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

Friday 4th September 2009

THE Team England quartet of Loughborough-based Nick McCormick (3:44.7) combined with Andy Baddeley (3:39), Ricky Stevenson (3:43.3) and Mark Draper (3:47.6) smashed the 30-year-old United Kingdom 4x1500m relay record when finishing fifth in a time of 14mins 54.57secs in the very rarely run event in front of the 47,000 capacity crowd in the King Baudouin Stadium at the ÅF Golden League Belgacom Memorial Van Damme Meeting in Brussels.

Kenya clocked a world record time of 14:36.23 to take victory and break the oldest global mark still standing dating back to 1977 set by the former East Germany 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).
Full Results:
1 Kenya - 14:36.23 WR
2 Mixed Team - 14:44.31
3 Australia - 14:46.92 NR
4 USA - 14:47.57
5 England - 14:54.57 NR
6 Belgium - 15:16.86

Aviva IAAF British Grand Prix

Gateshead International Stadium

Monday 31st August 2009

LISA Dobriskey and Phillips Idowu highlighted the homecoming for Great Britain’s World Championship medallists with impressive victories in the 1500m and triple jump respectively as the American sprinters Tyson Gay (100m), Shawn Crawford (200m), LaShawn Merritt (400m), Allyson Felix (200m) and Carmelita Jeter (100m) gave a virtuous show claiming impressive wins to delight the large crowd at the Gateshead International Stadium for the Aviva IAAF World Tour meeting that featured 32 Berlin medallists in action in the swirling windy conditions.

In the high quality meeting that from next year joins the new IAAF Diamond League series Great Britain’s Lisa Dobriskey cruised to victory in the women’s 1500m following a rain shower as the 25-year-old World silver medalist clocked a time of 4mins 13.60secs to follow her fine sub-four minute performance at the Zurich Golden League meeting on Friday night.

With Erin Donohue making an early break for victory on the bell-lap, Dobriskey, Sonja Roman of Slovakia and fellow Brit Hannah England began to chase down the American and with 150 metres to go Dobriskey using her superior fast finishing kick came off the final bend to pull clear of Roman to secure the victory. Roman finished second in 4:14.41 with England third in 4:14.45. 



A delighted Dobriskey commented: “This was great for me in front of the home crowd, it’s great so many people have come out to watch, I was so worried before the race because I didn’t want to come here and finish second or third, I wanted to celebrate properly and give the crowd something to cheer.”

Despite needing surgery on a long-term groin injury following the outdoor season American Tyson Gay still put in a fine performance to dominate the men’s 100m as the 27-year-old prevailed in a time of 10.15secs (-0.2m/s) ahead of former World champion Kim Collins and Marc Burns.

Gay pleased with his performance commented: "I'm looking forward to Brussels on Friday (Golden League) and maybe one more race and then I'll defiantly have the surgery."

World champion LaShawn Merritt continued his unbeaten season over the one-lap distance as he won the men’s 400m in a time of 45.10secs ahead of the chasing field led by Britain’s Martyn Rooney who produced one of his best performances over what has been a difficult outdoor season for the 22-year-old Loughborough-based sprinter. Rooney finished second in 45.47 ahead of the USA’s Angelo Taylor (45.50).

Merritt commented: “It’s a little windy out there so I was just having fun. I just came from Zurich where I ran 44.2, so it’s a little tough today. But it was good to come and give the crowd a show. Now all I have left is the World Athletics final, it should be a good end to a great season.”

Rooney, pleased with his performance reflected: “It was good to make a race of it for once, it’s been a hard season for me but at least I was competitive today. I think Merritt was just having fun though. `I saw him with 100 to go and thought I could have a go, but he just had another gear. It was good to give the world champion a race though. Hopefully, I’ll be better next year then 2010 is the big year for me.”

World championship bronze medallist Jenny Meadows had to settle for third place again in the women’s 800m as the 28-year-old was out paced by compatriot and United Kingdom champion Jemma Simpson in the race won by American Christy Wurth-Thomas in 2:01.22.

Meadows reflecting on her third place said: “I am pleased to get third today, on Friday I was not sure if I could run as I had swollen glands. It has been very busy since returning from Berlin.”

Simpson clocked 2:01.89 with Meadows third in 2:02.15. Loughborough-based Charlotte Best finished fifth as the World University Games bronze medallist recorded 2:04.70 behind the USA’s Maggie Vessey (2:03.11).

Simpson commented: “It was okay I had a strong finish, I felt better here than the World Champs so I think something went wrong in Berlin.”

Great Britain’s World heptathlon gold medalist Jessica Ennis finished fifth in the women’s 100m hurdles clocking a time of 13.28 seconds just 0.4secs behind winner and World champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton of Jamaica.

Ennis, surprisingly making her first appearance on the Gateshead track said: “It’s actually the first time I have competed in this meeting, I was really impressed with the turnout and the atmosphere was great. I have ended my 2009 season now, ready to take a break and get back into a hard winter’s training in October, I can look forward to next year.”

