Thursday 4th February 2010

HELEN Clitheroe set the fastest time in Europe's this year with victory in the 1500 metres at the PSD Bank Meeting in Dusseldorf on Wednesday evening (3rd February).

Clitheroe, the British 3,000m steeplechase record-holder, held her form as the 36-year-old moved into the lead after pacemaker Tamara Tverdostup pulled out with 500m of the race remaining.

The former Commonwealth bronze medallist confidently continued to run at a brisk pace, winning in a time of four minutes 10.29 seconds to repeat the success she achieved at the German venue three years ago, this follows her victory over 3,000m at the Aviva international in Glasgow on Saturday.

Clitheroe commented afterwards: “This was my second race this year after the win on Saturday in Glasgow over 3,000m, this is a good start to the winter season, that was my first 1500m race since 2007.”

With the qualifying time for next month's World Indoor Championships achieved, Clitheroe now plans chasing a place in the British team at the distance rather than 3,000m at the Aviva World Trials in Sheffield.

Loughborough-based Steve Lewis finished 8th in the men’s pole vault with a best of 5.40m in the competition won by German Alexander Straub (5.70m).

Sarah Claxton, who finished fourth in Glasgow on Saturday and witnessed her United Kingdom 60m hurdles record to Jessica Ennis, finished sixth in her heat with 8.29secs.

Full results are available on the following link: www.leichtathletik.de/Dokumente/Live_Ticker/LT_77/index.html

Monday 1st February 2010

THE latest 2009/10 Loughborough Open Indoor Meeting was held at the Sebastian Coe UK Athletics High Performance Centre on Saturday 30th January.

There was selection of top performances despite the event clashing with the Glasgow Aviva International where GB's leading athletes were competing.

Meghan Beesley was in fine early season form winning the 60m hurdles as the 20-year-old Birchfield Harrier, a World Junior 400m hurdles bronze medallist, clocked 8.60secs to take victory ahead of fellow Loughborough students Gemma Werret (8.69) and Channel Islander Kylie Robilliard (8.89) - the full results of the meeting are listed below
Full Results:
Track
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 1
1 279 6 Chris Craig Sale Harriers 06.93
2 328 5 Francesco Garzia Notts AC 06.96
3 386 8 Paul Ogun Croydon Harriers 07.06
4 269 7 Andy Blow LSAC 07.07
5 288 3 Eldridge Phiri Tamworth 07.10
6 388 4 Phil Doorgachurn Cardiff 07.12
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 2
1 290 5 Elijah Skirvin (U20) Notts AC 07.06
2 392 4 Seun Marcus LSAC 07.20
3 391 8 Sean Vernon LSAC 07.20
4 377 7 Marcel Hodge (U20) LSAC 07.22
5 398 6 Tom Mosley (U20) Leeds City 07.25
6 292 3 Errol Houston (U20) Enfield & Harringay 07.43
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 3
1 342 5 Henry Richards Charnwood AC 07.22
2 395 3 Thomas Pegg City of Norwich 07.28
3 399 6 Will Green LSAC 07.30
4 282 8 Conor McLaughlan LSAC 07.32
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 4
1 368 5 Jim Tipper Telford AC 07.21
2 382 6 Oscar Ward LSAC 07.33
3 396 4 Tim Barton (M35) Charnwood AC 07.46
4 373 8 Justin Baxter Charnwood AC 07.47
5 384 7 Paul Goodall LSAC 07.48
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 5
1 352 6 Jackson M.Blyton Notts AC 07.44
2 390 4 Scott Wilson (U20) Charnwood AC 07.47
3 274 5 Aqueel Hassan (U20) Charnwood AC 07.52
4 337 7 Garth Durrans Orchard County AC 07.54
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 6
1 186 5 Abayomi Oladinni LSAC 07.35
2 370 6 Jon Baxter Cambridge & Coleridge AC 07.44
3 381 4 Oliver Knight LSAC 07.46
4 374 7 Kasim Adesanya Notts AC 07.47
5 401 3 James Eccles LSAC 07.54
6 394 8 Tamouy Black (U20) Enfield & Harringay 07.67
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 8
1 355 7 Jamie Vickery Blackburn Harriers 07.30
2 404 6 Ben Morris (U20) Leicester 07.32
3 332 4 Fraser Young LSAC 07.45
4 402 8 James So LSAC 07.50
5 383 5 Lionel Grelet Harrow AC 07.63
6 283 3 Dalton Powell (M45) Notts AC 07.69
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 9
1 182 5 Aaron Aplin Notts AC 07.48
2 343 6 Jack Mosley (U17) Leeds City 07.60
3 340 7 Gary Wong (U20) Corby AC 07.64
4 387 8 Peter Sserunkuma Notts AC 07.72
5 371 4 Joseph Williamson (U20) Charnwood AC 07.73
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 10
1 369 7 John Statham (M45) Charnwood AC 07.89
2 389 5 Raphael Smith (M40) Notts AC 07.91
3 393 6 Shaun Davey (M45) Notts AC 07.91
4 251 8 Alexander Macdonald (U17) Doncaster AC 08.01
5 220 4 Adrian James (M40) Kidderminster & Stourport 08.40
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 11
1 336 4 Garry Massey LSAC 07.35
2 403 8 Jonathan Moore LSAC 07.63
3 385 6 Paul Edwards (M50) Cannock & Stafford 08.34
60m Senior Women 1st Series Race 1
1 421 6 Meghan Beesley LSAC 07.65
2 422 5 Melinda Cooksey Birchfield 07.69
3 428 8 Anna Boyle Ballymena & Antrim 07.84
4 408 4 Mica Nottingham (U20) LSAC 07.89
5 411 7 Charnia Kirk Yate AC 07.96
60m Senior Women 1st Series Race 2
1 420 4 Laura Samuel Leicester 07.89
2 406 6 Kylie Robilliard LSAC 07.92
3 419 5 Laura McGawn RAF 07.98
4 407 8 Lauren Dewdney LSAC 08.05
5 410 7 Andrea Vinet LSAC 08.08
60m Senior Women 1st Series Race 3
1 417 6 Jor'dan McIntosh (U20) Charnwood AC 08.02
2 426 5 Sophie Croft (U20) Scunthorpe & District AC 08.14
3 413 4 Hannah Chrisp (U20) LSAC 08.31
4 414 8 Hannah Dunderdale (U17) Lincoln Wellington 08.33
5 412 7 Emily Wardle (U20) Charnwood AC 08.36
60m Senior Women 1st Series Race 4
1 460 3 Adele Clarke Un 08.25
2 409 5 Alessia Valente Notts AC 08.41
3 416 7 Jenny Heckford LSAC 08.44
4 423 6 Nicole Martin (U20) LSAC 08.56
5 418 4 Katie James LSAC 08.60
60m Hurdles Senior Men 1st Series
1 269 7 Andy Blow LSAC 08.36
2 429 6 Ben Gregory LSAC 08.67
3 381 8 Oliver Knight LSAC 08.83
DQ 458 5 Michael Holden LSAC
60m Hurdles Men Masters 1st Series
1 385 6 Paul Edwards (M50) Cannock & Stafford 09.73
2 430 4 Tony Wells (M60) Corby AC 09.78
60m Hurdles Senior Women 1st Series Race 1
1 410 6 Andrea Vinet LSAC 08.69
2 421 5 Meghan Beesley LSAC 08.71
3 432 7 Gemma Werret LSAC 08.80
DQ 406 8 Kylie Robilliard LSAC
60m Hurdles Senior Women 1st Series Race 2
1 433 7 Rebecca Liddell (U20) Gateshead 08.85
2 416 6 Jenny Heckford LSAC 09.33
3 414 4 Hannah Dunderdale (U17) Lincoln Wellington 09.61
DNF 431 8 Emma Bailey LSAC
60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 1
1 279 5 Chris Craig Sale Harriers 06.88
2 328 6 Francesco Garzia Notts AC 06.90
3 386 7 Paul Ogun Croydon Harriers 07.01
4 290 4 Elijah Skirvin (U20) Notts AC 07.09
5 288 8 Eldridge Phiri Tamworth 07.12
DNS 269 3 Andy Blow LSAC
60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 2
1 391 7 Sean Vernon LSAC 07.11
2 392 5 Seun Marcus LSAC 07.14
3 342 3 Henry Richards Charnwood AC 07.15
4 368 4 Jim Tipper Telford AC 07.22
5 377 8 Marcel Hodge (U20) LSAC 07.24
DNS 388 6 Phil Doorgachurn Cardiff
60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 3
1 399 4 Will Green LSAC 07.24
2 395 5 Thomas Pegg City of Norwich 07.28
3 355 7 Jamie Vickery Blackburn Harriers 07.39
DNS 404 3 Ben Morris (U20) Leicester
DNS 398 6 Tom Mosley (U20) Leeds City
DNS 282 8 Conor McLaughlan LSAC
60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 4
1 186 7 Abayomi Oladinni LSAC 07.33
2 382 6 Oscar Ward LSAC 07.35
3 370 4 Jon Baxter Cambridge & Coleridge AC 07.46
4 352 3 Jackson M.Blyton Notts AC 07.48
5 292 8 Errol Houston (U20) Enfield & Harringay 07.50
DNS 336 5 Garry Massey LSAC
60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 5
1 390 4 Scott Wilson (U20) Charnwood AC 07.44
2 396 7 Tim Barton (M35) Charnwood AC 07.47
3 332 5 Fraser Young LSAC 07.47
4 381 6 Oliver Knight LSAC 07.49
5 374 8 Kasim Adesanya Notts AC 07.53
6 373 3 Justin Baxter Charnwood AC 07.57
60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 6
1 274 7 Aqueel Hassan (U20) Charnwood AC 07.39
2 337 8 Garth Durrans Orchard County AC 07.44
3 384 5 Paul Goodall LSAC 07.44
4 182 3 Aaron Aplin Notts AC 07.48
5 402 6 James So LSAC 07.50
DNS 401 4 James Eccles LSAC
60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 7
1 394 4 Tamouy Black (U20) Enfield & Harringay 07.63
2 383 6 Lionel Grelet Harrow AC 07.63
3 283 8 Dalton Powell (M45) Notts AC 07.68
4 340 5 Gary Wong (U20) Corby AC 07.68
5 403 7 Jonathan Moore LSAC 07.70
60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 8
1 371 6 Joseph Williamson (U20) Charnwood AC 07.63
2 387 5 Peter Sserunkuma Notts AC 07.71
3 369 7 John Statham (M45) Charnwood AC 07.87
4 251 4 Alexander Macdonald (U17) Doncaster AC 08.04
5 385 8 Paul Edwards (M50) Cannock & Stafford 08.37
6 220 3 Adrian James (M40) Kidderminster & Stourport 08.45
60m Senior Women 2nd Series Race 1
1 422 5 Melinda Cooksey Birchfield 07.63
2 420 8 Laura Samuel Leicester 07.82
3 408 4 Mica Nottingham (U20) LSAC 07.91
4 428 7 Anna Boyle Ballymena & Antrim 07.92
60m Senior Women 2nd Series Race 2
1 419 3 Laura McGawn RAF 08.00
2 417 4 Jor'dan McIntosh (U20) Charnwood AC 08.03
3 426 6 Sophie Croft (U20) Scunthorpe & District AC 08.20
4 460 7 Adele Clarke Unattached 08.26
5 412 5 Emily Wardle (U20) Charnwood AC 08.44
60m Senior Women 2nd Series Race 3
1 424 8 Rebecca Hall Granthan AC 08.34
2 414 5 Hannah Dunderdale (U17) Lincoln Wellington 08.34
3 409 7 Alessia Valente Notts AC 08.36
4 418 6 Katie James LSAC 08.63
60m Hurdles Senior Men 2nd series
1 458 7 Michael Holden LSAC 08.27
2 269 6 Andy Blow LSAC 08.35
3 429 5 Ben Gregory LSAC 08.71
4 381 4 Oliver Knight LSAC 08.95
60m Hurdles Men Masters 2nd series
1 385 6 Paul Edwards (M50) Cannock & Stafford 09.65
2 430 4 Tony Wells (M60) Corby AC 09.70
60m Hurdles Senior Women 2nd Series Race 1
1 421 4 Meghan Beesley LSAC 08.60
2 432 5 Gemma Werret LSAC 08.69
3 406 6 Kylie Robilliard LSAC 08.89
4 416 7 Jenny Heckford LSAC 09.15
DNF 431 8 Emma Bailey LSAC
Field
Mens Long Jump
1 451 Pickup Bradley LSAC 7.11m
2 449 Hall Max LSAC 6.48m
3 340 Wong (U20) Gary Corby AC 6.14m
4 453 Dunn Thomas Unattached 5.56m
5 220 James (M40) Adrian Kidderminster & Stourbridge 5.21m
Mens Pole Vault
1 348 Eaves Max LSAC 5.19m
2 10 Sutcliffe (U20) Andy Sale Harriers 5.08m
3 454 Strange Alisdair LSAC 5.00m
4 347 Cullen Matt Sale Harriers 4.90m
5 360 Cruchley Nick Halesowen 4.75m
6= 361 Hurren Richard Newham & Essex 4.75m
6= 345 Needham Laurie Blackpool 4.75m
8 453 Warensjo Robert LSAC 4.60m
9= 429 Gregory Ben LSAC 4.60m
9= 346 Deveraux Matt LSAC 4.60m
11 349 Holden Michael LSAC 4.60m
12 129 Sharp (U20) George Preston 4.00m
13 18 Harrison (U20) Andy Preston 4.00m
14 444 Feeney David LSAC 3.80m
Mens Shot
1 445 Francis (U17) Forrest Leicester 12.16m
1 447 Cupit (F37) Lee Unattached 8.33m
1 450 Mohan (U20) Robert LSAC 16.78m
1 461 Stevenson Jamie Neweham & Essex 17.01m
2 442 Sturrock Craig Gateshead 15.73m
3 450 Mohan Robert LSAC 15.19m
4 444 Feeney David LSAC 13.59m
5 443 Brunt Dan City of Sheffield 14.72m
6 459 Soalla-Bell Anthony Shaftesbury 13.40m
7 446 Twiddle John KUH AC 12.42m
8 449 Hall Max LSAC 12.16m
9 429 Gregory Ben LSAC 12.07m
Mens Shot (2nd Competition)
1 450 Mohan (U20) Robert LSAC 16.78m
1 443 Brunt Dan City of Sheffield 15.23m
2 459 Soalla-Bell Anthony Shaftesbury 13.68m
3 446 Twiddle John KUH AC NT
Womens Long Jump
1 420 Samuel Laura Leicester 5.51m
2 455 Whiteway Joanne LSAC 5.45m
Womens Pole Vault
1 18 Bleasdale (U20) Holly Blackburn 4.01m
2 453 Byres (U17) Katie Sale Harriers 3.81m
Womens Shot
1 414 Dunderdale (U17) Hannah Lincoln Wellington 9.61m
2 440 McKinna (U17) Sophie Great Yarmouth 13.02m
3 439 Pam (U17) Simi Peterboroough AC 11.64m
1 437 Evenden (U20) Hannah Edinburgh AC 13.35m
2 436 Rose (U20) Charlotte LSAC 12.53m
3 441 Clay (U20) Melissa City of Sheffield 11.28m
1 435 Peake Beccy LSAC 16.48m
2 434 Rodger Alison Sale Harriers 14.83m
3 438 Wallader Rachel WSE & H 14.34m
4 424 Hall Rebecca Granthan AC 11.25m
5 419 McGawn Laura RAF 10.94m
Womens Shot (2nd Competition)
1 440 McKinna (U17) Sophie Great Yarmouth 11.95m
1 437 Evenden (U20) Hannah Edinburgh AC 12.92m
1 438 Wallader Rachel WSE & H 13.69m
2 419 McGawn Laura RAF 10.75m

