12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Olympic Stadium, Berlin

20h August 2009 - Day 6 Evening Session

GLOBAL superstar Usain Bolt produced arguably the greatest sprint performance ever seen in the history of the sport of athletics smashing his own world 200m record to completely obliterate his mark of 19.30 set in last year’s Beijing Olympic with a quite stunning run in front of a sell-out crowd in Berlin crossing the line in a remarkable time of 19.19 seconds, this after a false start in the final had unsettled the athletes.

On the eve of his 23rd birthday the tall Jamaican gave himself an early present to add to his the 100m world record of 9.58secs by completing the sprint double with Panama's Alonso Edward claiming silver in 19.81 and American Wallace Spearmon the bronze in 19.85 as all the top five athletes went under the 20 second barrier.

Bolt now becomes the first man to hold the 100 and 200m world and Olympic titles at the same time in history.

Bolt even seemed to have surprised himself as he commented afterwards: "I can definitely say I didn't expect that because I was a little bit tired, I said let's try because people are really looking out for this, I said it won't hurt to try. So I tried really hard and now I'm really tired.

"Maybe next time I should just run the 200m or the 100m alone. My form was going backwards. I wasn't running upright. It wasn't a good race but it was a fast one."

On a fantastic night of competition in the Olympic Stadium Loughborough graduate Will Sharman representing Greta Britain had the best day of his athletics career to make a major breakthrough on the world stage finishing fourth in the 110m hurdles final.

Sharman clocked 13.38secs to win his semi-final and the Belgrave Harrier moved to fourth on the United Kingdom all-time list with 13.30 in the final as Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados won gold in 13.14 with the American duo Terrence Trammell and David Payne claiming silver and bronze respectively given the same time of 13.15 following a blanket finish.

The highly entertaining Sharman commented afterwards: "In the semi-final I pranced about a bit and still won so, looking at the statistics, I thought I’m in with a shout here.

"I never put nerves or pressure on myself because I was rational. I love what I do and it gives me a buzz and what gives me a bigger buzz is seeing athletes like Usain Bolt out there as though he's in a nightclub when he's on the start line.

"As long as you are tuned in with a clear head when the starter says 'Set', that's fine. People know I'm a bit of an entertainer and it works for me. Ask me to be serious on the start line and I would probably run rubbish."

Jamaica's Melaine Walker added the world title to her Olympic gold in the 400m hurdles final, the 26-year-old set the second fastest time in history of 52.42secs as American Lashinda Demus claimed silver in 52.96 with Josanne Lucas of Trinidad completing the podium places in 53.20, a new national record.

Following the race Walker’s celebrations will take some beating in Berlin as well as she was given a piggy-back by the championship mascot Berlino on her lap of honour, but fell to the track when the giant bear ran into the back of a cart clearing the hurdles ahead of the next race.

There were remarkable scenes in the women’s high jump final as the 80,000 crowd in the Olympic Stadium fell silent as home favourite Ariane Friedrich made each of her attempts but she was unable to deliver Germany's third gold medal of the World Championships as Croatia's tall elegant Blanka Vlasic retained her title with a clearance of 2.04m to go someway to repair the disappointment of losing out on the Olympic gold in Beijing last year.

Russia's Anna Chicherova and Friedrich both cleared 2.02m, with Chicherova taking silver on countback. Vlasic then went on to try and break the two-decade plus world record of 2.09m set by Bulgaria’s Stefka Kostadinova way back in 1987 in Rome, but failed with three valiant efforts.

Earlier in the day on the infield Greg Rutherford broke the British record in the long jump to qualify through to the final.

Rutherford, a European bronze medallist in Gothenburg 2006 leapt out to 8.30 metres with his first attempt to surpass compatriot Chris Tomlinson's previous mark by a margin of one just one centimetre. Tomlinson's best of 8.06m in the first round was also good enough to also make the final.

The 22-year-old from Milton Keynes said: "That jump felt great but I know I can jump further. The record is something I set my sights on in 2005 when I got the junior record.

"I was jumping really well earlier in the season but then I had a hamstring tear six or seven weeks ago and thought that was it."

Britain's Mo Farah advanced to the final of the 5,000m finishing third in his heat in a time of 13mins 19.94secs behind the imposing figure of Ethiopia’s four-time World 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele.

Emily Freeman matched Farah’s performance to also advance to the final of the women's 200m with an excellent lifetime best of 22.64sesc qualifying as one of the fastest losers.

American Trey Hardee claimed the final gold medal of the evening in the decathlon with a total of 8,790 points, finishing 150 points ahead of Leonel Suarez of Cuba.

Aleksandr Pogorelov of Russia had been in the silver medal position after nine of the 10 events but Suarez was more than 21 seconds quicker in the 1,500m to move into second place in Berlin.

Report by Mark Woolley.

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

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Olympic Stadium, Berlin

20th August 2009 - Day 6 Morning Session

STEVE LEWIS qualified through to the final of the men's pole vault at the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin with a last round effort of 5.65 metres.

The 23-year-old Loughborough-based Commonwealth bronze medallist representing Great Britain was facing elimination but the Steve Rippon coached athlete cleared the required height to progress.

Lewis suffered a broken pole during the qualifying session as a piece came off the end whilst he was attempting a jump.

Compatriot Luke Cutts on his debut at a major global championships failed to qualify going out of the competition at 5.60m as the Olympic champion, Australian Steve Hooker, and the current world-leader Renaud Lavillenie of France both progressed with ease.

Liverpool Harrier Michael Rimmer went through to the semi-finals of the men's 800m, qualifying automatically in third place by a margin of just only two hundredths of a second in a time of 1min 48.20secs behind Kenyan David Rudisha and Yeimer Lopez of Cuba.

Report by Mark Woolley.

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

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Olympic Stadium, Berlin

19th August 2009 - Day 5 Evening Session

JENNY MEADOWS sprinted to a fabulous 800m bronze medal for Great Britain at the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin as South Africa's Caster Semenya stormed to victory amid speculation over her gender in the build-up to the final.

Semenya ran away from the field virtually from the gun to take victory in a lifetime best of 1min 55.45secs, setting the quickest posting in the world this year with a fine solo effort.

Kenya's Janeth Jepkosgei claimed silver, well over two seconds adrift of Semenya edging just 0.03s ahead of a very fast finishing Meadows, with Team GB compatriot Marilyn Okoro securing eighth place.

Meadows new personal best time of 1:57.93 now places her the third fastest British athlete of all time behind double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes and Kirsty Wade.

A delighted Meadows commented afterwards: "I'm absolutely thrilled, I could tell I had a medal, I couldn't tell if it was silver or bronze and I didn't want to celebrate.

"I'm quite gutted I didn't get the silver really but a medal's a medal and if someone had told me that I would win bronze two weeks ago I would have grabbed their hand off.

"Last year after Beijing, with the times those girls were running, I asked myself the question 'Am I ever going to make a final'

"This year I've just not panicked and just taken every race as it comes and learnt about myself a lot more. Not to go off too fast, just run my pace, be confident that I can come through."

The breaking story in Berlin on Day 5 of the World Championships surrounded the gender of 18-year-old Caster Semenya ahead of the 800m final, this after her breakthrough performance when winning the African junior championship title at the end of July when the South African clocked a lifetime best time of 1:56.72.

IAAF communications director Nick Davies, revealing that they cannot prevent Semenya competing, said: "The situation today is that we don't have any conclusive evidence that she not be allowed to run, so it would be totally wrong to take a decision such as to withdraw an athlete from the field, this is a medical issue, it's not an issue of cheating.

"Again it is stressed in a general sense, we have to be sensitive to this, this is a health issue, this is a human individual who was born as a woman, has grown all her life as a woman and is now in a position where this is being questioned.

"There is a need of course to make sure the rules are followed and the rules are very clear that women should compete in women's competitions, so yes of course, we're taking it absolutely seriously.

"But we're also doing that in a rigorous, fair-minded way, we have to wait until the process is completed however long it takes, I believe it will be a matter of weeks rather than months, but that is speculation."

Yusuf Saad Kamel on the track of Berlin’s Olympic Stadium followed in his father’s footsteps to land a World Championships middle-distance gold winning the men’s 1500m following a terrific sprint finish over the last 50 metres ahead of the chasing field as the Kenyan-born athlete, now representing Bahrain timed his run to perfection out sprinting Ethiopian Deresse Mekonnen to cross the line in a time of 3mins 35.93secs. Reigning champion Bernard Lagat of the USA secured bronze with a fast finish in 3:36.20.

Kamel’s father Billy Komintai Konchellah representing Kenya won two World Championship gold medals in Rome 1987 and Tokyo 1991 over 800m.

Jamaica’s Brigitte Foster-Hylton won her first world title when storming to victory in the 100 metre hurdles as the vastly experienced 34-year-old, having clcimed bronze in Helsinki back in 2005 and silver in Paris 2003, finally clinched her first global title edging out Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada and fellow Jamaican Delloreen Ennis-London in a very closely fought battle.

Foster-Hylton crossed the line in a season's best time of 12.51secs finishing ahead of Lopes-Schliep, the Olympic bronze medalist (12.54) and third placed Ennis-London (12.55). Ireland's Derval O'Rourke clocked a new national record of 12.67secs to finish fourth.

Britain’s Sarah Claxton failed to qualify to the final crossing the line in 13.21 to finish eighth as Olympic champion Dawn Harper with a new lifetime best of 12.48, and Olympic silver medallist Sally McLellan prevailed.

Great Britain’s national champion Michael Bingham was in sparkling form producing a lifetime best to reach the final of the men’s 400m as the 23-year-old American-born sprinter crossed the line in a time of 44.74secs, this from the outside lane to finish runner-up to defending champion Jeremy Wariner of the USA in a very tough fast-run opening heat.

Loughborough-based David Gillick finished fourth behind France’s Leslie Djhone to secure his place in the final as the Irish national record-holder clocked a time of 44.88secs to qualify as one of the two fastest losers.

Gillick’s training partner and Beijing Olympics finalist Martyn Rooney didn’t fair so well in his heat hampered by a difficult injury hit season the 22-year-old failed to make progress, as with Bingham the Loughborough-based athlete had to run from the difficult lane eight, but looked slow out of the blocks and faded to seventh place in 45.98secs.

The third Brit Rob Tobin also finished seventh in his semi final heat clocking a time of 45.90.

World record-holder Usain Bolt eased through to the final of the 200m as he chases the double of global and Olympic gold, crossing the line in 20.08secs ahead of Panama's Alonso Edward in opening semi. In the final Bolt will face the American duo of Wallace Spearmon, bronze medalist in Osaka two-years-ago, and the Olympic silver medallist Shawn Crawford.