World finalist William Sharman was edged out by Berlin bronze medallist David Payne of the USA by a margin of just 0.01 seconds in the men’s 110m hurdles in a time of 13.61 (-2.8m/s) with Loughborough graduate Sharman clocking 13.61 as Leicester’s Callum Priestley 7th in 14.11. Jamaican Dwight Thomas was disqualified for false starting.

Sharman reflected: “I can’t be disappointed with that, it’s been a long season and to come here and finish just behind an Olympic silver medalist was great, it’s onwards and upwards for me now.”

World 200m champion Allyson Felix, having retained the title she won in Osaka 2007 was slow out of the blocks on the wet Gateshead track but was soon into her running stride as the elegant American pulled clear in the home straight to take victory ahead of Britain’s Emily Freeman in a time of 23.13secs. Freeman, a world finalist in Berlin, clocked 23.39 with Laverne Jones of the US Virgin Islands third (23.56).

“That race felt good, I’m having lots of fun at the moment, I Thought the conditions aren’t that good but the crowd I great, all I’m looking forward to now is a nice rest,” Felix said afterwards.

Romanian Angela Morosanu won the women's 400m hurdles in a time of 55.26secs with Loughborough graduate Michelle Carey of Ireland fifth in 57.81.

American Nick Symmonds won the men's 800m in a time of 1:47.30 over Geoffrey Kipkoech Rono of Kenya. Symmonds racing in the famous green vest of the Oregon Track Club out sprinted Rono (1:47.43) and the British duo of World Championships representative Michael Rimmer (1:48.14) and Cardiff’s Joe Thomas who claimed third in 1:47.44.

Symmonds commented: “This has been a huge learning curve and I am really loving it, the next two or three years are going to be tough but I have been training down in Teddington and it has given me a great feel for the London atmosphere.”

In the women’s 400m Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu, having lost her world title to America’s Sanya Richards in Berlin, fought off a strong challenge from the USA’s 4x400m relay gold medallist Debbie Dunn to take victory in a time of 50.95secs.

In the women's 100m race, American Carmelita Jeter won with a time of 11.07 with an impressive performance in the windy conditions ahead of Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of the Bahamas who clocked 11.26.

Jeter said: “I’m a little tired after the lap of honour but it was good fun, there was a lot of head wind in the race, but I felt I reacted well at the start, which is what I wanted to concentrate on. I knew I had to execute a good race with some of the women here.”

The 2004 Olympic champion Shawn Crawford edged fellow American Wallace Spearmon to win the men's 200m with a time of 20.80 to 20.81.

Crawford said afterwards: “Very close one out there today, we have to train and compete in all weathers so Gateshead had no worries for me, my body feels good but my mind wants to go back home to the US and figure out a way to beat Bolt.”

In a dramatic men’s 3,000m Britain’s European indoor champion Mo Farah suffered a fall and blew all of his energy returning to the main pack and had to settle for a distant 9th place in 7:47.02 as Uganda’s Moses Kipsiro won in a time of 7:35.69 ahead of the USA’s Bernard Lagat and Sammy Mutahi of Kenya.

Loughborough-based Nick McCormick returned to his native North East to take 11th place in 7:59.07 with Loughborough graduate Chris Thompson 13th in 8:12.79.

Kenya’s World 5,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot defeated compatriot Linet Masai, the World 10,000m champion to win the women’s 3,000m in a time of 8:53.04 with Loughborough graduate Laura Kenney, the 2007 European Under-23 5,000m champion, fourth in an impressive 8:59.41 up against the might of Africa.

Great Britain’s Andy Baddeley produced one of his best performances of 2009 to finish second in the men’s 1500m with a time of 3:41.24 in the race won by American Leonel Manzano in 3:41.10.

World triple jump champion Phillips Idowu in the final competition of the afternoon sent the home crowd happy with victory in Gateshead producing a best leap of 17.32m.

Another World champion Dwight Phillips of the USA won the long jump with a stadium record mark of 8.39m ahead of Australia's Fabrice Lapierre and Salim Sdiri of France. The British duo of Chris Tomlinson and Greg Rutherford were 5th (7.93m) and 6th (7.80m) respectively.

World-record-holder and Olympic champion Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic continued her sparkling form in the women’s javelin setting a stunning stadium record of 65.57m.

Spotakova said: “This is my first time here in Gateshead so I am pleased that I won. The distance was good which shows that I am still in good shape. I want to do the world athletics final as I have won the last three times. Last year I broke the world record so a repeat this year would be nice.”

German Christina Obergfoll and Kim Mickle of Australia with 62.02 and 59.51 finished second and third respectively. The United Kingdom record-holder Goldie Sayers was sixth with a best of 57.04m.

Loughborough graduate Sayers was pragmatic afterwards: “This year has been one to write a line under, I’ am pleased it is over. If I am honest I should not have competed this year but you train to compete, I will now go and have some rest and have another scan on my back.”

