Wednesday 29th July 2009

GREAT Britain’s Jessica Ennis warmed-up in fine style as she goes for global gold at next months Berlin World Championships by setting two lifetime bests at the rain-swept Loughborough (L*E*A*P) European Athletics Permit meeting in the long jump and shot.

Ennis, the world-leader for 2009 in the Heptathlon improved her personal best in the Long Jump with a mark of 6.43m increasing her previous mark of 6.16m set two-years ago at the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge in Italy - this with a new technique using her left foot to protect the injury sustained to the right that forced the 23-year-old to miss last year’s Beijing Olympics.

Ennis then followed this by recording a personal best in the Shot competition with a throw of 13.96m as she looks to improve on her fourth place finish at the Osaka World Championships in 2007.
Loughborough's Becky Peake took the overall title with a mark of 15m.

Hurdler Will Sharman (Belgrave/Loughborough Students) raced within his lifetime best twice over 110m, lowering his time to 13.34 seconds (wind-assisted) in the heats to cement his position as GB number two. His winning time of 13.44 in the final lowers his legal best from 13.49.

Second-placed Callum Priestley (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies) was also on top form, his personal best of 13.56 seconds moving him up a spot in the rankings to third fastest in the UK this year.

Ireland's 2006 World Indoor champion over 60m Derval O'Rourke claimed victory in the women's 100m hurdles in 12.90 seconds, ahead of British Olympian Sarah Claxton who set a season's best of 12.95.

Berlin-bound Loughborough student Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was close to his season's best with a 10.18 for victory in the men's 100m.

In the women's 100m, Laura Turner (Harrow) took the honours, clocking 11.32 seconds ahead of Shaftsbury's Abu Oyepitan who set a season's best of 11.45. Loughborough student Elaine O'Neill, who was part of Britain's winning 4x100m team at the European U23 Championships earlier this month, set a personal best of 11.58 to finish fourth.

Loughborough Sports Scholar Sarah Holt was a metre short of the British U23 hammer record she set in May with her second furthest ever throw of 64.14m. She finished behind British number one Zoe Derham (Birchfield Harriers) who achieved 66.78m.

In the women's pole vault Henrietta Paxton (Birchfield Harriers) secured the win on countback over Sweden's Hanna Mia Persson. The pair were the only competitors to clear four metres, reaching 4.06m in wet and slippery conditions. The men's competition was abandoned due to torrential rain.

However, the track events carried on and the meet's 200m and 400m runners were tested as the rain continued to pour.

Kent's Jeffery Lawal-Balogun was quickest across the line in the men's 200m (21.09), pipping Loughborough-based Leon Baptiste (21.11) over the line.

New Zealand 's Monique Williams took the honours in the women's event, clocking 23.40 seconds. Loughborough's Kim Wall finished third in 23.95 behind Helen Pryor (Windsor) in 23.64, having earlier raced to victory in the women's 400m in 53.16.

Loughborough Sports Scholar Meghan Beesley won the women's 400m hurdles, whilst, Japan's Yoshikata Masahira claimed the title in the men's event in 50.65 ahead of Loughborough's European U23 champion Lloyd Gumbs (50.77).

Loughborough's Robbie Grabarz topped the field in the men's high jump, clearing his final attempt at 2.12m edging ahead of India 's Hari Shankar Roy.

In other events, Graham Hedman won the 400m in 47 seconds flat, Kieran Kelly threw 17.76 to lead the men's shot.

Above photo by Nigel Farrow.

Full results are available on the following link: www.thepowerof10.info/resultsfiles/2009/23640_6671_30072009094851_LEAPres.pdf

IAAF World Athletics Tour Herculis Meeting

Stade Louis II, Monaco

Tuesday 28th July 2009

LISA DOBRISKEY led a very positive night for British athletes ahead of the World Championships as six of the Team GB squad selected for the Berlin World Championships lowered their lifetime bests on a glittering night of athletics at the IAAF World Athletics Tour Super Grand Prix Herculis meeting in Monaco.

On the track of the Stade Louis II reigning Commonwealth champion Dobriskey as with the Aviva IAAF London Grand Prix on Saturday at Crystal Palace won the battle of the Brits in the 1500m as the 25-year-old Loughborough-based athlete, fourth in the Beijing Olympic final last year, finished here in Monaco in fifth place setting a new lifetime best of 4mins 02.28secs in the race won impressively by reigning world champion Maryam Yusuf Yamal of Bahrain clocking 3:58.83.

World junior champion Steph Twell also achieved a lifetime best of 4:03.38 to finish 8th, whilst, Hannah England, having missed out on selection for Berlin to her younger rival was a place behind in her fastest-ever time of 4:04.27.

Biggest surprise of the night, both for the crowd and athlete, was the stunning breakthrough performance by American Maggie Vessey as the 27-year-old, winner over the distance at the Prefontaine Classic in May, simply powered her way to world-leading and career best time of 1:57.84 to win the women’s 800m race ahead of Russia’s European indoor champion Mariya Savinova (1:58.39) and the British duo of Jennifer Meadows (1:58.63) and Jemma Simpson (1:59.09).

Both Meadows and Simpson also broke their lifetime bests in the perfect windless conditions of Monaco and look ready to challenge for a place in the final come Berlin next month.

Having won the 5,000m impressively at the weekend in London, reigning European indoor 3,000m champion Mo Farah had a very useful workout lowering his personal best over 1500m clocking 3:33.98 as Frenchman Mehdi Baala delighted the partisan 15,000 crowd to record the third fastest time in the world this year taking victory in 3:30.95. The two-time European champion finished ahead of Algeria’s Anter Zerguelaine (3:21.21) and Morocco’s Abdelaati Iguider (3:31.47).

Ireland’s double European indoor champion David Gillick lined-up with Loughborough training partner Martyn Rooney in the 400m where America’s Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt was simply a class apart storming to victory in with a quality 44.72secs clocking and looks set to achieve the double of world and Olympic gold in Berlin.

Gillick, having lowered his own national record (44.77) this year in Madrid and despite suffering from a slight injury that has hampered his training over recent weeks finished a strong third in 45.34 as Rooney - winner in of the event in Monaco last year - trailed in 7th place from a difficult lane one draw in 46.22 looking race rusty in only his third competitive outing this season, this following a long term Hamstring injury that has affected the 22-year-old since a warm weather training trip to Los Angeles in April, a problem that he blames UK Athletics for having barred him from taking his own physiotherapists from Loughborough to California.

Abubaker Kaki held off a strong finish from the chasing field to win the men’s 800m in 1:43.50, as the top four finishers broke the 1:44.00 barrier. Russia’s Yuriy Borzakovskiy clocked 1:43.58 to take second place with American Nick Symmonds running a personal best of 1:43.83 for third. Britain’s Michael Rimmer went with the early pacemaker and paid the price as he was completely swamped by the field finishing in a distant 10th in 1:49.19.

Welshman David Greene, the fastest man in Europe this year in the men's 400m Hurdles, won the 'B' race in 49.04secs with compatriot Rhys Williams securingfourth in 49.86, whilst, British Long Jump record-holder Chris Tomlinson looked in fine form to finish second with 8.11m behind South-African Khotso Mokoena who cleared 8.28 to take victory.

Cuba’s world record-holder Dayron Robles came through the field to take the men’s 110m Hurdles in a meeting record of 13.06secs running into a -0.9m/s headwind. Robles, the firm favourite to add the world title to the Olympic gold he won in Beijing last year, finished ahead of American Joel Brown (13.34) with Jamaican Dwight Thomas third in 13.36. Britain’s Andy Turner, having false-started finished 6th in 13.44.

In the women’s 100m Hurdles Sally McLellan flew to an Australian and Oceania record to win in 12.50secs. Olympic bronze medallist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada was second in 12.54 with USA’s world season leader Lolo Jones (12.61) taking third.

Other highlights of the evening’s action included American Lashinda Demus producing a superb victory in the women’s 400m Hurdles to defeat Olympic champion Melaine Walker pulling away from the pack to win the race in a world-leading and meeting record of 52.63secs.

South Africa’s Commonwealth champion L.J. van Zyl chased down a strong field to win the men’s 400m Hurdles setting new lifetime best and world-leading time of 47.94secs to defeat American Bershawn Jackson (49.98) and Jamaica’s Danny McFarlane, third in a season's best of 48.13.

Olympic champion Shelly Ann Fraser of Jamaica won the women’s 100m in 10.91secs ahead of Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, second in a season’s best of 10.97 with Jamaica’s world champion Veronica Campbell-Brown third in 11.03.

Dutch Antilles’ Churandy Martina won the men’s 100m ahead of the American duo of American Darvis Patton (10.08) and the fabulously named Monzavous Edwards (10.12).

Moses Ndiema Kipsiro broke his own Ugandan record to win the men’s 3,000m with a time of 7:30.95 and pre-race favourite Mubarak Taher of Bahrain lived up to his billing to win the 3,000m Steeplechase in 8:07.24, with Kenya’s Mike Kipyego second in 8:08.48 and South Africa’s Ruben Ramolefi’s third in a new national record of 8:11.63. Britain's national champion Luke Gunn stepped up in class to finish 10th in 8:37.29.

World champion Blanka Vlasic went head-to-head with German rival Ariane Friedrich to win the women’s High Jump on count-back. Both athletes cleared the 2.03m with Vlasic taking just two as Friedrich needed three and they could provide one of the best competitions in Berlin.

Cuban Yargelis Savigne (14.89m) won the women’s Triple Jump, as the Czech Republic’s Barbora Spotakova (65.37m) defeated European champion Steffi Nerius of Germany (62.33m) to win the Javelin, whilst, Renaud Lavillenie of France (5.88m) sent the home crowd home happy with victory in the men’s Pole Vault.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link: www.iaaf.org/gp09/results/eventcode=4182/index.html

Aviva IAAF London Grand Prix

Crystal Palace National Sports Centre

Saturday 25th July 2009 – Day 2

AMERICAN Tyson Gay cruised to victory in the 200m with an impressive time of 20.00 seconds (+0.4m/s) on the Crystal Palace track to lay down a marker to Olympic champion Usain Bolt ahead of the Berlin World Championships on the second day of the Aviva IAAF London Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old world 100m and 200m champion despite a lack of racing due to a slight groin problem led home the field well over two-metres clear of compatriot Wallace Spearmon, second in 20.35 with Ireland's Paul Hession securing third in 20.40 and Great Britain's Marlon Devonish a distant fifth in 20.60.

"I'm feeling okay," said Gay afterwards. "I've been trying to keep under the radar, trying to get through this groin situation I have but I should be okay.

"My groin has been tight on me, I'm trying to run through the pain. I've got to be tough about it. I don't feel it when I run, it's after, I'm just taking it one day at a time, it's just frustrating.”

Gay's main rival Usain Bolt and his club teammates ran the fourth-fastest 4x100m relay time in history with a 37.46secs clocking. Bolt anchored the team that included fellow Jamaicans Yohan Blake and Mario Forsythe, plus Antigua's Daniel Bailey, representing the Kingston-based Racers Track Club, this despite surviving a disqualification for a change-over violation that was up-held by the track referee. The American team of Terrence Trammell, Wallace Spearmon, Shawn Crawford and Rae Edwards finished second in 38.05, with Great Britain third in 38.44.

In the women’s 1500m British selection for the World Championships was still left hanging in the air with little decided on the track as Loughborough-based Commonwealth champion Lisa Dobriskey, finished ahead of Hannah England and world junior champion Steph Twell with a season’s best of 4:08.27.

Dobriskey, fourth in the Olympics in Beijing last year has returned to action following a stress fracture to her back, finished third behind American duo of Anna Willard and Shannon Rowbury, the US champion over the distance, with England fourth and Twell sixth.

"I'm relatively pleased," said Dobriskey. "I don't think I ran the best tactical race but it's been a complete nightmare with the injury so I'm just pleased to be able to compete again, I really hope that the selectors will give me the nod, it would mean the world to me to go to Berlin."

Another Loughborough-based athlete trying to gain selection for Berlin was the Olympic 400m finalist Martyn Rooney but the Croydon Harrier was up-staged on his home track by a superb lifetime best performance by US-based sprinter Michael Bingham who finished ahead of America’s Olympic 400m Hurdles gold medallist Angelo Taylor in a time of 45.03secs.