Saturday 30th January 2010

WORLD heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis defeated American Lolo Jones to smash her own British 60m hurdles record on the track of Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall as part of the Aviva International Match.

Ennis, the Great Britain team captain for the meeting, produced a terrific performance to clock the fastest time in the world this year crossing the line in a time of 7.95 seconds ahead of reigning world indoor champion Jones by a margin of 0.02secs with Caroline Nytra of Germany securing third in 8.08.

This marked the second time in January that Ennis has lowered the United Kingdom record previously held by Sarah Claxton (who finished fourth in the Glasgow race with 8.20) having recorded 8.12 at the Loughborough Open meeting.

Ennis followed this by finishing second on count-back to American Chaunte Howard in the high jump clearing the height of 1.94 metres to improve her lifetime best by two centimetres.

In the men's 60 metres hurdles, David Oliver regained the title he won two years ago with a winning time of 7.58secs ahead of Germany's Helge Schwarzer (7.68secs) and Sweden's Philip Nossmy (7.71secs).

On the track Jenny Meadows clinched victory for Great Britain in the 800m, producing a mark of two minutes and 2.53 seconds, with Commonwealth rival Neisha Bernard Thomas second in 2:04.74 and Swedish Rebecca Hogberg third in 2:07.65.

Loughborough-based Leon Baptiste recorded the first British men's victory of the match by winning the 200m ahead of Germany's Robert Hering, who was rapidly closing on him over the final 20 metres.
Baptiste kept his cool to win by 0.02secs in a time of 21.34secs, with American former Olympic gold medallist Shawn Crawford third in 21.60secs.

There was also success for fellow Loughborough athlete Helen Clitheroe, who held off the challenge of German, Sabrina Mockenhaupt to win the women's 3,000m in 9mins 5.87secs.

Loughborough graduate Victoria Barr was third in a stellar women’s 400m clocking an indoor PB of 53.83secs. Jamaican race winner Novlene Williams running for the Commonwealth Select won in 52.83.

Luke Cutts (5.50m) upstaged his fellow GB pole-vaulter Steve Lewis (5.30m) in the men’s competition although both were beaten for maximum points by Germany’s Bjorn Otto who had one less failure than Cutts in reaching a height of 5.50m.

Chris Tomlinson leapt 7.99m in the long jump to put the British team three points ahead of the United States with just three events remaining, although world silver medallist Lisa Dobriskey failed to extend the lead when she was edged on the line by American Heidi Dahl in the 1500m with a time of 4mins 17.96secs.

Nathan Douglas, a silver medallist at the 2006 European Athletics Championships, will be hoping to go one better in Barcelona later this year, finished second in the triple jump with a leap of 16.68m.

In another massive upset, South Africa's world 800m champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi suffered a shock defeat in the 800m as Germany's Robin Schembera produced an electric burst that the South African could find no response to.

However, with Britain holding a two-point cushion, Craig Pickering sealed the win in the men's 60m with a fine victory in 6.66secs.

Germany finished third in the team event, nine points behind the United States.

Full results are available on the following link: www.uka.org.uk/uka-major-events/2010/aviva-international-match/

Saturday 30th January 2010

HANNAH England secured a fine win for Great Britain in the Fred Lebow women’s mile at the 103rd edition of the legendary Millrose Games in New York on Friday (29th January).

England (Oxford), a former NCAA champion over the distance when representing Florida State University, here making her debut at the Millrose meeting outpaced American Sara Hall and Kenya's Sally Kipyego around the tight 160m track of Madison Square Gardens securing victory in a time of 4mins 31.48secs.

"I was able to make the move I hoped to make with only two laps to go," England said. "Jim Harvey, my coach who came up with my race plan, took a chance and some advice and it paid off."

American Bernard Lagat won the Wanamaker Mile for the eighth time, breaking Irish great Eamonn Coghlan's Millrose Games record.

Lagat, 35, clocked 3mins 56.34secs at Madison Square Garden to defeat reigning Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop of Kenya by less than two seconds.

Great Britain’s Andy Baddeley (Harrow), winner the previous week over the distance in a new personal best (3:55.64) at the New Balance Games also in New York, finished third in 3:58.09 with compatriot Mark Draper (Bedford) fifth in 4:02.30.
Leading Results:
Fred Lebow Mile
1 Hannah England (GBR) 4:31.48
2 Sara Hall (USA) 4:31.50
3 Sally Kipyego (KEN) 4:32.30
4 Sarah Bowman (USA) 4:34.84
5 Molly Lehman (USA) 4:36.57
6 Frances Koons (USA) 4:37.32
7 Marina Muncan (SRB) 4:41.72
- Karen Shinkins (IRL) DNF
Wanamaker Mile
1 Bernard Lagat (USA) 3:56.34
2 Asbel Kiprop (KEN) 3:58.03
3 Andy Baddeley (GBR) 3:58.09
4 Peter Van Der Westhuizen (RSA) 4:00.35
5 Mark Draper (GBR) 4:02.30
- David Krummenacker (USA) DNF

www.millrose-games.com

Saturday 30th January 2010

BRITISH record-holder Kate Dennison continued her fine indoor form by taking a close victory in the Elite women’s pole vault competition at the fifth edition of the International Springer-Meeting in Dresden, Germany, on Friday (29th January).

The 26-year-old Loughborough-based Sale Harrier won on countback with a height of 4.50 metres from Czech Jirina Ptáčníková.

Full results are available on the following link: http://leichtathletik.de/results/2544_dresden_springer_290110.pdf

Friday 29th January 2010

THE 2010 season is set to be a special year for athletics in the United Kingdom, with a calendar packed full of potential great performances and hopefully some new records to celebrate. The season kicks off at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall, where the team vs team format is certain to generate an electric atmosphere from the crowd and fierce competition from the athletes in the Aviva International Match.

Next stop is the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, where Britain’s best line up determined to secure their place on the Aviva Great Britain & Northern Ireland team bound for the World Indoor Championships in Doha the following month.

The athletes will get a second chance to reach peak form before the World Championships at the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham, the showcase event of the UKA indoor season packed full of entertainment!

Heptathlon world champion Jessica Ennis will captain the British team at the Aviva International Match in Glasgow.

The multi-eventer from Sheffield will compete in the high jump as a representative of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team and also guest in the 60m hurdles.