Derek Miles of the USA won the men’s pole vault with a height of 5.70m ahead of Russia’s Viktor Chistyakov, second on the same mark. Britain’s Steve Lewis was fifth with a best of 5.55.

In the men’s high jump Andra Manson also secured victory for the USA over Russia with a leap of 2.33m ahead of World champion Yaroslav Rybakov (2.31). Loughborough graduate Samson Oni was third on 2.23.

In the ‘On Camp with Kelly, 800m support race local resident Laura Weightman representing the Morpeth Harriers Club was an impressive winner in a time of 2:06.33 ahead of Dundee’s Sarah Kelly who set a Scottish Under-17 record of 2:06.82 to finish second. Loughborough University athletes Dani Christmas finished fifth in 2:08.37 with Stevie Stockton sixth in 2:10.32 and Rachael Thompson seventh in 2:10.64.


There was also an appearance by the mascot 'Berlino' the bear, which I'm sure most people will recognise from his antics at the World Championships in Berlin, who was well received by the crowd in Gateshead.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full Results:
Men

100 A (-2.0): 1 Tyson Gay (USA) 10.15; 2 Kim Collins (SKN) 10.44; 3 Marc Burns (TRI) 10.44; 4 Mark Jelks (USA) 10.45; 5 Tyrone Edgar (NEB) 10.53; 6 Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Sutt) 10.54; 7 Dwight Phillips (USA) 10.55.
B (-2.4): 1 Craig Pickering (Mil K) 10.32; 2 Mario Forsythe (JAM) 10.35; 3 Marlon Devonish (Cov) 10.49; 4 Rikki Fifton (NEB) 10.58; 5 Trell Kimmons (USA) 10.60; 6 Richard Kilty (Gate) 10.70; 7 Mark Lewis-Francis (Bir) 10.79.
200 (-1.7): 1 Shawn Crawford (USA) 20.80; 2 Wallace Spearmon (USA) 20.81; 3 Marlon Devonish (Cov) 21.07; 4 Paul Hession (IRL) 21.14; 5 Mark Jelks (USA) 21.25; 6 Rikki Fifton (NEB) 21.38; 7 Trell Kimmons (USA) 21.48.
400: 1 LaShawn Merritt (USA) 45.10; 2 Martyn Rooney (Croy) 45.47; 3 Angelo Taylor (USA) 45.50; 4 Michael Bingham (Wake Forest Uni) 45.54; 5 Robert Tobin (BMH) 45.61; 6 Kerron Clement (USA) 45.77; 7 Chris Clarke (Mil K, U20) 46.60; 8 Jamaal Torrance (USA) 46.99.
800: 1 Nicholas Symmonds (USA) 1:47.30; 2 Geoffrey Rono (KEN) 1:47.43; 3 Joe Thomas (Card) 1:47.44; 4 Michael Rimmer (Liv PS) 1:48.14; 5 James Brewer (Chelt) 1:48.23; 6 Marcin Lewandowski (POL) 1:48.37; 7 Andrew Osagie (Harl) 1:48.95. 

1500: 1 Leonel Manzano (USA) 3:41.10; 2 Andy Baddeley (Harrow) 3:41.24; 3 Gideon Githimba (KEN) 3:41.71; 4 Bethwell Birgen (KEN, U20) 3:41.93; 5 Nathan Brannen (CAN) 3:41.93; 6 David Campbell (IRL) 3:42.67; 7 Stefan Eberhardt (GER) 3:42.68; 8 Mitch Kealey (AUS) 3:43.14; 9 Ryan Gregson (AUS) 3:43.31; 10 Ricky Stevenson (New M) 3:44.74; 11 David Torrence (USA) 3:48.57. 

3000: 1 Moses Kipsiro (UGA) 7:35.69; 2 Bernard Lagat (USA) 7:36.68; 3 Sammy Mutahi (KEN) 7:37.19; 4 Mark Kiptoo (KEN) 7:37.44; 5 Silas Kipruto (KEN) 7:37.65; 6 Chris Solinsky (USA) 7:39.16; 7 Abraham Chebii (KEN) 7:41.43; 8 Mike Kigen (KEN) 7:43.76; 9 Mohamed Farah (NEB) 7:47.02; 10 Moumin Geele (NEB) 7:51.82; 11 Nick McCormick (Morp) 7:5
9.07; 12 Mark Draper (Bed C) 8:06.65; 13 Chris Thompson (AFD) 8:12.79. 

110H (-2.8): 1 David Payne (USA) 13.60; 2 William Sharman (Belg) 13.61; 3 Gregory Sedoc (NED) 13.89; 4 Shamar Sands (BAH) 13.91; 5 Dexter Faulk (USA) 13.93; 6 Gianni Frankis (NEB) 13.97; 7 Callum Priestley (WG&EL) 14.11. 