Other highlights in the capital's showpiece event that will from next year join the IAAF's Diamond League included American Lashinda Demus winning the women’s 400m Hurdles in a time of 53.65secs, a new United Kingdom all-comers record as Olympic and world champion Tirunesh Dibaba was a predictable winner of the women’s 5,000m in a stadium record of 14:33.65, the fastest time in the world this year ahead of compatriot Sentayehu Ejigu (14:40.00) and New Zealand’s Kim Smith (14:52.49). Loughborough-based Laura Kenney, the 2007 European Under-23 champion was 7th in 15:47.53.

Carmelita Jeter won the women's 100m with an impressive personal best of 10.92secs flying clear of the field. The American dominated the race to finish ahead of Chandra Sturrup and Laverne Jones, second in 11.09 and 11.21 respectively.

Reigning world champion Kerron Clement led home an impressive American 1-2-3 in the men’s 400m Hurdles in a time of 48.85secs, a trio comprising of Bershawn Jackson and Michael Tinsley with the United Kingdom champion David Greene fifth in 49.53.

Australia’s Sally McLellan, the Beijing silver medallist flew out of the blocks to defeat the form American Lolo Jones and Canada’s Perdita Felicien to win the women’s 100m Hurdles in 12.65secs (-0.7).

Loughborough-based Helen Clitheroe, coached by John Nuttall, clocked a season’s best of 9:34.66 in the women’s 3,000m Steeplechase to finish fourth as Poland’s Katarzyna Kowalska won in a lifetime best 9:34.07.

American Bernard Lagat won the historic Emsley Carr Mile in a time of 3:52.71 ahead of compatriot Leonel Manzano.

Chris Tomlinson finished second in the Long Jump with a wind-assisted 8.21m as America's former world and Olympic champion Dwight Phillips won with a leap of 8.33m. Fellow Brit Greg Rutherford was third with a season's best of 8.06m.

Loughborough graduate Goldie Sayers recovering from a stress fracture of the lower back staked a claim for the GB team ahead of Berlin launching the Javelin out to 59.82m to take second place behind Germany’s European champion Steffi Nerius who claimed victory with a huge 64.64m effort.

In the men’s High Jump Olympic silver medallist Germaine Mason achieved the 'A' qualifying standard for Berlin with a best of 2.31m to finish second behind Jaroslav Baba of the Czech Republic.

Olympic champion Steve Hooker won the Pole Vault with a best of 5.70m to defeat American Derek Miles on count-back, with the British duo of Luke Cutts and Steve Lewis finished joint fourth on 5.55m.

In the ‘On Camp with Kelly’ 800m support race the Loughborough duo of Charlotte Best and Laura Finucane finished in third and fourth place with times of 2:02.69 and 2:03.03 respectively as compatriot Vicky Griffiths won in 2:01.98 ahead of Poland’s Agnieszka Leszczynska (2:02.44).

Best commented: “I am pleased as that is my second fastest race of the year, though disappointed that I got a bit barged in the home straight. I felt good before the race and strong down the final back straight. I have never raced at Crystal Palace before and I really enjoyed it”

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
Men
200 Metres - 
Race1 – Wind : +0.4 m/s 
1 Tyson Gay USA 20.00; 2 Wallace Spearmon USA 20.35; 3 Paul Hession IRL 20.40; 4 Jaysuma Saidy Ndure NOR 20.55; 5 Marlon Devonish GBR 20.60; 6 Mark Jelks USA 20.70; 7 Kim Collins SKN 20.71; 8 Nickel Ashmeade JAM 20.92
400 Metres 
1 Michael Bingham GBR 45.03; 2 Angelo Taylor USA 45.15; 3 Jamaal Torrance USA 45.56; 4 Sean Wroe AUS 45.63 12; 5 Martyn Rooney GBR 45.63; 6 Lionel Larry USA 45.67; 7 Robert Tobin GBR 45.79; 8 Conrad Williams GBR 45.96
One Mile 
1 Bernard Lagat USA 3:52.71; 2 Leonel Manzano USA 3:53.01; 3 Lopez Lomong USA 3:53.35; 4 Collis Birmingham AUS 3:54.30; 5 Nathan Brannen CAN 3:54.57; 6 James Brewer GBR 3:54.80; 7 Johan Cronje RSA 3:54.84; 8 Jeremy Roff AUS 3:55.05; 9 Thomas Lancashire GBR 3:55.19; 10 Ricky Stevenson GBR 3:57.90; 11 Ryan Gregson AUS 3:58.90; 12 Rob Myers USA 4:03.29; 13 Colin McCourt GBR 4:17.94; David Krummenacker USA DNF
400 Metres Hurdles 
1 Kerron Clement USA 48.85; 2 Bershawn Jackson USA 48.99; 3 Micheal Tinsley USA 49.04; 4 L.J. van Zyl RSA 49.05; 5 David Greene GBR 49.53; 6 Rhys Williams GBR 49.68; 7 Reuben McCoy USA 51.84; 8 Felix Sánchez DOM 53.09
Long Jump 
1 Dwight Phillips USA 8.33m; 2 Christopher Tomlinson GBR 8.21; 3 Greg Rutherford GBR 8.06; 4 Fabrice Lapierre AUS 8.00; 5 Gable Garenamotse BOT 7.98; 6 Mitchell Watt AUS 7.96; 7 Henry Frayne AUS 7.61; 8 Brian Chibudu ZIM 7.52
High Jump 
1 Jaroslav Bába CZE 2.33m; 2 Germaine Mason GBR 2.31; 3 Jesse Williams USA 2.31; 4 Andra Manson USA 2.28; 5 Alessandro Talotti ITA 2.24; 6 Tora Harris USA 2.24; 7 Tom Parsons GBR 2.24; 8 Oskari Frösén FIN 2.20; 8 Samson Oni GBR 2.20
Pole Vault 
1 Steven Hooker AUS 5.70m; 2 Derek Miles USA 5.70; 3 Alhaji Jeng SWE 5.55; 4 Luke Cutts GBR 5.55; 4 Steven Lewis GBR 5.55; 4 Jeremy Scott USA 5.55; 4 Alexander Straub GER 5.55; 8 Paul Burgess AUS 5.40; 8 Daichi Sawano JPN 5.40; Brad Walker USA NM
4×100 Metres Relay 
1 Racers Track Club 37.46 2 United States 38.05; 3 Great Britain & N.I.; 38.44; 4 Canada 38.62; 5 Switzerland 39.29; 6 Australia 39.37; Great Britain & N.I. "B" DNF; Racers Track Club UND DQ
Women
100 Metres – Final – Wind : -0.1 m/s 
1 Carmelita Jeter USA 10.92; 2 Chandra Sturrup BAH 11.09; 3 LaVerne Jones-Ferrette ISV 11.21; 4 Kelly-Ann Baptiste TRI 11.22; 5 Lauryn Williams USA 11.28; 6 Allyson Felix USA 11.29; 7 Stephanie Durst USA 11.29; 8 Verena Sailer GER 11.40
100 Metres – Heat 1 – Wind : -1.4 m/s 
1 Carmelita Jeter USA 11.14; 2 Stephanie Durst USA 11.52; 3 Lauryn Williams USA 11.62; 4 Alexandria Anderson USA 11.63; 5 Laura Turner GBR 11.79; 6 Abiodun Oyepitan GBR 11.83; 7 Joice Maduaka GBR 11.85; 8 Danielle Carruthers USA 11.99
Heat 2 – Wind : +0.5 m/s 
1 Allyson Felix USA 11.26; 2 Chandra Sturrup BAH 11.27; 3 Kelly-Ann Baptiste TRI 11.33; 4 LaVerne Jones-Ferrette ISV 11.34; 5 Verena Sailer GER 11.44; 6 Emma Ania GBR 11.45; 7 Marion Wagner GER 11.74; 8 Joey Duck GBR 11.77
1500 Metres 
1 Anna Willard USA 4:07.95; 2 Shannon Rowbury USA 4:08.21; 3 Lisa Dobriskey GBR 4:08.27; 4 Hannah England GBR 4:08.38; 5 Erin Donohue USA 4:08.64; 6 Stephanie Twell GBR 4:08.87; 7 Malindi Elmore CAN 4:09.54; 8 Morgan Uceny USA 4:10.15; 9 Charlene Thomas GBR 4:12.01; 10 Katrina Wootton GBR 4:13.70; 11 Anna Jakubczak POL 4:14.39; Alysia Johnson USA DNF; Iryna Lishchynska UKR DNS
5000 Metres 
1 Tirunesh Dibaba ETH 14:33.65; 2 Sentayehu Ejigu ETH 14:40.00; 3 Kimberley Smith NZL 14:52.49; 4 Beylanesh Fekadu ETH 15:10.52; 5 Jennifer Rhines USA 15:25.10; 6 Freya Murray GBR 15:32.39; 7 Laura Kenney GBR 15:47.53; 8 Katie McGregor USA 15:52.90; Tina Brown GBR DNF; Treniere Clement USA DNF; Ejegayehu Dibaba ETH DNF; Renee Metivier-Baillie USA DNF; Silvia Weissteiner ITA DNF; Megan Metcalfe CAN DNS
3000 Metres Steeplechase 
1 Katarzyna Kowalska POL 9:34.07; 2 Lisa Galaviz USA 9:34.30; 3 Netsanet Achamo ETH 9:34.31; 4 Helen Clitheroe GBR 9:34.66; 5 Sabine Heitling BRA 9:41.22; 6 Mardrea Hyman JAM 9:53.73; 7 Ida Nilsson SWE 9:55.31; 8 Lennie Waite CAN 10:10.55
100 Metres Hurdles – Wind : -0.7 m/s 
1 Sally McLellan AUS 12.65; 2 Perdita Felicien CAN 12.66; 3 LoLo Jones USA 12.71; 4 Delloreen Ennis-London JAM 12.80; 5 Priscilla Lopes-Schliep CAN 12.89; 6 Tiffany Ofili USA 12.99; 7 Anay Tejeda CUB 13.04; 8 Sarah Claxton GBR 13.11
400 Metres Hurdles 
1 Lashinda Demus USA 53.65; 2 Melaine Walker JAM 54.55; 3 Sheena Tosta USA 55.31; 4 Angela Morosanu ROU 55.36; 5 Eilidh Child GBR 55.68; 6 Perri Shakes-Drayton GBR 55.79; 7 Nicole Leach USA 57.99; 8 Nusrat Ceesay GBR 58.98
Long Jump 
1 Naide Gomes POR 6.99; 2 Tatyana Lebedeva RUS 6.90; 3 Ksenija Balta EST 6.85; 4 Funmi Jimoh USA 6.80; 5 Yargelis Savigne CUB 6.77; 6 Keila Costa BRA 6.66; 7 Brianna Glenn USA 6.61; 8 Jana Veldáková SVK 6.49; 9 Kelly Proper IRL 6.27
Javelin Throw 
1 Steffi Nerius GER 64.64; 2 Goldie Sayers GBR 59.82; 3 Kimberley Mickle AUS 59.67; 4 Elisabeth Pauer AUT 57.58; 5 Kathrina Molitor GER 57.21; 6 Martina Ratej SLO 56.66; 7 Rachel Yurkovich USA 56.12; 8 Zahra Bani ITA 55.75; 9 Kara Patterson USA 54.18; 10 Lavern Eve BAH 51.16

Full results are available on the following link: www.uka.org.uk/results/20090724_london

Aviva IAAF London Grand Prix

Crystal Palace National Sports Centre

Friday 24th July 2009 – Day 1

TRIPLE Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt defied a strong head wind powering to victory over the 100 metres ahead of Jamaican compatriot Yohan Blake and Antigua's Daniel Bailey in a time of 9.91 seconds (-1.7m/s) to headline the opening evenings action at the Aviva IAAF London Grand Prix.

The world record-holder delighted a capacity crowd at Crystal Palace as Britain’s Simeon Williamson finished fourth in 10.19secs to silence his critic Asafa Powell, having branded GB sprinters lazy in the run-up to the London meeting the Commonwealth champion could finish sixth (10.26) with Craig Pickering 7th in 10.46.

Bolt commented afterwards: “My start wasn’t the best but I’m improving and I know I have more work to do, I’m in really good shape right now and I don’t see any reason to run myself out. I’m just glad I got through the race injury free.”

