certainties for inclusion based on their world-class victories in the New York and Osaka marathons respectively.

That leaves the duo of Yelling and Haining fighting it out to join that pair after the trial race in the capital.

The contenders need no reminding the first Brit home in the world's most popular marathon race will be flying out to compete in China this summer.

Yelling, although respectful of all her rivals, is convinced she is the right person for the job and her form - which includes finishing as the top Europe-born athlete in the recent World Cross-Country Championships - suggest her confidence is justified.

"It's what it's all about. I love the high of competing amongst the best in the world. I am a much stronger and faster athlete than I was four years ago and I believe I can do much better than my last Olympic performance in Athens."

Yelling was indeed the leading British finisher in Greece four years ago in 25th, and is confident of getting a second crack at the world's greatest sporting event this summer. However, there is a note of caution too after her bad experience in Chicago last October, when soaring temperatures wrecked her hopes of achieving the Games qualifying mark.

Conditions were so bad organisers took a health and safety decision to abandon the race with competitors collapsing and having to be rushed for treatment to hospitals in what was a freak 'Windy City' heatwave.

Yelling admitted: "I was very frustrated with Chicago as everything went to plan before the race. But I can only concentrate on the things I can control and not worry about the things I can't.

"I adapted my race strategy for unexpectedly hot weather and humidity in Chicago and was pleased with fourth and if anything it proves that I can race in extremely hot weather and in tough conditions - much like the demands of Beijing."

The Commonwealth bronze medallist learned from that experience, and from the shock of witnessing the then unknown Morris win the 2004 trial event.

Yelling conceded: "I never like to underestimate any athlete. Hayley Haining will be my main rival but having beaten her in the Reading half-marathon last month I feel more confident.

"I know I'm in good shape and I'll just do the best I can do on the day."

Yelling is also determined to prove herself against world-class opposition including the Ethiopian duo of Berhane Adere, who beat her in Chicago, and the first World Marathon Majors champion Gete Wami.

Yelling said: "I want to race London to the best of my ability. I always race hard.

"I have missed the opportunity to fulfil my potential over the marathon distance due to warm and extreme weather conditions in my last four marathons and I am hoping London will provide me with the opportunity to run a fast marathon and hopefully by doing this I will secure my Olympic selection."

Yelling, whose personal best is two hours 30 minutes and 44 seconds, added: "I know I am in great shape this year. My training has been going well and I am running faster and longer than ever before.

"I am sure I can run a sub two hours 28 minutes and a sub 2:26, that would be what I think I am capable of on the right day."

The men's race would be any promoter's dream team with Martin Lel not only bidding to retain and win a third title in four years, but also aiming to clinch his Olympic Games place.

David Bedford was pleasantly surprised to learn that Athletics Kenya plan to base their team selections for Beijing mainly on how their athletes perform in London in what has been described by sources there as the "unofficial trial".

"I am very pleased to be able to defend my title," said 29-year-old Lel. "I am training hard to make sure I am in top shape for my bid to win a third time and I know it will be tough, but I love running in London and am confident I can win again."

Lel, the only man ever to win the London and New York City marathons in the same year with superb successes at both venues in 2007, was not understating his challenge.

Apart from Baldini and Kibet, he also faces the 2004 ING New York champion, Hendrick Ramaala, two-time world champion Jaouad Gharib and fellow countrymen Kibet, Felix Limo - the race winner two years ago - and Sammy Wanjiru.

Wanjiru is a phenomenal talent and made a sparkling marathon debut last December when smashing the Fukuoka course record with a time of 2:06.39secs - the third-quickest in the world last year.

The 21-year-old Japan-based athlete made the step up to marathon running after pursuing a highly and still successful half-marathon career.

He lowered fellow Kenyan Paul Tergat's long-standing world half-marathon record three years ago, then reclaimed it from Haile Gebrselassie in February last year, before a month later reducing it to 58:33secs.

Wanjiru has thrown down the gauntlet for London, saying he hopes to run two hours five minutes in London as he believes that is what it will take to be selected for the Kenyan Olympic team.

Ryan Hall is another outstanding newcomer to the 26-mile, 382-yard distance, and after becoming the fastest American debutant when finishing seventh 12 months ago in London, assured himself of his Olympic vest after winning the US Men's Marathon Trials last November on the eve of the New York event.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Dan Robinson, who was ninth a year ago and finished 11th in last summer's Oaska World Championships, will be favourite to win the Olympic trial being staged as part of the London race.