Ennis leads a 17-strong team, which will face tough opposition from the United States, Sweden, a Commonwealth Select team and Germany in the first major domestic indoor meeting of the year at Kelvin Hall.
With more than half the team enjoying a successful World Championship campaign in Berlin last August, and including Jenny Meadows and Lisa Dobriskey, the 800 metres bronze and 1500m silver medallists respectively, the GB side should pose a real threat.
Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the Aviva International Match
Men:
60m: Craig Pickering (Marshall Milton Keynes); 200m: Leon Baptiste (Enfield & Haringey); 400m: Richard Buck (City of York); 800m: Joe Thomas (Cardiff); 3000m: Michael Skinner (Blackheath & Bromley); 60mh: Andy Turner (Sale); Long Jump: Chris Tomlinson (Newham & Essex Beagles); Triple Jump: Nathan Douglas (Oxford).
Women:
60m: Bernice Wilson (Birchfield Harriers); 200m: Helen Pryer (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow); 400m: Victoria Barr (Rugby & Northampton); 800m: Jenny Meadows (Wigan); 1500m: Lisa Dobriskey (Ashford); 3000m: Helen Clitheroe (Preston); 60mh: Sarah Claxton (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies); High Jump: Jessica Ennis (City of Sheffield).
Commonwealth Select Team (selected Britons):
60m: Harry Aikines Aryeetey (Sutton); Pole Vault: Luke Cutts (Dearneside); 3000m: Gemma Turtle (Gloucester).
Guests:
60m: Nick Smith (Shaftesbury Barnet); 60mh: Jessica Ennis (City of Sheffield); High Jump: Vikki Hubbard (Birchfield Harriers).

The Aviva International Match from Glasgow is live on BBC One beginning at 2.00pm.

Saturday 23rd January 2010

KATE Dennison has broken her own British indoor pole vault record by achieving a superb height of 4.57 metres to claim victory in the elite women’s competition at the Internationales Wuppertaler Springermeeting in Wuppertal, Germany, on Friday 22nd January.

The 25-year-old Loughborough-based Sale Harrier improved significantly on her previous mark of 4.46m set at the Aviva Indoor Grand Prix meeting in Birmingham last year.

A delighted Dennison commented afterwards: "I am surprised that it worked today, but there's just a great atmosphere at the event."

This victory was just three-centimetres shy of her current outdoor UK record of 4.60m set in Szczecin, Poland, last September. Dennison improved the British record nine times in 2009 finishing sixth at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
1 Kate Dennison (GBR) 4.57m (UK indoor record)
2 Kristina Gadschiew (GER) 4.50m
3 Rianna Galiart (NED) 4.22m
4 Julia Hutter (GER) 4.15m
5 Annika Roloff (GER) 3.91m
6 Natasha Benner (GER) 3.91m
Katharina Bauer (GER) no height

Full results are available on the following link: http://leichtathletik.de/results/2524_Wuppertal_Springermeeting_22012010.html

Monday 18th January 2010

WORLD heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis continued her brilliant start to the indoor season with two more personal bests at the North of England Championships in Sheffield over the weekend.

Ennis, competing in her home city, won the 60 metres in a championship record time of 7.36 seconds on Saturday 16th January.

Then the 23-year-old multi-eventer, who was tuning up for the IAAF World Indoor Championships pentathlon in Doha in March, extended her shot put best by 16 centimetres to 13.83 metres.

Those milestone achievements came only a week after last summer's Berlin gold medallist had a stellar outing at the Loughborough University meeting.

Showing magnificent form there she posted her quickest ever 60m hurdles time of 8.12sec, a best ever long jump of 6.39m and threw the shot 13.67m which was her best until Saturday's effort.

Ennis returned to the stadium on Sunday clearing an excellent high jump height of 1.89m before raising the bar to 1.96m to attack Debbie Marti's UK record, but she narrowly failed.

Loughborough Alumni Nick Samuels (Sale) was also showing good early indoor season form winning both the senior 800m and 1500m titles with times of 3:52.24 and 1:53.17 respectively.

Rachel Thompson (Liverpool Harriers) won the 800m by two and a half seconds in 2:09.13.

At the SEAA Indoor Championships held at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, Loughborough graduate Samson Oni equalled his CBP in the high jump with 2.25m with fellow Alumnus Robbie Grabarz (Newham & Essex Beagles) 2.20m taking the silver medal.

Dani Christmas (Crawley AC) finished third in the 1500m in 4:32.69.

Saturday 16th January 2010

BRITISH record-holder Kate Dennison retained her title at the Vault Manchester indoor competition as Kosta Filippidis set a new Greek indoor record defeating Steve Lewis to win the men’s competition.

Dennison competing in her second competition of the 2010 indoor season having finished runner-up on the Perche Elite Tour meeting in Rhône à Villeurbanne, France, the previous weekend won in Manchester with a height of 4.40 metres ahead of Henrietta Paxton (Birchfield), second with new Scottish record of 4.29m and third placed Cardiff’s Bryony Raine (4.15m).

Loughborough-based Dennison then went on to attempt to break her own UK indoor record (4.49m) set last year in Oyannax, but failed at 4.50m.

In the men’s Elite competition Kosta Filippidis claimed a fine victory with a 5.70 metre clearance as the 23-year-old improved his own national indoor record just five centimetres shy of his lifetime best and current Greek outdoor record set in 2005 (5.75m).

Britain’s Steve Lewis (Newham), the 2006 Commonwealth bronze medallist, had to settle for second place with a best of 5.63m. Luke Cutts (Dearnside) finished third ahead of Loughborough student Paul Walker (5.18m).
Full Results (Mixed):
28 Kosta Filippidis Greece M SEN 5.70 Greek Indoor Record
1 Steve Lewis Newham essex M SEN 5.63
16 Luke Cutts Dearnside M SEN 5.53
17 Paul Walker Sale harriers M SEN 5.18
26 Charlie Bluzat France M SEN 5.03
54 Matt Cullen Sale harriers M SEN 4.73 PB
22 Richard Hurren Newham essex M SEN 4.63
61 Jon Murray Cardiff AAC M SEN 4.28
48 Ricky Hallam Tamworth M SEN 3.23
2 Kate Denisson Sale Harriers F SEN 4.40
5 Henrietta Paxton Birchfield F SEN 4.29 PB + Scottish record
9 Bryony Raine Cardiff AAC F SEN 4.15 PB
4 Louise Butterworth Birchfield F SEN 3.91
6 Kirsty Maguire Edinburgh F SEN 3.91
8 Anna Massey Sale Harriers F SEN 3.91
15 Yvette Caldenhove The Netherlands F SEN 3.91
3 Emma Lyons Sale Harriers F SEN 3.77
35 Michelle Sharrock Wigan F SEN 3.53
38 Sally Peake Liverpool F SEN 3.53
13 Mariette Terisse AA 92 F SEN 3.49
37 Jemma Harding Bedford + county F SEN 3.38
46 Claire Kennedy Edinburgh AC F SEN 3.23
80 Faye Pittman Unattached F SEN 2.93 PB
82 Adam Hague Dearnside M U15 3.13
83 Rowan May Solihull & small heath AC M U15 3.13 PB
104 Harry Coppel Wigan M U15 3.03
84 Finn Walker Blackpool Wyre & Fylde AC M U15 2.63
79 David Jones Blackpool Wyre & Fylde AC M U15 2.23 PB
77 David Campbell Sale harriers M U15 2.13 PB
72 Jenny Robbins Notts F U15 2.83 PB
69 Vicky Price City of sheffield F U15 2.33
81 Abigail Bleasdale Blackburn harriers F U15 2.03
67 Emyr Jones Carmarthen harriers M U17 3.93
68 Jack Phipps Working M U17 3.93
40 Chris Price City of sheffield M U17 3.73
41 Jake Devereux Bedford + county M U17 3.73
96 Jordan Ratcliffe Dearnside M U17 3.73
99 Greg Appleby Sale harriers M U17 3.73
97 Lewis Billam Dearnside M U17 3.63
31 Charlie Smith Windsor + eton M U17 3.53
95 Nicolas Cole Dearnside M U17 3.53
100 Joseph Chesterman Birchfiled M U17 3.53
89 Bett Cash Tamworth M U17 3.13
91 Bradley Sentence Stoke M U17 3.03 PB
94 Adam Cooper Stoke M U17 3.03
78 Matthew Walker Blackpool Wyre & Fylde AC M U17 3.03
88 Thomas Lyons Notts M U17 2.93
86 Daniel Ditton Windsor + eton M U17 2.83 PB
14 Katie Byres Sale Harriers F U17 3.91 PB
45 Rhianydd Llewellyn Bridgend AC F U17 3.03
70 Sophie Cook Birchfield F U17 2.63 PB
73 Tanya Wright Blackpool Wyre & Fylde AC F U17 2.23
24 Andrew Sutcliffe Sale harriers M U20 5.03
27 Matt Devereux Bedford & County M U20 4.73
50 Ned Quiney Croydon harriers M U20 4.53
55 Cameron Shepherd-walker Birchfield M U20 4.53
60 Ryszard Buk Croydon harriers M U20 4.43
63 Mark Cooper Stoke M U20 4.28
59 Matt Wright Blackpool Wyre & Fylde AC M U20 4.13
64 Declan O'hara Blackpool Wyre & Fylde AC M U20 4.13
29 George Sharp Preston M U20 3.93
42 Joshua Barard Stoke M U20 3.83 PB
30 Andrew Harrison Preston M U20 3.63
102 Lewis Wilson Doncaster M U20 3.43 PB
87 Luke Morton Halesown M U20 2.93
71 Emma Andersson Sale harriers M U20 2.93
7 Sally Scott Trafford F U20 4.05
49 Rebecca Davies Deeside AAC F U20 3.53
39 Christina Hughes Deeside AAC F U20 3.38
43 Naomi James Swansea F U20 3.38
18 Joe Ive Belgrave harriers M U23 5.18
19 Max Eaves Newham essex M U23 5.18
21 Andy Marsh Stoke M U23 5.18
51 Robert Warensjo Swindon Harriers M U23 4.83 PB
58 Douglas Curwen-reed Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers M U23 4.83 PB
57 Laurie Needham Blackpool Wyre & Fylde AC M U23 4.63
53 Michael Read Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers M U23 4.43
56 Michael Holden Colchester Harriers M U23 4.43
65 Paul Hallworth Dearnside M U23 4.23
52 Matt George Windsor + eton M U23 4.13 PB
98 Sean Power Dearnside M U23 4.03
11 Maria Seager Woodford green F U23 4.05 PB
10 Sophie Upton Windsor Slough & Eton F U23 3.91 PB
32 Jessica Abraham Cardiff AAC F U23 3.83 PB
12 Abigail Haywood Sale Harriers F U23 3.77
85 Michelle Koutsolambrou Sale harriers F U23 2.53 PB
20 Christian North woodford green M V35 4.83
34 Simon Eastwood Bedford + county M V40 3.53
90 Rod Grant-smith Macclesfield M V40 3.33
33 Allan Williams Blackheath M V55 3.63
76 Marcus Salt Dearnside M 2.53 PB