On the track there were three high quality British victories as a classy Jemma Simpson won the women’s 800 metres in a time of two minutes 01.8 seconds to lead home a British 1-2-3 with compatriots Jenny Meadows (2:01.35) and Marilyn Okoro (2:01.78)

The Newquay athlete commented: “I think we (Meadows and Okoro) have more experienced now and we can get a medal in Berlin, although, this was not my best tactical race. I got boxed in at the bell. But I felt really strong. I am strong enough to run it in a different way now. I can come home strong. I am racing in Monaco next week so will hopefully run quicker.”

Mo Farah, the fastest European this season outsprinted the reigning 3,000m steeplechase world record-holder Saif Saaeed Shaheen and Kenya’s Sammy Mutahi to storm to victory in the 5,000m in a time of 13mins 09.14secs, but failed to break Dave Moorcroft’s 27-year-old British record due to the windy conditions. Loughborough graduates Chris Thompson and Ryan McLeod finished 10th and 14th with times of 13:50.34 and 14:18.53 respectively.

World silver medalist Nicola Sanders continued her recent return to form and fitness by claiming the women’s 400 metres in 51.54secs to defeat the American duo of Shana Cox and Monica Hargrove to secure a major victory head of the World Championships in Berlin. Loughborough Sports Scholar Lee McConnell struggling with a hamstring injury could finish only seventh in 52.54.

Loughborough graduate Sanders said: "I was knackered in the home straight but it's great to win. I just need wins under my belt at the moment, I think I'm getting back to my best. I feel a totally different athlete to before I had my injury. I feel more fluid and hopefully can keep on improving."

Canadian Gary Reed won the men's 800 metres finishing in a time of one minute, 45.85 seconds. Reed is looking to improve on his showing at the Beijing Olympics, where he missed out on a medal finishing in fourth place.

Poland's Adam Kszczot was second in 1:46.05, with Nick Symmonds of the United States running 1:46.11 for third place as Britain’s Michael Rimmer claimed fourth in a season’s best of 1:46.13 and will look to improve on this in Monaco or Stockholm next week.

"The race was great, I am thrilled to get the win, it's very important to be in the mix heading into the world championships," Reed reflected afterwards.

Cuba’s world record-holder Dayron Robles came through a tough field to win the men’s 110m Hurdles final and secure his 11th straight victory in 2009, the Olympic champion won in 13.29secs running into a -2.2m/s headwind as Barbadian Ryan Brathwaite finished second in 13.31 with Britain’s Andy Turner third in 13.66.

Over the women’s 200m, Bahamian world-leader Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie recorded another impressive win in 23.11secs.

The 33-year-old finished two-metres ahead of American Marshevet Hooker (23.30) and Britain’s Emily Freeman running a solid race in third (23.34).

In the infield Loughborough-based Kate Dennison raised her own United Kingdom pole vault record for the eighth time this calendar year as the 25-year-old coached by Steve Rippon cleared a height of 4.58 metres to finish fifth in the competition that witnessed a rare defeat for Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva on countback to Anna Rogowska of Poland (4.68).

Dennison collected a cheque for $5000 for her efforts commented afterwards: “I feel chuffed to bits but I had to fight for it, I feel now that I am in the mix with these girls and I am truly jumping world class heights.”

Olympic silver medallist Phillips Idowu could only finish third (17.18) in the triple jump competition, with America's Brandon Roulhac taking victory with a leap of 17.33, Cuba's David Giralt claimed second place (17.18).

Blanka Vlasic of Croatia followed up her win in the Golden League last week in Paris with another two-metre plus high jump victory, this time clearing 2.02m.

American Christian Cantwell produced a massive final round effort of 21.85m to win the men’s Shot ahead of compatriot Reese Hoffa (21.55) and Poland’s Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski (21.43m).
Jamaican athletes test positive

AWAY from the track the main story circulating around the athletics world was the news that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) confirmed that five Jamaican track and field athletes had tested positive for doping at their national championships. Although none of their nation's premier sprinters is among the group, all the athletes were to be on their team for next month's World Championships.

"We have just received the paperwork from Jamaica, it is five - four guys and one girl. These are in-competition tests," said IAAF spokesman Nick Davies.

"We now inform the (Jamaican) federation who will then inform the athletes and then they are asked if they want the B sample tested, it's very, very early in the process so we cannot say who they are or what the substance is."

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
Men
100 Metres – Final – Wind : -1.7 m/s 
1 Usain Bolt JAM 9.91; 2 Yohan Blake JAM 10.11; 3 Daniel Bailey ANT 10.13; 4 Simeon Williamson GBR 10.19; 5 Ivory Williams USA 10.21; 6 Asafa Powell JAM 10.26; 7 Craig Pickering GBR 10.46; 8 Trell Kimmons USA 10.47
Heat 1 – Wind : -1.5 m/s 
1 Yohan Blake JAM 10.18 2 Ivory Williams USA 10.18 3 Asafa Powell JAM 10.19 4 Trell Kimmons USA 10.41 5 Travis Padgett USA 10.48 6 Leevan Yearwood GBR 10.59 7 Mark Lewis-Francis GBR 10.70 James Ellington GBR DQ
Heat2 – Wind : -2.9 m/s 
1 Daniel Bailey ANT 10.26 2 Usain Bolt JAM 10.31 3 Simeon Williamson GBR 10.33 4 Craig Pickering GBR 10.47 5 Harry Aikines-Aryeetey GBR 10.50 6 Monzavous Edwards USA 10.55 7 Aaron Armstrong TRI 10.97 Tyrone Edgar GBR DQ
800 Metres 
1 Gary Reed CAN 1:45.85; 2 Adam Kszczot POL 1:46.05; 3 Nick Symmonds USA 1:46.11; 4 Michael Rimmer GBR 1:46.13; 5 Fabiano Peçanha BRA 1:46.74; 6 Khadevis Robinson USA 1:46.91; 7 Jeffrey Riseley AUS 1:47.28; 8 Damien Moss GBR 1:47.29; 9 Miguel Quesada ESP 1:47.75; David Krummenacker USA DNF
5000 Metres 
1 Mohammed Farah GBR 13:09.14; 2 Sammy Mutahi KEN 13:10.17; 3 Mike Kipruto Kigen KEN 13:17.79; 4 Dejen Gebremeskel ETH 13:20.45; 5 Saif Saaeed Shaheen QAT 13:29.31; 6 Ahmad Hassan Abdullah QAT 13:29.59; 7 Abdihakem Abdirahman USA 13:33.79; 8 Bolota Asmerom USA 13:36.60; 9 Stephen Pifer USA 13:45.01;10 Christopher Thompson GBR 13:50.34; 11 Shawn Forrest AUS 13:52.08; 12 David McNeill AUS 14:00.75; 13 Mark Draper GBR 14:08.72; 14 Ryan McLeod GBR 14:18.53; Bethwell Birgen KEN DNF; Alistair Ian Cragg IRL DNF; Moumin Geele SOM DNF; Bernard Kipchirchir Kiplagat KEN DNF; Scott Overall GBR DNF
110 Metres Hurdles Final – Wind : -2.2 m/s 
1 Dayron Robles CUB 13.29; 2 Ryan Brathwaite BAR 13.31; 3 Andrew Turner GBR 13.66; 4 Kirkland Thornton USA 13.69; 5 Eric Mitchum USA 13.70; 6 William Sharman GBR 13.76; 7 Callum Priestley GBR 13.81; 8 Antwon Hicks USA 13.94;
110 Metres Hurdles – Heat 1 – Wind : -1.8 m/s 
1 Eric Mitchum USA 13.61; 2 Dayron Robles CUB 13.62; 3 Andrew Turner GBR 13.67; 4 Callum Priestley GBR 13.76; 5 Tyrone Akins USA 13.81; 6 Shamar Sands BAH 13.81; 7 Petr Svoboda CZE 13.91; 8 Matthias Bühler GER 14.00
Heat 2 – Wind : -1.9 m/s 
1 Ryan Brathwaite BAR 13.36; 2 Kirkland Thornton USA 13.54; 3 Antwon Hicks USA 13.68; 4 William Sharman GBR 13.77; 5 Gianni Frankis GBR 13.87; 6 Ryan Wilson USA 13.98; Allen Johnson USA; DNS David Payne USA DNS
Triple Jump 
1 Brandon Roulhac USA 17.33m; 2 Arnie David Girat CUB; 17.18m; 3 Phillips Idowu GBR 17.16; 4 Leevan Sands BAH 17.13; 5 Onochie Achike GBR 17.07; 6 Randy Lewis GRN 17.02; 7 Dmitrij Valukevic SVK 16.88; 6 Nathan Douglas GBR NM
Shot Put 
1 Christian Cantwell USA 21.82m; 2 Reese Hoffa USA 21.55; 3 Tomasz Majewski POL 21.43; 4 Adam Nelson USA 21.07; 5 Ralf Bartels GER 20.91; 6 Daniel Taylor USA 20.76; 7 Dylan Armstrong CAN 20.34; 8 Scott Martin AUS 19.22; 9 Kieren Kelly GBR 18.33
Women

200 Metres – Wind : +0.3 m/s 
1 Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie BAH 23.11; 2 Marshevet Hooker USA 23.30; 3 Emily Freeman GBR 23.34; 4 LaVerne Jones-Ferrette ISV 23.39; 5 Bianca Knight USA 23.42; 6 Aleen Bailey JAM 23.59; 7 Cydonie Mothersill CAY 24.27; 6 Stephanie Durst USA DQ
400 Metres – Race 1 
1 Nicola Sanders GBR 51.54; 2 Shana Cox USA 51.56; 3 Monica Hargrove USA 51.66; 4 DeeDee Trotter USA 52.08; 5 Christine Amertil BAH 52.20; 6 Tamsyn Lewis AUS 52.47; 7 Aliann Pompey GUY 52.52; 8 Lee McConnell GBR 52.54
400 Metres – Race 2 
1 Vicki Barr GBR 52.87; 2 Donna Fraser GBR 53.33; 3 Kim Wall GBR 53.34; 4 Monique Williams NZL 53.91; 5 Dawn Hunt GBR 53.91; 6 Kelly Massey GBR 54.43; 7 Henrietta Kodilinye-Sims GBR 55.35
800 Metres 
1 Jemma Simpson GBR 2:01.08; 2 Jennifer Meadows GBR 2:01.35; 3 Marilyn Okoro GBR 2:01.78; 4 Alysia Johnson USA 2:02.16; 5 Lucia Klocová SVK 2:02.19; 6 Mayte Martínez ESP 2:02.36; 7 Treniere Clement USA 2:02.78; 8 Maggie Vessey USA 2:03.06; 9 Claire Gibson GBR 2:03.09; 10 Neisha Bernard-Thomas GRN 2:04.55
High Jump 
1 Blanka Vlašic CRO 2.02; 2 Ruth Beitia ESP 1.92; 3 Amy Acuff USA 1.88; 3 Levern Spencer LCA 1.88; 5 Deirdre Ryan IRL 1.88; 6 Melanie Skotnik FRA 1.88; 7 Nicole Forrester CAN 1.84; 8 Vikki Hubbard GBR 1.84
Pole Vault 
1 Anna Rogowska POL 4.68; 2 Elena Isinbaeva RUS 4.68; 3 Kristina Gadschiew GER 4.58; 3 Monika Pyrek POL 4.58; 5 Kate Dennison GBR 4.58; 6 Chelsea Johnson USA 4.43; 7 Lisa Ryzih GER 4.28; 8 Stacy Dragila USA 4.28; 9 Lacy Janson USA 4.28; Anna Battke GER NM
4×100 Metres Relay 
1 United States 42.39; 2 Bahamas 43.35; 3 United States "B" 43.51; 4 Great Britain & N.I. 43.86; 5 Great Britain & N.I. "B" 44.14; Belgium DNF Germany; DNF

Full results are available on the following link: www.uka.org.uk/results/20090724_london

Sunday 19th July 2009

BEIJING Olympian Vicki Barr and junior British internationals Somto Eruchie and Nicola Robinson secured fine individual victories in the 400m, 200m and 100m Hurdles respectively at the McCain/Open Birmingham Games that were held over the weekend (18th-19th July) at a rain and wind affected Alexander Stadium that resulted in the men’s 400 and 100m Open finals being cancelled on the Sunday.

