Friday 9th May 2008

THE new series of the hit nineties programme ‘Gladiators’ begins this Sunday (11th May) on Sky One at 6.00pm featuring two Loughborough University sports graduates in the line-up.

Caroline Pearce will be taking part as ‘Ice,’ having been an experienced athlete, competing in the heptathlon. She was one of the youngest competitors in the England schools competition in the hurdles when she was 11 and went on to compete for England in the pentathlon at the age of 15.

As a senior she competed for Great Britain at the 2004 European Cup and was a member of the British bobsleigh team at the World Championships in 2005 and achieved a first-class honours degree in sports science and a Masters degree in physiology and nutrition from Loughborough University.

Jenny Pacey will be ‘Enigma,’ following a BSc (Hons) in Sports and Exercise Science at Loughborough University, she further qualified in personal training, sports massage, strength and conditioning, nutrition, weight management, mobility and core stability.

She has represented Great Britain in the long jump and pentathlon and bobsleighed to Olympic level. Plus, she is ranked sixth in the long jump in the UK. Pacey is also a sports model and has been photographed for brands including Asics, Adidas, Reebok, Mizuno and Nike.

Sky One have announced footballing legend Ian Wright and TV favourite Kirsty Gallacher as the presenters.

They will preside over the contest as 32 contenders take on TVs toughest challenges in the hope of becoming crowned series champion and win the £50,000 prize. They are joined by original referee John Anderson on the new series to be filmed on two giant sound stages at Shepperton Studios, Middlesex, home to blockbuster film productions including The Golden Compass, Atonement and Troy.

www.gladiatorszone.co.uk/

Monday 5th May 2008

CANADIAN international Seyi Smith with victory in the 200 metres led the way for a golden hat-trick of individual titles for the Loughborough students on the final day of the 2008 BUSA Track & Field Championships held in warm conditions at the Bedford International Stadium.

Smith running in the final of the 200m finished ahead of Bath’s Dan Cossins to take the title in a time of 20.89secs, with Germany’s Sven Knipphals representing Bournemouth taking bronze in a true international race.

In the middle-distance events Kieran Flannery’s superb kick finish off the final bend secured the Gateshead Harrier the gold medal for Loughborough in the 800m, following in the foot steps of the legendary Sebastian Coe three decades ago, Flannery clocked a time of 1min 50.45secs to edge out Birmingham’s Ed Aston into second place to take the title.

Lewis Moses and Tom Carter claimed the silver and bronze medals in the 1500m for George Gandy’s squad in the race where Teeside’s Jonathon Taylor prevailed in a time of 3:45.61.

Oakham’s reigning English schools champion Julian Adeniran from Charnwood AC representing the University of Birmingham won the 110m Hurdles in a time of 14.51secs ahead of Ben Richardson of Cambridge.

In the Women’s 100m Hurdles Gemma Werrett completed Loughborough’s gold medal haul winning in a time of 13.97secs as the 22-year-old Rugby & Northampton athlete finished clear of Zara Hohn (Sheffield Hallam) 14.14 and Heather Jones (UWIC) 14.15.

Kylie Russell collected her second medal of the championships in the sprints securing bronze over the 200m in a time of 25.11secs with victory going to Brunel’s impressive Montell Douglas in 23.90.

The finals results from Day 3 are listed below.
Men's Finals
200m
1 Seyi Smith (Loughborough) 20.89
2 Dan Cossins (Bath) 21.19
3 Sven Knipphals (Bournemouth) 21.41
8 Steve Small (Loughborough) 22.07
800m
1 Kieran Flannery (Loughborough) 1.50.45
2 Ed Aston (Birmingham) 1.50.58
3 Chris Smith (Birmingham) 1.50.72
6 Oliver Blake (Loughborough) 1.51.55
1500m
1 Jonathon Taylor (Teesside) 3.45.61
2 Lewis Moses (Loughborough) 3.45.72
3 Tom Carter (Loughborough) 3.46.50
5 Frank Baddick (Loughborough) 3.49.52
5,000m
1 Jonny Mellor (Liverpool John Moores) 14.29.14
2 Keith Gerrard (St. Mary's) 14.31.18
3 Tom Russell (Bristol) 14.37.12
4 Joe McDonald (Loughborough) 14.40.56
13 James Poole (Loughborough) 15.19.20
110m Hurdles
1 Julian Adeniran (Birmingham) 14.51
2 Ben Richardson (Cambridge) 14.71
3 Taiwo Sodeyi (East London) 14.72
4 David Feeney (Loughborough) 14.77
5 Jordan Fleary (Loughborough) 14.88
3,000m Steeplechase
1 Glen Watts (East Anglia) 9.05.17
2 Stephen Lisgo (Leeds Met) 9.13.51
3 Adam Peers (Loughborough) 9.14.58
High Jump
1 Matthew Owens (Liverpool John Moores) 2.15
2 Kabelo Mmono (UWIC) 2.10
3 Simon Hemmings (Bedfordshire) 2.00
9 Peter Ringel (loughborough) 1.90
10 Ricardo Twumasi (Loughborough) 1.85
Lewis Ely (Loughborough) NHR
Triple Jump
1 Jeremy Odametey (Birmingham) 15.16
2 Graham Jackson (Northumbria) 14.85
3 Anthony Mattis (St. Mary's) 14.85
Matt Burton (Loughborough) NJ
Javelin
1 James Campbell (Leeds Met) 73.70
2 Lee Doran (UWIC) 72.26
3 Chris Hughff (Brunel) 71.44
10 Alex Pope (Loughborough) 54.88
Hammer
1 Amir Williamson (St. Mary's) 66.42
2 Alistair Williamson (St. Mary's) 57.98
3 Chris Scott (Loughborough) 49.48
5 Luke Hyland (Loughborough) 45.62
7 Andy Windley (Loughborough) 35.47
4x100m
1 Bath 41.16
2 Loughborough 41.81
3 Brunel 41.90
4x400m
1 Loughborough 3.10.98
2 Bath 3.12.98
3 UWIC 3.15.90
Team Standings:
1 Loughborough 141pts
2 Bath 88pts
3 UWIC 64pts
Women’s Finals
200m
1 Montell Douglas (Brunel) 23.90
2 Annabelle Lewis (Hull) 25.09
3 Kylie Russell (Loughborough) 25.11
400m
1 Nadine Okyere (UWIC) 55.47
2 Claire Burgoyne (Staffordshire) 55.70
3 Hayley Wills (UWIC) 55.84
5 Becky Syrocki (Loughborough) 56.48
800m
1 Tara Bird (Brunel) 2.06.99
2 Hayley Beard (Birmingham) 2.08.42
3 Philippa Aukett (Bristol) 2.08.60
1500m
1 Emma Pallant (Brunel) 4.20.88
2 Linzi Snow (St. Mary's) 4.21.05
3 Emma Jackson (Keele) 4.21.19
10 Dani Christmas (Loughborough) 4.33.01
11 Emma Leigh Heighway (Loughborough) 4.39.97
100m Hurdles
1 Gemma Werrett (Loughborough) 13.97
2 Zara Hohn (Sheffield Hallam) 14.14
3 Heather Jones (UWIC) 14.15
Triple Jump
1 Nony Mordi (Edinburgh) 13.62 CBP
2 Sineade Gutzmore (Birmingham) 12.97
3 Jayne Nisbet (Stirling) 12.82
4 Melissa Carr (Loughborough) 12.24
7 Tamara Longwe (Loughborough) 11.86
10 Nicola Breaks (Loughborough) 11.09
Shot
1 Chloe Beckett (Leeds Met) 12.99
2 Alice Simpson (Birmingham) 12.44
3 Dominique Blaize (Brunel) 12.02
14 Nicola Breaks (Loughborough) 9.20
15 Vicky Black (Loughborough) 9.00
4x100m
1 Brunel 46.28
2 Loughborough 47.39
3 Bath 47.78
4x400m
1 Brunel 3.41.49
2 Loughborough 3.45.14
3 London (ULU) 3.47.40
Team Standings:
1 Loughborough 97pts
2 Birmingham 81pts
3 Brunel 78pts
Overall Team Standings:
1 Loughborough 238pts
2 UWIC 138pts
3 Bath 132pts