www.vaultmanchester.com

Monday 11th January 2010

WORLD heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis began her indoor season in real style at the latest Loughborough Open meeting on Saturday 9th January as the 23-year-old Sheffield athlete produced a superb series of indoor personal bests competing in three events, 6.39m in the long jump, 8.12 seconds in the 60m hurdles and 13.67m in the shot put.
Full Results:
Track
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 1
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 262 3 Leon Baptiste Enfield & Haringey 06.84
2 204 5 Elijah Winn Enfield & Haringey 06.87
3 233 7 Joel Fearon Birchfield 06.92
4 286 6 Tim Abeyie Woodford Green & EL 06.94
5 264 4 Leroy Slue Harrow AC 07.10
6 271 8 Othroy Marsh Harrow AC 07.11
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 2
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 172 5 Chris Craig Sale Harriers 06.89
2 362 8 Phil Doorgachurn Cardiff 07.05
3 127 6 Chris Russell Ferrybank 07.09
4 272 7 Paul Judson LSAC 07.11
5 190 4 Dominic Bradley Trafford 07.15
6 189 3 David Cook Kingston AC 07.23
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 3
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 266 4 Luke Giblin LSAC 07.13
2 203 3 Elijah Skirvin Notts AC 07.18
3 13 7 Adam Mohammed LSAC 07.20
4 123 6 Bill Porter LSAC 07.25
5 268 5 Martin Ogun-Sanya LSAC 07.26
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 4
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 267 6 Marcel Hodge LSAC 07.05
2 64 3 Ashley Johnson Oxford City 07.07
3 265 7 Luke Stott LSAC 07.22
4 221 5 Jason Greenidge Woodford Green & EL 07.23
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 5
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 351 7 Paul Ogan Croyden Harriers 07.10
2 280 8 Sean Vernon LSAC 07.22
3 246 4 Josh Baxter LSAC 07.24
4 174 5 Conor McLoughblan LSAC 07.29
5 89 6 Ben Shields Rotherham Harriers 07.32
6 21 3 Alex Al-Ameen Newham & Essex Beagles 07.43
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 6
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 281 8 Seun Marcus LSAC 07.17
2 195 4 Dwight Fenton Coventry 07.34
3 187 7 David Harvey WSE & H 07.45
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 7
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 207 7 Errol Houston Enfield & Haringey 07.43
2 62 6 Aquel Hussan (U20) Charnwood AC 07.46
3 216 5 Jacob Axtell Unattached 07.51
4 184 4 Daniel Johnson Oxford University 07.59
5 224 3 Joe Williamson (U17) Charnwood AC 07.67
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 8
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 287 4 Tom Wilson Notts AC 07.41
2 229 7 Joel Grenfell Peterborough AC 07.43
3 11 5 Abayomi Oladinni LSAC 07.46
4 208 8 Fraser Young LSAC 07.47
5 354 6 Simon Wombwell LSAC 07.51
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 9
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 360 3 Peter Shallow LSAC 07.55
2 241 5 John Statham (M45) Charnwood AC 07.92
3 277 7 Roy Barber Harborough AC 07.95
4 273 6 Raphael Smith (M40) Notts AC 07.95
5 275 8 Rob Cawson (M50) Burton 08.31
60m Senior Men 1st series Race 10
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 270 5 Oscar Ward LSAC 07.34
2 215 7 Jackson Blyton Notts AC 07.36
3 209 6 Gary Wong (U17) Corby AC 07.69
4 333 4 Viv Oliver (M55) Notts AC 08.05
5 254 8 Lawrie Dunn (M60) Notts AC 09.00
60m Senior Women 1st Series Race 1
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 291 4 Bernice Wilson Birchfield 07.42
2 326 3 Louise Bloor LSAC 07.54
3 330 6 Niamh Whelan Ferrybank 07.61
4 329 8 Nadia Williams Shaftesbury Barnet 07.64
5 298 7 Kelly Proper Ferrybank 07.66
6 293 5 Emma Bailey LSAC 07.80
60m Senior Women 1st Series Race 2
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 297 6 Katey Read Liverpool Harriers 07.84
2 334 7 Yasmin Miller (U17) Derby AC 07.88
3 299 5 Laura Haslam (U20) Charnwood AC 08.03
4 296 3 Jor'dan McIntosh Charnwood AC 08.07
5 294 8 Gia Skirvin Notts AC 08.15
6 295 4 Hannah Crisp LSAC 08.20
60m Senior Women 1st Series Race 3
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 353 7 Lucy Hatton (U17) Corby AC 08.06
2 289 6 Amanda Shaw Wakefield Harriers 08.07
3 364 4 Alessia Valente Notts AC 08.45
4 331 5 Nicole Reynolds (U17) Nuneaton Harriers 08.74
60m Hurdles Senior Men 1st Series
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 357 5 Lawrence Clarke WSE & H 07.98
2 359 6 Matthew Hudson Leeds City 08.17
3 21 7 Alex Al-Ameen Newham & Essex Beagles 08.20
4 190 4 Dominic Bradley Trafford 08.26
60m Hurdles Senior Women 1st Series
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 338 5 Jess Ennis City of Sheffield 08.12
2 297 6 Katey Read Liverpool Harriers 08.57
3 327 4 Meghan Beesley LSAC 08.70
4 358 7 Rebecca Liddell (U20) Gateshead 08.96
60m Hurdles U17 Women 1st Series
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 334 6 Yasmin Miller (U17) Derby AC 08.95
DNF 353 5 Lucy Hatton (U17) Corby AC
60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 1
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 262 5 Leon Baptiste Enfield & Haringey 06.82
2 204 6 Elijah Winn Enfield & Haringey 06.82
3 172 4 Chris Craig Sale Harriers 06.84
4 286 8 Tim Abeyie Woodford Green & EL 06.90
5 362 3 Phil Doorgachurn Cardiff 07.06
DNS 233 7 Joel Fearon Birchfield
60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 2
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 271 8 Othroy Marsh Harrow AC 06.99
2 264 6 Leroy Slue Harrow AC 07.00
3 127 4 Chris Russell Ferrybank 07.08
4 64 7 Ashley Johnson Oxford City 07.10
5 272 3 Paul Judson LSAC 07.11
DQ 267 5 Marcel Hodge LSAC
60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 3
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 351 5 Paul Ogan Croyden Harriers 07.05
2 266 6 Luke Giblin LSAC 07.09
3 190 7 Dominic Bradley Trafford 07.13
4 280 8 Sean Vernon LSAC 07.17
5 281 3 Seun Marcus LSAC 07.19
6 203 4 Elijah Skirvin Notts AC 07.28
60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 4
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 123 7 Bill Porter LSAC 07.15
2 189 4 David Cook Kingston AC 07.21
3 221 5 Jason Greenidge Woodford Green & EL 07.21
4 265 6 Luke Stott LSAC 07.21
5 246 8 Josh Baxter LSAC 07.23
6 270 3 Oscar Ward LSAC 07.27
b]60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 5
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 195 5 Dwight Fenton Coventry 07.30
2 89 7 Ben Shields Rotherham Harriers 07.31
3 207 8 Errol Houston Enfield & Haringey 07.33
4 215 6 Jackson Blyton Notts AC 07.35
5 287 3 Tom Wilson Notts AC 07.54
DNS 21 4 Alex Al-Ameen Newham & Essex Beagles
60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 6
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 62 8 Aquel Hussan (U20) Charnwood AC 07.36
2 11 7 Abayomi Oladinni LSAC 07.40
3 187 5 David Harvey WSE & H 07.42
4 208 4 Fraser Young LSAC 07.43
5 229 6 Joel Grenfell Peterborough AC 07.44
6 216 3 Jacob Axtell Unattached 07.49
60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 7
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 284 3 Simon Carty LSAC 07.43
2 209 7 Gary Wong Corby AC 07.59
3 224 5 Joe Williamson (U17) Charnwood AC 07.64
4 354 6 Simon Wombwell LSAC 07.65
5 277 4 Roy Barber Harborough AC 08.19
60m Senior Men 2nd series Race 8
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 273 6 Raphael Smith (M40) Notts AC 07.82
2 241 5 John Statham (M45) Charnwood AC 07.87
3 333 4 Viv Oliver (M55) Notts AC 07.90
4 254 7 Lawrie Dunn (M60) Notts AC 09.03
DNS 275 3 Rob Cawson (M50) Burton
60m Senior Women 2nd Series Race 1
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 291 6 Bernice Wilson Birchfield 07.40
2 326 5 Louise Bloor LSAC 07.51
3 330 7 Niamh Whelan Ferrybank 07.60
4 329 4 Nadia Williams Shaftesbury Barnet 07.65
5 298 8 Kelly Proper Ferrybank 07.72
6 293 3 Emma Bailey LSAC 07.81
60m Senior Women 2nd Series Race 2
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 297 6 Katey Read Liverpool Harriers 07.92
2 299 7 Laura Haslam (U20) Charnwood AC 08.00
3 289 8 Amanda Shaw Wakefield Harriers 08.06
60m Senior Women 2nd Series Race 3
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 296 5 Jor'dan McIntosh Charnwood AC 08.07
2 294 4 Gia Skirvin Notts AC 08.11
3 295 6 Hannah Crisp LSAC 08.22
4 364 7 Alessia Ealente Notts AC 08.52
5 331 3 Nicole Reynolds (U17) Nuneaton Harriers 08.66
60m Hurdles Senior Men 2nd series
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 357 7 Lawrence Clarke WSE & H 07.89
2 21 8 Alex Al-Ameen Newham & Essex Beagles 08.11
3 359 6 Matthew Hudson Leeds City 08.23
DNF 190 5 Dominic Bradley Trafford
60m Hurdles Mixed 2nd series
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 297 7 Katey Read Liverpool Harriers 08.51
2 327 6 Meghan Beesley LSAC 08.60
3 358 8 Rebecca Liddell (U20) Gateshead 09.08
60m Hurdles Senior Men 3rd Series
Pos Bib Lane Name Team Time
1 357 7 Lawrence Clarke WSE & H 07.91
2 21 8 Alex Al-Ameen Newham & Essex Beagles 08.15
3 359 6 Matthew Hudson Leeds City 08.16
4 190 4 Dominic Bradley Trafford 08.32
Field
Womens High Jump
Pos Bib Name Team Height
1 148 Hubbard Vikki LSAC 1.86m
2 96 Lassu Adele Sale Harriers 1.83m
3 142 Humberstone Kay Trafford 1.75m
4 100 Smithson Frances WSE & H 1.65m
Womens Long Jump
Pos Bib Name Team Distance
1 338 Ennis Jess City of Sheffield 6.39m
2 298 Proper Kelly Ferrybank 6.33m
3 363 Pacey Jenny WSE & H 6.06m
4 326 Bloor Louise LSAC 5.89m
5 344 Power Nicola Ferrybank 5.55m
Womens Pole Vault
Pos Bib Name Team Height
1 346 Paxton Henrietta Birchfield 4.08m
Womens Shot
Pos Bib Name Team Distance
1 339 Rodger Alison Sale Harriers 15.97m
2 356 Evenden (U20) Hannah Edinburgh 13.67m
3 338 Ennis Jess City of Sheffield 13.67m
4 365 McGawn Laura RAF 10.61m
Mens High Jump
Pos Bib Name Team Height
1 52 Grabarz Robbie Bedford 2.15m
2 26 Roberts Matt N & Essex B 2.10m
3 361 Thomas Jamie Birchfield 2.00m
4 25 Broom-Edwards Jonathan LSAC 1.95m
5 40 Stewart Phinias Birchfield 1.90m
Mens Pole Vault
Pos Bib Name Team Height
1 348 Walker Paul LSAC 5.25m
2 257 Strange Alastair LSAC 5.15m
3 347 Eaves Max LSAC 4.90m
4 345 Marsh Andy City of Stoke 4.90m
5 349 Warensjo Robert LSAC 4.60m
Mens Shot
Pos Bib Name Team Distance
1 366 Spencer-Jones Ryan Birchfield 16.22m
2 350 Roberts Ben Birchfield 15.95m
3 341 Brunt Daniel City of Sheffield 15.05m
1 367 Lincoln (U20) Scott City of York 13.16m

Saturday 9th January 2010

WORLD indoor 60 metres hurdles champion Lolo Jones believes she can lead her team to victory at the Aviva International Match in Glasgow on January 30th.