Top athlete on show in Birmingham on Saturday was Australian superstar Tamsyn Lewis, the reigning world indoor 800 metre gold medallist over the UK to watch boyfriend, Aussie cricketer Graham Manou, compete against England in the Ashes series, claimed victory in the McCain women’s 400m Hurdles in a time of 57.06secs.

Loughborough graduate Vicki Barr (Rugby & N) clocked a time of 53.61secs to win the Open women’s 400 metres ahead of Dawn Hunt (WSE & Hounslow). The 27-year-old also won the McCain 200 metres on the Saturday in 53.30secs to defeat Coventry’s Laura Langowski (56.11).

Leicestershire’s Midlands area champion Nicola Robinson (Coventry Godiva) clocked a time of 14.56secs (0.0) to take victory in the Open 100m Hurdles final ahead of Loughborough student and Channel Islander Kylie Robilliard (15.05). Robilliard finished third in the McCain final the previous day in 14.52secs (1.1).

In the McCain 200 metres event on the Saturday Leicester’s Somto Eruchie (Birchfield) claimed victory in a time of 21.36secs (1.6) ahead of club mate Julian Thomas (21.73) with Loughborough student Luke Stott (Havering) fourth in 21.94. Eruchie also finished 6th in the 100 metres final with 11.27secs (0.9).

England Under-20 champion Laura Samuel (Coritanians) won the Triple Jump Open competition despite not recording a legal jump due to the adverse weather conditions as the 19-year-old produced a best of 12.26 metres (2.2) to defeat Cardiff’s Sara Barry (12.01).

Loughborough Students women’s track and field captain Natalie Jowett (Milton K) claimed second place in the 100m Open final with a time of 12.27secs (-1.1) as Birchfield Harrier Bernice Wilson won in 11.98. Jowett also finished 5th in the McCain 100 metres in 12.20secs (0.9).

Charnwood’s Paul Harmer finished fourth in the 800m Open final with a time of 1:59.29 as Sheffield’s John Spence won in 1:57.43.

In the McCain field events Loughborough graduates Paul Walker (Sale) and Northern Ireland’s former British universities champion Zoe Brown (Shaftesbury Barnet) won the McCain Pole Vault competitions with leaps of 4.95 and 3.85 metres respectively.

Graduate Steve Small (Sale) and current Loughborough student Ricardo Twumasi finished 7th and 8th respectively in the McCain Long Jump competition with bests of 6.93 (0.6) and 6.68 (1.6) as Andre Fernandez (New H) won with a leap of 7.54 metres (2.7).

Report by Mark Woolley.

BMC Nike Grand Prix (Incorp. UKA Endurance Initiative Races)

Norman Green Stadium, Solihull

Saturday 18th July 2009

JULIET POTTER highlighted the latest (BMC) British Milers Grand Prix meeting at Solihull with a fine victory over the 3,000m, whilst, Loughborough graduate Laura Finucane returned to action for the first time in over a year due to a persistent knee injury to gain a moral-boosting win in the 800m ‘B’ race.

On the track of the Norman Green Stadium in the mild conditions Juliet Potter (Charnwood), the reigning Silverstone Half Marathon champion and a bronze medalist over 5,000m at the UK Championships the previous weekend, produced a season’s best time of 9mins 11.78secs to take victory by four-seconds ahead of the former British Steeplechase record-holder Tina Brown (Coventry) with American international Delilah DiCrescenzo third in 9:18.53.

DiCrescenzo, a former USTAF cross-country champion was the subject of the Plain White T's hit song "Hey There Delilah" and was invited by the band to attend the Grammy Awards.

In the women’s 800m ‘B’ race there was a very welcome return to action and winning ways for Loughborough graduate Laura Finucane (Pendle), the 22-year-old former World Youth Championship finalist coached by John Nuttall, has struggled with a long term knee injury which required surgery in 2007 that limited her outdoor season last year. Here in Solihull, Finucane clocked a very respectable time of 2:04.30 to take victory ahead of current Loughborough student and fellow member of the 'On Camp with Kelly’ mentoring programme Stevie Stockton (Vale Royal) who set a personal best of 2:07.97. Fellow student Rachel Stringer (Norwich) was fourth in 2:08.13.

American Alysia Johnson was an impressive winner of the women’s 800m ‘A’ race, the 23-year-old New Yorker, a two-time NCAA champion, claimed a tight victory in 2:02.63 ahead of Vicky Griffiths (2:02.66) and Loughborough-based Charlotte Best (2:03.15). World Junior 1500m gold medallist Steph Twell (AFD) clocked a new personal best of 2:03.80 to claim fourth place.

Steve Fennell (Tonbridge) claimed the men’s 800m ‘A’ race victory ahead of American Mark Wieczorek as the 23-year-old prevailed in 1:47.99 to 1:48.53. British international Sam Ellis (Sheffield) was third in 1:48.55. Loughborough graduates Nick Samuels (Sale) and Ben Green (Warrington) were 6th and 7th with times of 1:49.52 and 1:49.53. Fellow Alumni Frank Baddick (Newham EB) won the 800m ‘C’ race setting a new lifetime best of 1:50.24.

Kenyan athletes Bethwell Birgen and Bernard Kiplagat dominated the men’s 1500m ‘A’ race as they finished first and second respectively in 3:38.01 and 3:39.25. Beijing Olympian Taylor Milne of Canada claimed third place in 3:41.66 as Darren Gauson (Edinburgh) led the domestic challenge in fourth place with 3:42.55. Loughborough graduate Chris Parr (Gateshead) was 12th in 3:44.78.

The same story unfolded in the men’s 3,000m as Linus Chumba (7:53.52) and Titus Mbishei (7:53.88) led home a Kenyan 1-2 ahead of Liverpool Harrier Jonathan Mellor (7:58.33).

Canada gained victory in the women’s 1500m ‘A’ race as Michigan State University athlete Nicole Edwards set a new lifetime best of 4:12.05 to take the win ahead of Windsor’s Kerry Harty (4:14.17) and American-based steeplechaser Lennie Waite (4:15.58).

Loughborough graduate Harriet Scott (Havering) was fourth in 4:16.22 as current students Abbey McGhee (Victoria Park City of Glasgow), the top ranked U20 Scottish athlete over the distance, finished 6th in a new personal best of 4:18.93, whilst, Kirsty Milner (Trafford) claimed 13th also in a personal best of 4:27.91 with Charnwood’s Sarah Maude 14th in 4:28.67.

Loughborough College student Blue Haywood (Lincoln Wellington), fresh from having won junior team bronze for Great Britain at the European Mountain Running Championships in Austria the previous week won the women’s 1500m ‘C’ race in season’s best of 4:35.83. Leicester’s ever-improving Freya Vincent at 15-years-old punched above her weight to set a fine lifetime best of 4:40.73 to claim 11th place.

Kieran Clements (Ipswich) won the Peter Coe Junior Men’s Mile in 4:27.68 as Melissa Courtney (Poole) claimed victory in the Frank Horwill Junior Women’s Mile in 4:27.68.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link: www.britishmilersclub.com/results/results.aspx?meetingid=26406

2009 ÅF IAAF Golden League Meeting
Areva

Stade de France, Paris

Friday 17th July 2009

WORLD record-holder Usain Bolt stormed to ÅF Golden League victory on a rain-soaked Stade de France track to win the 100 metres at the Paris Areva Meeting in a stunning time of 9.79 seconds watched by an appreciative crowd of 46,500.

Daniel Bailey of Antigua finished second in 9.91 with compatriot Jamaican Yohan Blake third in 9.93. Britain’s Simeon Williamson's a week after defeating Dwain Chambers in Birmingham to win the UK title finished sixth in 10.14secs.

Bolt, who holds the 100m world record with 9.69 seconds set at the Beijing Olympic Games last year, was slow out of the blocks but pulled clear of the field after the first 50 metres. American Tyson Gay set the fastest time of the year with 9.77 seconds in Rome last week.

Sanya Richards of the USA sprinted clear of the field to win the 400 metres to continue her pursuit of the $1 Million jackpot clocking 49.34 seconds ahead of Jamaican Noviene Williams Mills (50.39) and Amantle Montsho of Botswana (50.61).

Jamaican sprinter Kerron Stewart, Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and Ethiopian distance runner Kenenisa Bekele all completed comfortable victories to stay in contention.

Sanya Richards watched by fiancé, New York Giants cornerback Aaron Ross, need little motivation to win her fourth Golden League 400 metre race as the 24-year-old American powered to victory in a time of 49.34secs ahead of Jamaican Novlene Williams (50.39) and Botswana’s African champion Amantle Montsho (50.61).

"The four that are left, I think we can all go through and win all six (ÅF Golden League) events," Richards commented. "Kerron looks really great. She's run 10.7. She's been the most consistent in the women's 100. Yelena is unbeatable, it seems. And Kenenisa Bekele is also doing great. I think the four of us may make it all the way through."

Jamaican Kerron Stewart, the double Olympic medallist from Beijing was very impressive in the women’s 100 metres to win unopposed in 10.99secs to underline her credentials in the $1 Million jackpot chase.

In the women’s 800m Britain’s Marilyn Okoro clocked a season best of 1min 59.56secs to take fourth place behind race winner Anna Willard of the USA who set a lifetime best of 1:58.80 to take victory. Willard edged Italy’s Mediterranean Games champion Elisa Cusma (1:58.99) and Russian Oksana Zbrozhek (1:59.13) as the first seven women all dipped under two minutes with season’s best times, whilst, Shannon Rowbury, the USA 1500m champion, also improved her personal best to 2:00.94 in eighth.

The men’s 800m witnessed Olympic silver medallist Ahmed Ismail winning comfortably in 1:45.85, well ahead of Algerian Nadjim Mansour (1:46.31) and American Khadevis Robinson (1:46.47). Britain’s Michael Rimmer ran a solid race to finish fourth in 1:46.73.

Loughborough graduate Andy Turner finished fifth in the 110m Hurdles as American Dexter Faulk flew out of his blocks and stormed to an impressive win in 13.14secs, whilst, in the women’s 100m Hurdles, two time World champion Michelle Perry and Olympic champion Dawn Harper, went head-to-head as Harper took the win over Perry in 12.68secs to 12.75, with Virginia Powell third in 12.81.

Tim Benjamin came to Paris having not competed for a month because of a hamstring injury and thus faded to seventh place in the men’s 400 metres race as American Jeremy Wariner, the reigning World champion, laboured to victory in 45.28secs. Benjamin clocking 46.32.

Olympic champion Melanie Walker had to settle for second place in the women’s 400m Hurdles as Poland’s Anna Jesien claimed victory in 54.37secs with Walker second in a season’s best of 54.47 with Tiffany Williams to third in 54.72.

Kenenisa Bekele, despite his agent wanting a 5,000m race the Ethiopian triple Olympic champion held off the challenge of double world champion Bernard Lagat of the USA over 3,000m to stay very much alive in the chase for the $1 million jackpot with a 7:28.64 victory. Mourad Amdouni of France was third in 7:37.50, the fastest by a European this season.

Bekele races over the mile in London next weekend and a 1000m race in Stockholm on July 31st before deciding whether he’ll defend both of his titles at the World Championships in Berlin next month.

World champion Blanka Vlasic won the women’s High Jump with a second clearance at 1.99m to defeat the joint silver medallists from Osaka, Anna Chicherova of Russia and Italy’s Antonietta Di Martino who finished level on countback with 1.97.

In the field events Great Britain’s Olympic triple jump silver medallist Phillips Idowu produced a fourth round winning effort of 17.17 metres to defeat the Cuban trio of Yoandris Betanzos, Alexis Copello and David Giralt.

Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen claimed his second straight victory over his main rival, Finland’s Tero Pitkämäki, in the Javelin with a magnificent throw of 88.03m despite the swirling wind inside the stadium.

The rain also affected the women’s Pole Vault with Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva winning the competition to keep herself in the hunt for the jackpot with just one vault at 4.65m - taking victory ahead of compatriot and former World record holder Svetlana Feofanova (4.55), with Poland’s Anna Rogowska third on the same height of 4.55.