Sunday 4th May 2008

KIERAN KELLY produced a fine gold medal performance on the second day of competition at the 2008 BUSA Track & Field Championships in Bedford winning the Shot title for the fourth consecutive year with a superb new championship record throw of 17.92 metres for the Loughborough students breaking Mark Edwards previous record from 1999 by a margin of 31 centimetres.

Leicestershire's Felicity Milton made a stunning track debut for Durham City with victory over the 5,000m as the 21-year-old, fresh from her appearence at the World University Cross Country Championships in France, crossed the line in a time of 16mins 27mins. Steph Barnes (UWIC) finished strongly to take the silver medal while Sarah Waldron (Birmingham) took the bronze medal.

In other events Max Eves (5.00) and Paul Walker (5.00) claimed the silver and bronze medals respectively for the Loughborough students in the Pole Vault as Christian North of Bath won the title with a height of 5.10m to add to his BUSA indoor title won in Sheffield back in February.

In the Men's 400m Hurdles final David Martin claimed silver for Loughborough in 52.69secs as Bath's Steve Green edged victory in 52.65.

In the Women's race Eilidh Child (Edinburgh), the reigning BUSA outdoor champion and current England U23 Champion, set a new Championship Best Performance taking gold. Child set the new record with a time of 58.03secs followed by Justine Kinney (Loughborough) and Maria Crowe (Loughborough) who took silver and bronze respectively.

There was also a well-deserved Bronze for Jenny Scott (Loughborough) in the Discus with a mark of 39.37.

The finals results from Day 2 are listed below.
Men's Finals
400m Hurdles
1 Steve Green (Bath) 52.65
2 David Martin (Loughborough) 52.69
3 Martin Lipton (Edinburgh) 53.12
6 Tom Burton (Loughborough) 54.70
Pole Vault
1 Christian North (Bath) 5.10
2 Max Eaves (Loughborough) 5.00
3 Paul Walker (Loughborough) 5.00
Shot
1 Kieran Kelly (Loughborough) 17.92 CBP
2 Rimantas Martisauskas (Leeds Met) 16.80
3 Brett Morse (UWIC) 14.73
6 David Feeney (Loughborough) 13.31
12 Alex Pope (Loughborough) 12.24
Women's Finals
5,000m
1 Felicity Milton (Durham) 16.27.78
2 Steph Barnes (UWIC) 16.53.72
3 Sarah Waldron (Birmingham) 17.02.10
6 Kirsty Milner (Loughborough) 17:21.66
7 Claire Mensley (Birmingham) 17:35.13
9 Jo Maddick (Loughborough) 17:44.80
10 Jo Callaway (Loughborough) 18:07.65
400m Hurdles
1 Eilidh Child (Edinburgh) 58:03 CBP
2 Justine Kinney (Loughborough) 59.70
3 Maria Crowe (Loughborough) 60.68
5 Claire Cooper (Loughborough) 61.61
2,000m Steeplechase
1 Emily Brown (UWIC) 7.03.65
2 Lucy Mayho (Birmingham) 7.08.51
3 Jenna Hill (St. Mary's) 7.09.29
4 Alison Lavender (Loughborough) 7:09.59
Long Jump
1 Gemma Weetman (Brunel) 6.18
2 Louise Hazel (Birmingham) 5.88
3 Imogen Miles (Cardiff) 5.83
5 Melissa Carr (Loughborough) 5.56
Discus
1 Jade Nicholls (St. Mary's) 47.09
2 Rachel Backhouse (Birmingham) 40.99
3 Jenny Scott (Loughborough) 39.37
8 Claire Williams (Loughborough) 35.25
Hammer
1 Zoe Derham (Gloucestershire) 66.39
2 Stacey Wilson (Stirling) 49.53
3 Amy Howard (Leeds Met) 46.97
15 Annika Wing (Loughborough) 24.89
Sarah Holt (Loughborough) NT

Saturday 3rd May 2008

THE 2008 BUSA Track & Field Championships began in warm conditions on the track of the Bedford International Stadium where there was medal success for the Loughborough students on Day 1 as Steve Small in the Long Jump and Rosie Sementysh, following in the footsteps of British record-holder Goldie Sayers, claimed gold in the Javelin, whilst, Chris Scott secured a fine silver in the Discus competition and Kylie Russell sprinted to bronze over 100m.

In the Men’s Long Jump the championship title was won by Steve Small with a jump of 7.49m, taking the gold by a margin of just 3cm.

Small, who won silver in the event last year, was pushed all the way by Jacob Brown (Leeds Met) as David Cook (Exeter) completed the podium lie-up with a bronze medal leap of 7.28m.

Rosie Sementysh took the 2008 Javelin title with a throw of 47.31m. She was closely followed by UWIC team mates Lianne Clarke and Louise Watton who finished second and third respectively with throws of 47.06 and 46.05.