Peter Riley could test him along with fellow Britain internationals Dominic Bannister, Huw Lobb, Kassa Tadesse and Ian Hudspith.

Tomas Abyu produced a superb run in Dublin last October clocking 2:10.37 – however, due to the course being uncertifield his Olympic qualification was not ratifield so he will have a point to prove this weekend in London.

Watch too for six Maasai warriors from northern Tanzania, who will be running in the London Marathon, have opened an exhibition dedicated to the race.

The warriors are raising money to provide safe drinking water in Elaui, their village in eastern Africa.

They will run the 26-mile route on Sunday wearing traditional clothes, as well as shoes made from car tyres.
The London Marathon Role of Honour
Men
1981 Dick Beardsley USA/Inge Simonsen NOR
1982 Hugh Jones GBR
1983 Mike Gratton GBR
1984 Charlie Spedding GBR
1985 Steve Jones GBR
1986 Toshihiko Seko JPN
1987 Hiromi Taniguchi JPN
1988 Henrik Jorgensen DEN
1989 Douglas Wakiihuri KEN
1990 Allister Hutton GBR
1991 Yakov Tolstikov RUS
1992 Antonio Pinto POR
1993 Eamonn Martin GBR
1994 Dionicio Ceron MEX
1995 Dionicio Ceron MEX
1996 Dionicio Ceron MEX
1997 Antonio Pinto POR
1998 Abel Anton ESP
1999 Abdelkader El Mouaziz MAR
2000 Antonio Pinto POR
2001 Abdelkader El Mouaziz MAR
2002 Khalid Khannouchi USA
2003 Gezahegne Abera ETH
2004 Evans Rutto KEN
2005 Martin Lel KEN
2006 Felix Limo KEN
2007 Martin Lel KEN
Women
1981 - Joyce Smith GBR
1982 - Joyce Smith GBR
1983 - Grete Waitz NOR
1984 - Ingrid Kristiansen NOR
1985 - Ingrid Kristiansen NOR
1986 - Grete Waitz NOR
1987 - Ingrid Kristiansen NOR
1988 - Ingrid Kristiansen NOR
1989 - Veronique Marot GBR
1990 - Wanda Panfil POL
1991 - Rosa Mota POR
1992 - Katrin Dorre GER
1993 - Katrin Dorre GER
1994 - Katrin Dorre GER
1995 - Malgorzata Sobanska POL
1996 - Liz McColgan GBR
1997 - Joyce Chepchumba KEN
1998 - Catherina McKiernan IRL
1999 - Joyce Chepchumba KEN
2000 - Tegla Loroupe KEN
2001 - Derartu Tulu ETH
2002 - Paula Radcliffe GBR
2003 - Paula Radcliffe GBR
2004 - Margaret Okayo KEN
2005 - Paula Radcliffe GBR
2006 - Deena Kastor USA
2007 - Chunxiu Zhou CHN
Course Records:
Men 2002 - Khalid Khannouchi USA 2:05:38
Women 2003 - Paula Radcliffe GBR 2:15:25 (mixed race)
Women 2005 - Paula Radcliffe GBR 2:17:42 (women only)
2008 Race Timetable:
Elite Women 9.00am
Elite Wheelchair 9.25am
adidas Mini-Marathon 9.05am
Elite Men and Masses 9.45am
Media Coverage:
0830-1400 BBC ONE & BBC Sport website
0830-1600 BBCi & BBC Sport website
1840-1930 BBC TWO & BBC Sport website - Highlights (repeated at 0225-0315)

The 2008 Flora London Marathon official web-site is available on the following link:www.london-marathon.co.uk/

Tuesday 8th April 2008

BRITISH athletics superstar Paula Radcliffe believes pollution in Beijing will not be as big a problem as heat and humidity during the Olympic marathon.

Radcliffe, the marathon world record-holder who suffers from asthma, believes the air quality in the Chinese capital will not be the main concern for athletes.

"It might not even be as bad as everyone thinks because I'm sure the Chinese will do everything they can to reduce the problem," said Radcliffe.

"I need the right dosages of my asthma medication but after that I don't think it's something you can worry about too much," the 34-year-old told BBC News 24.

"And the effects of pollution are usually felt after a race. Will I really care if I wake up the next morning with a sore throat and feeling a bit sick if I have got what I want the day before? No, probably not.

"We're all dealing with the same thing so I don't think worrying about it in advance is that productive.