Jones won her race at Kelvin Hall last year and hopes a return trip will see a repeat of that success as well as the US team leaving with the match cup in hand, allowing her to build up form ahead of March's World Indoor Championships.

The 27-year-old Iowa track star said: "It looks like it will be one of the strongest teams we have sent there and of course we hope that we can lift the cup at the end of the event.

"I love competing in Glasgow as there's always a great atmosphere and it's a nice way to start the season. The competition will of course be tough and looking at the names who are confirmed already it looks like it will be a great meet.

"I won last year so I would like to defend my title and hopefully it will be just the start I need to also defend my World Indoor title."

Jones will once again go head-to-head with Sarah Claxton, who will run for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team.

The American was the only hurdler to go under eight seconds, in 7.95secs, when she beat Claxton into second place at the Glasgow venue last year.

Claxton will join a GB and NI squad which also includes Jenny Meadows, Lisa Dobriskey and captain Jessica Ennis.

Ennis said: "It's great to have Sarah in the team. She pushed Lolo all the way last year in Kelvin Hall and I'm sure will be looking to go one better this season."

Alongside the GB and NI team and the USA, teams from the Commonwealth, Germany and Sweden complete the match line-up.

Saturday 26th September 2009

WORLD 800m bronze medallist Jenny Meadows highlighted a selection of top performances for British athletes in action at the season-ending Daegu Colourful Pre-Championships International meeting in the South Korean city by taking victory over the two-lap distance on Friday night (25th September).

On the track of the Daegu Stadium, venue for the 2011 World Championships, Meadows replicated her Berlin form leading from the start to reach the bell in around 60 seconds and finally accelerating away from the field with 200m to go winning in 2:01.65, ahead of Slovenian Sonja Roman who set a season’s best 2:02.88 to finish second.

Berlin silver medallist, American Wallace Spearmon, set his personal best of 19.65secs on the same track three years ago, and was the class of the field in the men’s 200m winning in 20.29secs following a powerful ahead of Great Britain’s Jeffrey Lawal-Balogun, second in 20.98 and fourth placed Marlon Devonish (21.30).

Nancy Langat of Kenya won the women’s 1500m in 4:06.80 with Poland’s Lidia Chojecka second in 4:08.35 as reigning United Kingdom 3,000m steeplechase record-holder Helen Clitheroe clocked 4:09.10 to secure third place.

In the women’s 100m hurdles Berlin World champion Jamaican Brigitte Foster-Hylton claimed victory in 12.60secs ahead of reigning Olympic champion American Dawn Harper (12.75) and fellow Jamaican 400m hurdles specialist Nickiesha Wilson (12.96). Britain’s Sarah Claxton was fifth in 13.18.

American Tyson Gay beat Asafa Powell for the second time in a week to win the 100m.

Gay, who equalled the second fastest 100m of all-time with 9.69 seconds in Shanghai, clocked 9.94secs with Powell timed at 10 seconds exactly.

World Championships, Carmelita Jeter of the United States won the women's 100m in 10.83secs.

Russian Yelena Isinbayeva won the pole vault competition with a height of 4.60 metres, but then failed to clear 4.85m way short of her own world-record of 5.06m.

Full results are available on the following link: www.dg-athletics.or.kr/english/pages/2008/2008_result.jsp

2009 Great North CityGames

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Saturday 19th September 2009

ENGLAND’s athletes followed in their Cricket counterparts foot-steps to take Summer 2009 Ashes victory over Australia with a comprehensive 10-1 event win on the Newcastle Quayside at the two-day Great North CityGames event.

In front of a large appreciative crowd Street athletics returned to the United Kingdom for the second time this year following Usain Bolt’s amazing record-breaking performance over 150m in the Manchester rain back in May, as Team England faced up to their arch-rivals Australia in an eleven event challenge on track, road and field on the Newcastle Quayside.

On the eve of the BUPA Great North Run - the world’s biggest half-marathon - England’s Steve Lewis gave England the perfect start with a fine victory on Friday night in the men’s pole vault competition held in Baltic Square as the 23-year-old Loughborough-based Commonwealth bronze medallist, coached by an Australian, Steve Rippon, claimed a quality win with a vault of 5.45 metres.

Australian Scott Martin levelled up the match score in Performance Square next to The Sage music venue in Gateshead by taking the shot put title with a best of 18.83m.

In the opening event on Saturday afternoon following a false start World Championships finalist Sarah Claxton of England was out well in front in the women’s 100m hurdles to secure the points clocking a time of 13.17secs ahead of compatriot Louise Woods (13.75).

Shannon McCann was Australia's best in third place in 14.23 with Lauren Boden close behind setting a lifetime best time of 14.25.

In the women’s BUPA Great North Two-Mile Australian Nikki Chapple went into an early lead with compatriot Elouise Wellings for company alongside England’s Katrina Wooton

Former world cross-country champion Benita Willis, preparing to run the half-marathon on Sunday, moved through as the pack approached the bridge and kicked for glory as the former Great North Run winner headed up the final incline still in the lead.

The English athletes began to give chase but Willis had built a ten-metre lead at the final turn with 250m to go, however, teenager Charlotte Purdue, a junior European cross-country bronze medallist, began to chase her down pipping the Australian on the line to take victory in a time of ten minutes flat.

Nikki Chapple finished in third place with Loughborough student Emily Pidgeon a strong fourth for England in 10.04.

In the women’s BUPA Great North One Mile event former NCAA 1500m champion Hannah England continued her fine late season form following her second place finish at the World Athletics Final in Greece the previous weekend, the Oxford athlete was a runaway winner in a time of 4mins 49secs.

England will now look ahead to a trip Stateside to New York for next weekend’s high profile Fifth Avenue Mile in the Big Apple.

World bronze medallist Jenny Meadows finished second in 4.46 with compatriot Celia Brown third in 4.56.

World silver medallist Lisa Dobriskey was a late withdrawal from the England team with a slight injury niggle to be replaced by fellow Loughborough Alumnus Charlotte Best who finished a creditable fifth clocking 5.04.

William Sharman who was just out of the medals in Berlin when finishing fourth and the 2006 Commonwealth and European bronze medallist Andy Turner went head-to-head for England over the 110m hurdles with Sharman winning the battle of the Loughborough graduates by the width of a vest in a time of 13.53secs as both athletes crossed the line together.

In the men’s BUPA Great North One Mile race Collis Birmingham spearheaded the Australian challenge with Commonwealth Games 800m finalist Nick Bromley, Beijing Olympian Mitch Kealey and Brad Woods alongside him as they faced Olympic and World Championship representative Andy Baddeley, Mo Farah, Mark Draper and Sean Moralee in the colours of England.

The Aussies Kealey and Birmingham went out to the front from the gun building a five-metre gap on Baddeley and Farah. However, in the second half of the race Baddeley came through to show his class making his decisive break for victory chased hard by Farah over the line taking the win for England in a time of 4.02.

Tyrone Edgar and Richard Kilty, the captain for the Great Britain World Junior Championships team, produced a fine competitive race in the men’s 60m as local athlete Kilty edged victory for England in 6.67 to Edgar’s 6.69 with Matt Davies third for Australia in 6.71.

World Championships finalists Greg Rutherford and Chris Tomlinson dominated the men’s long jump competition with Rutherford winning with a leap of 8.17m. Middlesborough athlete Tomlinson was second in his native North East with a mark of 7.79m as Henry Frayne recorded 7.81 to secure third place for the Aussie’s.

In the men's 150m Marlon Devonish won for England setting a new national-record time of 14.88secs ahead of team-mate Jeffry Lawal-Balogun (15.21).

With the scores at 9 - 1 going into the last event team captain Christine Ohuruogu, the Olympic 400m champion, having set a personal best and national-record over this distance in the street meeting at Manchester, claimed the point for England in a personal best time of 16.94secs from British 100m record-holder Montell Douglas (17.17) as the duo finished well ahead of the best of the Aussies Melissa Breen who clocked 17.70.