Coventry’s Marlon Devonish representing Great Britain ran a time of 20.62secs as he finished in seventh place in the second semi-final behind Ireland's Paul Hession, who also failed to qualify.

There was better news for Great Britain in the women’s 200m opening round as Emily Freeman eased through to the semi-finals with a strong positive performance finishing second in her quarter-final behind Jamaica's imposing Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown in a time of 23.10secs.

Reigning World champion Allyson Felix of the USA clocked a superb 22.88secs as fellow Americans Muna Lee, ChaRonda Williams and Marshevet Hooker all progressed through in style.

On the infield Germany's Robert Harting produced a final throw of 69.43 metres to win a superb discus competition much tot the delight of the home crowd in the Olympic Stadium.

The 24-year-old improved on his silver medal in Osaka 2007 following a thrilling battle with Poland's Piotr Malachowski. The defending champion and Olympic gold medallist in Beijing last year, Gerd Kanter of Estonia, had to settle for bronze with a best of 66.88m.

Report by Mark Woolley.

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

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Olympic Stadium, Berlin

19th August 2009 - Day 5 Morning Session

BRITISH sprinter William Sharman on his World Championship debut produced a strong performance to qualify for the semi-finals of the 110m hurdles in Berlin, whilst, their was disappointment for the reigning United Kingdom champion Andy Turner as the European bronze medallist failed to progress struggling with a hamstring injury.

On very warm morning in the German capital Loughborough Alumni Sharman, a late addition to the Team GB squad following his lifetime best performance (13.44/13.39w) at the Loughborough L*E*A*P meeting last month, finished third in his heat in a time of 13.52secs to progress.

Sharman who has recently become a father for the first time reflected on his performance saying: “"I got off to a good start but I just wanted to make sure I didn't hit a hurdle, if you hit one it's all over. I stayed relaxed and I knew that if I did that then I would qualify."

There was disappointment, however, for Andy Turner as he came into the championships with his thigh heavy strapped having collected the hamstring problem while warm-weather training at the Team GB holding camp in Portugal prior to Berlin, and was noticeably slow out of the blocks but picked up the momentum mid-race before his injury took its toll and could only finish fifth in 13.73secs.

"I felt something about the fourth hurdle but I thought it might just be cramp or a bit of tightness so I carried on and at the seventh hurdle I just felt something go," Turner commented afterwards.

Britain’s third representative, European U23 silver medallist Gianni Frankis, clattered the seventh hurdle and could only finish a distant 7th in 13.83 to go out of the competition.

World-record holder and Olympic champion Dayron Robles was also racing with an injury just qualifying through in third place in his heat clocking 13.67.

Defending champion Meseret Defar was the fastest qualifier for the women's 5,000m final as the powerful Ethiopian finished in15mins 16.46secs as her main rivals for gold Meselech Melkamu, Vivian Cheruiyot and Genzebe Dibaba all went through to Saturday's showpiece event.

Report by Mark Woolley.

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

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Olympic Stadium, Berlin

18th August 2009 - Day 4 Evening Session

PHILLIPS IDOWU secured Great Britain’s second gold medal of the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships with victory over reigning champion Nelson Evora of Portugal in the triple jump final with a fabulous lifetime best leap of 17.73 metres in the third round in Berlin's Olympic Stadium.

Evora claimed the Olympic title in Beijing last year ahead of Idowu but tonight in the German capital it was to be the Brits chance to gain his first global gold medal.

Evora set the pace in the competition taking an early lead with a mark of 17.54m, as Idowu could only reach 17.51m knowing that it would take something special to win gold and the 30-year-old delivered with a commanding personal best in the third round leaping out to a huge distance of 17.73m.

Evora in his final jump of the competition could only improve his best by a margin of just one centimetre handing the title to Idowu. Cuba's Alexis Copello secured bronze with 17.36m.

"It's been a long time coming,'' Idowu said afterwards. "I didn't think that 17.73 was going to be enough, but God was looking down on me, I knew this was my time.

"I was nervous, I was having some crazy dreams last night. I had to leave it in God's hands. I thought 'Just go out there and do what you do best.

"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't have taken that last jump. My eyes just filled with water. Last year was a big disappointment, but I came back and got a new PB and world title.''

The flamboyant Brit complete with bright red hair was reduced to tears as he looked stunned to having finally won a major world title having taken the Commonwealth gold in Melbourne back in 2006 taken his lap of honour in Berlin draped in the Union Jack and watched by the heptathlon gold medallist Jessica Ennis from the stands to become Britain's first men’s world champion since Jonathan Edwards won gold in the triple jump in Edmonton 2001.

Britain's other competitor in the final, Loughborough Sports Scholar Nathan Douglas, finished down in 10th with his best effort of 16.79m seeing him eliminated at the halfway cut.

Report by Mark Woolley.

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

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Olympic Stadium, Berlin

18th August 2009 - Day 4 Evening Session

AMERICAN Sanya Richards finally won an individual global gold medal as she underlined her position as the top female one-lap runner in the World, whilst, compatriot Kerron Clement outsprinted field to complete a USA golden double in Berlin retaining his title in the men’s 400m hurdles.

Richards arrived in Berlin as the clear world-leader over 400m with dominant performances in the Golden League but with a record of failure when it really matters in the final of a major championships, twice the elegant 24-year-old Texan as been the firm favourite for gold and twice she has been beaten by her nemesis, Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu in the world final two-years-ago in Osaka and when leading the race at last summers Beijing Olympics when she tied-up badly over the final 100m leaving the Brit to secure the double championship victory.

However, here in the German capital on a warm night Richards never looked under threat dominating the race to win in a world-leading time of 49.00secs.

Jamaica's Shericka Williams claimed silver in a lifetime best of 49.32, with Antonina Krivoshapka of Russia third in 49.71. Defending champion Christine Ohuruogu looked lack-luster and short of form and fitness and could finish only a distant fifth with a season’s best of 50.21.

A delighted Richards commented afterwards: “To come here and to win the race, it means the world to me. Finally, I have own a major title! Finally the hard work has paid off and I also achieved a world-lead, great!"

The American who will marry New York Giants quarterback Aaron Ross next year continued: “I felt very confident, I hit my marks in the rounds. Before, I had difficulties standing the pressure. But now I am a better athlete. I feel good. To come out there with a PB, that's very good. I did exactly what my coach said and it worked.”

Kerron Clement completed the double gold success for the USA by retaining his title in the men's 400 metres hurdles, the 24-year-old silver medallist at last year's Beijing Olympics clocked a world-leading time of 47.91secs to take victory ahead of Javier Culson representing Puerto Rico (48.09) and compatriot Bershawn Jackson, the 2005 champion in Helsinki, finishing third again as with the Olympics last year having to settle for silver in 48.23.

Clement reflecting on his victory said: “Today was a great experience for me, after the final hurdle I knew that the gold medal was mine. I saw it and I had it! I will definitely run the 4x400m relay. So there might be two gold medals for me.”

Former Olympic champion and twice world champion Felix Sanchez of the Dominique Republic was eighth in 50.11.

Great Britain’s Dai Greene - who won European junior bronze in 2005 and European Under-23 gold in 2007 - having set a personal best of 48.27secs in the semi-finals finished in a creditable 7th place in 48.68 in what has been a real breakthrough championships for the 23-year-old Welshman.

Kenya's continued their domination of the men's 3,000m steeplechase as Ezekiel Kemboi won gold claiming victory in a time of 8mins 00.43secs - a new championship record, outsprinting team-mate Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong over the final 50 metres.

France's Bouabdellah Tahri ensured that a European will be on the podium by finishing third with a new continental record of 8:01.18 to take the bronze medal.

Superstar Usain Bolt having run 20.70secs in the morning's first round of the men’s 200m the Jamaican eased to victory in his second-round race clocking 20.41.

Britain’s sole representative Marlon Devonish, after the withdrawals of Dwain Chambers and trials winner Toby Sandeman, also qualified through as the 33-year-old 2004 Athens Olympic relay gold medalist finish third in a time of 20.66.

Sarah Claxton moved through to the semi-finals of the women's 100m hurdles as she attempts to match her performance in Beijing where she reached the final

Claxton set a season's best of 12.86secs to gain an automatic qualifying position in the event where Great Britain’s heptathlon gold medallist Jessica Ennis had also been due to go for Team GB but withdrew due to her excursions over the weekend success.

Olympic champion Dawn Harper of the USA won the opening heat in 12.70, but the fastest qualifier was Canada's Priscilla Lopes-Schliep in 12.56. Defending champion, American Michelle Perry struggled with a knee injury and faded to 7th place in her heat won by the Olympic silver medallist Sally McLellan of Australia.

In the women's 400m hurdles top British juniors, Perri Shakes-Drayton and Eilidh Child, on their senior championship debuts failed to qualify for Thursday's final.

Shakes-Drayton finished seventh in the second heat in 57.57secs, whilst, Child was sixth in the third heat in 56.21.

Reigning European champion Steffi Nerius delighted the home crowd as she secured Germany their first gold medal of the championships in the javelin as the 37-year-old claiming victory with a best throw of 67.30m.

Czech world record-holder Barbora Spotakova could only reach 66.42m to take silver, as Maria Abakumova's best of 66.06m was good enough for the Russian to win bronze 66.06.

Report by Mark Woolley.

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

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Olympic Stadium, Berlin

18th August 2009 - Day 4 Morning Session

COMMONWEALTH champion Lisa Dobriskey in the women’s 1500m and fellow Loughborough-based one-lap sprinters over 400m, Martyn Rooney, David Gillick and Michael Bingham all advanced to their respective semi-finals on the fourth day of competition at the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin.

On cool cloudy morning in the German capital Lisa Dobriskey, fourth in the Beijing Olympic final last year, finished third to Ethiopia’s Gelete Burka in her heat in 4mins 07.90secs to progress to the semi-final on Thursday.

World junior gold medallist Steph Twell and the United Kingdom champion Charlene Thomas failed to progress finishing 12th (4:18.23) and 10th (4:09.91) respectively in their heats. The British team considered an appeal following the race after Thomas lost a shoe when the American champion Shannon Rowbury fell to the track with 250 metres to the finish.

In the qualifying heats of the men’s 400m the British trio of Martyn Rooney, Michael Bingham and Rob Tobin all advanced to the semi-finals.