110HU20M (-3.4): 1 Lawrence Clarke (WSEH, U20) 14.18; 2 Andy Pozzi (Strat, U20) 14.62; 3 Emmanuel Okpokiri (NEB, U20) 14.78; 4 Orie Lawrence (Bir, U20) 14.90; 5 Alex Nwenwu (W&B, U20) 14.99; 6 Jack Meredith (Liv H, U20) 15.10; 7 Matthew Walcott (Herne H, U20) 15.35. 

HJ: 1 Andra Manson (USA) 2.33; 2 Yaroslav Rybakov (RUS) 2.31; 3 Samson Oni (Belg) 2.23; 4 James Nieto (USA) 2.23; 5 Alessandro Talotti (ITA) 2.15; 5 Joe Kindred (USA) 2.15; 7 Sylvester Bednarek (POL) 2.15; 7 Keith Moffatt (USA) 2.15. 

PV: 1 Derek Miles (USA) 5.70; 1 Viktor Chistyakov (RUS) 5.70; 3 Bjorn Otto (GER) 5.55; 4 Jeremy Scott (USA) 5.55; 5 Steven Lewis (NEB) 5.55. 

LJ: 1 Dwight Phillips (USA) 8.39/0.6; 2 Fabrice Lapierre (AUS) 8.16/3.2; 3 Salim Sdiri (FRA) 7.98/0.6; 4 Nils Winter (GER) 7.94/1.1; 5 Chris Tomlinson (NEB) 7.93/1.0; 6 Greg Rutherford (Mil K) 7.80/1.7; 7 George Kitchens (USA) 7.78/2.5; 8 Tyrone Smith (BER) 7.58/3.2. 

TJ: 1 Phillips Idowu (Belg) 17.32/2.0; 2 Momchil Karailiev (BUL) 17.04/1.8; 3 Larry Achike (SB) 16.99/2.2; - Larry Achike (SB) 16.98/1.9; 4 Jadel Gregorio (BRA) 16.94/2.5; 5 Brandon Roulhac (USA) 16.89/2.9; 6 Dmitrij Valukevic (SVK) 16.68/2.9; 7 Randy Lewis (GRN) 16.59/1.9; 8 Kenta Bell (USA) 15.55/1.9. 

Women

100 (-0.9): 1 Carmelita Jeter (USA) 11.07; 2 Debbie Ferguson-Mckenzie (BAH) 11.26; 3 Chandra Sturrup (BAH) 11.34; 4 Emily Freeman (Wake) 11.55; 5 Laverne Jones (ISV) 11.57; 6 Lauryn Williams (USA) 11.77; 7 Montell Douglas (B&B) 11.82; 8 Virgil Hodge (SKN) 11.88. 

200 (-3.4): 1 Allyson Felix (USA) 23.13; 2 Emily Freeman (Wake) 23.39; 3 Laverne Jones (ISV) 23.56; 4 Cydonie Mothersill (CAY) 23.70; 5 Lauryn Williams (USA) 24.10; 6 Joice Maduaka (WG&EL, V35) 24.14; 7 Montell Douglas (B&B) 24.39; 8 Virgil Hodge (SKN) 24.45. 

400: 1 Christine Ohuruogu (NEB) 50.94; 2 Debbie Dunn (USA) 51.06; 3 Aliann Pompey (GUY) 52.33; 4 Shana Cox (USA) 52.71; 5 Shareese Woods (USA) 53.47; 6 Victoria Barr (R&N) 53.80; 7 Donna Fraser (Croy, V35) 54.11; 8 Deedee Trotter (USA) 54.96. 

800 A: 1 Christy Wurth-Thomas (USA) 2:01.22; 2 Jemma Simpson (N&P) 2:01.89; 3 Jenny Meadows (Wig D) 2:02.15; 4 Maggie Vessey (USA) 2:03.11; 5 Charlotte Best (Craw) 2:04.70; 6 Hazel Clark (USA) 2:04.85; 7 Alison Leonard (B'burn, U20) 2:06.97.
B: 1 Laura Weightman (Morp, U20) 2:06.33; 2 Sarah Kelly (Dund H, U17) 2:06.82; 3 Tara Bird (WG&EL) 2:07.37; 4 Karen Johns (NSP) 2:07.90; 5 Danielle Christmas (Craw) 2:08.37;
6 Stevie Stockton (Vale R) 2:10.32; 7 Rachael Thompson (Liv H) 2:10.64. 

1500: 1 Lisa Dobriskey (Ashf) 4:13.60; 2 Sonja Roman (SLO) 4:14.41; 3 Hannah England (Oxf C) 4:14.45; 4 Helen Clitheroe (Prest, V35) 4:14.81; 5 Erin Donohue (USA) 4:15.16; 6 Renata Plis (POL) 4:15.35; 7 Charlene Thomas (Wake) 4:16.56; 8 Deirdre Byrne (IRL) 4:17.90; 9 Irina Krakoviak (LIT) 4:21.84; 10 Sylwia Ejdys (POL) 4:24.03. 