The Great North CityGames provided a great opportunity for the athletes and fans to get up close and personal in the streets of Newcastle and Gateshead and provided a fine warm-up for the thousands who will compete in the Great North Run.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full Results:
Men
Pole Vault
1 Steve Lewis (ENG) 5.45
2 Joel Pocklington (AUS)
3 Christian North (ENG) 4.80
4 James Filshie (AUS) 4.60
Shot
1 Scott Martin (AUS) 18.83
2 Dale Stevenson (AUS) 18.66
3 Jamie Williamson (ENG) 17.28
4 Carl Fletcher (ENG) 16.59
110m Hurdles
1 William Sharman (ENG) 13.53
2 Andy Turner (ENG) 13.54
3 Daniel Martin (AUS) 14.15
4 John Burstow (AUS) 14.40
60m
1 Richard Kilty (ENG) 6.67
2 Tyrone Edgar (ENG) 6.69
3 Matt Davies (AUS) 6.71
4 Anthony Alozie (AUS) 6.72
BUPA Great North Mile
1 Andy Baddeley (ENG) 4.02
2 Mo Farah (ENG) 4.02
3 Collis Birmingham (AUS) 4.04
4 Mitch Kealey (AUS) 4.13
5 Mark Draper (ENG) 4.14
6 Brad Woods (AUS) 4.18
7 Nick Bromley (AUS) 4.21
8 Sean Moralee (ENG) 4.24
Long Jump
1 Greg Rutherford (ENG) 8.17
2 Chris Tomlinson (ENG) 7.79
3 Henry Frayne (AUS) 7.81
4 Shaun Fletcher (AUS) 7.26
150m
1 Marlon Devonish (ENG) 14.88
2 Jeffery Lawal-Balogun (ENG) 15.21
3 Matt Davies (AUS) 15.24
4 Sean Wroe (AUS) 15.67
Women
100m Hurdles
1 Sarah Claxton (ENG) 13.17
2 Louise Wood (ENG) 13.75
3 Shannon McCann (AUS) 14.23
4 Lauren Boden (AUS) 14.25
150m
1 Christine Ohuruogu (ENG) 16.94
2 Montell Douglas (ENG) 17.18
3 Melissa Breen (AUS) 17.70
4 Lauren Boden (AUS) 17.72
BUPA Great North Two-Miles
1 Charlotte Purdie (ENG) 10.00
2 Benita Willis (AUS) 10.00
3 Nikki Chapple (AUS) 10.00
4 Emily Pidgeon (ENG) 10.04
5 Lara Tamsett (AUS) 10.10
6 Katrina Wooton (ENG) 10.14
7 Faye Fullerton (ENG) 10.15
8 Elouise Wellings (AUS) 10.17
BUPA Great North One Mile
1 Hannah England (ENG) 4.49
2 Jenny Meadows (ENG) 4.46
3 Celia Brown (ENG) 4.56
4 Charlotte Best (ENG) 5.04
5 Katherine Katsanevakis (AUS) 5.09
6 Kelly Lee Hetherington (AUS) 5.09
7 Selam Kajan (AUS) 5.10
8 Holly Noack (AUS) 5.11
Match Result:
1 England 10pts, 2 Australia 1pts
International Schools Competition
Intermediate Boys
150m
1 David Bolarinwa (ENG) 16.33
2 Tom Cusworth (WAL) 16.73
3 Stuart Connor (IRE) 16.84
4 Kieran Kilvin (SCO) 16.92
BUPA Great North Mile
1 Conor Robinson (ENG) 4:29
2 Charlie Hulson (WAL) 4:32
3 Grant Muir (SCO) 4:32
4 Shane Fitzsimons (IRE) 4:32
5 Elliot Hardee (WAL) 4:35
6 Craig Wellcoat (SCO) 4:35
7 Mark English (IRE) 4:37
8 Luke Carroll (ENG) 4:38
Intermediate Girls
150m
1 Bianca Williams (ENG) 18.46
2 Kathryn Christie (SCO) 18.47
3 Mica Moore (WAL) 18.75
4 Sarah Murray (IRE) 19.21
BUPA Great North Mile
1 Jessica Judd (ENG) 5:02
2 Georgia Peel (ENG) 5:03
3 Emma Mitchell (IRE) 5:09
4 Natasha Cockram (WAL) 5:11
5 Emily Dudgeon (SCO) 5:13
6 Jade Williams (WAL) 5:14
7 Amy O'Donoghue (IRE) 5:23
8 Louisa Stewart (SCO) 5:31

Sunday 20th September 2009

AMERICAN Tyson Gay produced a superb performance to lower his own national 100 metres record at the IAAF Shanghai Grand Prix that from next year will become part of the new IAAF Diamond League.

Gay despite a slow start out of the blocks blasted past Jamaica’s Asafa Powell to win in a time of 9.69secs with the Commonwealth champion second in 9.85 and fellow American Darvis Patton third (9.89).

Gay’s victory equalled the second-fastest of all time which Usain Bolt achieved when winning Olympic gold in Beijing last year.

Gay's previous American record of 9.71secs was achieved when winning the World Championships silver medal behind Bolt in Berlin, who clocked a world record of 9.58. Britain’s Harry Aikines-Aryeetey finished fifth with a season’s best of 10.13.

Gay’s compatriot Carmelita Jeter was also in scintillating form in China just seven days after clocking a world-leading 100m time for the year of 10.67secs to win the World Athletics Final in Thessalonika, Greece, the American who collected bronze at last month's World Championships ran a stunning 10.64 to finishing ahead of Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown and Chandra Sturrup of the Bahamas, who recorded 10.89 and 11.03 respectively. The United Kingdom champion Joice Maduaka finished 9th in 11.60.

China's superstar Liu Xiang made his first appearance since recovering from Achilles surgery following his huge disappointment of having to pull out of the 110m hurdles heat at last summer's Olympic Games in Beijing.

Liu crossed the line in the same time of 13.15secs with Terrence Trammell, however, the American was given the verdict following a photo finish.

Great Britain’s Rob Tobin was second in the 400m, clocking an impressive 45.49secs pushing the world champion LaShawn Merritt all the way to the line as the American, unbeaten in 2009 over the one-lap distance, won in 45.28. Gary Kikaya of the Democratic Republic of Congo was third in 45.63.

In the women’s 400m Loughborough sports scholar Nicola Sanders was fourth in 50.80, whilst, fellow Alumnus Lee McConnell ran a season’s best of 51.45secs to claim sixth place as Jamaica’s Shericka Williams edged team-mate Novlene Williams-Mills in 49.83.

World Championship finalist Emily Freeman finished fifth in the 200m as the Berlin gold medallist Allyson Felix of America won in 22.37secs. Freeman clocked 22.79.

Gelete Burka of Ethiopia who was controversially pushed to the track in the Berlin World Championships final won the women’s 1500m in a time of 4:02.15 as Britain’s Helen Clitheroe set a season’s best of 4:08.31 to claim 8th.

Full results are available on the following link: www.shggp.com/results/

Wednesday 16th September 2009

LOUGHBOROUGH-based Kate Dennison raised her own British pole vault record to 4.60 metres at the Pedros Cup meeting in Szczecin, Poland, on Tuesday evening (15th September).

Dennison added two centimetres to the performance she achieved at the British Grand Prix in July, and clinched a third-place finish.

The 25-year-old, who was sixth in the World Championships, was beaten by Anna Rogowska, the gold medallist from Berlin who cleared 4.70m, with Aleksandra Kiryashova given second on countback after also vaulting 4.60m.

Fellow Loughborough athlete and world 1500 metres silver medallist Lisa Dobriskey lost for the second time in four days when beaten by Christin Wurth-Thomas in close a sprint finish.

Dobriskey finished 0.32 seconds adrift of the American in a time of four minutes 7.31 seconds. Compatriot Laura Kenney was 7th in 4:12.48.

Dobriskey will concentrate on road-racing over the mile at the Great North City Games in Newcastle on Saturday and then defending her New York Fifth Avenue Mile title the following weekend.

In the men’s 110m hurdles Poland’s Artur Noga, despite a slow start, produced a season’s best of 13.35secs, finishing 0.06 ahead of Hungary’s Daniel Kiss, with Berlin finalists Petr Svoboda and Britain's William Sharman (13.41) in third and fourth.

2009 IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final

Kaftanzoglio Stadium

Thessaloniki, Greece

Sunday 13th September 2009 - Day 2

USAIN BOLT gave a superstars virtuoso performance in his season finale to delight the packed 28,000 crowd at the Kaftanzoglio Stadium signing off 2009 with another superb victory over 200m as the triple World and Olympic champion clocked a scorching 19.68secs at the IAAF/VTB World Athletics Final in Thessalonika.

The consummate showman even found time to play air guitar to Zorba-the-Greek over the PA system designed to warm-up the crowd before the 23-year-old simply ran away from a world-class field crossing the line in a time of 16.68secs.

The race also finished his season early as the Jamaican revealed that he will not be competing at the Shanghai Grand Prix next week.

As with the Berlin World Championships final American Wallace Spearmon (20.21) led home the rest of the field metres behind with Brendan Christian of Antigua third (20.65).

The latest superlative victory saw him narrowly miss the Greek all-comers record of 19.67secs, which he achieved in July last year in Athens.

"The finish wasn't on purpose, I was a little bit tired," Bolt said after noticeably slowing in the final metres. "I was running on fumes and that was the last bit of energy I had.

"I'm just happy that the season's over, today I didn’t surprise myself, like in Brussels (Golden League). I want to run faster but I was really tired after a long season. No more races for me, it’s time to rest.”

Britain's Marlon Devonish, following his false start finished sixth in 20.85secs.

If Bolt was centre of attention then America’s Carmelita Jeter produced the performance of the night with a stunning run to win the women's 100m as the world bronze medallist clocked a time of 10.67secs to become the third fastest woman in history behind compatriots Florence Griffith-Joyner (World record-holder) and the disgraced drugs cheat Marion Jones.

"I couldn't believe the time. It didn't feel that fast but I will take it," said Jeter, who defeated Jamaica’s world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser in the process.

In the women's 800 metres the USA's Anna Willard and Maggie Vessey completed a 1-2 over the line with Willard prevailing in 2:00.20 over compatriot Vessey (2:00.31). Top European was Berlin world bronze medallist Jenny Meadows in third place with 2:00.41 ahead of European indoor champion Mariya Savinova (2:00.72).

UK champion Jemma Simpson, after her excellent second place in last week's Brussels Golden League meeting, faded over the home straight to finish seventh in 2:00.99.

American Sanya Richards stayed unbeaten in the 400m at major meetings this year, despite looking sluggish after her epic 200m race the previous day the 24-year-old conserved her energy before overtaking Jamaican’s Shericka Williams and Novlene Williams-Mills in the last 50 metres clocking 49.95secs to take victory.

Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu was never in the running finishing a distant sixth in a time of 51.42secs as compatriot and former world silver medallist Nicola Sanders faired better to gain an impressive fourth place with a strong finish in the home straight recording 51.01.

In the women's 400 metres hurdles Olympic and world champion Melanie Walker from Jamaica won the race in a new World Athletics Final record of 53.36secs, beating compatriot Kalsie Spencer (53.99) and Trinidad's Josanne Lucas (54.31).

European bronze medallist Andy Turner continued his road to recovery following his Hamstring injury that ended his world championships in Berlin last month by finishing fifth in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.57secs as global champion Ryan Brathwaite won in 13.16.

Loughborough graduate Laura Kenney stepped-up in class to face the might of Africa over the women’s 3,000m as Ethiopia's Meseret Defar completed the championship double having won the 5,000m the previous day she clocked a world-leading mark of 8mins 30.15secs.

Kenney, coached by George Gandy, running her own race produced a fine performance to set a lifetime best of 8:50.37 finishing eighth.

Croatia’s Blanka Vlasic won the women’s high jump in some style clearing 2.04 metres before making three very good attempts at 2.10m to break Bulgarian Stefka Kostadinova remarkable world-record set in Rome way back in 1987.

Russian Anna Chicherova was second with 2.00m as Italian Antoinetta Di Martino claimed third with 1.97m.



Biljana Topic of Serbia set a new national record in the women's triple jump with a leap of 14.56m, which earned her second place behind Cuban world silver medallist Mabel Gay, who took victory with 14.62m. Former world champion Tatyana Lebedeva set her seasonal best for third place with 14.48.

The women's discus competition was won by world silver medallist Yarelis Barrios representing Cuba with a World Athletics Final record throw of 65.86m with Zaneta Glanc of Poland the runner-up with 63.36 ahead of France's Melina Robert-Michon (61.74).

Ukraine's Maksym Mazurik took victory in the men's pole vault with a height of 5.70m, defeating the USA's Derek Miles (5.60) and Frenchman Daniel Dossevi (5.60). French world bronze medallist and SPAR European Team Championships winner Renaud Lavillenie did not register a height.