The finals results from Day 1 are listed below.
Men's Finals
100m
1 Ryan Scott (Bath) 10.87
2 Ryan Farrington (Wolverhampton) 10.97
3 Lloyd Rice (Bath) 11.02
10,000m
1 Adam Grice (Leeds) 30:57.62
2 Jonathon Thewlis (Nottingham) 31:04.42
3 Ben Warren (Sussex) 31:36.42
7 Richard Harper (Loughborough) 32:48.34
Long Jump
1 Steve Small (Loughborough) 7.49
2 Jacob Brown (Leeds Met) 7.46
3 David Cook (Exeter) 7.28
6 Andrew Staniland (Loughborough) 6.93
Discus
1 Brett Morse (UWIC) 52.68
2 Chris Scott (Loughborough) 49.94
3 Dave Coleman (UWIC) 49.86
5 Daniel Greaves (Loughborough) 46.81
8 Alex Pope (Loughborough) 43.94
Women's Finals
100m
1 Annabelle Lewis (Hull) 12.24
2 Zara Hohn (Sheffield Hallam) 12.33
3 Kylie Russell (Loughborough) 12.40
10,000m
1 Claire Hallissey (Bristol) 34:54.71
2 Fiona Clark (Birmingham) 36:26.42
3 Helen Rollins (Cambridge) 37:06.04
5 Natalie Grey (Loughborough) 37:28.22
6 Katie Lomas (Loughborough) 38:22.56
High Jump
1 Jayne Nisbet (Stirling) 1.80
2 Pamela Hughes (Brunel) 1.80
3 Dominique Blaize (Brunel) 1.80
4 Sophie Hines (Loughborough) 1.80
8 Melissa Clifford (Loughborough) 1.65
9 Sade Thompson (Loughborough) 1.65
Pole Vault
1 Louise Butterworth (UWIC) 3.80
2 Emma Lyons (UWIC) 3.70
3 Jessica Abrahams (UWIC) 3.50
9 Becky Lilley (Loughborough) 3.00
Javelin
1 Rosie Sementysh (Loughborough) 47.31
2 Lianne Clarke (UWIC) 47.06
3 Louise Watton (UWIC) 46.05
8 Nicola Breaks (Loughborough) 33.68

Friday 2nd May 2008

MARTYN ROONEY has been nominated for the European Athlete of the Month for April.

The 21-year-old Loughborough student achieved his nomination for his out standing performance in California where he recorded the fastest European time over 400m this season with a 45.88 clocking.

At the Mt San Antonio College (SAC) meeting, Rooney, the reigning UK junior 400m record-holder posted an impressive victory in the Invitational 400m producing a powerful sprint finish to run past two-time European indoor champion (and training partner) David Gillick of Ireland, as well as two-time Mt SAC winner Lionel Larry, for the victory.

April was another busy month for European Athletics, with a number of big city marathons taking place, the European Cup of 10,000m in Istanbul and a number of American collegiate competitions involving European athletes.

Following this, European Athletics is pleased to announce that athletes from 14 countries have been nominated for the European Athlete of the Month Award for April.

At the end of each month, a panel of experts produce a shortlist of the outstanding athletes and performances achieved by European Athletes during that month which is emailed to the European Athletics media and thousands of fans who have already signed up to receive news from European Athletics.

The poll is situated in the Fan Zone of the European Athletics website and both the public, the media and a group of expert statisticians will cast their votes with each category counting as 33.3% of the vote. For example, the winner of the each poll will be awarded 10 pts, second 9 pts etc and the athlete with the most points after the 3 different polls have been counted will be declared the winner. In the unlikely event of a tie, Hansjörg Wirz, the President of European Athletics, will have the casting vote.

To place your vote click on the following link: www.european-athletics.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4760&Itemid=208

Thursday 1st May 2008

THE quality of the competition evident in the women’s events is reflected in the men’s entries at this year’s BUSA Outdoor Athletics Championships. Participants and spectators alike can look forward to three days of high-class action.

In the men’s 100m metres medal chances look to lie between Ryan Scott (Bath), the 2007 World Student Games and Euro U23 100m semi-finalist and 4x100m gold medallist at those Euro championships; Rion Pierre (Brunel), 200m semi-finalist and 4x100m bronze medallist at the World Juniors in 2006; Seyi Smith (Loughborough) who represented Canada at the last World Junior championships; Simon Farenden (Leeds Met), World Student Games 200m semi-finalist and Jeffrey Lawal-Balogun (East London), Euro U23 200m semi-finalist. Pierre and Lawal-Balogun are also entered for the 200m. In that final they are likely to line up alongside Luke Fagan (Middesex), the Euro U20 200m and 4x100m silver medallist; the 400m specialist Richard Buck (Leeds Met) who finished 5th at the Euro U23 championships last year and reached the 400m semi-finals at the IAAF World championships and two of the stars from University of Bath Dan Cossins (pictured) and Bruce Tasker, first and second at this year’s indoor championships where Cossins recorded a new CBP time.

In the men’s 400m the gold medal should go to either Nick Leavey (Brunel), a member of the 4x400m squad at this year’s World Indoors and a former World Youth championship semi-finalist or John Kelley (Sheffield Hallam) the reigning BUSA indoor champion and second at these championships last year.

Favourites for 800m gold are Ed Aston (Birmingham) and Mike Coltherd (Loughborough). Aston represented GB at the 2007 Euro U20 championships in this event and is the 2008 BUSA indoor champion. Coltherd was a member of team GB at the World Student Games in 2007 and has come away from the BUSA outdoor championships with gold in each of the last 3 years – twice in the 1500m and once in the 800m.

James Brewer (Bath), very much considered to be an 800m specialist until his performances over 1500m indoors this year could claim his fist BUSA title in the 1500m. The Euro U20 800m silver medallist and current England U20 champion lines up alongside Andy Vernon (St Mary’s) a medallist at the Euro U23 Cross in 2007 and at the Euro U20 Cross the year before. Vernon recently led GB to team silver at the World Student Cross and was 8th in the 50000m at last year’s Euro U23 championships. Making his BUSA debut is Mitch Goose (St Mary’s) a member of the silver medal winning team at the 2007 Euro U20 Cross and the current ESAA 3,000m champion.

The 5,000m and 10,000m have attracted numerous current and previous members of GB teams at World and European Cross Country championships.