3000: 1 Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 8:53.04; 2 Linet Masai (KEN) 8:54.86; 3 Grace Momanyi (KEN) 8:56.37; 4 Laura Kenney (RSC) 8:59.41; 5 Jennifer Rhines (USA) 9:02.08; 6 Freya Murray (CleS) 9:08.97; 7 Megan Metcalfe (CAN) 9:12.08; 8 Justina Heslop (Clap C) 9:12.55. 

100HW (-1.9): 1 Brigitte Foster Hylton (JAM) 12.88; 2 Perdita Felicien (CAN) 12.95; 3 Virginia Powell (USA) 13.21; 4 Hyleas Fountain (USA) 13.24; 5 Jessica Ennis (Sheff) 13.28; 6 Sarah Claxton (WG&EL) 13.31; 7 Tiffany Ofili (USA) 13.44; 8 Louise Hazel (Bir) 14.72. 

400HW: 1 Angela Morosanu (ROU) 55.26; 2 Zuzana Hejnova (CZE) 55.56; 3 Marta Chrust-Rozej (POL) 57.36; 4 Benedetta Ceccarelli (ITA) 57.44; 5 Michelle Carey (SB) 57.81; 6 Tina Kron (GER) 58.09; 7 Nusrat Ceesay (WG&EL) 59.85; 8 Hannah Douglas (Mil K) 62.89. 

JTW: 1 Barbora Spotakova (CZE) 65.57; 2 Christina Obergfoll (GER) 62.02; 3 Kim Mickle (AUS) 59.51; 4 Linda Stahl (GER) 59.33; 5 Kathrina Molitor (GER) 58.60; 6 Goldie Sayers (Belg) 57.04; 7 Rachel Yurkovich (USA) 55.04; 8 Elisabeth Pauer (AUT) 54.55; 9 Zahra Bani (ITA) 52.49.


2009 ÅF IAAF Golden League Weltklasse Meeting

Letzigrund Stadium, Zurich

Friday 28th August 2009

ZURICH’s Weltklasse, the world’s premier track and field one-day meeting lived-up to expectation and hype to deliver a sparkling post Berlin show, highlighted by a stunning return to form for Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva who broke her own pole vault world-record clearing a height of 5.06m to keep in the chase for the US$1 Million Golden League jackpot, whilst, Jamaican superstar sprinter Usain Bolt flew to another impressive victory over 100m with a 9.81secs clocking as the American duo of LaShawn Merritt and Sanya Richards prevailed over 400m and Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele set a world-leading time to win the 5000m (12:52.32).

They say a week is a long time in politics, well the same could be said of golden girl Yelena Isinbayeva, having failed to record a height at the recent World Championships in Berlin the last seven days for the 27-year-old Olympic champion would have been spent in deep reflection on what went wrong in the German capital and the re-evaluation of her approach to competition - and what a difference a week made as here in Zurich the smile was back, the bounce in her step returned and more importantly the world record-breaking form was fully evident on the runway as the elegant Russian improved her global mark by a margin of one centimetre to dazzle the sell-out 26,000 crowd at the Letzigrund Stadium.

Isinbayeva reflecting on her performance commented : "During the World Championships my body was there but my mind was absent, but today I was fully concentrated for the competition and for myself because this week I was hungry for world records and I just felt the feelings again that I want to be the best again and I want to compete."

Surprise world champion Anna Rogowska of Poland was second with a mark of 4.76m with Brazil’s Fabiana Murer clearing 4.71m for third. Loughborough-based Kate Dennison, the reigning United Kingdom record-holder, finished in 7th place with a best clearance of 4.41m.

Top of the bill in Zurich was undoubtedly global superstar and multiple world record-holder Usain Bolt, the Jamaican once again playing to and delighting the assembled crowd with another fabulous performance, understandable following his exploits in Berlin their was to be no improvement on his world mark of 9.58 as the 23-year-old still scorched to a time of 9.81 seconds pushed all the way by compatriot and former world record-holder Asafa Powell, who finished second in 9.88.

American Darvis Patton was third in a season’s best of 9.95 with the reigning US champion Michael Rogers securing fourth in 9.98. Britain’s Tyrone Edgar finished last in 10.28.

Bolt commented afterwards: “It was alright, I would say this was a shaky race, my body was sitting at the start, I was a little bit tired through the race, but again, it’s alright. All things considered, the time is not bad. I need to pick up my speed as my body did not respond well to the race.”

If Usain Bolt dominants the sprints then Kenenisa Bekele is the undisputed king of the long-distance events, looking fresh from completing the 10,000m and 5,000m double in Berlin the Ethiopian showed no signs of tiredness to set a superb world-leading time of 12:mins 52.32secs to win over 5k and stay in the Golden League jackpot chase.

Kenya’s Edwin Soi finished runner-up in 12:55.03 as American Dathan Ritzenhein with his third place 12:26.27 clocking smashed compatriots Bob Kennedy’s national and area record also set in Zurich way back in August 1996.