"But heat and humidity are a different kettle of fish because they are things you can prepare for. I'm concentrating more on those factors than the pollution."

To watch the full BBC News 24 interview with Paula Radcliffe click on the following link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/athletics/7335397.stm

Tuesday 8th April 2008

BRITISH international and Commonwealth Games Marathon bronze medallist Liz Yelling and Great Britain endurance and cross-country coach Nick Anderson are holding a special training camp in the Forest of Dean over the weekend of 19th and 20th April 2008.

The weekend will consist of:
Inspiring, motivational and fun!
• Practical coached running sessions and guided group runs through fantastic scenery
• Informal workshops and talks with expert coaching from Liz Yelling and Nick Anderson
• Advice on training, planning, racing and becoming a better runner – whatever your level
• A free place in the Bristol 10k or the Bristol Half Marathon – or your race entry fee deducted from the camp costs if you have already booked your place
Reebok RunBristol Forest of Dean Training Camp details:
Dean Fields Studies Centre, Parkend, Forest of Dean, Lydney GL15 4JA.

Reebok and RunBristol race organizers Bristol City Council have teamed up to provide a weekend training camp in the beautiful Forest of Dean. The camp will offer expert coaching, support and advice – at greatly reduced cost to similar training weekends.

The camp is designed for runners of all experience and abilities, from the complete novice planning to run the Bristol 10k in May – to the experienced club runner looking for a personal best in September’s Reebok Bristol Half Marathon.
Andy Graffin from Reebok says:
“This will be a great weekend for all – but we are especially keen to have the less experienced “fun runners” with us. Even if this years Bristol events will be your first big run/ jog, the training camp weekend will be packed full of indispensable tips and information. The camp will be invaluable if you are already training for the Bristol 10k or a great way to kick start your training if you are planning to RunBristol in September’s half marathon.”
Coaching Team:
The training camp team of expert coaches will include:
Liz Yelling – Commonwealth Games Marathon bronze medallist, National Champion and Athens Olympian. Although Liz is an elite athlete herself she has a down to earth, fun and friendly approach to running. Liz loves to see other runners of all abilities achieve what they’d previously thought impossible! Liz is a regular contributor to Running Fitness magazine and is the author of ‘The Woman’s Guide to Running’.
Nick Anderson – Nick is a P.E teacher and Head of Athletics at Winchester College and former international runner. He has been coaching since 1994 and he is now the Great Britain endurance and cross-country coach. Nick is a regular contributor to Runners World and has a wealth of experience in coaching and racing for all levels of runner.
Martin Yelling – Martin is a qualified UK Athletics coach, teacher and has a PhD in physical activity promotion. An expert in the field of endurance performance Martin is an Ironman Hawaii World championship finisher and former National Duathlon Champion. Martin writes regularly for Running Fitness magazine and coaches runners and triathletes of all abilities.
Training Camp Timetable:
Saturday 19th April
9.15am Arrival, coffee and registration
10.00am Welcome and intro: Camp outline
10.15am The bedrocks of better running. (talk 1)
11.15am Practical coached session. Learn from the best!
12.45pm Lunch. Refuel and relax!
2.00pm Liz Yelling talk and Q&A (talk 2)
3:15pm What to do in your training, when and why (talk 3)
4:30pm Break and coffee
5:00pm Practical coached forest easy run
7:15pm Group social and 3 course evening meal
9:00pm Quiz with prizes!
Sunday 20th April
8.00am Breakfast buffet
9:10am How to do a long run! (talk 4)
10:30am Guided, coached long run
12:30pm Buffet lunch
1.00pm Getting it right on race day (talk 5)
2.15pm Closure, Q&A and departure
Training Camp Cost:
£99.00 advance booking fee (VAT inclusive)

The training camp fee Includes a complimentary entry for either the Bristol 10k (Bank Holiday May 5th), or the Reebok Bristol Half Marathon (September 14th) if you already have a race entry this can be deducted from the camp costs.

Please note if your booking is accepted the fee is non refundable but is transferable – so if you are unable to attend you may pass the booking on to a friend. Bookings can also be made for a group of runners with the names confirmed on arrival.

The camp includes all coaching and training, board and meals. Food is healthy and plentiful and vegetarian and vegan meals can be pre-booked.