In the final event of the evening as the Stade de France track was rain-soaked with large puddles Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad’s sent the partisan crowd home happy with a significant victory over Kenyan Ezekiel Kemboi in the 3,000m Steeplechase with a time of 8:13.23 to 8:15.27, with Finland’s European champion Jukka Keskisalo finishing third in a personal best 8:15.59.

Earlier Renaud Lavillenie, the new French record-holder (6.01m) delighted the crowd by winning the men’s Pole Vault competition with a third time clearance at 5.70m.

The ÅF Golden League now takes a break for the 12th IAAF World Championships in Berlin next month and returns in Zurich on August 28th and the final ever meeting before the series is re-launched as the Diamond League in 2010 takes place in Brussels on September 4th.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available at: www.iaaf.org/gle09/results/eventcode=4185/index.html

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

2009 Aviva World Trials & UK Championships

Alexander Stadium, Birmingham

Day 3 – Sunday 12th July 2009

GOLDIE SAYERS returned to action in fine style to win her seventh national javelin title as multi-eventer Jessica Ennis dazzled the crowd with a selection of world-class performances to win double gold in the high jump and 110m hurdles; Jemma Simpson claimed an impressive victory in the 800m as Phillips Idowu and Chris Tomlinson dominated in the field events on the final day of action at the Aviva World Trials & UK Championships in Birmingham.

Loughborough graduate Goldie Sayers (Belgrave) won the women's javelin title for the seventh consecutive year, despite coming off a shortened run-up.

Sayers, fourth in last year's Olympic final, was set to miss the championships after being diagnosed with a partial stress fracture of her lower back in May, however, the 26-year-old insisted her comeback was going according to plan, after a best of 55.43 metres. Loughborough student Rosie Sememytsh (WSE) was 6th with a best of 45.49m.

"It's gone as best as it could have done so far. I have been able to throw and the couple of throwing sessions I have done have been pleasing. They have been off seven strides," Sayers commented afterwards.

Multi-eventer Jessica Ennis (Sheffield) underlined her position as a potential gold medal contender at next month’s Berlin World Championships by securing two impressive victories in the 100 metres hurdles and high jump.

The 23-year-old Sheffield athlete was forced to miss the Beijing Olympics last year suffering with a fractured ankle, won the high jump with a first-time clearance of 1.85m and then went on to clear a season’s best of 1.91m. She later won the 100m hurdles with a time of 12.87secs, a championship record and just 0.07secs outside the British record set back in 1996.

Ennis commented afterwards: "I'm really pleased. It's nice to come out and have a good go and I had three good attempts at 1.94m. I'm a bit disappointed not to get it but next time out I think I can have it.

"Everything is going well at the moment and I'm really enjoying myself. Hopefully I will save my best for Berlin. Things have gone to plan, I've come out of this weekend injury-free and I can get on with my preparations for Berlin.

American-based Jemma Simpson (Newquay & Par) ran a tactically perfect race as the Newquay athlete won the women's 800m title ahead of Marilyn Okoro (Shaftesbury) and Jenny Meadows (Wigan).

The fast-finishing Simpson, outpaced the field to win in a time of 2mins 01.16secs with Meadows clocking 2:01.16 and Okoro 2:02.94. Loughborough-based World University bronze medalist Charlotte Best (Crawley) was fifth in 2:03.50.

"I wasn't sure how the race would go and I had to think on my feet and run tactically," said Simpson. "I just went for it from 400m, it's not normal for me but it seemed to work, I've really focused on my endurance training this year and it seems to be paying off. I'm much fitter and stronger than ever before."

Michael Rimmer (Liverpool) won his fourth successive title in the men’s 800m final with a time of 1:46.47 as Damien Moss (Rugby) and Steven Fennell (Tonbridge) finished second and third in 1:48.15 and 1:48.34 respectively.

In the men’s 1500m final steeplechaser Jermaine Mays (Kent) out paced the NCAA indoor mile champion Lee Emanuel (Sheffield) to take victory in 3:41.26 to 3:41.82 with Loughborough-based Nick McCormick (Morpeth) claiming third in a season’s best of 3:42.21.

In the men’s 200m Toby Sandeman (TVH) produced a surprise victory ahead of the UK’s top ranked Jeffrey Lawal-Balogu (Kent). Sandeman, preparing for the European Under-23 Championships next week, edged out the experienced Marlon Devonish (Coventry) over the finish line to win in 23.70secs.

Wakefield’s Emily Freeman defended her 200m title with an impressive victory crossing the line in 22.92secs, ahead of Joey Duck (Milton Keynes) second with 23.62 and club-mate Kadi Ann Thomas, third in 23.63.

Olympic triple jump silver medallist Phillips Idowu (Belgrave) retained his title with a single first round jump of 17.05m as Loughborough Sports Scholar Nathan Douglas (Oxford) was second in a season’s best of 17.01m. 



Chris Tomlinson (Newham EB) was equally dominant in the long jump final as he also retained his title with a mark of 8.03m.

Loughborough-based Steve Lewis (Newham EB) suffered a surprise defeat as Luke Cutts won the national pole vault title with a lifetime best of 5.55m to take victory on countback.

Dai Greene (Swansea) underlined his pre-race favourite tag to win the men’s 400m hurdles final powering home in 49.07secs. Former European bronze medallist and UK number one on the comeback trail Rhys Williams (Cardiff) claimed second in 50.20 with Dale Garland (Channel Islands) third in 50.92.

In the flat 400m Robert Tobin (Basingstoke) claimed his first title with a time of 45.85secs ahead of Conrad Wiiliams (Kent). American-based Michael Bingham was forced to pull out to protect a slight injury.

Jo Jackson (Redcar), all ready guaranteed a place at the Berlin World Championships was a comprehensive winner of the women’s 5k race walk, completely outclassing the whole field both men’s and women’s to set a new stadium record time of 21:21.67. Leicester’s Fiona McGorum was fourth in 8:16.53.

In the men’s steeplechase, Derby's Luke Gunn claimed a fine win in 8:46.47 ahead of his East Midlands rival Bruce Raeside (Notts) with 8.51.05, whilst, the women’s race was a demonstration event for British record-holder Helen Clitheroe (Preston) as the 35-year-old coached at Loughborough by John Nuttall won in 9:48.24 ahead of US college student Lenny Waite in 9.52.62 with Tina Brown (Coventry Godiva) third in 9.57.64.

Freya Murray (Chester Le Street) won the women’s 5,000m clocking 15:45.07 to defeat Charlotte Purdue (Aldershot), second in 15:57.18 with Charnwood’s Juliet Doyle taking a well-deserved bronze in 16:11.35.

The men’s 5,000m witnessed victory for Scott Overall (Blackheath) claiming his first national title in a time of 13:57.75 ahead of Loughborough-based Ryan McLeod (Tipton), second in a lifetime best of 13:58.52 and Lee Merrien (Newham EB).

In the field, Loughborough graduate Emeka Udechuku (Woodford Green EL) continued his dominance of the discus event taking the UK title with a 56.93m throw ahead of Brett Morse (Birchfield) 55.86m, whilst, Carl Myerscough (Blackpool) won his seventh UK shot title with 19.87m, ahead of Loughborough’s BUCS champion Kieren Kelly (Newham EB).

Report by Mark Woolley.

http://sdc.lboro.ac.uk/shownews.php?news_id=1020&cat_id=16&level=1

Full results are available on the following link:
www.uka.org.uk/results/20090710_Birmingham/

2009 Aviva World Trials & UK Championships

Alexander Stadium, Birmingham

Day 2 - Saturday 11th July 2009

KATE DENNISON set a seventh British pole vault record of her remarkable season increasing the previous mark by one centimeter with a new height of 4.57 metres to retain her own national title, whilst, sprint hurdler Andy Turner stormed to victory confirming his place for the Great Britain team for next month’s Berlin World Championships.

Leicester’s Eden Francis won her first senior national title in the shot and gained silver in the discus as Ethiopia’s Meseret Defar topped the bill to give a virtuoso performance clocking the fifth fastest time ever to win the 10,000m on the second day of competition at the 2009 Aviva World Trials & UK Championships.

Loughborough-based Kate Dennison (Sale), coached by Australian Steve Rippon and having cleared 4.56m in Madrid the previous week, improved that height in Birmingham to clear 4.57m taking victory to collect the US$5,000 (£3,084) bonus on offer for breaking a British record.

The 25-year-old commented afterwards: "I'm really pleased to come here and put on such a good performance in front of my home crowd, I wanted to break the record in front of my home crowd and that was a big aim but the main aim as always is to win the gold, it's been a really good season for me but I'm not surprised- I've been training really well and working hard and now it's paying off in the competitions."

Andy Turner (Notts AC) continued his fine 2009 outdoor season as the European and Commonwealth bronze medalist was a class apart in the 110m Hurdles final crossing the line in a time of 13.47secs into a strong headwind of +1.9m/s to take gold and confirm his place at next month's World Championships in Berlin.

The 28-year-old Loughborough graduate who lost his lottery funding from UK Athletics following a disappointing performance at last year’s Beijing Olympics finished ahead of Leicester’s fast improving Callum Priestley (Woodford), who set a personal best of 13.69secs to finish second. Priestley is training partner of Turner under the guidance of coach Lloyd Cowen.

Turner reflecting on his performance commented: "I'm happy with my performance, I reacted to the gun pretty well and I'm in pretty good form at the moment - it's all looking good for Berlin.

"During the indoor season I was running angry. But I'm bigger than that and I'm not going to let it get the better of me, I do this sport because I love it, not because I get paid to do it - I'm not going to give it up just because I'm not getting paid to do it. I love the sport too much."

Leicester’s ever-improving Eden Francis (Birchfield) won her first senior outdoor United Kingdom national title with victory in the Shot competition, the 20-year-old won the England Under-23 Championships last month in Bedford, but this victory is the biggest win of a very successful career secured with a fifth round throw of 16.33m. Francis then added silver in the discus with a mark of 56.6m set in the second round of the competition as Phillipa Roles (Swansea) who won with 57.57m.

Olympic and world champion Christine Ohuruogu (Newham EB) won the 400m in a time of 51.26secs, but will have to improve significantly in Berlin to defeat rival Sanya Richards, after the American won in Rome at the Golden League in 49.46 on Friday night.

Perri Shakes Drayton (Victoria P) claimed sliver in a lifetime best of 51.81 as Loughborough graduate Kim Wall (Basildon) gained bronze in season’s best of 52.75.

In the men’s 100m final Simeon Williamson (Highgate) outclassed Dwain Chambers (Belgrave) as the 23-year-old crossed the finishing line in an impressive 10.05secs to book his place for Berlin.

I would have liked to have run sub-10 today," said the 23 year-old, who controversially missed out on selection for the World Championships in Osaka two years ago but is now certain of his place in Berlin next month.

"I know I'm in shape but I've got to go and do it now. It's the equivalent of sub-10 but it's not sub-10. That's the next step for me. That's the next goal."

Chambers, who is also running in the 200m this weekend, finished second 0.17 seconds adrift, with Tyrone Edgar (10.28) third and Craig Pickering (10.33) taking fourth. Loughborough student Harry Aikines Aryeetey (Sutton) was 5th in 10.35.

Williamson's time was the fastest by a European sprinter this year, however, the reigning world champion American Tyson Gay ran 9.77secs in Rome on Friday night and a sub-10 second performance will be required in Berlin just to gain a place in the final.

Joice Maduaka (Woodford) took the 100m women’s title for the sixth time finishing ahead of Kadi-Ann Thomas (Milton K) and British record-holder Montell Douglas (Blackheath) in a time of 11.52.

In the women's 1500m final, reigning world junior champion Steph Twell (AFD) made a break for glory after a pedestrian opening two-laps but had to settle for silver as Wakefield’s Charlene Thomas, a teacher by profession, sprinted thorough to take gold in a time of 4mins 09.08secs and gain automatically qualification for the World Championships, giving the GB selectors a major problem with Twell, third placed Hannah England and the Commonwealth champion Lisa Dobriskey all vying for a place in the German capital next month.

Loughborough graduates Laura Kenney (RSC) finished 6th in 4:14.04, Harriet Scott (Havering) set a new personal best in 7th with 4:15.12, whilst, current student Stevie Stockton (Vale Royal) clocked a new lifetime best of 4:16.51 and the early leader Hannah Whitmore (Charnwood) was 10th in 4:27.25.