Norway's Andreas Thorkildsen and Finland's Tero Pitkämäki went head-to-head once again in the men’s javelin as the Norwegian Olympic, world and European champion lay in second place until his third attempt with 83.89m, behind rival Pitkämäki, who sent the javelin out to 84.09m in the third round. However, in the final round Thorkildsen secured the win with a throw of 87.75m.

Britain’s Chris Tomlinson looked tired and short of technique in the long jump competition, and finished seventh with a best effort of 7.85m as the three-time world champion Dwight Phillips, who led going into the last round with a mark of 8.24m, was surprisingly beaten by defending champion Fabrice Lapierre with a winning leap of 8.33m.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link: www.iaaf.org/waf09/results/eventCode=4143/index.html

2009 IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final

Kaftanzoglio Stadium

Thessaloniki, Greece

Saturday 12th September 2009 - Day 1

HANNAH ENGLAND stepped into the limelight to shine bright for Great Britain on the opening day of the IAAF/VTB World Athletics Final in Thessaloniki, Greece, finishing runner-up over 1500m ahead of the three Berlin global medallists Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain, compatriot Lisa Dobriskey and American Shannon Rowbury in the race won by Kenya’s Nancy Jebet Lagat.

Other highlights in front of a packed crowd at the Kaftanzoglio Stadium included American Tyson Gay producing a storming finish in the men’s 100m to defeat Jamaican Asafa Powell as the World silver medallist claimed victory in 9.89secs - global champion LaShawn Merritt eased to victory over 400m as fellow American’s Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards dead-heated in a dramatic women’s 200m with Felix given the verdict, whilst, Ethiopia’s superstar Kenenisa Bekele won the men’s 3,000m following a powerful sprint finish.

Hannah England, the 2008 NCAA champion over the distance put the disappointment of non-selection for last months Berlin World Championships finished second in the women’s 1500m as the 22-year-old from Oxford clocked a time of 4mins 14.05secs to the winner Kenya’s Nancy Jebet Lagat’s 4:13.63 and collect the biggest pay day of her career ($20,000).

In the slow run race where several of the big names looked tired after a long season England took full advantage to power down the home straight taking second place as Christin Wurth-Thomas of the USA claimed third in 4:14.10 ahead of the World champion Maryam Yusuf Jamal.

Reigning USA champion Rowbury was fifth in 4:14.08 with the Commonwealth gold medallist Lisa Dobriskey fading to eighth with 4:15.94 - as all top eight athletes over the line were only separated by a margin of just one second.

"After not making Berlin I just got my head down and decided that this would be my World Championships," said England. "I'm so pleased, though I'm really, really surprised."

Berlin World Championship silver medallist Tyson Gay claimed victory in the 100m as the American clocked 9.88secs to edged out Jamaica's Asafa Powell over the line by a margin of just two one-hundredths. Britain’s national champion Simeon Williamson was eighth in 10.48.

"I am very happy with my win. I tried hard to beat Asafa and I didn't quit the race, even though I was far behind him. My groin was sore but that didn't stop me to chase him and finally beat him. I had great energy inside me," said Gay afterwards.

The hugely impressive USA’s LaShawn Merritt confirmed his number one status as the World champion cruised to victory in a time of 44.93secs completing his 16th straight 400m win ahead of Bahamian Chris Brown (45.49) and compatriot David Neville, the Beijing bronze medallist, third in 45.60.

Merritt commented: “I got out smooth. The time was not good, although the crowd helped me a lot. You can't expect to run faster at the end of the season. All it matters at these races is victory. I think I can be called as the best 400 metres runner, I've earned it.”

Britain's Michael Bingham, after finishing third in last week's final Golden League meeting in Brussels, claimed fourth place in 45.67 ahead of Ireland’s David Gillick, 6th in 46.09.

Race of the night came in the women’s high quality 200m as the two American global champions Allyson Felix (200m) and Sanya Richards (400m) produced a thriller as they ran neck-and-neck crossing the line together in a time of 22.29secs with Felix awarded the victory following a photo finish.

A delighted Felix reflected: “I had a terrific season. It was fun running against Sanya (Richards) in a very tight race. The season had been very long with many trips and races, but I don't feel so much tired. I would like to thank the crowd for their support.”

Double global 100m silver medallist, Kerron Stewart of Jamaica was third in a season best of 22.42 as Britain’s Emily Freeman finished eighth in 22.91.

Britain’s World triple jump champion Phillips Idowu looked to be jaded and subsequently faded to fourth place struggling with his technique producing a best leap of 17.03m.

Cuban David Giralt won the competition with a best of 17.45m ahead of Bahamian Leevan Sands and Momchil Karailiev representing Bulgaria, who cleared 17.19m and 17.18m respectively.

Loughborough graduate and European 400m hurdles bronze medallist Rhys Williams continued his solid return to racing following long term injuries that including a stress fracture to his foot to finish fifth clocking a time of 50.02secs as double World champion Kerron Clement of the USA was a class apart winning in 48.11. Jamaica's Isa Phillips was disqualified for stepping out of his lane.

The men's 3,000m provided one of the highlights of the evening in Thessaloniki as Ethiopia's 5,000m World champion Kenenisa Bekele and Bernard Lagat of the United States reprised their epic Berlin battle.

Lagat, who claimed silver behind Bekele in Berlin, attacked on the final straight, but following another exciting sprint finish Bekele held off his rival's challenge to win in a time of eight minutes 03.79 seconds.

Bekele immediately revealed he was bringing his season to a close after an exhausting programme which has seen him win the World 5,000m and 10,000m gold medals and collect a share of the Golden League jackpot over the 3,000m and 5,000m distance.

“I ran pretty well but it was not an easy win for me, especially after a very long season with many races in programme. I feel very tired and as a result I will not run at the 5.000 metres. I am not sure if I will try cross-country next year. Maybe, we shall see,” Bekele said afterwards.

Meseret Defar won her third World Athletics Final title after 2005 and 2008, beating her Ethiopian archrival Tirunesh Dibaba in a close 5,000m race in 15:25.31.

David Rudisha continued his impressive season as the 20-year-old Kenyan powerfully and confidently held off the challenge of an impressive field to win the men's 800m in a time of 1:44.85 setting a meeting record.

"I'm very glad that I'm starting to build an unbeatable record in this event," said Rudisha who set a personal best 1:43.52 in Zurich two-weeks ago, which he improved with a 1:42.01 African record in Rieti, Italy, the previous weekend.

Canadian Gary Reed finished second in 1:45:23, ahead of World champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi.

In the women's 100m hurdles final, Canadians Priscilla Lopes-Schliep and Perdita Felicien were edged out of the top three in a race that featured five of the world's best separated by just 0.03 seconds.

World champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton of Jamaica wonthe race in a time of 12.58 seconds.

Lopes-Schliep, Felicien, Beijing Olympic gold medallist Dawn Harper of the United States and Jamaican Delloreen Ennis-London all were credited with a time of 12.61 seconds. Race officials determined their finishing order was Harper, Ennis-London, Lopes-Schliep then Felicien.

In the women's 3000 metres steeplechase Ruth Bisibori Nyangau of Kenya won in a new World Athletics Final record of 9:13.43 ahead of world bronze medallist Milcah Chemos (9:20.19) and Gladys Kipkemboi (9:21.18).

In the women's pole vault, Yelena Isinbayeva failed in her attempt to set a remarkable 28th world record with the bar at 5.07m.

The 27-year-old Russian cleared 4.80m before having the bar raised but never looked likely to achieve what would have been a 15th outdoor record.

Isinbayeva commented: “This victory was like a "revenge" after my defeat in Berlin. I had my ups and downs during the season, so I am very happy with today's win. I still think that a 5.20 jump is reachable. I will also compete in Shanghai and Daegu. Greek supporters love me and I love them too.”

Isinbayeva, who set the current global mark of 5.06m 15 days ago in Zurich, won easily ahead of Fabiana Murer representing Brazil and Monika Pyrek of Poland who shared second place with leaps of 4.60m.

Javelin World champion Steffi Nerius ended her international career after throwing 62.59m for third place. The 37-year-old German wore her trademark headband, with "Goodbye" written in English, Greek and German.

Maria Abakumova of Russia won the event with a mark of 64.60m. World record-holder Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic was third with 63.45m.

World champion Yaroslav Rybakov showed his consistency once again with another great win in the men's High Jump with a clearance of 2.34m. Jaroslav Baba cleared 2.32 to finish second ahead of American Jesse Williams, third with 2.29.

Lithuanian Virgilius Alekna, the former Olympic and European champion, improved on his fourth place in Berlin with a solid win in the men's discus with 67.63m, defeating World champion Robert Harting who finished runner-up with 66.37.

Piotr Malachowski from Poland, world silver medallist in Berlin, claimed third place with 65.60.

Brittney Reese of the USA won the long jump with a a best leap of 7.08m, pushing Russian duo Elena Sokolova (6.81m) and Tatyana Lebedeva (6.79m) into second and third place.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link: www.iaaf.org/waf09/results/eventCode=4143/index.html

Sunday 6th September 2009

BRITAIN’s Lisa Dobriskey gained revenge for her narrow defeat in the final of the 1500m at last months Berlin IAAF World Championships by taking victory over the gold medallist Maryam Jamal at the Rieti Grand Prix meeting in Italy.

The 25-year-old Loughborough-based Commonwealth champion clocked a time of 4mins 01.23 on the track of the Stadio dell'Atletica Raul Guidobaldi to edge out Jamal following a tight finish over the line as the bronze medallist in Berlin, American champion Shannon Rowbury, had to once again settle for third place 4:03.46.

The United Kingdom trials winner Charlene Thomas (4:05.39) and former NCAA title-holder Hannah England (4:05.45) finished 6th and 7th respectively.

Kenya's David Lekuta Rudisha ran the fastest 800 metres in the world this year to set a new national record. The African completed clocked a time of 1:42.01 finishing ahead of fellow Kenyan and the 2007 World champion Alfred Kirwa Yego (1:42.67) and South Africa's Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (1:42.86).

Rudisha has become the fourth fastest 800 metres runner in history behind Wilson Kipketer (1:41.11), Great Britain’s Sebastian Coe (1:41.73) and Joachim Cruz (1:41.77).

In the men’s 800m ‘B’ race Brits Michael Rimmer (1:46.83) and Joe Thomas (1:48.46) finished second and sixth respectively.

Commonwealth champion Asafa Powell won the men's 100m in 9.99secs with Jamaican countryman Nesta Carter second in 10.08 and Britain's Simeon Williamson third in 10.18 edging compatriot Loughborough student Harry Aikines Aryeteey (10.21).

The men’s 400 metres was won by Great Britain’s Rob Tobin in a time of 45.30secs with Loughborough-based Martyn Rooney, having run in Brussels on Friday night, finishing fifth in 45.71.

American Wallace Spearmon, the World 200m bronze medallist in Osaka and Berlin won the men’s 200 metres in 20.27secs into a headwind of -0.9 m/s. Marlon Devonish finished in fourth place in 20.62.