In the 5000m defending champion Joe MacDonald (Loughborough) faces a strong challenge from the likes of Nick Swinburn (UW Bangor), World U20 Cross in 2006; James Ellis (BCFTCS), Euro U20 Cross 2004; Tom Russell (Bristol), Euro U23 Cross 2006 who was second in this year’s Home Countries International Cross held in Scotland as part of the World Championship weekend; Leicester Owls Rory Fraser (Leeds Met) and Rob Bugden (UWIC) members of the silver medal winning team at the World Student Cross this year; making his BUSA track debut Adam Hickey (Loughborough), ESAA Cross champion on four occasions, a former AAA U20 5,000m champion who has represented GB at both the Euro and World U20 Cross. Johnny Mellor (Liverpool John Moores) the England U23 5000m bronze medallist last year will also expect to be in contention for the medals.

Jonathan Thewlis (Nottingham) who represented GB over 5000m at the Euro U23 championships in 2007 is entered for both the 5000m and 10000m.

In the 10,000m the line up includes Keith Gerrard (St Mary’s) and Adam Grice (Leeds) both members of the silver medal winning team at the World Student Cross. Gerrard was also 2nd in this event in 2006. Neil Burton (Birmingham) 3rd on that occasion will once again have hopes of a medal. Others challenging for medals are likely to be Kevin Deighton (Loughborough) who but for injury would have led the GB challenge in the U23 race at the 2007 Euro Cross; Ben Lindsay (St Mary’s) 12th at the Euro U20 Cross in 2007 and Tom Boardman (St Mary’s) who represented GB at the World U20 Cross in 2006.

In the 110mH two European finalist and a semi-finalist from last year go head-to-head – Gianni Frankis (Middlesex), Euro U20 bronze medallist; Callum Priestley (Loughborough) Euro U20 finalist and Julian Adeniran (Birmingham) Euro U20 semi-finalist.

The out-and-out favourite for the 400mH title is Bath’s Steve Green – he is the defending champion who reached the World Student Games semi-final last year when he also took gold in the 4x400m at the European Indoor Championships.

In the long jump GB U23 international JJ Jegede (Loughborough) will have high hopes of the gold. All eyes should be on the triple jump when the European U23 champion Gary White (UWIC) is on the runway and asking for the crowd’s participation.

In the high jump defending champion Simon Phelan (Bath) will have to be at his best to claim gold again as he is likely to face the former Botswanan national recorder holder and African and All-African Games champion Kabelo Mmono (UWIC) who set a new indoor best this year of 2.15m. Pole vault medals are likely to be contested by GB U23 International Keith Higham (Loughborough), the defending BUSA champion Paul Walker (Loughborough) and the current BUSA indoor champion Christian North (Bath). In the shot the only 20m plus thrower is Garrett Johnson (Oxford/USA), a former NCAA indoor champion and the BUSA indoor record holder. His nearest challenger should be Kieren Kelly (Loughborough), the England U23 champion and U23 International.

In the discus Dan Greaves (Loughborough) the 2004 Paralympic gold medallist and double World and European champion may start as favourite for the BUSA title. Also contesting the medals are likely to be two GB U20 Internationals Chris Scot (Loughborough) and Brett Morse (UWIC) and Jeremy Harper (Ulster) who finished 2nd in 2007. In the javelin Lee Doran (UWIC) will look to take his third successive BUSA title. In his way James Campbell (Leeds Met), the current England U20 champion who had a top ten finish at the World Juniors in 2006 and at the Euro U20 championships last year.

In the hammer it is difficult to look beyond Amir Willimason (St Mary’s) for the winner. He represented GB at the World Juniors in 2006 and if he faces a challenge it may come from his younger brother Alistair another St Mary’s student.

Wednesday 30th April 2008

THE International Stadium at Bedford once again hosts the 2008 BUSA Outdoor Athletics Championships this coming Bank Holiday weekend. The entry list promises three days of high quality competition.

In the women’s 100 metres three of the rising stars of British athletics look likely to line up alongside one another in the final. Zara Hohn (Sheffield Hallam), the hurdles specialist, who took gold over 60m at the BUSA indoor championships, is set to face a strong challenge from Joey Duck (Brunel) semi-finalist in the 200m at the European U20 championships last year and 4x400m silver medallist and Lucy Sargent (Brunel) who finished 6th at the World Youth championships in 2005.

The clear favourite to take the 200m title is another Brunel student Montell Douglas. Douglas finished 7th at last year’s European U23 championships and reached the quarter final of the 100m at the Worlds. Disappointed not to be selected for this year’s World Indoors she will have her sights set on a place in the GB team for Beijing. Her nearest challengers may be two other Brunel students, Elaine O’Neill the European U20 100m semi-finalist and Lucy Sargent a former AAA U20 200m champion. But Stacey Downie (Heriot Watt) who finished 2nd over 200m at the European U23 championships may gatecrash the Brunel party.

In the 400m it is difficult to look beyond Faye Harding (Loughborough) for the winner. She is the reigning BUSA champion who reached the European U23 final and the World Student Games semi-final.

One of the most competitive races of the whole weekend should be the women’s 1500m. Emma Pallant (Brunel) who is also entered for the 5,000m is perhaps the favourite for gold having finished 4th at the European U20 championships. But she is likely to face a strong challenge from Rose-Ann Galligan (St Mary’s) the European U23 finalist. But there are at least eight other athletes with realistic medal chances – Carolyn Plateau (Oxford), who finished 6th in the 800m at the 2005 World Youth championships: Jessica Sparke (St Mary’s), a former ESAA 1500m champions, 5th at the 2005 European championships over 1500m and a member of the gold medal winning team at the Euro U23 Cross in 2007: Linzi Snow (St Mary’s) the defending BUSA champion: Hannah Brooks (Birmingham), European U20 800m finalist and the silver medallist at this year’s BUSA indoor championships: Emma Jackson (Keele), European U20 800m silver medallist:: Rachel Thompson (Loughborough), European U23 800m semi-finalist in 2005: Charlotte Roach (Cambridge), who placed 4th at the Euro U20 XC in 2007. And quite a lot of interest may be focused on a talented athlete whose progress has been hampered by injury – Dani Barnes (Loughborough), the 2003 European U20 1500m silver medallist and 4th at the World Juniors in 2004.

The 5,000m sees Emily Pidgeon (Loughborough) the European U20 5,000m bronze medallist from 2007 make her BUSA track debut. She is looking to recapture the form that saw her take the European U20 5,000m title in 2005 and finish 2nd at the Euro U20 Cross.

Another making her BUSA track debut should be Rutland's Felicity Milton (Durham) the find of the 2006-07 cross-country season whose track season was disrupted by injury. Milton has had another successful cross-country season – 13th at the recent World Student Cross and also 5th at the Euro U23 Cross with team GB winning gold on both occasions. It will be interesting to see whether she can translate those kinds of performances on to the track. Two other members of successful GB Cross teams are also in the line-up – Gemma Turtle (St Mary’s), Euro U20 Cross team gold in 2005 and Rosie Smith (Edinburgh), who in 2003 finished 12th at the Euro U20 Cross as GB claimed team silver.