In the men's High Jump final Beijing Olympic silver medallist Germaine Mason (Birchfield) claimed gold and his first national title having taken British citizenship three years ago winning on countback ahead of Loughborough graduate Samson Oni (Belgrave) and Tom Parsons (Birchfield) as all three cleared 2.24m. Mason already has the ‘A’ qualifying standard from last year.

The women’s long jump was a comprehensive victory for Phyllis Agbo with two leaps of 6.42m, however a strong following wind in excess of +4.0ms at some points meant the marks set throughout the competition won’t count for record purposes including that of junior Abigail Irozuru (Sale) in third with 6.28m.

In the final track event, Olympic 5,000m champion Meseret Defar, gave a virtuoso performance of world class endurance running to win women’s 10,000m with the fifth fastest time of 29mins 59.20secs breaking Paula Radcliffe's UK all-comers' record to qualify for the Berlin World Championships as Claire Hallissey (B&W) recorded a lifetime best of 33:10.73 to take the UK title, ahead of Gemma Miles (Kendal) and Hatti Dean (Sheffield).

Loughborough Sports scholar Sarah Holt warmed up for next weekend’s European U23 Championships with a 59.90m hammer throw for bronze behind graduate Carys Parry who threw 62.73 for the silver.

Report by Mark Woolley.

http://sdc.lboro.ac.uk/shownews.php?news_id=1020&cat_id=16&level=1

Full results are available on the following link:
www.uka.org.uk/results/20090710_Birmingham/

2009 ÅF IAAF Golden League Golden Gala Meeting

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Friday 10th July 2009

TYSON GAY sent out a warning to world record-holder Usain Bolt by running the fastest 100 metres of the year in a time of 9.77 seconds at the Golden Gala meeting - the third leg of the 2009 ÅF IAAF Golden League series at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

Following a nervous false start the powerful American Gay swept past previous record-holder Asafa Powell 40 metres from the finish in a time that would have been good enough to equal the world record less than two years ago. Powell finished second in 9.88secs, and fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake was third with 9.96.

Gay, preparing to defend his 100m and 200m titles at the next month’s world championships in Berlin commented on his victory said: "I feel that I improved on the previous races, today the race was better executed and my shape is improving, Bolt's in excellent shape. I was working really hard for this, but I'm still training and I feel good."

He expected to be a favourite at the Beijing Olympics but a hamstring strain at the US Olympic trials ended that hope, and Bolt won both gold medals in world records. Bolt opted not to run in Rome, but recorded an impressive 200m in the teeming rain at Lausanne, Switzerland, on Tuesday, clocking a world-leading 19.59.

In the women's 100, Jamaican Kerron Stewart was still in contention for a share in the US$1 million jackpot after three legs of the six-leg Golden League. Olympic silver medallist Stewart won in 10.75 ahead of Olympic champion and countrywoman Shelly-Ann Fraser, who crossed in 10.91. Third went to the Bahamas' Chandra Sturrup, who finished with her season's best of 10.99.

The elegant Sanya Richards won her third consecutive Golden League meeting by dominating the 400m to add to her previous victories in Berlin and Oslo. The American took the lead by the first bend and increased it down the back straight. Richards conserved her energy on the final bend then accelerated to win in 49.46secs and beat Marita Koch's record of 36 races under 50 seconds. Jamaica's Sherika Williams was second with 50.31, whilst, Ami Mbake Thiam from Senegal ran a season-best of 50.71 for third.

"Today was a really good run, the field is getting tougher and tougher, but we missed Christine Ohuruogu (Olympic and world champion) today," Richards said. "I was hoping to go faster than 49.2, but I will take 49.4. I have one more race in Paris, then I want to go back to the United States and get some hard training in for the worlds."

Chris Brown won the men’s 400m following a tough battle with Ireland’s Loughborough-based David Gillick. The Bahamian fended off the challenge and won on in a season’s best of 44.81secs, with Gillick was just outside of the 44.77 national-record he set in Madrid last weekend. Renny Quow finished third in 45.02.

Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bikele kept up his challenge for the jackpot when he won the 5,000 metres in 12:56.33. The Olympic champion and world record-holder bided his time until the final lap, when he led a group of six. Leonard Komon of Kenya stayed close but Bikele gradually extended his lead until to enter the home straight with a comfortable gap.

"It was a strong race, but it was not easier than Berlin and Oslo," he said. "I feel that my shape is improving and I am now in good form, in Berlin I will run the 10,000 metres and maybe I might race the 5,000 metres, but I am not sure."

The fourth athlete still in with a chance of taking a jackpot share was Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva, who won the pole vault competition in the venue where she broke the world record a year ago. Isinbayeva began competing only at a height of 4.75 metres, a height none of her competitors were able to clear. After successfully clearing 4.75, she vaulted over 4.85 then failed to clear 4.95. Fellow Russians Yuli Golubchikova and Svetlana Feofanova finished second and third respectively.

The home fans in the Stadio Olimpico were delighted by high jumper Antonietta Di Martino, who caused one of the shocks of the night by beating reigning world champion Blanka Vlasic with a height of 2.00m.

Finland's Tero Pitkamaki will not be sharing in the jackpot after finishing second to Olympic javelin champion Andrea Thorkildsen, as he did a year ago in Beijing. Norway's Thorkildsen managed 87.46 metres, and Pitkamaki was almost four meters behind with 83.68m.

Fellow Olympic champion Dayton Robles continued his buildup to the worlds in August with a win in the 110m Hurdles in 13.17secs. Also impressing were United States duo of Dwight Phillips and Kerron Clement, who won the Long jump and 400m Hurdles respectively.

The 2009 ÅF IAAF Golden League series continues next Friday 17th July in Paris with the Meeting Areva at the Stade de France.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available at: www.iaaf.org/gle09/results/eventcode=4187/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

2009 Aviva World Trials & UK Championships

Alexander Stadium, Birmingham

Day 1 - Friday 10th July 2009

PETER SMITH produced the highlight of the opening evening’s action at the 2009 Aviva World Trials & UK Championships as the 19-year-old representing Kingston-upon-Hull broke his own junior British record in the Hammer final with a mark of 76.67m as brother Alex (Sale) won the senior competition with the regulation weight implement launching out to 69.79m on the infield of Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.

On the track Dwain Chambers (Belgrave) was the fastest qualifier in the 100m heats, the 31-year-old European indoor 60m champion eased through in 10.20secs, with rival Simeon Williamson (Highgate) also impressing in a time of 10.24. Craig Pickering (Milton Keynes) 10.28, Tyrone Edgar (Newham EB) 10.27, Loughborough student Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Sutton) 10.29 and Mark Lewis-Francis (Birchfield) 10.37 also progressed to the semis.

Joice Maduaka (Woodford) was the fastest in the women's 100m heats, clocking 11.45secs, with Abi Oyepitan (Shaftesbury Barnet) 11.57, British record-holder Montell Douglas (Blackheath)11.61 and Laura Turner (Harrow) 11.62 also comfortably progressing.

There was also a set of impressive heats in the women’s 400m with Olympic and world Christine Ohuruogu (Newham EB) showing her class over the one-lap event - this following a first attempt at starting her heat when she pulled up along with the majority of the field convinced the recall gun had fired.

However, this proved to be just an echo in the stadium and the start was recorded as ‘faulty.’ When the Londoner finally did get going, Ohuruogu powered through in a quick 51.86secs to qualify for Saturday’s final where she will be joined in the final by Loughborough graduates Kim Wall (Basildon) and Vicky Barr (Rugby) who clocked 53.77 and 53.84 respectively.

“I relaxed quite a bit down the back straight because it was windy and that was always going to have an affect on the times,” said Barr.

“I just have to focus on getting in that top two for the final. That has always been the main aim for me and I still believe it is possible.”

Loughborough Sports Scholar Lee McConnell (Shaftesbury) will have to sweat on a place at next month's World Championships after pulling out of the event. The Scot withdrew with a hamstring injury on the advice of team doctors and will undergo further treatment next week in a bid to be fit for Berlin.

"The medical staff said it was better that she pulled out rather than risk ruining her entire season," revealed McConnell's coach Rodger Harkins. "She should still make the relay squad but it's going to be up to the selectors as to whether she makes the individual."

The Men’s 400m was equally impressive with Rob Tobin (Basingstoke) 47.09, American-based Michael Bingham (Wake Forest) 47.02and Richard Strachan (Trafford) 47.27 all progressing as expected to Saturday’s semi-final stage.

The final of the Men’s 10,000m was the last event of the evening beginning at 10.00pm in the gloom under floodlights witnessed eleven athletes running inside the 30 minutes barrier.

After 2.5km, Andy Vernon (Aldershot, Farnham and District) pushed on to see what he could achieve, and looked strong heading through 5km in 14.17.83 he used his debut over 10,000m to clock a time of 28.43.40, ahead of Phil Nicholls (Tipton) and Ian Hudspith (Morpeth) to secure the UK title.

Highlights for Leicestershire athletes on the opening evening’s action included Hannah Whitmore (Charnwood) qualifying through to the final of the 1500m as England Under-20 champion Laura Samuel (Coritanians) was edged out of a podium place in the women’s Triple Jump final.

Nadia Williams (Shaftesbury Barnet) won the title with a lifetime best leap of 13.67m as Samuel finished fourth with a mark of 12.76m (1.0 m/s) set in the final round, whilst fellow Leicester athlete Denae Matthew (Birchfield) finished 8th with a best of 12.58m (2.4 m/s).

Whitmore qualified through as a fastest loser in a time of 4mins 22.19secs following very tough opening semi-final heat won by World junior champion over the distance Steph Twell (Aldershot, Farnham and District) in a time of 4:18.75 ahead of Loughborough student Stevie Stockton (Vale Royal) 4:19.38.

They will be joined by Loughborough graduates Laura Kenney (RSC) 4:17.76 and Harriet Scott (Havering) 4:18.24 who both qualified through in the second semi-final along with the gold medal favourite Hannah England (Oxford) 4:16.97, the 2008 NCAA champion.

With the 800m set to take place over three rounds in order to replicate championship running, it was a slow start for all involved in Friday’s opener, with all the major players easing to qualification.

In the women’s event pre-championship favourites Jenny Meadows (Wigan), Marilyn Okoro (Shaftesbury Barnett) and Jemma Simpson (Newquay) all eased through with no trouble as did current Loughborough student Dani Christmas, World University bronze medallist Charlotte Best (Crawley) and fellow Loughborough Alumni Rachael Thompson (Liverpool H).

In the men’s event Sam Ellis (Sheffield), Michael Rimmer (Liverpool PS), Chris Gowell (Swansea) and Darren St Clair (Enfield) all progressed with Loughborough graduate Ben Green for company.

Report by Mark Woolley.

http://sdc.lboro.ac.uk/shownews.php?news_id=1020&cat_id=16&level=1

Full results are available on the following link:
www.uka.org.uk/results/20090710_Birmingham/

Wednesday 8th July 2009

USAIN BOLT ran a superb time of 19.59 seconds despite appalling conditions to win the 200 metres by a country mile ahead of a world-class field at the Athletissima meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Tuesday evening (8th July).

The double Olympic champion and reigning world record-holder for the distance defied wind and teeming rain to record his second-ever fastest performance – the fourth fastest of all-time. Olympic 400m champion Lashawn Merritt of the USA took the runner-up spot in 20.41 ahead of Churandy Martina from the Dutch Antilles who clocked 20.76.

Bolt underlined that his in the sort of shape that could in dry conditions lower his own world-record of 19.30 set when breaking Michael Johnson's long standing mythical previous record in Beijing last August.

“I was not expecting such a good time with these conditions,” Bolt said. “But for me it was ok, as it was not too cold. I was not here to send a message to my opponents but to see at what level I was. I wasn’t nervous, even with this weather. I am always having fun when I run and people love to see me, so it was really great.”

The 22-year-old Jamaican just missed the year's world best of 19.59secs set by his archrival Tyson Gay at the Reebok Gran Prix in New York at the end of May.

Cuban Dayron Robles, the Olympic 110m Hurdles gold medallist, continued his winning run in 2009 taking victory in a time of 13.18secs.

European number one Andy Turner finished fifth, clocking 13.55secs ahead of this weekend's Aviva World Trials & AAA Championships in Birmingham.