Rooney clocked 45.45secs from lane one to finish third in the heat won by Frenchman Tabarie Henry as America-based Michael Bingham finishing runner-up in his heat in 45.54 behind the Bahamas Chris Brown, whlist, Rob Tobin went one better to win his heat in 45.50secs ahead of Ireland’s Loughborough-based double European indoor champion David Gillick (45.45).

The ‘Tiger Woods’ of athletics, sprint superstar Usain Bolt, showed no ill effects from his world record-breaking 100m performance of 9.58secs on Sunday as he cruised into the semi-finals of the men’s 200m.

The 22-year-old Jamaican eased through with a 20.41secs clocking as he looks to add the global double to his Olympic triumph twelve months ago, made easier by the absence of America’s defending champion Tyson Gay who has withdrawn with a groin injury.

Coventry’s Marlon Devonish, Team GB’s only representative after the withdrawals of Dwain Chambers and Toby Sandeman, also qualified for the semi-finals finishing third in 20.66secs.

Blanka Vlasic's biggest obstacle in her title defence in the women's high jump came in a morning mishap at her hotel, when the Croatian hit her head and opened a cut that required six stitches and despite missing the warm-ups, she cleared all four of her jumps on her first attempt to advance to Thursday's final.

Report by Mark Woolley.

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

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Olympic Stadium, Berlin

17th August 2009 - Day 3

THERE was a night of shocks, surprises and business as usual on the third evening of competition at the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin as Russia’s Yelena Isinbaeva failed to record a height in the pole vault final leaving Anna Rogowska of Poland to secure her first global title, however, as one champion faded another in the shape of the imposing all-conquering Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele shone brightly in the 10,000m under the lights of the Olympic Stadium storming to a superb new championship record of 26mins 46.31secs - a fourth remarkable world title in succession.

Bekele joined his fellow Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie as a four-time winner of the title winning ahead of a challenging performance from Zersenay Tadese to pull clear over the final lap. Tadese held on for the silver, with Kenya's Moses Masai securing bronze to follow his sister Linet’s gold medal in the women’s 10,000m on Saturday night.

Shelly Anne-Fraser matched compatriot Usain Bolt’s performance the previous evening to complete the World and Olympic double blasting out of the blocks with a superb performance in the women’s 100m final clocking 10.73secs, the third fastest time in history, to defeat fellow Jamaican Kerron Stewart (10.75) with Carmelita Jetter of the USA third (10.90).

Yelena Isinbaeva came to Berlin unbeaten at any major championships since 2003 but failed to register a clearance looking out of sorts as Poland’s Anna Rogowska wowed the crowd to claim the gold.

Rogowska, who trains with her group at Loughborough University in the summer, defeated world-record holder Isinbaeva at last months Aviva IAAF London Grand Prix and carried that form into these championships won with a height of 4.75 metres as the Russia opted to come into the competition at that height but failed badly on all three attempts handing the title to a delighted Rogowska.

Rogowska's compatriot Monika Pyrek and American Chelsea Johnson finished joint second with 4.65m, so both athletes will be awarded silver medals.

Loughborough-based Kate Dennison representing Great Britain claimed a creditable sixth place, urged on by coach Steve Rippon, with her best effort of 4.55m - just 3cm outside of her United Kingdom record.

Spain's Marta Dominguez was another surprise winner in the women's 3,000m steeplechase recording the fastest time in the world this year with a 9mins 07.32secs clocking to claim gold ahead of the reigning Olympic champion and world-record holder Gulnara Galkina of Russia who faded to fourth after pushing the pace in the early laps.

Jenny Meadows and Marilyn Okoro ensured that Great Britain will have two athletes in the final of the women’s 800m on Wednesday with impressive performances in their respective semi-finals.

Meadows produced a superb finish to chase the reigning champion Janeth Jepkosgei over the line as the 28-year-old Wigan athlete came home in a time of one minute 59.45 seconds to finish runner-up in the second heat behind South Africa's world-leader Caster Semenya.

Jepkosgei, reinstated after falling in the first round progressed as one of the two fastest losers overall.

There was a real surprise in the last of the three semis as Kenya’s Olympic champion and Golden League jackpot winner last year Pamela Jelimo went out of the championships failing to finish in the race where Britain’s Marilyn Okoro claimed a fine second place showing good tactics crossing the line in 2:01.01.

United Kingdom champion Jemma Simpson was very disappointing failing to progress as the America-based Cornish athlete faded to fifth in the first semi-final clocking 2:00.57.

British young guns were in action in the heats of the women’s 400m hurdlers as Scotland’s Eilidh Child and European U23 champion Perri Shakes-Drayton both progressed with strong performances to the semi-finals.

The duo both finished third in their respective heats qualify through as Child clocked an impressive time of 55.96secs, whilst, Shakes-Drayton in the following heat finished in 56.49 to progressed automatically.

Gold-medal favourite Lashinda Demus representing the USA, the world-leader in 2009 set the fastest time qualifying time with 54.66.

Loughborough-based Michelle Carey, the reigning Irish national champion, finished 5th in the fourth heat in a time of 56.91secs to miss out on one of the fastest loser positions.

Another fine young British junior James Brewer missed out on a place in the 1500m final despite running a strong race as the 21-year-old finished sixth narrowly outside the automatic qualifying position in the opening semi-final.

Fellow Brit Andy Baddeley faded to 11th place in his semi-final with a time of 3:38.23, this following a 48-hour injury hit build-up that required the Olympic finalist to have an injection in his foot due to a burst blood vessel that left him on crutches the day before.

Primoz Kozmus secured Slovenia's first-ever gold medal at the World Championships to add the global title to his Olympic success last year in the men’s hammer final winning with a huge throw of 80.84 metres set in the final round.

Poland's Ziolkowski claimed the silver with 79.30m, with Russian Aleksey Zagornyi recording 78.09 to take bronze.

Yargeris Savigne won gold in the women's triple jump with a best effort of 14.95m. Team-mate Mabel Gay secured the double success for Cuba by taking the silver, with Russia's Anna Pyatykh third.

Report by Mark Woolley.

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

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Olympic Stadium, Berlin

16th August 2009 - Day 2 Evening Session

USAIN Bolt produced one of the greatest ever sprint performances to smash his own world-record clocking an astonishing time of 9.58 seconds to add global 100m gold to his triple Olympic medal haul at the World Championships in Berlin.

The 22-year-old Jamaican stormed to victory easily surpassing the mark of 9.69secs set in Beijing last year.

Defending champion Tyson Gay was two-metres adrift over the line setting an American record of 9.71 to claim the silver with former world record-holder and Commonwealth champion Asafa Powell third in 9.84.

Britain's European indoor 60m gold medallist Dwain Chambers was a distant sixth in a season’s best of 10.00.

Bolt competing in the same stadium where the legendary American Jessie Owens won Olympic gold in 1936 commented afterwards: “I came out here to do my best and I did what I had to do, I was feeling good after the semis. I knew it was going to be a great race and I executed it. It’s a great time, a great feeling.”

He continued: “For me, as an athlete I train all year round to run the 100 metres, it's what I do, so when I get in the blocks, I know what I have to do. It means I can have all the fun I want before the race, but when the starters say 'on your marks' I just refocus and it's time to go and I know what I have to do and there are no worries."

Bolt will now prepare to break his 200m world-record of 19.30secs in Thursday's final to complete the global sprint double in Berlin, before the relays next weekend.

Report by Mark Woolley.

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

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Olympic Stadium, Berlin

16th August 2009 - Day 2 Evening Session

JESSICA ENNIS completed a fantastic performance to win Britain's first ever heptathlon gold medal in the World Championships in Berlin.


Ennis never looked under threat as she led from gun-to-tape in the two-day competition winning three of the four events on the opening day - the 100metres hurdles, high jump and 200m - and also setting a personal best in the shot to underline her position ranking as world number one ahead of the championships.

The 23-year-old from Sheffield won the final 800m heat in fine style to secure gold, finishing ahead of Germany's Jennifer Oeser by a margin of 238 points, with Poland's Kamila Chudzik 22 points adrift in third to complete the podium places. Louise Hazel of Great Britain was 14th, with a new lifetime best score of 6008 points.

A delighted Ennis commented afterwards: "It's been the longest two days of my life but the best. I can't believe it. I'm the world champion, I feel like crying.

"I've dreamt so many times about winning medals and becoming world champion, doing a lap of honour. It's the best feeling in the world. It's amazing.

"It's all come round so quick, this year has been the best of my life, this is the icing on the cake. I was at such a low point last year so to come back from that and so strongly, it's amazing."

Defending champion Christine Ohuruogu qualified through to the final of the women's 400m finishing second to favourite Sanya Richards in her semi-final with a season's best of 50.35 to the Americans 50.21.

Loughborough graduate Nicola Sanders, the silver medallist in Osaka two years ago made a fast start in her heat but was caught in the home straight by Shericka Williams of Jamaica won the race in 49.51 ahead of Russia's Antonina Krivoshapka.

Sanders, having been hampered by an ankle injury this season, finished fourth in 50.45 but missed out as a fastest loser.

Jessica Ennis certainly took the limelight for Great Britain with her fabulous victory but Team GB have a rising star in the shape of 23-year-old Welshman Dai Greene who qualified through to the final of the 400m hurdles with another very impressive run setting a new personal best of 48.27secs as he finished second in his semi-final behind America’s Bershawn Jackson, the 2005 gold medalist in Helsinki.

The USA’s defending champion and gold medal favourite Kerron Clement was the fastest qualifier winning the first semi in 48.00. World leader, South African LJ Van Zyl, could only finish sixth in a distant 48.80 and was eliminated.

Greene's time places him third on the United Kingdom all-time list as only Kriss Akabusi and David Hemery have ran faster.

On the infield triple jumpers Phillips Idowu and Loughboroguh Sports Scholar Nathan Douglas both qualified for the final as medal favourite Idowu produced an effort of 17.32m to gain an automatic place, whilst, Douglas finished 10th overall with his best jump of 17.00 to qualify in the top 12.

Idowu commented: “It was comfortable and easy it was nice here jumping out there, I liked to jump so near to the crowd, so close, that was great, I would like to do some more jumps! The audience is really nice. I thought that I jumped here before but I have not. What you will see of me in the final? Big jumps and hopefully I will win.”

However, Larry Achike, narrowly missed out with a mark of 16.94 to finish in the agonizing 13th place as defending champion Nelson Evora was the top qualifier with his leap of 17.44 and looks set to challenge Idowu for world gold in what will be a tough final.

New Zealand's Valerie Vili successfully defended her world shot put title to disappoint the home crowd defeating German Nadine Kleinert to the gold medal.