Shelly-Ann Fraser, the Jamaican record-holder (10.73), won for the second time in a row in Rieti with a time of 11.18secs against a strong headwind of -2.4 m/s defeating the Olympic silver medallist Sherone Simpson (11.37).

Kerron Stewart, the World and Olympic 100m silver medallist, completed a sprint hat-trick of victories for Jamaica winning the women's 200 metres in 22.62secs against a headwind of -2.0 m/s, the event at which she is the Olympic bronze medallist. Shericka Williams, the World 400m silver medallist in Berlin, finished second in 22.69 as Wakefield’s Emily Freeman claimed fourth in 22.94.

It was another Jamaican domination in the men’s 110m hurdles as national record-holder Dwight Thomas, winner at the Golden League meeting in Zürich the previuos week, continued his solid season taking victory in 13.36secs (-1.3 m/s) ahead of his compatriot Maurice Wignall (13.43). Britain’s Andy Turner returned to track action following his injury disappointment in Berlin to clock 13.62 securing fifth place.

Kenyan Ruth Bisibori, seventh in Berlin broke the meeting record in the 3000m Steeplechase with a mark of 9:13.92, taking the lead from the start and passing the 2km mark in 6:05 inside the pace of the meeting record held by 2005 World champion Dorcus Inzikuru.

In the men’s 1500m William Biwott, who broke the World Junior Mile record in the Dream Mile in Oslo, won the metric mile race in 3:33.00 ahead of American Leonel Manzano, second in 3:33.59, and Geoffrey Rono (3:33.59). Britain’s Andy Baddeley and Tom Lancashire finished 6th and 7th with times of 3:35.07 and 3:35.19 respectively.

World 5,000 metres silver medallist Sylvia Kibet won the women’s 3,000m race in 8:43.93 ahead of Ethiopian Kalkidan Gezahegne, second in 8:44.33 and Kenyan Mercy Cherono third in 8:44.67. World 10,000 metres silver medallist Wude Ayalew finished fourth in 8:45.10. Loughborough-based Laura Kenney finished 9th in 8:51.33 as fellow Brit Barbara Parker continued her successful return from injury with a 9:15.99 clocking to secure 15th place.

The men’s Pole Vault, badly affected by the windy conditions was won jointly by Russian Viktor Chistiakov and Ukraine’s Maksym Mazuryk with 5.52m. Great Britain’s Steve Lewis finished fifth with a best of 5.37m.

Full results are available on the following link: www.rietimeeting.com/info/results/index.html

2009 ÅF IAAF Golden League Belgacom Memorial Van Damme Meeting

Stade Roi Baudouin, Brussels

Friday 4th September 2009

HE’s brilliant… he’s brash… he’s the lightning Bolt! - as Kenenisa Bekele (5,000m), Yelena Isinbayeva (pole vault) and Sanya Richards (400m) completed their sixth consecutive victories to share the One Million Dollar jackpot in the final ever edition of the Golden League, the biggest star on show in Brussels was triple Olympic and World champion Usain Bolt who delighted the packed 47,000 crowd in the Stade Roi Baudouin with a stunning 19.57secs clocking over 200m as the 23-year-old Jamaican stormed to victory despite the cool damp conditions in the Belgium capital.

The final ever ÅF Golden League meeting was celebrated in style as superstar Usain Bolt recorded the world's fourth fastest time of 19.57 seconds to eclipse the meeting record of 19.79, set by American Tyson Gay in 2006, a mark which only himself and the legendary American Michael Johnson have ever bettered.

The USA’s Wallace Spearmon, the World bronze medallist, finished a distant second in 20.19, with teenager Azerbaijan sprinter Ramil Guliyev third in 20.47.

Bolt said afterwards: "I am very tired, my body was telling me to slow down. I was fatigued in the last 20-30 metres.

"But the crowd gave me that extra push - the fans always expect something extra from me and I was very surprised by the energy they gave me, I enjoy to do the show, always, and I knew that as it is a new track it would be fast."

American Sanya Richards was equally impressive and dominant in the women’s 400m as the elegant 24-year-old produced an awesome world-leading performance to race away from the field in a meeting record of 48.83secs to secure her share of the Million Dollar jackpot improving her previous 2009 best of 48.94 set in Zurich at the 'Weltklasse' last week.

Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu continued her solid return to top form following her hamstring injury, having won in Gateshead on Bank Holiday Monday the Brit out sprinted Jamaican Shericka Williams, the world silver medallist in Berlin, by a margin of 0.12secs to take second place in 50.43 with compatriot Nicola Sanders eighth in 51.38.

Double world 10,000m and 5,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele waited until the last lap to secure his $333,333 share pulling way from the field to clock a time of 12mins 55.31secs ahead of fellow Ethiopian Imane Merga and Kenya's Vincent Chepkok. Great Britain’s European indoor 3,000m champion Mo Farah was a distant 13th in 13:22.33.

A week after breaking her own world-record and collecting a $50,000 bonus Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva completed her sixth Golden League victory to secure her share of the jackpot with a winning height and a first time clearance of 4.70 metres.

Poland’s Monika Pyrek finished second on countback tied with three other athletes including compatriot and the surprise World champion Anna Rogwanska, whilst, the Loughborough-based United Kingdom record-holder Kate Dennison finished fifth with a height of 4.50m.

Isinbayeva having claimed the victory tried to break the world mark again with three decent attempts at 5.07m, one centimetre above her global record, in the difficult conditions.

UK champion Jemma Simpson produced one of her best 800m performances of the season to finish second behind American Anna Willard in a time of 1:59.40. Marilyn Okoro finished 8th in 2:01.68 ahead of American Maggie Vessey.

In the men’s 400m former Olympic and World champion Jeremy Wariner, in the absence of compatriot and current double title holder LaShawn Merritt, was easily the class of the field as the American comfortably won in a time of 44.94secs ahead of Trinidad’s Renny Quow, second in 45.55.

Britain’s Michael Bingham clocked 45.70 to finish third edging out Ireland's David Gillick (45.73) and fellow Brit Martyn Rooney (45.83), a late call-up to the Brussels meeting.

With Usain Bolt competing over 200m fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell, the reigning Commonwealth champion, secured a well-deserved victory over 100m ahead of American Tyson Gay with an impressive time of 9.90secs (-0.4m/s) on the damp track.

Gay, who will require surgery at the end of the outdoor season on a long term groin injury finished second in 10.00, ahead of fellow countryman Darvis Patton (10.08), whilst, Britain’s Simeon Williamson was eighth in 10.21.

Loughborough graduate William Sharman once again underlined his potential by finishing fourth in world class 110m hurdles field in a time of 13.39secs, as the Barbadian World champion Ryan Brathwaite prevailed in 13.30.

American Carmelita Jeter, following her victory in the windy conditions of Gateshead, produced another superb run to capture the women's 100 metres, defeating the Jamaican duo of Shelly-Ann Fraser and Kerron Stewart, the gold and silver medallists respectively at the Berlin World Championship. Jeter flew to victory in 10.88secs, edging Fraser (10.98) and Stewart (11.05).

Brigitte Foster-Hylton, having become the oldest World champion over the 100m hurdles secured a narrow win edging out Canada's powerful Priscilla Lopes-Schliep by just 0.01 seconds over the line. The 34-year-old clocked 12.48secs to defeat Lopes-Schliep (12.49) and Jamaican Delloreen Ennis-London (12.71).

Gelete Burka bounced back from her World Championships disappointment when leading in the final of the 1500m the Ethiopian was pushed to the track and was last seen lying distressed on the track in Berlin to win the rarely run 2,000m but finishing outside of Ireland’s Sonia O’Sullivan’s 1994 world record-time of 5:25.36.

The 23-year-old was paced brilliantly before falling short on the last-lap to clock a time of 5:35.46 – a new African record - improving the mark of 5:31.52 set by Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot in Eugene back in June of this year. Cheruiyot, the World 5,000m champion finished second in 5:35.46 just ahead of compatriot Mercy Cherono (5:35.65).

In the women’s high jump badly affected by the conditions in Brussels double World Champion Blanka Vlasic won the competition with a 2.00m victory ahead of Berlin silver medalist, Russian Anna Chicherova on countback and third placed American Chaunte Howard (1.97m).

The 2007 World champion Tero Pitkämäki of Finland bounced back after missing the Zurich meeting last week and having been ill in Berlin to win the men’s Javelin competition with an opening round throw of 86.23m. Norway’s Olympic gold medallist Andreas Thorkildsen produced only one throw of 82.61 and then retired from the competition suffering pain in his groin.

Cuba’s Yamile Aldama won the women’s triple jump with a leap of 14.27m.

With Kenya's Ezekiel Kemboi, the reigning World champion missing the Brussels meeting, compatriot Paul Kipsiele Koech won the 3000m steeplechase taking the victory ahead of Berlin silver medallist Richard Mateelong in a time of 8:06.92, with Finland’s Jukka Keskisalo third.

David Rudisha of Kenya returned to winning ways with strong kick off the final bend crossing the line in 1:45.80 to secure victory in the men's 800m. Osaka 2007 World champion Alfred Yego of Kenya finished second in 1:46.36 with the new global gold medallist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi fading to fifth place. Canada’s Gary Reed was third in 1:46.82.

The Team England quartet of Andy Baddeley (3:39), Ricky Stevenson (3:43.3), Loughborough-based Nick McCormick (3:44.7) and Mark Draper (3:47.6) smashed the 30-year-old United Kingdom 4x1500m relay record finishing fifth in a time of 14:54.57 in the very rarely run event.

Kenya clocked a world record time of 14:36.23 as Augustine Choge (3:36.9) anchored home the squad of William Biwott (3:38.5), Gideon Gathimba (3:39.5) and Geoffrey Rono (3:41.4).

From next year the new IAAF Diamond League will start in May and will comprise 14 competitions around the world, compared to the current six Golden League meetings based in Europe.

The Diamond League will begin in Doha next spring before taking in cities across America, Asia, the Middle East and Europe, including London and Gateshead, Shanghai, New York, Stockholm and Paris.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Ivo Van Damme 
(February 21st 1954 – December 29th 1976)

Ivo Van Damme was a brilliant Belgian middle-distance runner born in Brussels. He played football until he was 16, but then switched to athletics. His breakthrough came in 1973, when he placed fourth in the IAAF Junior World Championships in the 800m.

In 1976, he won the European indoor title over 800m, and was one of the favourites for a medal at 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. There, he placed second in both the 800m and 1500m, finishing behind Alberto Juantorena and John Walker, respectively. They were his last successes, as Van Damme was tragically killed in a car accident while travelling home from Southern France, he was only 22-years-old.

Since 1977, a memorial competition has been held in Brussels to remember him, the Ivo Van Damme Memorial meeting.

Full results are available at: www.iaaf.org/gle09/results/eventcode=4178/index.html

The dedicated athletics-leics.com page for the 2009 ÅF IAAF Golden League is available on the following link: www.athletics-leics.com/btdkiaafgoldenleague2007b.html