British record-holder Chris Tomlinson finished fourth in the Long Jump competition with a season’s best of 7.92m as South Africa's Godfrey Mokoena won the event with a jump of 8.05m.

Olympic silver medallist Germaine Mason was sixth in the High Jump with a leap of 2.20m won by Jaroslav Baba of the Czech Republic (2.26).

Full results are available on the following link: www.athletissima.ch/meeting/results_index_en.aspx

Monday 6th July 2009

LOUGHBOROUGH athletes produced a selection of top performances at the second round of British Athletics League matches and the 2009 Cork City Games meeting held over the weekend.

At the Premiership fixture at Manchester’s Sport City BUCS champion Kieren Kelly (Newham & Essex Beagles) won the Shot competition with a best of 18.31m.

In London at the National League 1 event held on the track of Eton College British international Will Sharman (Belgrave) clocked 13.8secs in the 110m Hurdles to earn the ‘Athlete of the Match’ award, as Andy Blow (Basingstoke & Mid Hants) set a new lifetime best of 50.9secs in the 400m Hurdles.

In the middle-distance races Lewis Moses (Gateshead) won the 800m ‘A’ race in 1:52.9, whilst, Ryan McLeod (Tipton) prevailed in the 5,000m ‘A’ race in 14:47.6 and finished runner-up in the 1500m ‘A’ race with a time of 3:50.3 as steeplechaser Jermaine Mays (Kent) won in 3:48.5. Leicestershire’s Tim Hartley (Notts AC) won the 5,000m ‘B’ race in 14:54.7.

In the National League 3 event in Bournemouth British triathlete Adam Hickey representing Southend AC finished third in the 5,000m ‘A’ race with a time of 14.53.

Luke Stott (Havering) finished runner-up in the 100 and 200m ‘A’ races at the National League 4 fixture at the Exeter Arena with times of 11.20 (-2.0) and 22.19 (+0.9).

Over in Ireland at the 2009 Cork City Games Harriet Scott (Havering Mayesbrook) ran 4:20.27 for fourth place in the 1500m won by Italy’s Judit Varga in 4:14.03, whilst, J.J. Jegede (Newham & Essex Beagles) claimed victory in the Long Jump with a leap of 7.94m (+2.9).

At the UK Women’s League 2 fixture at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre Beijing Olympian Vicky Barr (R&N) won the 400m in 52.67secs.

In Coventry at the League 4 event Leicestershire’s Midlands champion Nicola Robinson (Coventry Godiva Harriers) won the 100m Hurdles in 14.2secs (+1.2) and finished runner-up over the 100m with a time of 12.3 (+1.0).

Saturday 4th July 2009

LOUGHBOROUGH-based Kate Dennison improved her own British Pole Vault record for the third time in 2009 with a new height of 4.56 metres at the Meeting de Atletisimo in Madrid when finishing runner-up on countback to Russian Aleksandra Kiryashova.

Dennison, the 25-year-old South African-born athlete coached by Steve Rippon, improved her record by a margin of just one centimeter having previous broken the mark at the European Team Championships last month in Leiria, Portugal.

http://sdc.lboro.ac.uk/shownews.php?news_id=1012&cat_id=16&level=1

Sunday 5th July 2009

JOHN PEARSON comfortably retained his M40 category national Hammer title for the third consecutive year at the 2009 British Masters Track & Field Championships held at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium (4th-5th July).

Pearson, based at Loughborough University currently coaches a squad of top young talent in the Hammer discipline that includes the reigning United Kingdom Under-23 record-holder Sarah Holt, produced a best throw of 59.13 metres as the 43-year-old Charnwood athlete who has lifetime personal best of 70.33m finished clear of silver medalist David Brown (Liverpool Pembroke Sefton).

Pearson then followed this by claiming gold in the M40 Weight event producing a best of 17.86m to also take the title ahead of Brown.

On the track in the women’s events Leicestershire’s British Masters international Kate Ramsey representing Barrow Runners won a silver medal in the W40 category 800m clocking a time of 2mins 24.81 seconds finishing runner-up to Colchester Harrier Denise Morley (2:19.85).

Full results are available on the following link: www.bvaf.org.uk/results/bmaf2009tf.asp

2009 ÅF IAAF Golden League Exxon Mobil Bislett Games Meeting

Bislett Stadium, Oslo

Friday 3rd July 2009

WORLD and Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu faded to a surprise sixth place as the Brit was completely out classed by American rival Sanya Richards who continued her excellent outdoor season by setting a world leading 49.23secs to win her second Golden League victory and stay in the hunt for the $1 million jackpot challenge at the rain-affected Exxon Mobil Bislett Games in Oslo.

Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele in the 5,000m and Finland's Javelin star Tero Pitkamaki, combined with Jamaican sprinter Kerron Stewart (100m), American Damu Cherry in the 100m hurdles and Yelena Isinbayeva in the pole vault all won their respective events to also continue their jackpot hopes.

In one of Europe’s most beautiful capital cities the superb Bislett Games were delayed by a storm of quite biblical proportions that required the international Golden League programme to finally begin one hour late of schedule, however, this break in competition had no affect on Sanya Richards, the elegant 24-year-old American star unbeaten in 2009 having won the opening Golden League meeting in Berlin with a 49.57secs clocking was simply a class apart racing to victory after flying out of the blocks on the rain-soaked track stormed to the win to firmly lay down a marker for next months Berlin World Championships.

Richards finished ahead of Olympic silver medallist Shericka Williams (49.98) of the Bahamas and Amantle Montsho (50.71) with Ohuruogu, who defeated the American in Beijing on the way to the World and Olympic double, trailing in a distance sixth in a very average 51.19.

Richards, having won her fifth US title in Eugene, Oregon, the previous week commented: "I've been feeling great in training these past few weeks. And I'm all the happier that my parents are here with me," said Richards, who said coach Clyde Hart had urged her to be patient and concentrate hard into the final stretch.

"I finished well. I am on form and I think I can go under 49 seconds soon, that's my best time today since 2006 and the fourth best of my career."

In the sprint events, former world record-holder and Commonwealth champion Asafa Powell won the men's 100m in a time of 10.07secs, edging Antiguan Daniel Bailey following a close photo finish as Britain’s Simeon Williamson finished fourth in 10.13.

Powell reflected: "My legs were heavy and I got off to a bad start. I just tried to win." Fellow Jamaican Michael Frater was third in 10.08."

Loughborough University graduate Jeanette Kwakye made her long-awaited season opener but finished last in the women’s 100m, the 26-year-old world indoor silver medallist and Olympic finalist recorded a time of 11.67secs in the race won by Olympic runner-up Keron Stewart of Jamaica in 10.99.

Trinidadian Renny Quow won the 400m in 45.18secs whilst, over the 800m Russia's Yuriy Borzakovskiy clocked 1:44.42 to defeat Saudi Arabia's Mohamed Al Salhi.

Africa, as ever, dominated the longer distances with Kenyan Collins Cheboi winning the 1500m in 3:36.24 ahead of compatriot Geoffrey Kipkoech Rono (3:36.96) and Morocco's Fouad Elkaam (3:37.19).

In the famous ‘Dream Mile’, Ethiopia's Deresse Mekonnen clocked a winning time of 3:48.95 to edge out Kenya's William Biwott who set a new world junior record of 3:49.29, as the 3,000m was an all-Kenyan affair where Richard Bartale crossed the line in 7:50.58 to beat compatriots Henry Kiplagat (7:54.00) and Mike Tuiny (7:57.54).

Britain’s European indoor 3,000m champion Mo Farah played pacemaker for the vast majority of the men’s 5,000m before being eclipsed by an African train as the superb Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele stormed to an impressive victory over the last two laps to win ahead of James Ckururi and Vincent Chepkok in a time of 13mins 04.87secs.

Farah faded to 11th place clocking a European lead time of 3:12.28 but the 26-year-old Londoner will need a massive improvement in tactics if he plans to make any impact at next months Berlin World Championships.

Loughborough graduate Andy Turner, the European and Commonwealth bronze medallist over the 110m hurdles continued his fine outdoor season, having won the title at the recent European Team Championships for Great Britain in Leiria, Portugal, last month the 28-year-old pushed the former world junior champion Antwon Hicks all of the way to the line with the American prevailing just three-hundredths of a second ahead of Turner who clocked a time of 13.44sec with Poland’s Arthur Noga third (13.46).

Damu Cherry of the United States won the women's 100m Hurdles to continue her claim for the jackpot prize taking victory in 12.68secs ahead of Jamaica’s Brigitte Foster-Hylton (12.75).

Scotland’s Claire Gibson won the 800m national race in an impressive 2:01.42 lifetime best inside the Commonwealth Games qualifying mark of 2:01.80. Gibson took the race on, front running to victory to eclipse the Scottish standard for next year's Games in Delhi by 0.38 seconds ahead of home athlete Ingvill Bovim of Norway (2:02.54) and Kenya's Nelly Jepkosgei (2:07.37).

With triple Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba having withdrew from the meeting in the week leading up to the event her 5,000m world mark of 14:11.65 was never under threat as fellow Ethiopian Meseret Defar won in a comfortable 14:36.38 with Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya second in 14:37.01 and Ethiopian Meselech Melkamu third in 14:37.50.

Kenya's Ruth Bisibori Nyangau won the 3,000m Steeplechase in 9:18.65 ahead of the Ethiopian duo Sofia Assefa and Mekdes Bekele. British record-holder Helen Clitheroe finished 10th in 9:52.58.

Russia's Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva edged victory in a very poor competition struggling with a knee injury clearing 4.71m to win on countback ahead of Monika Pyrek of Poland.

"I am happy to win, but not with the result," said Isinbayeva. "It was very difficult with all the waiting, it was one of the longest competitions I've ever competed in during my life, first to wait before my first jump, and then waiting for the rain to stop.”

In the infield Finland’s Tero Pitkamaki completed victory in the Javelin with a best throw of 84.63m, to defeat compatriot Teemu Wirkkala (83.54). Double Olympic champion and home favourite Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway was third with a mark of 83.15, whilst, reigning World champion Blanka Vlasic of Croatia won the High Jump competition with a height of 2.00m.

Four athletes were eliminated in Oslo from jackpot contention - as the Bahamas 400m sprinter Chris Brown, Antigua sprinter Daniel Bailey and American 110m hurdler Dexter Faulk were all defeated, whilst, German high jumper Ariane Friedrich missed the event to concentrate on her national championships.

The Oslo results ensure that six athletes are still in line to claim the $1 million dollars (700,000 euros) jackpot if they land wins at all six venues in the series. The 2009 ÅF IAAF Golden League series continues next Friday 10th July with the Golden Gala meeting at Rome’s Olympic Stadium.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available at: www.iaaf.org/gle09/results/eventcode=4191/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 3rd July 2009

LOUGHBOROUGH-based Charlotte Best (Crawley AC) highlighted the latest Nike BMC Grand Prix at Trafford on Saturday (27th June) by winning the 800m ‘A’ race in a time of 2mins 03.65secs to complete her second consecutive British Milers victory over the distance in the space of a five days - this despite the meeting being suspended due to heavy rain that left the track under several inches of water.

Best, the 24-year-old World University Games bronze medalist, coached by George Gandy, finished level with Cardiff’s Amanda Moss given the same time but was awarded the victory following a photo-finish. Fellow Loughborough graduate and ‘On Camp with Kelly’ squad member Rachael Thompson (Liverpool Harriers) finished sixth in 2:05.79.

Best had previously claimed victory at the Nike BMC Gold Standard race (23rd June) at the same Manchester venue when finishing two-seconds clear of Loughborough team mate Dani Christmas (Crawley AC) in a time of 2:03.40.

Other highlights of the meeting included Loughborough Alumnus Frank Baddick (Newham & Essex Beagles) and Chris Parr (Gateshead) finishing 5th and 6th in a high quality 1500m ‘A’ race with times of 3:42.80 - a personal best for Baddick - and 3:43.16 respectively as steeplechaser Jermaine Mays (Kent) won in 3:39.94.

Loughborough graduate Charlotte Wickham (Gateshead) set a new lifetime best of 4:26.55 to win the women’s 1500m ‘B’ race, whilst, fellow Alumni Sarah Maude (Charnwood AC) finished 7th in the ‘A’ race in 4:28.00 won by American-based Scot Lennie Waite (Rice University) in 4:17.05.