Kleinert took the lead in the first round with 20.06m, but Bristol-born Vili responded in round three with an effort of 20.25m to move in to the gold medal position and increased this in the fifth round to take victory. China's Lijiao Gong claimed the bronze medal with a personal best of 19.89m.

Report by Mark Woolley.

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

Nike BMC Grand Prix Final

Cardiff Athletics Stadium

Saturday 15th August 2009

THE 2004 IAAF World Cross Country champion Benita Johnson was the top athlete on show at the (BMC) Grand Prix Final at the Cardiff Athletics Stadium as the 30-year-old London-based Australian set a new lifetime best to take victory in the women’s 5,000m with a time of 16mins 24.20secs ahead of fellow athlete from the southern hemisphere, Alice Mason of New Zealand.

The BMC event also combined the McCain UK Challenge final races as Scottish international Claire Gibson (Victoria Park City of Glasgow) gained a share of the £5,000 golden jackpot on offer and received a further £600 bonus for setting a personal best performance in winning the women’s 800m in a time of 2mins 01.34secs, the 27-year-old impressively held off the strong challenge of 2008 NCAA champion Hannah England (Oxford).

Steeplechaser Jermaine Mays (Kent) secured his jackpot share by finishing third in a time of 3:41.48 behind Australia’s Nick Bromley (3:41.47) and Loughborough-based British international Nick McCormick (3:41.47) in the men’s 1500m ‘A’ race. Loughborough Alumni Lewis Moses representing Gateshead Harriers won the ‘B” race in 3:48.21.

Norway’s Ingvill Makestad Bovin, having finished runner-up to Claire Gibson over 800m at the Oslo Golden League Bislett Games meeting in July, won the women’s 1500m ‘A’ race in Cardiff with a time of 4:10.58 ahead of Loughborough Alumni Laura Kenney (Royal Sutton Coldfield), the 2007 European U23 gold medallist clocking a season’s best of 4:13.49 as current Loughborough student Emily Pidgeon (Stroud) set a new lifetime best of 4:13.56 over the distance to finish third.

In the McCain UK Challenge category held within the race, qualifying athletics - both Loughborough students past and present - finished fifth (first) and 7th (second) respectively with current student Stevie Stockton (Vale Royal) winning in a time of 4:14.54 ahead of Alumni Harriet Scott (Havering Mayesbrook) 4:17.61.

Moumin Geele, training partner of European indoor 3,000m champion Mo Farah prevailed in the men’s 5,000m ‘A’ race clocking a lifetime best of 13:34.66 to finish clear of Andy Vernon (13:43.92) by a margin of ten second’s with America-based Loughborough graduate Chris Thompson third (13:46.66).