Accommodation is basic but comfortable, with shared rooms and bunk style beds. Please note that if you are not booking in with a group of friends or partner, you may be required to share a room with other runners of the same sex.
Reebok RunBristol Forest of Dean Training Camp how to register:

Places will be allocated on a “first come first served basis” on receipt of payment.
In order to register you will need to download and complete the registration form available on the following link and send this, with your payment by cheque or postal order (no cash please) made out to Bristol City Council (half marathon) to the address given on the registration form.

www.bristolhalfmarathon.com/areyoufit

To visit Liz Yelling’s official web-site click on the following link: www.active-futures.com/

Friday 4th April 2008

BRITISH athletics superstar Paula Radcliffe has been confirmed as one of the 80 torch-bearers in this Sunday's Olympic relay through London.

The reigning New York and world marathon record-holder will carry the torch over Tower Bridge as the flame winds its way from the new Wembley Stadium to the O2 Arena in Greenwich.

Radcliffe joins a strong contingent of current, former and future Olympic athletes, with Sir Steven Redgrave running the first leg after lighting the torch at Wembley.

Double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes will complete the final leg of the relay by lighting an Olympic cauldron in front of 5,000 spectators.

Confirmation of Radcliffe's inclusion as the 80th torch-bearer is understood to have been delayed until Friday due to the athlete's training schedule.

The high-profile announcement is a boost for the relay organisers, following a day of confusion over the participation of the Chinese ambassador.

Four places in the relay have been reserved for representatives from Beijing's organising committee BOCOG, and one of those was set to be taken by ambassador Fu Ying.

She has been instructed to spend the day with the Chinese delegation flying into London for the event - but the embassy stated on Thursday that she was trying to find a way of juggling both responsibilities.

Former heptathlon Olympic champion Denise Lewis will carry the torch into Downing Street, where she will be greeted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Former British tennis number one Tim Henman, England cricketer Kevin Pietersen, Arsenal striker Theo Walcott and sailor Ellen McArthur will all carry the torch on its route across the capital.

The flame was lit in Olympia, Greece on March 24th before the official handover in Athens, venue for the 2004 Olympics, on March 30th.
The most ambitious Olympic relay ever will see the torch travel 85,000 miles through 21 cities and visit all 31 provinces of China before being carried into the Beijing Games opening ceremony on August 8th.

Thursday 3rd April 2008

BRITAIN’S women led by Liz Yelling flew the flag for European distance running at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh last weekend.

Britain finished fourth in the women’s junior team competition, one place higher than in the heat of Mombasa last year, and sixth in the senior race thanks to a 15th place position for Yelling, the second European home behind the spectacular fifth place performance of Hilda Kibet from the Netherlands.

Former Loughborough resident Yelling gave notice that she is in top condition as she became the best-placed European-born finisher at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh.

Yelling, whose top priority is winning the British Olympic trial race at next month’s Flora London Marathon, emphasized she is still a world-class cross-country performer with a powerful display.

The 33-year-old Bedford athlete, who has twice won team bronze medals at the championships, finished a solid 15th when leading the depleted Great Britain side to sixth place overall in an event dominated, as expected, by the African nations.

Yelling, who has continued her cross-country season this winter despite London dominating her plans, insisted combining the disciplines has been beneficial.

“I just love racing whatever the terrain,” said Yelling, winner this year of a third English national cross title.

Yelling was supported by sister-in-law Hayley Yelling (21st), Loughboorugh University graduate Laura Kenney (38th) and Rachel Townend (42nd).

The early race leader whose highest placing was 13th four years ago, added: “I felt really comfortable, so I just wanted to get up there and give it a go, I know I am in the best shape I’ve ever been in.”

Yelling, replying to criticism of a team with many experienced athletes missing the event through injury or Olympic preparations, insisted there was a bright future ahead at championship level.

She said: “There’s an awful lot of experience in the team with myself and Hayley and it’s great we’ve finally got some youngsters breaking through, it’s a transitional team for the future.”

While Ethiopia swept all the individual titles and both women’s team competitions at Holyrood Park, Charlotte Purdue in 16th and Laura Park in 17th helped Britain’s junior women finish behind Japan and four points ahead of Canada, giving British runners, and Europeans in general, something to cheer about at the 36th World Cross Country Championships.

“I knew it would be tough this year combining the races. But I know I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. The support was awesome, every step of the race someone was shouting out your name.”

With the likes of Paula Radcliffe, Jo Pavey and Kate Reed missing from the team, finishing sixth was an encouraging performance for the British team after they’d been criticised for not fielding a stronger squad.