Great Britain’s Lisa Dobriskey, silver medallist in Berlin, finished third in the women’s 1500m as the Loughborough-based Commonwealth champion clocked a new lifetime best of 3mins 59.50secs as double world champion Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain prevailed in 3:59.15 with American Anna Willard also setting a new personal best to take second in 3:59.50 following a close run race.

Dobriskey now joins an elite club of four British female athletes who have ran under four-minutes over 1500m including Olympic champion Kelly Holmes, and Hayley Tullett and Zola Budd.

In the men’s race US-based Tom Lancashire clocked 3:34.74 to secure fifth place as Kenya's Augustine Choge won in 3:33.38.

Kenya’s world champion Ezekiel Kemboi produced another powerful performance to win the men's 3000m steeplechase in 8:04.44 ahead of France’s world bronze medallist Bob Tahri (8:05.29), whilst, another world gold medalist David Rudisha won the men’s 800m in a lifetime best of 1:43.52 taking victory as in Berlin ahead of Alfred Yego (1:43.66), the 2007 world champion also setting a new personal best.

Sanya Richards continued her fine outdoor season having won the world title in Berlin the 23-year-old American stayed in the jackpot chase with another quality Golden League victory breaking her own world-leading mark with a time of 48.93secs to finish ahead of compatriot and world 200m champion Allyson Felix (49.83).

Reigning Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu and fellow Brit Nicola Sanders finished fourth and sixth in 50.41 and 51.02 respectively.

World and Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt continued his dominant form in the men’s 400m to defeat fellow American Jeremy Wariner with a time of 44.21secs. Wariner finished second in 44.62, whilst, Trinidadian Renny Quow claimed third in 44.77.

Loughborough-based David Gillick surpassed his sixth-place finish in the recent world final to finish fourth in an impressive 45.25 defeating Americans, Angelo Taylor and Kerron Clement in the process.

A fourth place finish in the Berlin world 110m hurdles final gave Great Britain’s William Sharman a senior Golden League debut having competed in the ‘B’ race at the 2007 Oslo Bislett Games, and the 24-year-old Loughborough graduate finished in sixth place with a time of 13.37secs as Jamaican Dwight Thomas won in a national-record of 13.16.

World champion Brigitte Ann Foster-Hylton set a global best for 2009 in the women’s 100m hurdles as the 34-year-old Jamaican clocked 12.46secs to defeat Olympic champion Dawn Harper of the USA.

American Carmelita Jeter gained some revenge for her world final defeat as she ended the Golden League jackpot chase for Jamaican Kerron Stewart with victory in the women’s 100m clocking a time of 10.86secs in Zurich. Jetter finished third to Shelly Ann Fraser and Stewart in Berlin but Stewart had to settle for second this time in 11.04, the same time as Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie. Fraser was fourth in 11.10.

In the field events Portugal’s Nelson Evora, who was defeated into second place in Berlin came back to win the men’s triple jump competition with a leap of 17.38m. World, Olympic and European champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway set a world-leading 91.28m to take victory in the javelin, whilst, another world champion, Croatia’s delightful Blanka Vlasic, with her first time clearance at 2m was good enough to win the women’s high jump ahead of Russia’s Anna Chicherova, the Berlin silver medallist, and American Chaunte Howard equal on countback at 1.98. German Ariane Friedrich, the World bronze medallist was fourth on 1.94.

The maestro Usain Bolt finished off the Weltklasse meeting with superb last leg to anchor the world champions Jamaica home to victory in the men’s 4x100m. Collecting the baton some three metres adrift of American Wallace Spearmon, Bolt chased him down as the Jamaican quartet of Lerone Clarke, Michael Frater and Steve Mullings claimed victory in 37.70secs to lift the Zurich trophy with America second in 37.73.

World bronze medallists Great Britain clocked 38.22secs to finish fourth with their squad of Rikki Fifton, Tyrone Edgar, Marlon Devonish and Loughborough University student Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available at: www.iaaf.org/gle09/results/eventcode=4181/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

Thursday 27th August 2009

TEAM England won the Falkirk Cup on their event debut at Grangemouth Stadium (Wednesday 26th August), to break Scotland’s run of victories in the event and take the trophy south of the border for the first time.

Loughborough University students Meghan Beesley (58.48secs) and Andy Blow (51.14secs) made it three out of three for England in the opening events of the night, scoring maximum points in the women’s and men’s 400m hurdles respectively.

In the shot put, the first scoring event of the evening, European Under-23 discus champion Eden Francis took maximum points for England with 15.52m. Scotland’s Alison Rodger was second with 14.78m, whilst, third place went to guest Mhairi Porterfield (13.33m).

England captain Craig Pickering won the men’s 100m in a new Stadium record of 10.27secs, erasing the previous best set by fellow countryman Darren Campbell in the inaugural Grangemouth meeting back in 2006.