In the women’s 1500m ‘B’ race twin sisters Juliet Doyle (4:24.88) and Jane Potter (4:29.41) representing Charnwood AC finished third and fifth respectively as Lauren Deadman (Havering Mayesbrook) won in 4:23.66. Team mate at Charnwood, Steve Mears, won the men’s ‘E’ race in 3:58.58, whilst, Tom Mahon of the OWLS set a new lifetime best of 1:54.92 to finish runner-up in the 800m ‘G’ race.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full Results:
BMC 800m A (Mens)
1-5-25-01:47.15-Andrew Osagie U23-Harlow Ac / St. Mary's Uni
2-6-26-01:47.37-Darren St. Clair-Enfield & Haringey / St. Mary's U
3-1-21-01:49.27-Ricky Stevenson U23-New Marske / Teeside Uni
4-10-29-01:49.46-Ben Green-Warrington / Loughborough Uni
5-8-28-01:49.77-Graeme Oudney-Belgrave / Pitreavie / Dundee Uni
6-4-24-01:49.78-Mark Berridge-Basingstoke & Mid Hants
7-7-27-01:49.82-Nick Samuels-Sale Harriers Manchester / Loughb
8-3-23-01:50.60-Sam Ellis-Barnsley Ac / Sheffield Hallam Un
BMC 800m B (Mens)
1-15-24-01:51.22-Robbie Schofield U20-Newham & Essex Beagles
2-17-26-01:51.58-Conor Healy U23-Clonliffe / Ireland
3-12-22-01:51.62-Oliver Blake U23-Oswestry / Loughborough Uni
4-18-27-01:51.76-Michael Salter U20-Leeds City / Birmingham Uni
5-11-21-01:51.90-Keiran Flannery U23-Gateshead / Loughborough Uni
6-14-23-01:52.61-Oliver Heeks U23-Orion / Portsmouth Uni
BMC 800m C (Mens)
1-21-22-01:51.21-Chris Bryant-Sale Harriers Manchester / Liverp
2-28-28-01:51.36-Christopher Harvey U20-Cannock & Stafford
3-24-24-01:52.28-Adam Cotton U20-Birchfield H
4-25-25-01:52.38-Steve Evison-City Of Sheffield / Sheffield Hal
5-20-21-01:52.64-Paul Laslett-Shaftesbury Barnet
6-29-29-01:52.72-Jonathan Cook U23-Cambridge Uni
7-26-26-01:54.35-Tapani Virtanen-Finland
8-27-27-01:57.51-Rory Graham-watson U20-Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow
BMC 800m D (Mens)
1-32-23-01:52.64-Chris Parr-Gateshead / Loughborough Uni
2-34-25-01:53.07-Robert Heaney U23-Bedford & County / Brunel Uni
3-38-29-01:53.40-Andrew De-camps U23-Gloucester / Swansea Uni
4-31-22-01:53.53-Matt Furber-Crawley / Hertfordshire Uni
5-30-21-01:54.28-Tim Egerton-Trafford
6-37-28-01:55.01-Ben Craddock U23-Leeds City / Birmingham Uni / Enfield
7-39-30-01:55.64-Paul Erwood-Marshall Milton Keynes / Bournemo
8-33-24-01:57.75-Mark Mcdonald U20-Clonliffe / Ireland
9-36-27-02:00.21-Omar Mansour U20-Woodford Green With Essex Ladies
BMC 800m E (Mens)
1-46-27-01:53.91-Jonathan Butler U23-Swansea / UWIC / West Wales
2-42-23-01:54.70-Nico Constanti U20-Gloucester
3-44-25-01:55.17-Mark Burchett U23-Worthing / Crawley
4-48-29-01:55.34-John Spence-Hallamshire / Sheffield Hallam Un
5-41-22-01:55.49-Harry Harper U23-Liverpool H / Birmingham Uni
6-47-28-01:55.56-Nick Duggan-Crawley
7-43-24-01:56.58-James Ansell-Newquay & Par / Exeter
8-45-26-01:57.49-Nathan Riding U23-Newham & Essex Beagles / Liverpool
9-40-21-01:59.71-Dave Ragan-Basingstoke & Mid Hants / Sheffie
BMC 800m F (Mens)
1-50-22-01:54.50-Ben Akin U17-Preston
2-53-25-01:54.79-Matthew Addison-Bromsgrove & Redditch / Brunel Uni
3-51-23-01:55.22-Chris Davies-Swansea
4-55-27-01:55.70-Nathan Bibby U23-Preston
5-49-21-01:56.10-Sam Yates U17-Ribble Valley
6-54-26-01:56.41-Stephen Bennett U20-Preston
7-57-29-01:56.85-Declan Evans U20-Cardiff
8-56-28-01:56.88-Matt Peel-Crawley
BMC 800m G (Mens)
1-62-25-01:54.89-Nathan Wake U20-Herts Phoenix
2-66-28-01:54.92-Tom Mahon U20-Owls Leicester
3-59-22-01:55.76-Russell Best U20-New Marske
4-60-23-01:56.01-Chris Prothero U23-Cwmbran
5-64-26-01:56.37-James Bleakley-Trafford
6-61-24-01:56.50-Craig Mcdowall U20-Lothian / Forth Valley
7-58-21-01:56.82-Richard De-camps U23-Gloucester
8-65-27-01:57.65-Adam Clansey-Liverpool Pembroke Sefton
BMC 800m H (Mens)
1-70-24-02:00.02-David Banwell-Clode U17-Cwmbran
2-68-22-02:00.13-Joshua Lacey U17-Birchfield H
3-72-26-02:00.52-Stephen Morris U23-Aberdare Valley
4-67-21-02:01.29-Matthew Emery U23-Rugby & Northampton
5-75-29-02:04.85-Eddie Costello-Ireland
BMC 800m A (Womens)
1-78-23-02:01.34-Claire Gibson-Kilbarchan / Glasgow Caledonian U
2-77-22-02:01.67-Hannah England U23-Oxford City / Birmingham Uni
3-80-25-02:02.82-Charlotte Best-Crawley / Loughborough Uni
4-82-27-02:02.87-Celia Brown-Coventry
5-84-29-02:02.99-Karin Storbacka U23-Finland
6-83-28-02:03.38-Emma Jackson U23-City Of Stoke / Keele Uni
7-76-21-02:05.29-Tara Bird U23-Woodford Green With Essex Ladie
8-81-26-02:05.80-Vicky Griffiths-Liverpool H / Liverpool John Moor
9-79-24-02:06.55-Karrie Blake-City Of Portsmouth
BMC 800m B (Womens)
1-90-26-02:06.42-Suvi Selvenius-Finland
2-85-21-02:06.81-Rebecca Sweeney-Sale Harriers Manchester / Salfor
3-88-24-02:07.50-Danielle Christmas U23-Crawley / Loughborough Uni
4-87-23-02:08.56-Claire Nichols-Team Southampton / Woking
5-91-27-02:09.04-Rachael Thompson-Liverpool H / Loughborough Uni
6-86-22-02:09.55-Lauren Fleshman-United States
7-89-25-02:15.31-Leigh Lennon U20-Newham & Essex Beagles / Wigan &
BMC 800m C (Womens)
1-99-27-02:08.09-Phillippa Aukett-Shaftesbury Barnet / Birmingham U
2-94-22-02:09.52-Suzi Boast U20-Bedford & County / St. Mary's Uni
3-98-26-02:11.21-Melissa Courtney U17-Poole Ac / Team Dorset / Shaftesbur
4-100-28-02:11.42-Linzi Snow U23-Woodford Green With Essex Ladie
5-95-23-02:11.80-Ruth Mitchell U23-Bristol & West / UWIC
6-93-21-02:12.58-Emily Merrick U20-Bristol & West
7-101-29-02:14.93-Rebecca Newton U20-Hallamshire
8-96-24-02:15.11-Bethan Strange U23-Cardiff / UWIC
BMC 800m D (Womens)
1-103-21-02:11.11-Lauren Bell U15-Pembrokeshire
2-108-26-02:12.81-Jenna Hill-Sale Harriers Manchester / St. Ma
3-107-25-02:13.45-Laura Dunn U23-Edinburgh Southern / Edinburgh / Ba
4-110-28-02:14.81-Loren Bleaken U15-Team Bath
5-106-24-02:16.17-Charlotte Gaughan U23-City Of York / York Uni
6-109-27-02:18.10-Beth Swords U17-Marshall Milton Keynes
7-104-22-02:19.06-Kristie Leybourne U20-Newham & Essex Beagles / Blackpool
8-105-23-02:19.41-Katherine Turner U17-Team Bath
BMC 800m E (Womens)
1-112-22-02:18.75-Cerys Morgan U17-Swansea / West Wales
2-113-23-02:18.97-Rhian Dawes U20-Victoria Park City Of Glasgow / T
3-115-25-02:19.09-Lauren Regan U20-Cardiff
4-118-27-02:20.05-Hayley Jennings-Telford Ac
5-111-21-02:21.25-Vicky Moritz U15-Worcester
6-114-24-02:25.05-Holly Wootten U15-Worcester
7-117-26-02:28.83-Elysia Pearson U17-Swansea / West Wales
BMC 1500m A (Mens)
1-131-12-03:41.18-Nick Bromley-Australia
2-133-14-03:41.47-Nick Mccormick-Morpeth / Loughborough Uni
3-127-8-03:41.48-Jermaine Mays-Kent
4-129-10-03:41.77-Simon Horsfield U20-East Cheshire / St. Mary's Uni
5-128-9-03:42.36-Gavin Massingham-Sunderland / Sunderland Uni
6-121-2-03:42.69-Frank Baddick-Newham & Essex Beagles / Loughbor
7-125-6-03:42.87-Jonathan Taylor U23-Morpeth / Teeside Uni
8-122-3-03:43.53-Daniel Clorley U20-Luton / Team Bedfordshire
9-132-13-03:43.66-Bruce Raeside-Notts / Cambuslang
10-130-11-03:44.48-Rory Chesser U23-Ennis Track / St. Mary's Uni / Irel
11-126-7-03:47.86-Liam Reale-Limerick / Ireland
12-148-16-03:49.69-Mitch Goose-City Of Norwich
13-134-15-03:49.70-Mark Christie-Mullingar / Ireland
14-120-1-03:50.21-Alastair Hay-Central / Thames Valley / Queen Mar
BMC 1500m B (Mens)
1-136-2-03:48.21-Lewis Moses U23-Darlington / Loughborough Uni / Gateshead
2-143-9-03:48.23-Andreas Bueno U23-Denmark
3-138-4-03:48.41-Sean Connolly-Tallaght / Ireland
4-149-15-03:48.51-Aidan Bailey-Clonliffe / Ireland
5-140-6-03:49.05-Luke Gunn-Derby / Birmingham Uni / Florida State Uni
6-144-10-03:49.49-Mark Kenneally-Ireland
7-151-17-03:49.72-Patrick Mccartan-West Limerick / Ireland
8-147-13-03:49.86-James Mills U23-Wrexham / Bath Uni / Cardiff
9-150-16-03:51.11-Steve Sharp-Belgrave
10-137-3-03:53.09-Rob Whittle-Basingstoke & Mid Hants / Loughborough Uni
11-142-8-03:53.78-Steve Mitchell U23-Bristol & West / Bristol Uni / Helsby
12-141-7-03:54.06-Thomas Fitzpatrick-Tallaght / Ireland
13-152-18-03:55.02-Jakob Hannibal-Denmark
14-145-11-03:59.49-Joe Thomas U23-Cardiff / UWIC
BMC 1500m C (Mens)
1-156-4-03:51.58-Nick Goolab U20-Belgrave / Birmingham Uni
2-161-9-03:51.60-James Trollope U23-Birchfield H / Coventry Uni
3-169-17-03:52.17-Ricky Soos-Mansfield / Loughborough Uni
4-167-15-03:52.37-Ieuan Thomas U23-Cwmbran / UWIC
5-166-14-03:53.28-Chris Discombe-Les Croupiers / Cardiff
6-170-18-03:53.52-Tom Phillips U23-Woodford Green With Essex Ladie
7-165-13-03:53.56-Tim Dalton U23-Severn / Loughborough Uni
8-164-12-03:53.88-Matthew Armstrong-Blaydon / Cambridge Uni / Gateshead
9-155-3-03:54.23-Andrew Heyes U20-Hallamshire / Oxford Uni
10-163-11-03:54.81-Tom Holden-Tipton / Manchester Uni
11-162-10-03:54.98-Peter Street U23-Preston / Loughborough Uni
12-153-1-03:55.80-Douglas Selman U23-Corstorphine / Edinburgh / Edinburg
13-160-8-03:55.84-Jonathan Hay U20-Aldershot Farnham & District
14-168-16-03:57.41-Jonathan Thewlis-Rotherham / Nottingham Uni
15-158-6-03:58.10-James Ellis-Winchester / Birmingham College
16-159-7-03:58.98-Harry Webb U23-Bristol & West / Brunel Uni / Harro
17-157-5-03:59.94-Dale Clutterbuck U20-Basildon
BMC 1500m D (Mens)
1-177-7-03:51.81-Gavin O'sullivan-Raheny Shamrocks / Ireland
2-172-2-03:52.48-Adam Clarke U20-Hastings Ac
3-185-15-03:52.56-Nick Hooker U23-Leeds City
4-186-16-03:54.09-Russell Bentley-Blackheath & Bromley
5-180-10-03:57.14-Hussain Jama U23-Ealing Southall & Middx / East L
6-183-13-03:57.31-Stuart Huntington U23-City Of Norwich
7-173-3-03:58.23-Carl Smith U20-Chester-le-street / Birmingham Un
8-179-9-04:00.06-Ben Coldray U20-Stroud / Gloucester
9-174-4-04:01.32-Matt Willmott U20-Marshall Milton Keynes
10-175-5-04:03.44-Nathaniel Quigley U23-Luton / Birmingham Uni
11-187-17-04:05.02-Gavin Lewis U20-Woodford Green With Essex Ladie
12-184-14-04:07.52-Tom Bowerman U20-Aldershot Farnham & District
BMC 1500m E (Mens)
1-192-4-03:58.58-Stephen Mears-Charnwood / Loughborough Uni
2-198-10-04:00.18-Kristian Bibby U17-Preston
3-194-6-04:00.21-Christopher Mcgurk U23-Notts / Oxford Uni / Achilles
4-200-12-04:00.35-Craig Walker U23-Wolverhampton & Bilston
5-195-7-04:00.75-Michael Hunt V35-Trafford
6-190-2-04:02.49-Jonathan Morgan U20-Newport
7-197-9-04:02.70-Feargal Geraghty-Galway / Ireland
8-199-11-04:03.26-Jack Bancroft U23-Wells City / Exeter Uni
9-193-5-04:03.38-Sam Dalgleish U23-Westbury / Yate / Birmingham Uni
10-201-13-04:03.46-Jimmy Goulis V35-Stragglers / St. Mary's Richmond
11-202-14-04:04.43-Charlie Grice U17-Phoenix Ac
12-206-18-04:07.57-Fergus O'reilly U17-Bournemouth
13-203-15-04:09.96-Adam Stainsby U23-Worthing / Brighton & Hove / Brunel
14-189-1-04:10.39-Andrew Kaar-Solihull & Small Heath
15-204-16-04:19.07-Aaron Phelps U17-Stroud / Gloucestershire Schs
BMC 1500m A (Womens)
1-220-14-04:10.58-Ingvill Makestad Bovin-Norway
2-214-8-04:13.49-Laura Kenney-Royal Sutton Coldfield / Loughbor
3-215-9-04:13.56-Emily Pidgeon U23-Stroud / Loughborough Uni
4-209-3-04:14.12-Charlotte Schonbeck-Sweden
5-221-15-04:14.54-Stevie Stockton U23-Vale Royal / Loughborough Uni
6-218-12-04:16.02-Kelly Mcneice-City Of Lisburn / Windsor Slough
7-208-2-04:17.61-Harriet Scott-Havering Mayesbrook / London Uni
8-219-13-04:17.75-Rose-anne Galligan U23-Aldershot Farnham & District / S
9-210-4-04:19.46-Hazel Murphy-Dundrum South Dublin / Ireland
10-207-1-04:22.06-Liz Brathwaite-Herts Phoenix / Oxford Uni
11-222-16-04:23.47-Josephine Moultrie U20-Victoria Park City Of Glasgow / S
12-217-11-04:23.58-Faye Fullerton-Havering Mayesbrook
13-216-10-04:27.75-Jess Coulson U20-Stockport
BMC 1500m B (Womens)
1-232-10-04:23.66-Lauren Deadman-Havering Mayesbrook
2-230-8-04:23.92-Julia Russell-Hallamshire / Trafford / Sheffield
3-236-14-04:24.88-Juliet Doyle (was Potter)-Charnwood
4-226-4-04:27.74-Jessica Russon U20-New Marske / Tees Valley Tigers
5-229-7-04:29.41-Jane Potter-Charnwood / Nottingham Trent Uni
6-235-13-04:30.28-Marie-louise Brasen-Denmark
7-237-15-04:30.40-Ceri Mitchell-Team Southampton / UWIC
8-227-5-04:30.58-Sonia Samuels-Sale Harriers Manchester / Loughb
9-228-6-04:31.60-Hanne Lyngstad-Norway
10-233-11-04:37.59-Michelle Harvey-Tir Conaill / Ireland
11-223-1-04:48.64-Lucy Flanner-Solihull & Small Heath / Oxford U
BMC 1500m C (Womens)
1-225-0-04:34.60-Katie Knowles U20-Bristol & West / Birmingham Uni
2-251-14-04:35.00-Deborah Niccol U23-Bristol & West / UWIC
3-243-6-04:35.80-Stephanie Roe U23-Preston
4-241-4-04:37.70-India Lee U23-Winchester / Southampton Uni
5-245-8-04:37.80-Katherine Humphreys-Exeter / UWIC
6-239-2-04:46.30-Louise Reilly-Annalee / Clonliffe / Ireland
7-248-11-04:50.00-Ellen Butler-Notts / Swansea
8-246-9-04:50.60-Natasha Cockram U17-Cwmbran
9-244-7-04:51.60-Eleanor Alexander-Team Southampton
10-238-1-05:18.90-Michelle Allen U20-Cardiff / Millfield Sch
11-240-3-05:24.50-Natalie Allen U20-Cardiff
BMC 5000m A (Mens)
1-314-14-13:34.66-Moumin Geele-Newham & Essex Beagles / Somalia
2-310-10-13:43.92-Andy Vernon-Aldershot Farnham & District / S
3-312-12-13:46.66-Chris Thompson-Aldershot Farnham & District / L
4-304-4-13:47.69-Mati Rasanen-Finland
5-302-2-14:00.33-Pete Nowill-Highgate / Australia
6-311-11-14:05.81-Fredrik Uhrbom-Sweden
7-308-8-14:08.13-Antony Ford-Blackpool Wyre & Fylde / Wiscons
8-306-6-14:14.02-Ryan Mcleod-Tipton / Gateshead
9-315-15-14:22.56-Henrik Them-Denmark
10-303-3-14:22.99-Tuomas Jokinen U23-Finland
11-313-13-14:23.32-Jussi Utriainen-Finland
12-309-9-14:26.00-Simon Jones-Belgrave / Cornelly
13-317-17-14:31.18-Dave Webb-Leeds City / Birmingham Uni
14-301-1-15:00.98-Jonathan Wills-Bristol & West
BMC 5000m B (Mens)
1-327-10-14:23.52-Jarkko Hamberg-Finland
2-319-2-14:26.01-Alex Pilcher-Derby
3-325-8-14:35.73-John Hutchins-Basingstoke & Mid Hants / Oxford
4-323-6-14:36.07-James Kelly-Belgrave / Cambridge Uni
5-331-14-14:46.60-Hywel Care-Woodford Green With Essex Ladie
6-330-13-14:50.66-Ashley Harrell U23-City Of Norwich / St. Mary's Uni /
7-321-4-14:52.61-Phil Hinch-Tipton / Wolverhampton Uni
8-333-16-14:53.73-Tom Marsden-Bristol & West
9-326-9-14:55.48-Martin Conroy-Sligo / Swansea / Ireland
10-329-12-15:00.51-Neil Phillips-Aldershot Farnham & District / S
11-324-7-15:07.49-Ian Kimpton-Lincoln Wellington / Oxford Uni
12-328-11-15:14.48-Josh Guilmant-Phoenix Ac / Sussex Uni / Crawley
13-335-18-15:23.12-Steve Mcguigan-Bristol & West / White Horse
14-320-3-15:30.23-David Fitzmaurice U20-Clonliffe / Ireland
15-322-5-15:35.50-Ben Warren-Hailsham / Sussex Uni / Harrow
16-336-19-15:49.94-Tom Beedell-Chiltern / London Uni / Kingston &
17-334-17-15:52.13-Grant Webb U20-Basildon
BMC 5000m A (Womens)
1-342-6-16:24.20-Benita Johnson-Thames Hare & Hounds / Australia
2-338-2-16:28.51-Alice Mason U23-New Zealand
3-337-1-17:41.95-Cathy Ansell U23-Telford Ac / Oxford Uni
BMC 3000SC A (Mens)
1-344-2-08:50.93-Samater Farah-Newham & Essex Beagles
2-350-8-08:52.14-Daniel Lundgren-Sweden
3-346-4-08:59.16-Benjamin Wolthers-Denmark
4-351-9-09:04.22-Shaun Collins U23-Enfield & Haringey
5-349-7-09:23.65-David Westbury U23-Derby
6-347-5-09:23.66-Ben Nagy U20-Enfield & Haringey / Bath Uni
7-352-10-09:41.84-Andrew Friend-Cardiff
8-345-3-09:53.79-Alasdair Russell U23-Kendal / Central Lancashire Uni / B
9-343-1-10:00.73-Jeffrey Cunningham-Herne Hill
BMC 3000SCW A (Womens)
1-356-4-10:38.37-Sara Luck-Havering Mayesbrook / London Uni
2-355-3-11:11.70-Diana Kennedy-Woodford Green With Essex Ladie
3-354-2-11:23.67-Emily Brown-Cardiff / UWIC
4-353-1-12:11.79-Sophie Gibbens-Marshall Milton Keynes / Teeside