“There’s an awful lot of experience in the team with myself and Hayley and its great we’ve finally got some youngsters breaking through. This will be a really good, steep learning curve for when we move on. It’s a transitional team for the future” said a buoyant Yelling.

Hayley Yelling, a former European Cross Country Champion, slipped back in the latter stages of the race to finish 21st while the second European woman home was Saadia Bourgailh Haddioui of France in 19th.

After Purdue and Park, the next European home in the junior race was another Briton, Emma Pallant, in 27th, while Ireland’s Sara Louise Treacy was 32nd.

Thursday 3rd April 2008

THE city of Birmingham has been chosen to stage next year's IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships. The event will be held on Sunday 11th October following the decision by the International Association of Athletics Federations at a meeting in London on Wednesday (2nd April).

The midlands city will be the third British venue to host the championships first held as part of the Great North Run on Tyneside in 1982 and then Bristol in 2001.

Thessaloniki, the second-largest city in Greece, won the right to stage next year's IAAF World Athletics final ahead of Bydgoszcz in Poland.

Ed Warner, Chairman of UK Athletics said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Birmingham City Council once again to host this prestigious event. Everyone at UK Athletics is looking forward to putting on another top class sporting spectacle here in Birmingham and welcoming some of the world’s best runners.”

IAAF president Lamine Diack said: "Birmingham organised one of the best ever editions of the IAAF World Indoor Championships a few years ago and this weekend we also enjoyed an excellent edition of the World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh.

"The World Half-Marathon Championships is the only IAAF World Championships specifically for road runners, and we are very keen to reach out to this thriving community of our sport."

Diack added: "We believe that Thessaloniki will offer an excellent stage for the world's best athletes for the climax of the 2009 track season."

Wednesday 2nd April 2008

THE 2008 Charnwood Open meeting schedule at the Loughborough University track has been announced.

The first fixture takes place on Sunday 20th April with an Open Graded warm-up meeting and concludes on Sunday 31st August with the ‘Stars of the Future’ meeting.
Full 2008 fixture list:
Sunday 20th April - Open Graded
Wednesday 21st May - Open Graded
Wednesday 18th June - Open Graded
Wednesday 23rd July - Open Graded
Wednesday 20th August - Open Graded
Sunday 31st August‘ - Stars of the Future’

The host club Charnwood AC will donate 50p from every entry to the ‘Rainbows Hospice Charity’.

Further details and entry information is available on the following link: www.charnwoodac.org.uk/Open%20Meeting%20Details%202008.pdf

Thursday 27th March 2008

UK SPORT are confident their new £1million testing initiative can help ensure the British team will have a "true performance" at the Beijing Olympics.

As part of the largest programme in the organisation's history, more than 1,500 tests - on both blood and urine - will be conducted alongside an improved education programme which includes face-to-face workshops, a dedicated website for athletes as well as a support telephone line during the Games themselves, which start on August 8th.

UK Sport aim to test every athlete selected for Team GB at least once in the run-up to the showpiece sporting event, which is to be held in China for the first time.

The initiative is backed by the British Olympic and Paralympic Associations, who have agreed for the majority of tests to be conducted with no advance notice at training camps or other out-of-competition destinations.

Director of drug-free sport at UK Sport John Scott maintains the governing body are doing all they can to ensure cheats do not prosper in Beijing.

"We have been a world leader in putting down a marker that we will not tolerate any athlete joining the Olympic or Paralympic teams if they have not made themselves available for testing and been tested," Scott said at today's press briefing following the launch of the initiative at UK Sport's central
London headquarters.

"Our core priority is to make sure athletes have no desire to dope, realise the risk they are running if they even consider it and obviously to be able to give some assurance to the public that the performance of the British athletes is a true performance.

"We firmly believe the vast majority are clean, although there clearly are some athletes, coaches and medics who do not share that philosophy.

"What we want to do is demonstrate through a rigorous pre-Games testing programme that we are doing everything we can to stop anyone who is cheating getting the privilege of going to the Games.

"Is it going to be 100% successful? I don't know. We are sending out very strong messages and using what we hope is peer pressure and the support structure to discourage any athlete from that route.

"But yes, I accept there is some degree of scepticism in the system and this is something which athletes who do complete clear find very frustrating.

"That is why we need good, strong ambassadors who show what can be achieved without recourse to drugs."

Scott accepted the fight is increasingly difficult given the complex chemical technology being used by drugs cheats.