Leicester's Laura Samuel won the triple jump with a best of 12.35 metres.
Final Team Standings:
1 England 127pts
2 Scotland 118pts
3 Bank of Scotland Development Team 81pts
4 Ireland 61pts
5 Ethiopia 35pts

Full results are available on the following link: www.scottishathletics.org.uk/index.php?p=80&itemType=fixtures&itemId=11473

Wednesday 26th August 2009

UNITED Kingdom record-holder Goldie Sayers put the disappointment of missing out on a place in the final of the IAAF World Championships in Berlin the previous week by giving a strong showing at the BIG BANK European Athletics Premium meeting in the Estonian capital city of Tallinn, finishing second to Russia’s global bronze medalist Maria Abakumova with a best of 59.26m on Tuesday evening (25th August).

On the infield of the Kadrioru Staadion, Sayers, the 27-year-old Loughborough graduate finished ninth in the qualifying pool in Berlin with throws of 56.44, 58.58 and 58.98m missing out on place in the world final in Berlin, however, in Tallinn the Belgrave Harrier returned to more positive form in an injury hit season by recording a best of 59.26m to secure second place to Russia’s Maria Abakumova, as the world bronze medallist won the competition with a massive 67.39m effort.

Full results are available on the following link: www.kuldliiga.ee/?id=162&lang=EE

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Olympic Stadium, Berlin

Sunday 23rd August 2009

GREAT Britain’s Lisa Dobriskey put behind the dark clouds of an injury hit pre-season to bounce back in style to win a fine silver medal in the final of a controversial 1500m following the disqualification of race winner, Spain’s Natalia Rodriguez for impeding Gelete Burka of Ethiopia on the top bend of the final lap as Martyn Rooney anchored home the British quartet of Conrad Williams, Michael Bingham and Rob Tobin to a well-deserved 4x400m silver on the concluding afternoon of competition in what has been a fabulous 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships in the post-Olympic year of 2009 in Berlin.

On the bell-lap of the women’s 1500m final Spain's Natalia Rodriguez attempted to overtake the leader Gelete Burka going down the inside with 200m to go, but the gap was too tight and the pair collided with the Ethiopian being pushed to the track.

Rodriguez almost followed Burka to the ground but remained upright and was able to continue and crossed the line first ahead of Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain, with Loughborough-based Dobriskey just 0.01s behind in third and the American champion Shannon Rowbury fourth.

The race was subsequently red flagged and following a protest Rodriguez was disqualified, moving Jamal in the gold-medal position with Dobriskey taking silver and Rowbury the bronze.

A delighted Dobriskey, coached at Loughborough by George Gandy, commented afterwards: "I'm chuffed to bits, the race was so surreal, it went by me. Last year I was so disappointed and I didn't want to finish in fourth again.

"I started the winter with a stress fracture in my lower back and was out for three months. At the end of May I had a bone stress in my left thigh. I can't quite take it in at the moment. There are so many people I need to thank at Loughborough just to get me on the start line was a major achievement."

There was further silver medals to follow for Great Britain in the final event of the championships as Conrad Williams, Michael Bingham, Rob Tobin and Loughborough-based Martyn Rooney finished runners-up to the powerful Americans in a time of 3:00.53 with Australia taking bronze.

Earlier in the track programme Kenenisa Bekele added another first to his ever-growing CV by becoming the first athlete in history to win both the World 5,000m and 10,000m double by claiming gold over 5k in one of the races of the championships in Berlin.

Double Olympic champion Bekele, who won the 10,000m title on Monday, outsprinted defending champion Bernard Lagat of America in a terrific eyeballs out finish over the line to take victory in a time of 13mins 17.09secs as James Kwalia C'Kurui of Qatar took bronze.

Great Britain's European indoor 3,000m champion Mo Farah looked uncomfortable in the early laps but the 26-year-old moved into contention at the business end of the race but was outsprinted over the final lap and had to settle for 7th place in 13:19.69.

The USA stormed to victory in the women's 4x400m relay as their quartet defended their world title in real style with a runaway victory, winning by a huge 30-metre margin as the team of Debbie Dunn, Allyson Felix and Lashinda Demus were led home by 400m world champion Sanya Richards in a combined time of 3mins 17.83secs.

The Olympic champions finished ahead of Jamaica (3:21.15) and third placed Russia (3:21.64) as the British team comprising of Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu and Loughborough Sports Scholars Lee McConnell, Vicky Barr and Nicola Sanders, where never in touch with the top three and finished a distant fourth in a season’s best of 3:25.16.

Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway won his first World Championships javelin title with a stunning season’s best of 89.59 metres on his second attempt to win the gold.

Thorkildsen, runner-up at the last two World Championships in Helsinki and Osaka finished clear of Guillermo Martinez representing Cuba (86.41m) and Yukifumi Murakami of Japan (82.79m), whilst, defending champion Tero Pitkamaki of Finland could only finish fifth on 81.90m.

American Brittney Reese won the women's long jump with a world-leading 7.10 metre effort to defeat Russia's Tayana Lebedeva and Turkey's Karin Mey Melis.
Editors Comment:

Congratulations have to go to the organisers and the people of the city of Berlin for staging what was a superb 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships in the post Olympic year of 2009 – a championship that featured stunning world records combined with all the drama, passion and shear sporting theatre provided especially from Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt who dazzled the packed crowds under the night skies on the electric blue track of the iconic 1936 Olympic Stadium and paid homage to the legacy and memory of Jesse Owens.