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Olympic Stadium, Berlin

16th August 2009 - Day 2 Morning Session

JESSICA ENNIS finished the morning session in Berlin on the second day of competition at the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships following the long jump event with a lead of 269 points ahead of her nearest rival, Germany's Jennifer Oeser, as she chases Britain's first gold medal with just two events of the heptathlon remaining as the British middle-distance trio of Jemma Simpson, Jenny Meadows and Marilyn Okoro all progressed to the semi-finals of the 800m.

Ennis held an overnight lead of 307 points after winning three of the four disciplines on the opening day in the 100m hurdles, high jump and 200m, plus the bonus of setting a new personal best in the shot.

However, the 23-year-old Sheffield athlete witnessed her advantage reduced to 269 points after the long jump with Ennis leaping out to 6.29m (-0.8 m/s) in the third and final round for a total of 5,064 points this following attempts of 6.19m (0.0m/s) and 6.08m (0.9m/s).

The home crowd were delighted to see Germany's Jennifer Oeser move into the joint silver medal position on 4,795 points with a mark of 6.42m, equal with Olympic champion Nataliya Dobrynska of the Ukraine, who recorded 6.41m.

Ennis will look to consolidate her lead in the two remaining events this evening, in the javelin and 800m.

Team mate Louise Hazel recorded a series of 6.13m (0.2m/s), 5.93m (1.4m/s), and 5.94m (-0.3 m/s) for 890 points that gave her a total of 4392, in 12th position.

As the bright sun shone down inside a very hot Olympic Stadium the British trio of Jemma Simpson, Jenny Meadows and Marilyn Okoro all advanced to the semi-finals of the 800 metres with some ease.

Simpson (2:03.33) and Meadows (2:02.47) both comfortably finished second in their heats, whilst, Okoro (2:03.07) secured third in the final heat.

The Ukraine's World Student games champion Yuliya Krevsun was the fastest qualifier in 2: 02.20, but there was a real shock as the defending champion Janeth Jepkosgei, of Kenya, fell in the opening heat. Jepkosgei was leading coming off the final bend when she was accidentally tripped from behind by South Africa's Caster Semenya and tumbled to the track.

Semenya also stumbled but recovered to win the heat leaving Jepkosgei to jog home last and out of the championships.

Loughborough graduate and British record-holder Goldie Sayers looks certain to miss out on a place in the javelin final after finishing ninth with throws of 56.44, 58.58 and 58.98m in the first pool of qualifiers as only the top 12 are guaranteed a place in the final.

In the final of the women’s 20k race walking British record holder Joanna Jackson's championships ended in disappointment when she was disqualified from the race for ‘lifting’.

In the final of the Women’s 20k race walk over a picturesque course, which started and finished at the famous Brandenburg Gate, British record holder Joanna Jackson's championships ended in disappointment when she was disqualified from the race for ‘lifting’ at the 10k point.

The highly impressive Carmelita Jeter of the United States was fastest in women's 100m qualifying in 11.22secs, as Jamaica finished with three runners in the top seven led by reigning world champion Veronica Campbell-Brown alongside Kerron Stewart and Aleen Bailey.

Report by Mark Woolley.

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

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Olympic Stadium, Berlin

15th August 2009 - Day 1 Evening Session

JESSICA ENNIS will wake-up on Sunday morning knowing that the heptathlon gold medal is hers to lose in Berlin following one of the finest single day performances by a British athlete at a major championships as the world number one will take a massive 307-point lead into the second day of competition at the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships.

The smile on her face was as warm and bright as the sun that bathed the German capital as Ennis won three of the four events, clocking 12.93secs in the 100m hurdles, then clearing 1.92m in the high jump and storming to victory over 200m in 23.25secs.

With the long jump, javelin and 800m to follow the 23-year-old from Sheffield looks virtually unbeatable going into the second day of competition.

A delighted Ennis reflected on her fantastic day saying: “I'm very happy, I can't believe everything went so well. I was slightly disappointed after the hurdles but managed to pull out things together to put a great shot, I'm going to go to the hotel and put my head down, hopefully to have another successful day tomorrow.

“I am sure that my shot put could have been better. But I am satisfied because I improved my PB in hurdles. I injured my left foot three-days ago but fortunately, it is nothing serious. The 200m was also okay, so now we will see what is going happen tomorrow. I hope I will a chance to show a good result.”

Ennis produced a lifetime best of 14.14m in the last round of the shot when it really mattered and finished the evening’s work with a season's best in the 200m.

Having missed the Olympics last year with a potentially career-threatening injury Ennis has a total of 4,124 points with the Ukraine's Olympic champion Nataliya Dobrynska second with 3,817 and Germany's Jennifer Oeser third a further three points back. Britain's other competitor Louise Hazel is in 13th place with 3,502 points following a strong showing.

In the sprints Dwain Chambers and Tyrone Edgar advanced to the semi-finals of the men's 100m but United Kingdom champion Simeon Williamson disappointingly went out sighting cramp.

Chambers clocked a season’s best of 10.04secs to win his heat with Edgar taking second in 10.12 in his race, however, Williamson was only fifth in the final heat won by Daniel Bailey and the imposing Usain Bolt who were so far ahead of the field that they had a laugh and a joke whilst cruising over the line.

Former world record-holder Asafa Powell learnt from his near-miss in the morning heats when he eased down and was almost eliminated to bounce back setting the fastest overall time with 9.95secs ahead of defending world champion Tyson Gay, who despite suffering form a groin problem clocked 9.98.

Following a very pedestrian opening to the final of the women’s 10,000m the battle between Kenya and Ethiopia resumed as teenage sensation Linet Masai produced a massive upset to win gold with a terrific storming finish over the closing laps.

Despite playing pacemaker, Masai, was placed under strong pressure by the pre-race favourites Meselech Melkamu and Wude Ayalew, however, the 19-year-old Kenyan, who set a world junior record when finishing fourth in last summer's Olympic final, held her form and looked strong as the race came down to a predictable sprint finish as the trio crossed the line almost in a photo-finish with Masai taking the gold medal by a margin of just 0.10 seconds in a time of 30mins 51.24secs ahead of Melkamu with Ayalew third 0.72secs behind the winner.

Pre-race favourite Meseret Defar of Ethiopia faded badly on the home straight to finish fifth in 30:52.37.

Great Britain’s Andy Baddeley and James Brewer advanced to the semi-finals in the men's 1500m, but team-mate Tom Lancashire failed to qualify.