"It is a battle where, theoretically, the testers are always playing catch-up because you are pursuing something which is being done illegally," he said.

"There will still be some athletes who think they can beat the system, but the likelihood of them being able to get away with it is being closed down all the time.

"We have to move the focus away from pure testing of athletes to more investigation and trying to assemble information so that you are hopefully beginning to get ahead of the game."

British sprinters Mark Lewis-Francis and Simeon Williamson have both admitted they have missed two random tests - and face being banned for a year if they miss a third.

World 400metre champion Christine Ohuruogu and world triathlon champion Tim Don have both served suspensions - of a year and three months respectively - for being unavailable on three occasions when testers visited.

Former European 100m gold medallist Dwain Chambers has returned to competitive action following his two-year suspension after testing positive for designer steroid Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), but remains banned from the British Olympic team.

Scott believes the new initiative is as much about making athletes aware of the risks they face as well as catching those who purposely seek to cheat the system.

"We are also putting a big emphasis on education," Scott stressed. "It is absolutely essential all the athletes understand what their responsibilities and accountabilities are, as well as what the processes will be in and around the Games.

"The IOC [International Olympic Committee] will be working with WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency] and will, if necessary, be testing athletes outside of the [Olympic] Village, so there are some extremely important messages we are getting through to them.

"We do not want any repeats of inadvertent doping, so we are putting out as many messages as we can to both the support personnel and the athletes directly.

"It does not take away any of the athletes individual responsibility. It is just a way of supporting them.

"Athletes are in regular contact with one another - and they need to constantly reinforce a zero-tolerance attitude, by not turning a blind eye if they see something going on and confronting it, then sharing that information."

Wednesday 26th March 2008

A UK Athletics Level 2 Officials Track Judging & Timekeeping Course is to be staged at the Moorways Centre, Derby, on Saturday 12th April 2008.
Timetable of Events:

The Timekeeping course takes place between 10am – 4pm / £10.00 Per Person
The Track Judging course will be held from 10am – 4pm / £10.00 Per Person
All cheques made payable to England Athletics Ltd.

For more information or to book onto the course please contact: Chris Mallender on 01509 228 765 / 07815 801 988 or email: cmallender@englandathletics.org

Mount Olympia, Greece

Monday 24th March 2008

THE sacred flame of the Beijing Olympics has began its relay journey from Olympia to China in controversial fashion as protesters disrupted the lighting ceremony.

The torch relay began with Greek taekwondo athlete Alexandros Nikolaidis, who received the sacred flame from an actress representing an ancient Greek high priestess in the ancient stadium of Olympia.

A number of Chinese athletes are scheduled to run the early relay leg out of Olympia, including Chinese swimmer Luo Xuejuan, a Gold medallist in the 2004 Olympics, who will be the second relay runner.

The Beijing Olympic torch relay is the longest and most ambitious ever planned, lasting 130 days and covering 137,000 kilometres (85,000 miles).

Despite an unprecedented security operation, the ritual was penetrated by three protesters who tried to disrupt the speech of China's top Olympic organiser Liu Qi.

In globally televised ceremony to mark the start of a five-month torch relay, the actress Maria Nafpliotou playing the high priestess used a break in the clouds to light the torch in front of the Temple of Hera.

However, just before the torch-lighting ceremony inside the archaeological site that played host to the Olympics in ancient Greece, a few demonstrators tried to break a tight police cordon.

One of them, unfurling a banner, managed to approach Beijing Games chief Liu Qi during his speech in front of hundreds of officials but was taken away without reaching him.

Police said the demonstrator was a 48-year old Tibetan and that three men had so far been detained.

Exiled Tibetans had pledged to demonstrate on the day against China's security crackdown in the region and what they say is the IOC's hesitance to pressure Beijing to improve its human rights record.

Police said an additional 25 protesters had attempted to come in but a strong police presence kept them at bay before they dispersed.

Liu, who kept his cool during the demonstration, said: "The Olympic flame will radiate light and happiness, peace and friendship, and hope and dreams to the people of China and the whole world."

Greek athlete Alexandros Nikolaidis, an Athens 2004 Games taekwondo silver medallist, is the first torchbearer starting a six-day Greek relay before the flame is handed over to the Chinese on March 30th.

"I express here the hope that the symbol of the torch will be recognised by everybody and that the right circumstances can be created, wherever the torch travels, for it to resonate," International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said in a speech inside the ancient stadium.

http://en.beijing2008.cn/