In the 10,000m Sian Edwards (Lougborough) makes her BUSA debut looking to put the frustrations of recent injuries behind her. In 2006 she finished 6th at the World Junior championships in the 5000m and in the same year was 10th at the World U20 Cross. She carried that good form into the 2007 cross-country season finishing 6th at the Euro U20 Cross and 44th in the senior race at the World Cross in Mombassa. Andrea Woodvine (Birmingham) will be looking to improve on her second place at last year’s championships and another Birmingham student Olivia Kenney, ESAA 3000m champion in 2006 and 18th at the Euro U20 Cross in the same year, will also have hopes of a medal.

In the steeplechase defending champion Ruth Senior (Loughborough) who was 9th at the World Junior championships in 2006 starts as favourite. Jenna Hill (St Mary’s) who was 3rd in 2007 and went on to finish 2nd at the England U23 championships should be challenging for a medal. Nicola Sykes (Birmingham) who finished 2nd in this event in Birmingham in 2005 should also offer a challenge.

The challengers to Zara Hohn (Sheffield Hallam), who finished 5th in the 100mH at the World Junior championships in 2006 and set a lifetime best, are likely to be Heather Jones (UWIC) 5th at the European U20 championships in 2005 and 2nd in this event in Birmingham in 2006: international heptathlete Dominique Blaize (Pictured/ Brunel) who had such a successful BUSA indoor championships claiming two golds (200m and long jump) and a bronze (60mH): Stephanie Walker (Edinburgh) 3rd in 2007: Gemma Werrett (Loughborough) 2nd in 2007 and England U20 bronze medallist last year Helen Asher (Liverpool Hope).

In the 400mH the defending champion and reigning England U23 champion Eilidh Child (Edinburgh) who finished 5th at the European U23 championships looks favourite for gold again. The challenge may well come from the 2007 BUSA and England U23 silver medallist Anwen Rees (Loughborough) and Ellen Howarth-Brown (Chichester) 3rd in 2006, the year in which she represented GB at the World Junior championships.

Another BUSA debutant Vikki Hubbard (Loughborough) who so narrowly missed out on third place at last year’s European U20 championships and has represented GB at both the World Youth and World Junior championships could claim her first BUSA high jump title. Jayne Nisbet (Stirling) with a PB of 1.81m may be the main challenger along with Pamela Hughes(Brunel), GB heptahlete Jenny Lumley (Leeds Met) and another Loughborough student Sophie Hine who improved significantly during the indoor season to record a new absolute PB of 1.79m.

The pole vault is set to be a head-to-head between two UWIC students – Louise Butterworth the reigning England U23 champion, 8th at the European U23 championships and the England U23 silver medallist, 10th at those European championships Emma Lyons.

In the long jump GB heptathlete Gemma Weetman (Brunel) is the only 6.00m plus jumper. If she is to be challenged for the gold then it could come from the 2007 ESAA champion who was second at this year’s BUSA indoor championships, Kim Murray (Bath) or Noni Mordi (Edinburgh) 3rd at those championships.

The focus in the triple jump should be on two of Scotland’s best – Jayne Nisbet (Stirling) the UK U20 record holder and a member of the GB team at the 2007 European U20 championships and the current England U23 champion and Scottish indoor record holder Noni Mordi (Edinburgh).

The outcome of the discus title looks to be in the hands of Jenny Scott (Loughborough), the England U20 silver medallist who represented GB at the European U20 championships, Jade Nicholls (St Mary’s) the England U23 silver medallist and Lauren Therin (UWIC) silver medallist in 2007 and the England U23 bronze medallist.

In the hammer the clear favourite is Zoe Derham (Gloucester) who topped the UK rankings last year and is coached by the UK record holder and 2006 BUSA champion Loraine Shaw. Derham is the defending champion who has represented England at the Commonwealth Games and GB in both the European Cup, European Championships and World Student Games. Watch too for Loughborough's Sarah Holt who broke the U23 record last weekend.

Tuesday 29th April 2008

THE Loughborough students are to take on Bath University in a Nikeplus Challenge beginning on Monday 5th May.

The Nikeplus Challenge basically involves the athletes from the respective universities who can log the most Kilometres in a month using the Apple Nano system.

Loughborough should start as favourites as they have a large middle distance squad, whereas, Bath tend to specialize in sprinting – but when battle commences who know?

The most Nikeplus Kilometre run between 25th April and 23rd May wins summer bragging rights, top performers earn Nike and Apple gear.

Further details are available on the following link: http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/#bathvslufbra

Saturday 26th April 2008

SARAH HOLT smashed the British Under-23 record in the Hammer with a massive new personal best of 63.75 metres at the Loughborough Open/BUSA Trials meeting.

In perfect weather conditions on a warm day, Holt, the 21-year-old Loughborough student from the Sale Harriers Manchester club broke Shirley Webb's best of 63.35m set in 2003. A remarkable performance as this was her first competition of the season.