Baddeley finished fourth in his heat in 3:45.23 as Brewer, a late addition to Team GB, despite having to run in the toughest heat showed wisdom beyond his 21-years in his first senior championships to set a new lifetime best of 3:37.17secs securing third place. Lancashire also looked to be in control in his heat but faded over the home straight and finished eighth in 3:42.68.

On the infield American Christian Cantwell ensured that the shot title remains the property of the USA for the third consecutive world championships as the Olympic silver medallist with a massive throw in the penultimate round won his first global outdoor title of his career.

Cantwell had led from the first round of the competition with a throw of 21.54m until the gold medallist in Beijing Tomasz Majewski of Poland produced a mark of 21.91 in the fourth round to take the lead, however, Cantwell responded immediately with a huge effort of 22.03m - the best performance in the world this year to take victory.

Majewski had to settle for the silver medal ahead of Germany's Ralf Bartels who achieved a personal best of 21.37 to delight the home crowd. Great Britain's Carl Myerscough could only finish 11th with a best of 18.42m followed by two fouls.

Cantwell commented afterwards: “I have won medals in the past but not that one. To win it in that fashion is even more exciting. I hope the crowd enjoyed it as much as we did. The level of the competition was very high with 6 athletes at 21, so to win a competition like this, that makes feel better."

In the 400m hurdles, Welshman David Greene surprised even himself with a brilliant run for Team GB winning his heat with a very impressive time of 48.76secs defeating current world leader LJ van Zyl of South Africa, second in 49.48, with Australian Brendan Cole third in 49.63.

Olympic champion Angelo Taylor of the United States struggled crossing the line in a distant fourth, however, Cole was later disqualified moving the American into the next round. Greene was the fourth fastest qualifier overall but fellow Welshman Rhys Williams missed out finishing fifth in his heat.

Loughborough-based Kate Dennison, the British record-holder continued her fine outdoor form with a clearance of 4.55m to qualify for the women’s pole vault final, but will have to improve on her national record to progress in final.

Report by Mark Woolley.

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

2009 McCain UK Challenge Final

Cardiff Athletics Stadium

Saturday 15th August 2009

LEICESTER’s Callum Priestley secured the most lucrative victory of his flourishing career to win a share of the £5,000 golden challenge jackpot on offer at the McCain UK Challenge Final held at the Cardiff International Athletics Stadium.

Priestley earned a split of the £5,000 in a three-way tie with Scotland’s Claire Gibson (800m) and British international Jermaine Mays (1500m), this having achieving the highest number of performance points and topping their respective event rankings following the 43 qualifying events that have taken place throughout the summer, plus they also gained and additional £400 for their victory on the day in Cardiff.

Priestley representing Woodford Green & Essex Ladies won the men’s 110m hurdles in a time of 13.92secs (-2.1m/s) to earn his bonus and cap a superb season for the 20-year-old junior British international having won silver at the United Kingdom championships in Birmingham when finishing runner-up to British number one and training partner Andy Turner under the guidance of his new coach Lloyd Cowen.

After narrowly missing out on selection for Berlin, Priestly now plans to put the money to good use to fund a warm weather-training trip to California next year as he targets the outdoor Europeans in Barcelona and a place on the England team for the Commonwealth Games that take place in Delhi next September.

Scottish international Claire Gibson (Victoria Park City of Glasgow) received another £600 bonus for setting a personal best performance in winning the women’s 800m in a time of 2mins 01.34secs, the 27-year-old impressively held off the strong challenge of 2008 NCAA champion Hannah England (Oxford).

Steeplechaser Jermaine Mays (Kent) gained his jackpot share finishing third in a time of 3:41.48 behind Australia’s Nick Bromley (3:41.47) and Loughborough-based British international Nick McCormick (3:41.47) in the men’s 1500m.

Loughborough graduate and UK champion Alex Smith (Kingston-upon-Hull) continued his fine end-of-season form by winning the men’s hammer competition with a lifetime best of 70.40m to collect £1000.

Loughborough alumnus were also in fine winning form in the field events as Robbie Grabarz (Bedford & County) won the men’s high jump with a height of 2.18m, Emeka Udechuku (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies) triumphed in the discus with 55.6m and reigning BUCS champion Kieren Kelly (Newham & Essex Beagles) won the shot with a best of 17.87m, whilst, Paul Walker (Sale Harriers Manchester) secured the pole vault title with 5.16m.



European Under-23 champion Eden Francis (Birchfield) prevailed in the women's shot with a throw of 15.72m and followed that by taking second place in the discus with a best of 55.50m behind Swansea’s Phillippa Roles (57.32).

On the track Loughborough students past and present finished first and second respectively over the 1500m with current student Stevie Stockton (Vale Royal) winning in a time of 4:14.54 ahead of Alumni Harriet Scott (Havering Mayesbrook) - this based on times within the (BMC) British Milers Grand Prix final race.

Full results are available on the following link: www.thepowerof10.info/resultsfiles/2009/23507_1_16082009004600_UKC_Final_2009_results.pdf

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Olympic Stadium, Berlin

15th August 2009 - Day 1 Morning Session

GREAT Britain’s main gold medal hope Jessica Ennis lived-up to the hype and expectation on the opening morning of the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships by winning both the opening events in the heptathlon over the 100m hurdles and the high jump in a sun drenched Berlin Olympic Stadium to lead the competition by a margin of 181 points ahead of American Sharon Day.

Ennis began her campaign by winning the opening heat of the first of the seven disciplines, the 100m hurdles, clocking the fastest overall time of 12.93 secs. That performance gave the 23-year-old from Sheffield an early lead in the two-day competition of 1,135 points, 76 ahead of France's Ida Nana Djimou (13.44), whilst, the Olympic champion Nataliya Dobrynska was well down the field in 19th with 1,000 points.

In the high jump, one of Ennis’s strongest events the world number one recorded a season’s best height of 1.92 metres to win the competition with ease giving her a total of 2,267 points, finishing the morning session 181 clear of second-placed American Sharon Day.

Dobrynska improved to sixth, whilst, the other British athlete in the event Louise Hazel was in 16th after winning her heat in the hurdles in 13.60secs and setting a lifetime best in the high jump with 1.71m.

There were no shocks or surprises in the men’s 100m qualifying rounds as Dwain Chambers, Simeon Williamson and Tyrone Edgar all progressed with ease, although former world record-holder Asafa Powell was given a real fright in his heat with a bought of over confidence.

European 60m champion Chambers won his heat in 10.18secs, whilst, Simeon Williamson recorded 10.34 to finish second as Edgar also finished runner-up in 10.42.

Chambers reflected: "I did not want to make the mistake to not to qualify further. I just ran the line. I think my confidence is back and I can run fast again. Even the field of athletes is very strong and everything is about Bolt and Gay, confidence is my middle name. I am gonna run as fast as I can."

Jamaica’s Olympic champion and world record-holder Usain Bolt simply jogged through his heat to win in a comfortable 10.20 as main title rival and defending champion Tyson Gay, the world-leader in 2009 with a 9.77secs clocking at the Rome Golden League meeting, set the fastest time of the first round, winning in 10.16.

Gay said afterwards: "It was a little sloppy. I just had to get the kinks out. It's a little sore, I had to play it safe. I felt OK, didn't want to lose too much energy."

Former world record-holder Asafa Powell had a real scare and was almost faced an embarrassing elimination by easing-up to early in his heat just making the top three with a time of 10.38 edging out Aziz Ouhadi having been passed by France’s Martial Mbandjock and Nigeria’s Obinna Metu in the last ten metres to the line.

Defending world champion and reigning Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu looked more like the champion she is following a poor outdoor season cruising into the semi-finals of the women's 400m to finish second behind America’s Sanya Richards in her heat. Ohuruogu clocked 51.30secs with Richards, the Golden League jackpot contender and title favourite in Berlin recording 51.06.

Loughborough graduate Nicola Sanders, the silver medallist in Osaka two-years-ago, looked strong and full of running matching Ohuruogu’s performance to finish second in her heat in 51.64. Botswana's Amantle Montsho was the fastest qualifier overall in 50.65.

Sanders commented: "I felt good, but I had to try hard. Because I did not know how everyone was running and I wanted to make sure to be in the next round. In the end, there was a huge gap between me and the third, but you never know.

"I just take it round by round. I want to make the final and then we will see. Maybe I can surprise everyone like in 2007. My injury is no longer on my mind when I run now - it does not bother me anymore."

Carl Myerscough qualified for the final of the men's shot put with his best effort of 20.17m finishing 10th of the 12 qualifiers. Poland’s Tomasz Majewski was the only athlete to go over 21 metres, with his best of 21.19. The USA’s defending world champion Reese Hoffa recorded 20.23.

Loughborough-based Helen Clitheroe failed to progress in the women's 3,000m steeplechase, the 35-year-old Preston Harrier coached by John Nuttall, clocked a time of 9mins 41.71secs finishing ninth in her heat missing out on qualification as a fastest loser. Russia’s very impressive Olympic champion Gulnara Galkina produced the third fastest time in World Championship history with a 9:17.67 time four seconds quicker than her nearest rival, Germany’s Antje Moldner.

Report by Mark Woolley.

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

Monday 10th August 2009

EUROPEAN Under-23 champion Eden Francis completed a superb double victory at the (BAL) British Athletics League Jo Smith Cup Final at Barnet’s Copthall Stadium on Saturday (8th August), winning both the discus and shot competitions.

As the senior British team prepares for the forthcoming Berlin World Championships at the holding camp in Portugal, the next generation of future internationals were in action in Hendon, none more so than Leicester’s highly talented Eden Francis.

The current European number one ranked Under-23 in the discus is a virtual shoe in for a regular place in the senior team at major championships over the next decade with her long term goal set to be achieved when representing Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics, a plan that is well on track.

In Barnet the 20-year-old Birchfield Harrier won the shot competition with a best of 15.96m to defeat veteran Jo Duncan (15.81), whilst, in the discus she claimed victory with a throw of 55.82m ahead of Jade Nicholls (51.45).

In the men’s event Leicester’s Callum Priestley continued his fine outdoor season winning the 110m hurdles in 13.81secs (-0.3) with former English schools champion Julian Adeniran fourth in 14.33.

Loughborough graduates Max Eaves and Paul Walker went head-to-head in the pole vault competition with Eaves taking victory with a height of 5.00m clear of Christian North and Walker tied on 4.90m.

Loughborough's BUCS champion Kieren Kelly prevailed in the men’s shot with a best of 17.68m to defeat fellow graduate Emeka Udechuku (17.30). Udechuku finished second in the discus with a throw of 55.26.