There were highly competitive races, memorable finals and an array of top quality field events, complete with shocks, surprises and world-records - all blessed with excellent weather conditions (with the exception of the rain-affected Friday night) a championship which also featured nine-days of positivity and optimism for the Great Britain team, finishing 8th overall in the medal table, with two excellent gold medals from Jessica Ennis in the heptathlon and Phillips Idowu in the triple jump as both made up for their respective Olympic heartaches the previous year.

That combined with a bronze and silver for middle-distance stars Jenny Meadows and Lisa Dobriskey and the men’s relay squads too, plus a great showing from the youngsters Dai Greene, William Sharman and Emily Freeman on their debut at a major global event making their respective finals - success that all bodes well for the future of the sport in the United Kingdom in the run-up to main event in London 2012.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results on the following link: http://berlin.iaaf.org/results/racedate=08-15-2009/bydate.html

The 2011 IAAF World Athletics Championships will be staged in the South Korean city of Daegu between 27th August – 4th September. http://english.daegu2011.org/pages/index.jsp

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Olympic Stadium, Berlin

Saturday 22nd August 2009

GREAT Britain’s relay quartet secured the nations fourth medal at the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin as Jamaica’s superstar Usain Bolt once again wowed the sell-out crowd inside the Olympic Stadium replicated his performance at last year’s Beijing Olympics by completing the hat-trick of sprint titles - but this time without breaking a world-record.

Bolt running on the third leg for Jamaica's combined with team mates Steve Mullings, Michael Frater and Asafa Powell to storm home over the 4x100 metre relay in a new championship record of 37.31 seconds.

Trinidad and Tobago claimed silver in 37.62secs with the British quartet of Simeon Williamson, Tyrone Edgar, Marlon Devonish and Loughborough student Harry Aikines-Aryeetey third in 38.02.

In the women’s 4x100 metres relay final Britain finished sixth as the quartet of Laura Turner, Montell Douglas, Emily Freeman and Emma Ania clocked a time of 43.16secs, but were never in contention for the medals as Jamaica set the target for their men’s team to match by winning gold in style ahead of the Bahamas and Germany.

Britain’s number one Steve Lewis, coached at Loughborough University by Steve Rippon, finished a disappointing seventh in the men’s pole vault final after clearing 5.65m but failing at 5.75 as Olympic champion Steve Hooker defied a thigh injury that required a pain killing injection in his groin to win with a massive 5.90m clearance.

The 27-year-old Australian opted to sit out the early rounds to protect the injury before jumping 5.90m at his first attempt that was enough to secure the gold medal ahead of the impressive French duo of Romain Mesnil and Renaud Lavillenie.

Greg Rutherford and Chris Tomlinson finished fifth and eighth respectively in the long jump final, in fact for ether of the British duo to have gain a medal they would have had to improve on Rutherford’s new British record of 8.30 metres set in qualifying.

American Dwight Phillips won the gold with a best of 8.54m recorded in the second round, with Godfrey Mokoena of South Africa taking silver with 8.47 and Australia's Mitchell Watt third with 8.37.

Rutherford's best of 8.17m came in the final round as Tomlinson, the previous British record-holder, recorded a best of 8.06m in the fifth round.

Loughborough-based Martyn Rooney led home Britain's men's 4x400m relay team to qualify through to the final following a tough semi as the quartet of Conrad Williams, Robert Tobin and 400m hurdles finalist David Greene secured the last automatic qualifying position in a time of three minutes 01.91 seconds.

The British women’s 4x400m team of Nicola Sanders, Vicky Barr, 800m bronze medallist Jenny Meadows, Lee McConnell qualified through finishing fourth on 3:25.23.

Kenya's Vivian Cheruiyot won the women's 5,000 metres title as the silver medalist two years ago in Osaka, clocked a winning time of 14 minutes 57.97 seconds to take the gold.

Compatriot Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet, who finished fourth in Beijing Olympics, claimed silver in 14:58.33 as the defending champion Meseret Defar of Ethiopia settled for bronze in 14:58.41 this after being outsprinted by the Kenyan duo in the at the line.

Defar, the 2004 Olympic champion and bronze medalist in Beijing, missed out on a medal in the last 100 metres of the 10,000m final the previous weekend.

The third global record of the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships came in the women's hammer final as Poland's Anita Wlodarczyk threw a massive 77.96 metre to dazzle the packed crowd and upset home favourite Betty Heidler of Germany. Wlodarczyk's second throw went to 77.96 metres, surpassing the existing record set by Russia's Tatyana Lysenko in 2006 of 77.80. Martina Hrasnova of Slovakia took the bronze.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results on the following link: http://berlin.iaaf.org/results/racedate=08-15-2009/bydate.html