Juliet Doyle (Charnwood AC) finished third in the women’s 5,000m in 16mins 10.20secs as Scotland’s Freya Murray (Edinburgh) won with a fine new personal best of 15:44.37. Loughborough graduate Sonia Samuels (Sale) was 5th in 16:16.85.

Full results are available on the following link: www.britishmilersclub.com/results/results.aspx?meetingid=26408&pagenum=1#6

Sunday 27th June 2009

KATE DENNISON continued her fine run of form over the 2009 outdoor season with a fine runners-up position at the Internationales Hofer Commerzbank Stabhochsprung meeting in Germany to Poland’s Anna Rogowska, who trains during the summer at Loughborough University with Steve Rippon's squad.

Rogowska claimed victory with a height of 4.70m as Sale Harrier Dennison recorded a best of 4.50m.

Photo of Anna Rogowska pictured at Loughborough University with Steve Rippon's squad.

2009 European Team Championships

Estádio Municipal Dr. Magalhães Pessoa

Leiria, Portugal

Day 2 - Sunday 21st June 2009

THE Aviva Great Britain & Northern Ireland team finished in the bronze medal position at the inaugural European Team Championships in Leiria, Portugal, following a dramatic last gasp 4x400m men’s relay victory to edge out France into a podium place as Germany won the overall title.

Dwain Chambers led the way for Team GB in the sweltering conditions in Leiria replacing the injured Rikki Fifton to add the 200m title to his 100 metre success on the opening day, whilst, Andy Turner claimed victory in the 110m Hurdles and the men's 4x400m relay quartet lifted the team into bronze medal position when winning the last event of the day.

Chambers outclassed France's Martial Mbandjock and Alex Kosenkow of Poland, as the 31-year-old clocked 20.55secs (-0.9m/s) to take his second win of the weekend and confirmed that he plans to double up at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin in August.

Chambers commented: “I am very tired, the weather is very hot but I have to do this in order to became stronger, faster. The track is very fast, definitely a good track. In Berlin I will try my best at the 100 and 200 to win, of course, but most of all to have fun.”

Loughborough graduate Andy Turner secured Great Britain’s only other individual victory as the European and Commonwealth bronze medalist continued his fine outdoor season to win in 13.42secs (+1.3).

Turner reflected: “It was okay, I expected to be a bit faster, today. Conditions were fine, and the track is fast, so I expected a bit more. Anyway, time wasn't important, I just wanted the points for Great Britain.”

Team captain Christine Ohuruogu, the Olympic and world 400m champion despite not feeling too well stepped down in distance to compete in the 200m and finished third behind Russia's Yuliya Gushchina and Marta Jeschke of Poland, who clocked 23.01secs and 23.34 with Ohuruogu clocking 23.40.

Olympic Triple Jump silver medallist Phillips Idowu was in prime position looked to avenge the defeat at the hands of Portugal’s Nelson Evora who finished ahead of the Brit to take the gold medal in Beijing, however, following a very close contest, Idowu had to settle for second once again by a margin of by nine centimetres as Evora won with a leap of 17.59m.

In what can only be described as the farcical ‘Devil take the Hindmost’ races Loughborough-based Nick McCormick came out of the men’s 3,000m battered and bruised after the athletes bunched and fell after the opening lap, however, the 27-year-old Morpeth Harrier recovered to finish fourth in a time of 8mins 03.45secs as Spain’s Jesus España won in 8:01.73, whilst, fellow Loughborough athlete Laura Kenney clocked 15:53.29 to take 7th place in the women’s 5,000m.

Hannah England continued her fine weekend in Portugal as the 2008 NCAA champion finished fourth in the 1500m with a time of 4:09.25 this having ran the 800m the previous day after Jenny Meadows was a late withdrawal. Russia’s Anna Alminova, the reigning European indoor champion, won in 4:07.59.

Loughborough-based Steve Lewis gained additional points with a leap of 5.55m to take 6th place in the men’s Pole Vault, Milton Keynes Mervyn Luckwell finished 8th in the Javelin on his senior GB debut with a best throw of 72.40m.

Mustafa Mohamed gave Sweden their only win of the weekend with his 8:28.09 clocking in the men’s 3,000m Steeplechase as Britain’s Stuart Stokes came out of international retirement to replace Andrew Lemoncello finishing 8th in 9:05.13 as the 32-year-old Sale Harrier then launched a scathing attack on UK Athletics selection policy for last summer’s Beijing Olympics accusing the governing body of not selecting athletes that had achieved the qualifying standard which included Charnwood’s Mark Edwards in the Shot.

The women’s 4x400m quartet of Loughborough graduate Vicki Barr combined with Eilidh Child, Jenny Meadows and Loughborough Sports Scholar Lee McConnell gave Great Britain the opportunity to take third overall in the day’s penultimate event by placing third. McConnell made up two places on the anchor leg, over taking Germany and France in the final stretch.


In a thrilling finale in the men’s 4x400m 
the British squad of Conrad Williams, Rob Tobin, Richard Strachan and Tim Benjamin stormed to victory to win in 3:00.82 
and with the French team only finishing in 5th place Team GB edged ahead in the overall standings to take the third podium position.

The overall title was won by Germany on 326.5 points with Russia taking second with 320 points and Great Britain securing third on 303 points, ahead of France (301).

UK Athletics performance director Charles Van Commenee commenting on Team GB’s showing over the two days of competition said: "Coming to the competition you want to win, but finishing third is acceptable obviously we had some weak events - I knew that in advance. But there were some positives for me, so overall I would say it was an acceptable performance."
Final Team Standings:
1 Germany 326,5; 2 Russian 320; 3 Great Britain 303; 4 France 301; 5 Poland 289; 6 Italy 278; 7 Ukraine 265,5; 8 Spain 257; 9 Greece 216,5; 10 Czech Republic 213,5; 11 Portugal 200; 12 Sweden 138
Leading British Athletes Results:
Men

200 2 (-0.9): 1 Dwain Chambers (Belg) 20.55 

800: 4 Colin McCourt (Dund H) 1:48.41 

3000: 4 Nick McCormick (Morp/LSAC) 8:03.45 

110H 2 (1.3): 1 Andy Turner (Sale) 13.42 

3000SC: 8 Stuart Stokes (Sale) 9:05.13 

PV: 6 Steven Lewis (NEB/LSAC) 5.55 

TJ: 2 Phillips Idowu (Belg) 17.50/0.1 

DT: 7 Abdul Buhari (NEB) 58.79 

JT: 8 Mervyn Luckwell (Mil K) 72.40 

Women

200 2 (0.0): 3 Christine Ohuruogu (NEB) 23.40
1500: 4 Hannah England (Oxf C) 4:09.25

5000: 7 Laura Kenney (RSC/LSAC) 15:53.29

100HW 1 (0.3): 5 Phyllis Agbo (TVH) 13.73 

HJ: 10 Adele Lassu (Sale) 1.80

LJ: 10 Phyllis Agbo (TVH) 6.07/0.5

SPW: 12 Alison Rodger (Sale) 15.43
HTW: 6 Zoe Derham (Bir) 65.59

Full results are available on the following link:
www.sportresult.com/sports/la/framework/eaa2.asp

2009 Midlands Senior & U20 Championships

Alexander Stadium, Birmingham

Sunday 21st June 2009

LEICESTERSHIRE athletes were in fine medal winning form at the 2009 Midlands Senior & Under-20 Championships held at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium that witnessed a selection of top senior victories on the track for Paul Richardson (OWLS) and Hannah Whitmore (Charnwood) in the 1500m, Amber Sian Magee (Charnwood) set a championship record to win the 2,000m Steeplechase gold, Callum Priestley (Woodford G & EL) and Nicola Robinson (Coventry) prevailed in the high hurdles, whilst, on the infield Denae Matthew (Leicester Coritanians) claimed gold in the Triple Jump.

At the Under-20 level Laura Samuel (Leicester Coritanians) led the way with a new championship record-breaking performance in the Triple Jump as Josh Norman (OWLS) completed victory in the men’s 3,000m Steeplechase to also take gold.
Senior Championships

As the senior GB squad battled it out with the best of Europe’s elite athletes in the heat of Leiria, Portugal, at the inaugural European Team Championships back in the United Kingdom the territorial area championships were taking place across the country with the Midlands staged on the Mondo surface of the Alexander Stadium in Britain’s second city Birmingham.

Paul Richardson (OWLS) has seen a recent fine return to form and that was underlined with his excellent run to win the men’s 1500m in a time of 3mins 55.69secs as the 27-year-old finished narrowly ahead of Loughborough student Tom Gayle (City of Stoke) following a close finish.

Hannah Whitmore (Charnwood) heads the 2009 East Midlands 1500m rankings following her season opening 7th place finish (4:18.86) at the Watford Nike British Milers Grand Prix meeting the previous weekend and the 25-year-old World Cross Country Championships representative coached by Phil Banning, edged out former United Kingdom 3,000m Steeplechase record-holder Tina Brown (Coventry) to secure the Midlands title with a time of 4:20.02 this also following a tough competitive race.

Leicester’s United Kingdom indoor bronze medalist Callum Priestley (Woodford G & EL) showed his class to win outdoor gold over the 110m Hurdles as the 20-year-old defeated Birchfield Harrier Edirin Okoro with a time of 13.83secs.

Bath University student Nicola Robinson gave notice of her undoubted talent in the 100m Hurdles - having under gone ankle surgery two-years ago the former junior British international clocked a time of 14.23secs as the 22-year-old Coventry Godiva Harrier added Midlands outdoor gold to the indoor 60m Hurdles bronze medal achieved back in February. Joanna Eaton (Yate) set a new personal best of 14.40 to take silver with Birchfield Harrier Jade Surman third in 14.44.

On the infield Denae Matthew won Triple Jump gold defeating Leicester club mate Tamara Longwe with a leap of 12.51m.

There was also a silver medal for Loughborough student Ed Wormsley (Stroud & D) in the men’s 3,000m Steeplechase with a time of 9:37.31, fellow Loughborough athlete Sophie Hine (Rugby & N) collected silver in the women’s High Jump with a best of 1.75m, Seemita Gumbs (Birchfield) won bronze over the 400m clocking 56.84 and Loughborough graduate Emma Bailey (Rugby & N) also claimed bronze in the 100m (12.18).
Under-20 Championships

Performance of the day for Leicestershire athletes In the Under-20 championships came from Charnwood’s Amber-Sian Magee as the 18-year-old set a new championship record to win the 2,000m Steeplechase with a lifetime best of 7:31.85 finishing ahead of Louise Durman (Stroud & D) and Kathryn Stuart (Sphinx) to add the Midlands title to the domestic county title she won last month.

English U20 indoor champion Laura Samuel (Leicester Coritanians) who currently heads the United Kingdom U20 rankings continued her run of good form to win the Triple Jump in a new championship record of 12.72m outside of her lifetime best of 12.82 recorded when finishing fourth at the Bedford International Games last month.

Josh Norman (OWLS) battled his way to a hard fought gold medal in the 3,000m as the 18-year-old Leicestershire U20 cross-country champion defeated Ben Norris (Notts AC) by the narrowest of margins over the line winning with a time of 8:45.17 to 8:45.45 as team mate Sam Stabler (OWLS) collected bronze in 8:48.87.

Laura Samuel completed a busy afternoon by winning silver in the 100 metres giving notice of her flat speed with a time of 12.08secs as Emily Diamond (Bristol & West) won the title with a personal best of 11.80 and Charnwood’s Laura Haslam secured bronze in 12.28. Haslam also collected silver in the 200m with a lifetime best of 25.24secs as Chelsea Cooper (City of Stoke) won gold in 24.96.

Other highlights included Liam Phelan (Leicester Coritanians) winning silver in the 2,000m Steeplechase in 6:49.35 as Louisa Monk (Leicester Coritanians) also claimed a well-deserved silver in the 3,000m with a mark of 11:30.76 and Rutland’s Sarah Anne De Kremer (Corby AC) collected bronze in the women’s Javelin with a best throw of 35.76 metres.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link:
www.midlandathletics.org.uk/PDFS/2009_090621_MCAA_SENIORJUNTFCHAMPS_RESULTS.pdf