Full results are available on the following link: www.bal.org.uk

Sunday 9th August 2009

WORLD junior bronze medallist Meghan Beesley clocked a season’s best of 57.31secs to win the international 400m hurdles race at the Amsterdam European Open meeting on Saturday (8th August)

On the track of the beautifully restored 1928 Olympic Stadium in the Dutch capital the 19-year-old Loughborough 2012 Sports Scholar finished ahead of Ireland’s Brona Furlong (58.82) and fellow Loughborough student Justine Kinney (59.37) to take victory.

Beesley also competed over the 200m finished second in the international race to New Zealand’s Monique Williams with a time of 23.34secs as the Kiwi prevailed in 23.74 to complete the sprint double after winning the 100m in 11.06.

In the men’s international 400m hurdles Loughborough’s European Under-23 champion Lloyd Gumbs finished fourth in 52.52secs as Australian Brendon Cole won in 49.83.

A trio of Loughborough athletes were in action in the men’s international 800m as Ben Green, Nick Samuels and Kieran Flannery finished in 7th, 8th and 9th places with times of 1:50.17, 1:50.17 and 1:50.72 respectively as the exotically named Prince Mumba representing Zambia claimed victory in 1:48.63. Fellow British athletes Ed Aston finished second in 1:48.63 with Ed Jackson fourth in 1:49.40.

Loughborough graduate Chris Parr clocked 3:45.93 to finish 12th in the men’s international 1500m won by American Russell Brown from the Oregon Track Club in 3:41.85.

On the infield Vikki Hubbard completed a fine British victory in the women's high jump with leap of 1.85 metres.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link: www.atletiekunie.nl/liveresults/amsterdamopen/schedule.html

Saturday 8th August 2009

GREAT Britain’s Steve Lewis in his final competition ahead of next weeks IAAF World Championships had to settle for second place following a jump off at the 20th International Lausitzer Meeting in Cottbus, Germany, on Saturday (8th August).

The 23-year-old Loughborough-based vaulter fresh from his fine lifetime best victory at the DAK Leichtathletik-Gala Bochum meeting the previous week also in Germany with a height of 5.72 metres, the 23-year-old Commonwealth bronze medallist was level with home athlete Björn Otto but lost out as the German won the jump off with a height of 5.60m.

Other highlights of the meeting included the powerful American relay squad of Lauryn Williams, Allyson Felix, Muna Lee and Carmelita Jeter clocking the fastest time for 12 years to win in 41.58secs ahead of another American squad - Jessica Young, Alexandria Anderson, Marshevet Hooker and Charonda Williams.

In the men’s event reigning world 100m and 200m champion Tyson Gay opted out of the US sprint team with a slight groin problem but expects to be okay for Berlin. In his absence the quartet of Terrence Trammell, Mike Rodgers, Shawn Crawford and Darvis Patton clocked 37.85secs to take win from Brazil (38.91) and Australia (39.16).

Andy Baddeley, who will represent Team GB over 1500m at the World Championships, clocked a time of 2mins 21.48secs to finish third over the rarely run 1,000m as American Lopez Lomong prevailed in 2:20.98 with Abdesslam Kenouche of France second in 2:21.23.

Full results are available on the following link: www.leichtathletik.de/results/2308_cottbus_080809.pdf

Saturday 8th August 2009

A week after setting a lifetime best of 13.56secs at the Loughborough (L*E*A*P) European meeting Leicester’s Callum Priestley continued his terrific outdoor form by winning the 110m Hurdles race at the Meeting National D1 de Castres in the Pyrenées region of southern France on Wednesday (5th August).

The 20-year-old Woodford Green with Essex Ladies athlete currently ranked third in the United Kingdom behind training partner and European bronze medallist Andy Turner, clocked a time of 13.61secs (-1.2) taking victory ahead of France’s Dimitri Bascou (13.62) and Frederic Townsend of the USA (13.65).

Full results are available on the following link: http://bases.athle.com/asp.net/liste.aspx?frmbase=resultats&frmmode=1&frmespace=0&frmcompetition=036743

Thursday 6th August 2009

EUROPEAN Under-23 5,000m bronze medallist Emily Pidgeon (1500m) and fellow Loughborough student Stevie Stockton (3,000m) claimed fine individual victories setting lifetime best performances at the latest Nike British Milers Gold Standard meeting that incorporated the Trafford Grand Prix at Stretford on Tuesday night (4th August).

Emily Pidgeon (Stroud) fresh from her successful European U23 Championships performance in Kaunas, Lithuania, last month dropped down in distance to take victory in the 1500m Heat 2 race as the 20-year-old John Nuttall coached athlete crossed the line in a personal best of 4mins 16.02secs well clear of Lizzie Braithwaite (4:22.64) representing Herts Phoenix.

Over the 3,000m distance, former English schools 1500m champion Stevie Stockton (Vale Royal) was also in top form as the 19-year-old, coached by George Gandy, clocked a new lifetime best of 9:21.48 in Heat 2 finishing ahead of fellow Loughborough student and ‘On Camp with Kelly’ member Jess Coulson (Stockport) to take victory.

Loughborough Alumni Laura Finucane continued her successful return to racing following knee surgery last year, a day after celebrating her 23rd birthday the Pendle athlete clocked a time of 2:03.91 to take second place overall in the women’s 800m races won by Birmingham University student and fellow Lancastrian Alison Leonard (Blackburn) in 2:02.70.

Loughborough graduates Emma-Leigh Heighway (Sale) won Heat 7 in a time of 2:15.03 as Jo Maddick (Kingston upon Hull) ahead of her Lands End to John O'Groats charity cycle ride later this month finished third in Heat 3 of the 1500m in 4:36.10.

Fellow Alumni Frank Baddick (Newham & Essex Beagles) was edged out into second place in the men’s BMC 800m ‘A’ race with a time of 1:50.00 as University of Teeside student Ricky Stevenson (New Marske) prevailed in 1:49.09 with Michael Salter (Leeds City) claiming third place in 1:50.06. Loughborough graduates Nick Samuels (Sale) and Ben Green (Warrington) finished 4th and 5th respectively in 1:50.35 and 1:50.49, whilst, current student Oliver Blake (Oswestry) was 8th in 1:51.73.

Ryan McLeod finished third in the men’s BMC 1500m ‘A’ race as the 24-year-old Loughborough-based Tipton Harrier clocked 3:35.77 in the race won by Jonathan Taylor in 3:44.45 with Gavin Massingham (Sunderland) taking second in 3:45.20. Loughborough Alumni Lewis Moses (Darlington) and Rob Whittle (BMH) were fourth and fifth in 3:48.21 and 3:50.16.

The Leicester Owls young squad were well represented in Stretford as Tom Mahon set a new personal best in the 800m Heat 2 race taking victory in 1:58.13 with club mate Sam Stabler third also in a lifetime best of 1:59.58, whilst, Josh Norman completed a trio of PB’s on the night for the Wigston club with a mark of 1:58.93 to secure third position in Heat 3.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full BMC Results:
Men
800m A
1 -1.49.09-Ricky-Stevenson-U23-N Marske
2 -1.50.00-Frank-Baddick-SEN-N&EB
3 -1.50.06-Michael-Salter-U20-Leeds
4 -1.50.35-Nick-Samuels-SEN-Sale
5 -1.50.49-Ben-Green-SEN-Warr
6 -1.50.88-Danny-Barkes-SEN-Mans
7 -1.51.45-Andrew-Stanton-U23-Gate
8 -1.51.73-Oliver-Blake-U23-Osw
9 -1.51.79-Jonny-Mellor-U23-Liv H
10-1.51.99-Bruce-Raeside-SEN-Notts
800m B
1 -1.52.08-Warren-Frey-SEN-Birch
2 -1.52.72-Chris-Brown-U23-Mans
3 -1.52.74-Andrew-De-Camps-U23-Glouc
4 -1.53.00-Steve-Gregory-U23-Linc W
5 -1.53.33-William-Strangeway-SEN-Linc W
6 -1.54.05-James-Russell-U23-Liv H
7 -1.54.26-Rob-Hodges-U23-KuH
8 -1.54.88-Nathan-Riding-U23-N&EB
9 -1.55.00-Sam-Hutchinson-U20-Traff
800m C
1 -1.54.40-Matt-Willmott-U20-MMK
2 -1.54.48-Stuart-Cameron-U20-Stock
3 -1.54.70-John-Spence-SEN-Hallam
4 -1.55.18-Stephen-Bennett-U20-Pres
5 -1.55.20-Graham-Hogg-U23-Traff
6 -1.55.40-Adam-Morrell-U20-Midd
7 -1.56.39-David-Rigby-U23-Pres
8 -1.57.79-Stuart-King-U23-Mans
9 -1.58.93-Adam-Clansey-SEN-Liv H
1500m A
1 -3.44.45-Jonathan-Taylor-U23-Morp
2 -3.45.20-Gavin-Massingham-SEN-Sund
3 -3.45.77-Ryan-McLeod-SEN-Tip
4 -3.48.21-Lewis-Moses-U23-Darl
5 -3.49.73-Richard-Weir-SEN-Derby
6 -3.50.16-Rob-Whittle-SEN-BMH
7 -3.50.61-Andrew-Wiles-U23-N Marske
8 -3.50.71-Garry-Bristow-U23-Traff
9 -3.50.86-Peter-Street-U23-Pres
10-3.51.10-Laurence-Cox-U23-AFD
11-3.51.45-Jack-Hallas-U20-Wake
12-3.51.68-Tim-Egerton-SEN-Traff
13-3.55.34-Russ-Best-U20-N Marske
14-3.55.56-Ricky-Soos-SEN-Mans
1500m A
1 -3.48.67-James-Wilkinson-U20-Leeds
2 -3.52.99-Harry-Harper-U23-Liv H
3 -3.54.73-Nick-Hooker-U23-Leeds
4 -3.55.24-Sam-Evans-U20-C&S
5 -3.56.16-Craig-Gundersen-U23-Liv H
6 -3.56.38-Matt-Clowes-U23-Staffs M
7 -3.57.11-Stephen-Emery-U23-Cov G
8 -3.57.22-Ian-Rawlinson-SEN-Tip
9 -3.57.56-Adam-Peers-U23-Liv H
10-3.58.13-Jonathan-Cook-U23-Camb Uni
11-3.59.15-James-Bleakley-SEN-Traff
12-4.02.01-Ben-Craddock-U23-Leeds
13-4.04.68-Karl-Billington-U20-B'burn
14-4.06.25-Alisdair-Russell-U23-Kend
15-4.12.20-Andrew-Mariani-U23-WGEL