Holt's previous best was set in July last year with a mark of 61.07m at the Ašli Kožar Memorial meeting in Croatia.
Full Results:
Track
Women 400m Hurdles
-1---Maria Crowe-LSAC-1:01.08
-2---Clare Cooper-LSAC-1:04.05
-3---Kath Dunn-LSAC-1:06.43
Men 400m Hurdles
-1---David Martin-LSAC-54.29
-2---Jeremy Lyons-Clonliffe Harriers AC-54.69
-3---Tom Burton-LSAC-55.81
-4---Tom Grantham-City of Sheffield-56.05
Women 800m
-1---Ashley Gibson-LSAC-2:14.40
-2---Abbey McGhee-LSAC-2:14.73
-3---Natalie Shaw-Loughborough-2:17.15
-4---Alex Snook-LSAC-2:17.20
-5---Jess Dunn-LSAC-2:21.15
-6---Kat Arnold-LSAC-2:30.05
Men 800m Race A
-1---Oliver Blake-LSAC-1:55.73
-2---Frank Baddick-LSAC-1:56.34
-3---Rob Whittle-LSAC-1:56.38
-4---Phil Burkart-LSAC-1:57.30
-5---Tim Dalton-LSAC-1:57.68
-6---Dan Ryan-LSAC-2:00.14
Men 800m Race B
-1---Laurence Cox-LSAC-1:57.18
-2---James Phillips-LSAC-1:58.78
-3---David Rigby-LSAC-1:58.90
-4---Kurt Heron-LSAC-2:00.14
-5---Darren Braybrook-LSAC-2:04.68
Women 100m ---Wind 3.1m/s
-1---Emma Bailey-LSAC-11.72
-2---Zara Hohn-Wakefield District Harriers-11.98
-3---Kylie Russell-LSAC-12.12
-4---Natalie Jowett-LSAC-12.18
-5---Gemma Werrett-LSAC-12.21
-6---Laura Hitchman-LSAC-12.37
Men 100m Race A---Wind 1.4m/s
-1---Andy Blow-LSAC-10.72
-2---Steve Small-LSAC-10.81
-3---David Hughes-Trafford-10.82
-4---Luke Stott-LSAC-11.14
-5---Josh Baxter-LSAC-11.29
-6---Sean Vernon-LSAC-11.31
Men 100m Race B---Wind 0.6m/s
-1---Luke Giblin-LSAC-10.99
-2---David Feeney-LSAC-11.05
-3---Patrick Swan-LSAC-11.10
-4---Will Green-LSAC-11.18
-5---Jordan Fleary-LSAC-11.34
-6---Martyn Ormerod-LSAC-11.65
-7---Ka Chuen To-LSAC-12.30
Men 100m Race C---Wind 1.6m/s
-1---Martin Ogun-Sanya-LSAC-11.56
-2---Simon Wombwell-LSAC-11.75
-3---Fraser Young-LSAC-11.85
-4---Clint Grabs-Derby University-11.91
-5---Victor Cook (M40)-Leicester Coritainian AC-12.13
-6---Denis Akinmolasire-LSAC-12.19
-7---Tim Brauner-LSAC-12.24
Women 400m Race A
-1---Sarah Adams-LSAC-56.34
-2---Becs Syrocki-LSAC-58.37
-3---Laura Hitchman-LSAC-59.84
-4---Elaine O'Neill-Woodford Green & Essex Ladies-1:01.27
Women 400m Race B
-1---Shaw Natalie-Loughborough-59.93
-2---Kathryn Davies-LSAC-1:00.53
-3---Emma Paton-LSAC-1:00.64
-4---Hazel Le Cornu-LSAC-1:00.97
-5---Aisling McGhee-LSAC-1:01.50
Men 400m Race A
-1---Ben Higgins-LSAC-47.95
-2---Lloyd Gumbs-LSAC-49.22
-3---Michael Warner-Notts AC-49.61
-4---Paul Goodall-LSAC-49.64
-5---Paul Judson-LSAC-49.87
Men 400m Race B
-1---Dan Cash-LSAC-50.06
-2---Glyn Hawkes-LSAC-50.17
-3---Tom Grantham-City of Sheffield-52.19
-4---Mike Garside-LSAC-52.59
-5---Simon Curtis-Doncaster AC-55.60
-6---Simon Boskovic-LSAC-58.26
Women 100m Hurdles ---Wind 1.4m/s
-1---Zara Hohn-Wakefield District Harriers-13.66
-2---Gemma Werrett-LSAC-13.71
-3---Kylie Robilliard-LSAC-14.21
Men 110m Hurdles ---Wind 2.3m/s
-1---Nick Gayle-Sale Harriers-14.19
-2---David Feeney-LSAC-14.38
-3---Jordan Fleary-LSAC-14.81
3,000m Combined Match
-1---Lewis Moses-LSAC-8:31.73
-2---Tim Dalton-LSAC-8:33.53
-3---Rob Hodges-LSAC-8:33.85
-4---Peter Street-LSAC-8:45.35
-5---Shane Kerr-LSAC-8:46.25
-6---Richard Harper-LSAC-8:51.40
-7---Aidan McCormack-LSAC-9:15.47
-8---Natalie Gray-LSAC-9:51.25
-9---Jo Galloway-LSAC-9:57.07
-10---Kirsty Milner-LSAC-9:59.00
-11---Sarah Parkinson-LSAC-10:38.68
-12---Jodie Ledger-LSAC-10:53.90
Women 200m ---Wind 2.8m/s
-1---Sarah Adams-LSAC-24.19
-2---Emma Bailey-LSAC-24.59
-3---Kylie Russell-LSAC-25.13
-4---Natalie Jowett-LSAC-25.67
Men 200m Race A---Wind 0.6m/s
-1---Adam Daish-LSAC-22.29
-2---Luke Giblin-LSAC-22.42
-3---Luke Stott-LSAC-22.58
-4---Brad Williams-LSAC-23.05
Men 200m Race B---Wind 2.6m/s
-1---Andy Blow-LSAC-21.65
-2---David Hughes-Trafford-21.81
-3---Patrick Swan-LSAC-22.06
-4---Louis Jones-LSAC-22.34
Men 200m Race C---Wind 0.5m/s
-1---David Feeney-LSAC-22.45
-2---Nick Little-LSAC-22.81
-3---Will Green-LSAC-23.38
-4---Sean Vernon-LSAC-23.62
-5---Ka chuen To-LSAC-25.18
Men 200m Race D---Wind 0.7m/s
-1---Martin Ogun-Sanya-LSAC-23.15
-2---Clint Grabs-Derby University-23.57
-3---Simon Wombwell-LSAC-24.03
-4---Fraser Young-LSAC-24.58
-5---Denis Akinmolasire-LSAC-24.68
-6---Victor Cook (M40)-Leicester Coritainian AC-24.90
Women 1500m
-1---Dani Christmas-LSAC-4:31.99
-2---Kaye Kirkham-LSAC-4:35.54
-3---Alison Lavender-LSAC-4:42.19
Men 1500m Race A
-1---Rob Whittle-LSAC-3:58.20
-2---Frank Baddick-LSAC-3:58.43
-3---Paul Hutton-LSAC-3:58.58
-4---James Griffiths-LSAC-4:00.75
-5---Laurence Cox-LSAC-4:01.50
-6---Robert Nixon-Ilford AC-4:02.70
-7---Alex Wall-Clarke-LSAC-4:11.81
-8---Andy Pickett-LSAC-4:25.89
4x100m
-1---Men's 400m Team- -42.70
-2---Men's 100m Team- -42.88
-3---Women's A Team- -49.21
-4---Women's B Team- -51.66
Field
Men High Jump
-1--Wani Mkandawire- -1.95m
-2--Peter Ringel-LSAC-1.90m
-3--Ricardo Twumasi-LSAC-1.85m
-4--Ekachai Field-LSAC-1.80m
Men Long Jump
-1--Matthew Burton-LSAC-7.32m
-2--Louis Jones-LSAC-7.04m
-3--Ekachai Field-LSAC-6.93m
-4--Martyn Ormerod-LSAC-6.81m
-5--Ricardo Twumasi-LSAC-6.67m
-6--David Feeney-LSAC-6.55m
-7--Bradley Pickup-LSAC-6.48m
-8--Thomas Dunn-Unattached-6.41m
-9--Paul Ogun-Nottingham University-6.38m
-10--Adrian Hemery-LSAC-6.27m
Men Shot
-1--Kieren Kelly-LSAC-18.10m
-2--Scot Thompson- -14.84m
-3--Daniel Brunt-City of Sheffield-14.80m
-4--John Twiddle-Kingston Upon Hull AC-12.00m
U20
-1--Jamie Stevenson (U20)-LSAC-17.94m
Men Discus
-1--Marcus Gouldbourne-Sale Harriers-57.32m
-2--Scot Thompson- -48.65m
-3--Daniel Brunt-City of Sheffield-43.14m
-4--Max Hall-LSAC-39.30m
-5--John Twiddle-Kingston Upon Hull AC-35.65m
U20
-1--Jamie Stevenson (U20)-LSAC-49.98m
Men Hammer
-1--Matt Lambley-City of Sheffield-63.99m
-2--John Pearson-LSAC-58.98m
-3--Chris Shorthouse-Notts AC-55.94m
-4--Stuart Thurgood-Watford Harriers-53.82m
-5--Andy Windley-LSAC-37.92m
U20
-1--Dan Gilder (U17)-Notts AC-55.94m
-1--Ashley Gilder (U15)-Notts AC-39.64m
Women Shot
-1--Rebecca Peake-LSAC-16.23m
-2--Rachel Wallender-Rugby & Northampton-14.57m
Women Hammer
-1--Sarah Holt -LSAC-63.75m - (British U23 record)
-2--Annika Wing-LSAC-25.45m

Saturday 26th April 2008

A SELECTION of top Leicestershire university athletes have been in early season action in the USA – their highlights include victory for Eden Francis in the Shot competition at the VS Athletics Beach Invitational in California.

The 18-year-old representing Team Pickering recorded a throw of 15.35 metres to take victory, fellow Great Britain international Kelly Sotherton, the 2004 Athens Olympic bronze medallist in the Heptathlon was fourth (14.66).

Former Loughborough student Charlotte Browning running in the 1500m recorded a time of 4:36.32 to finish in 7th place representing the University of Nevada, Las Vegas - victory went to Jane Larson of Seattle Pacific in 4:28.36.

British Under-23 international Andy Baker ran a superb 5,000m representing Butler University at the Bill McChesney Jr Oregon Relays Meeting held at Oregon University’s Haywood Field, the track made famous by the legendary American runner Steve Prefontaine back in the early 1970’s.

Baker crossing the line in third place with a time of 13mins 49.87secs with Joe Driscoll winning in 13:48.11.

The University of Birmingham athletics squad are currently taking part in an Ivy League Tour of the East coast of America where at the Brown Invitational held in the beautiful leafy surroundings of New England in Providence, Rhode Island, the reigning English schools champion Julien Adeniran (Charnwood) clocked 14.51 to finish second to American Matt Jasmin (14.47) in the 110m Hurdles.

Adeniran’s club mate at Charnwood, Clare Mensley, finished 10th over the Mile in a time of 5mins 07.09secs in the race won by Californian Jenna Ridgeway representing the hosts Brown University in 4:54.50.
Bill McChesney Jr Meeting

Haywood Field, Oregon, USA

Friday 25th April 2008

Leading Results:
Men
5,000m
1 Joe Driscoll (Zap Fitness) 13:48.11; 3 Andy Baker (Butler/LSAC) 13:49.8

Full results are available on the following link:
www.goducks.com/fls/500/track/0708/oregonrelays1/index.htm?SPSID=4364&SPID=243&DB_OEM_ID=500

Long beach, California, USA

Saturday 19th April 2008

Leading Results:
Women
1500m:
1 Jane Larson (Seattle Pacific) 4:28.36; 7 Charlotte Browning (UNLV/LSAC) 4:36.32
Shot:
1 Eden Francis (Leics Cor/Team Pickering) 15.35; 4 Kelly Sotherton (Birch) 14.66

Full results are available on the following link: www.directathletics.com/results/track/8865.html

Brown Invitational

Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Saturday 12th April 2008

Leading Results:
Men
110m Hurdles
1 Matt Jasmin (Brown/USA) 14.47; 2 Julien Adeniran (Uni Birm/Charnwood) 14.51
Heat 1:
1 Julien Adeniran (Uni Birm/Charnwood) 14.58
Women
One Mile
1 Jenna Ridgeway (Brown/USA) 4:54.50; 10 Clare Mensley (Uni Birm/Charnwood) 5:07.09

Full results are available on the following link:
http://brownbears.cstv.com/sports/w-track/stats/2007-2008/browninvitation2008results.htm

Monday 21st April 2008

MARTYN ROONEY led a large contingent of British athletes currently warm weather training in California in action over the weekend at the Mt San Antonio College (SAC) meeting in Walnut.

Rooney, the reigning UK junior 400m record-holder Rooney posted an impressive victory in the Invitational 400m as the 21-year-old Loughborough student put on a powerful sprint finish to run past two-time European indoor champion (and training partner) David Gillick of Ireland, as well as two-time Mt SAC winner Lionel Larry, for a 45.88 victory.

Craig Everhart, running on the extreme outside, slipped in for second with 45.94, as Larry (46.24) and Gillick (46.39) took the next places.

The changing weather in the Los Angeles area - Thursday had seen temperatures as high as 33C while Sunday found relatively coolish 20C conditions - produced some variable gusty winds with which the sprinters and jumpers had to contend.

Christine Ohuruogu opened her outdoor season by finishing fifth in the 200 metres, the world 400m champion stepping down in distance clocked a time of 23.49secs.

Jamaica's Veronica Campbell Brown won in an impressive 22.66 ahead of the American pair of Carmelita Jeter and Torri Edwards who clocked 22.86 and 23.03.

Loughborough graduate Andy Turner finished third in 13.64 in the Men’s 110m Hurdles.

California-based Natasha Danvers was runner-up in the 400m Hurdles in 55.91 behind the USA's Lashinda Demus, back in action after having a child, winning in 55.45.

Marilyn Okoro, an 800m specialist, was eighth in the 1500m with a time of 4mins 20.88secs.

Full results are available on the following link: www.mtsacrelays.com/archives/2008/results/uo/index.htm

On Saturday (19th April) at Long Beach State University Christian Malcom won the 100m in 10.38secs, ahead of Turner in fourth with 10.59.

Turner then followed that performance with 13.58 to win the 110m Hurdles - ahead of fellow GB athletes Gianni Frankis (14.04) and Leicestershire's Dominic Girdler (14.04).

Full results are available on the following link:
http://longbeachstate.cstv.com/sports/c-track/lbst-c-track-body.html

Tuesday 15th April 2008

ALEX SMITH, the 20-year-old Loughborough University student representing Sale Harriers Manchester smashed his personal best in the Hammer competition with a superb performance at the Kingston-Upon-Hull Open Meeting on Sunday 13th April.

Smith, the reigning British Universities champion, produced a massive throw of 67.10 metres (x, 64.12, 64.65, 67.10, 66.44, x) at the Costello Stadium recording the best Under-23 mark in the United Kingdom since 2003 to break his previous lifetime best of 64.89m set at the Accenture Loughborough International in 2006.

Full results are available on the following link: www.kuhac.co.uk/kingston%20events/trackfield/results130408.xls

Tuesday 8th April 2008

FORMER Loughborough student Andy Baker posted an NCAA Regional qualifying time to highlight the performance of Indianapolis Butler's University track and field team at the Stanford Invitational held at Cobb Track and Angel Field in Stanford, California, on Friday and Saturday (April 4th-5th).

The two-day meet attracted top track and field athletes from across the country.

British Under-23 international Baker produced the Bulldogs' most impressive performance at the meeting with a time of 13mins 55.87secs in the fastest section of the Men's 5,000m.

The 22-year-old from Yeovil set a lifetime best by more than 40 seconds and moved him into a "Top 10" NCAA ranking. He was the seventh-fastest collegian in his section, and he topped the NCAA Regional qualifying standard.

Sunday 6th April 2008

GREAT BRITAIN'S Cross Country team began international competition with a fantastic start at the first of this year’s World University Championships, picking up an individual gold and a team gold and team silver at the 2008 World University Cross Country Championships held in Mauquenchy in Northern France, approximately 40 kilometres south east of Rouen.

On a very muddy course Faye Fullerton (St Mary’s) led the Women’s field home in a very competitive race where only 11 seconds split the top four finishers. All of the Great Britain Women’s team finished in the top 20, meaning that the team retained their team title from 2006.

Fullerton overtook Fionnula Briton of Ireland in the final 200 metres of the 6.3 km course, to secure the World title in a time of 22mins 39secs.

With her individual and team medal 23-year-old Fullerton now has 3 World University Cross Country gold medals, having also formed part of the victorious women’s team in 2004.

In the Men’s competition the top placed Great Britain runner was Andy Vernon (St Mary’s) in 6th place, Keith Gerrard (St Mary’s) and Rob Bugden (UWIC) also finished in the top 20 and led the men to second place in the team event. Morroco's Najim Elqady won the title in 36:14.
Final Team GB Placings:
Women
1 Faye Fullerton (St Mary’s) 22:39
7 Stacey Johnson (Birmingham) 23:19
12 Sarah Tunstall (York St John) 23:25
13 Felicity Milton (Durham) 23:36
18 Andrea Woodvine (Birmingham) 23:46
Team:
1 Great Britain (20 points ="1," 7 & 12 places)
2 Australia (30 points ="4," 6 & 20 places)
3 Ireland (33 points ="2," 8 & 23 places
Men
1 Najim Elqady (Morroco) 36:14
6 Andy Vernon (St Mary’s) 36:38
14 Keith Gerrard (St Mary’s) 37:19
17 Rob Bugden (UWIC) 37:24
24 Rory Fraser (Leeds Met) 37:45
34 John Heneghan (Sheffield) 38:24
43 Adam Grice (Leeds) 38:48
Team:
1 France (38 points ="4," 7, 8 & 19 places)
2 Great Britain (61 points ="6," 14, 17 & 24 places)
3 Australia (66 points ="2," 13, 22 & 29 places)

Friday 4th April 2008

AS with many of the world’s top athletes and coaches Loughborough University's Nick Dakin has taken his elite squad abroad for warm weather training, and for Team Dakin this has been a 6,000 mile trip to the west coast of America to sample the spring sunshine of California in preparation for one of the most important of all outdoor seasons with the Beijing Olympic Games on the horizon with the track and field events starting on August 15th.

Dakin, a world-class coach and long hurdles specialist at Loughborough, despite some pressure from UK Athletics to use their official training venues has decided to follow his own tried and tested method and use the excellent facilities on offer at the University of Irvine based in Orange County, Los Angeles, where the legendary American sprinter Edwin Moses trained for this Olympic titles and world-record at 400m hurdles.

Dakin has a squad of nine athletes in the California training group for 2008, all of whom are ether 400m flat or 400m hurdlers headed by the duo of current Loughborough student Martyn Rooney (World Junior Bronze medallist) and the impressive 2007 European Indoor champion David Gillick of Ireland, plus two other Irish stars in Joanne Cuddihy and Loughborough graduate Michelle Carey.

Also in the squad for 2008 are Welsh internationals and Commonwealth Games representatives Matt Elias and Loughborough graduate Anwen Rees - combined with British internationals Phil Taylor and Graham Hedman and the leading junior GB talent Justine Kinney.

Nick Dakin’s UK Hurdles Club web-site is available on the following link: www.ukhurdlesclub.net/13site/home.asp

Lausanne, Switzerland

Friday 4th April 2008

LOUGHBOROUGH graduates Jeanette Kwakye and Goldie Sayers have been nominated for the European Athlete of the Month award for March.

March was another action-packed month for European Athletics, with the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Valencia and the European Cup Winter Throwing in Split taking pride of place.

Jeanette Kwakye,(25) representing Great Britain in Valencia smashed the British record to win 60 metres Silver in a time of 7.08secs.

Fellow Brit and national Javelin record-holder Goldie Sayers,(25) achieved an Olympic qualifying 63.65m mark in her fourth round winning throw at the European Cup in Split.

In the Men's section Mo Farah (3,000m), Chris Tomlinson (Long Jump) and the new Triple Jump World indoor champion Phillips Idowu lead the way for Team GB nominations.

Altogether Europe struck gold 11 times in Valencia and gave indications of resurgence in the continent with six European countries taking places in the top 10 on the placings table.

Following this, European Athletics are pleased to announce that athletes from 17 countries have been nominated for the European Athlete of the Month Award for March.

At the end of each month, a panel of experts produce a shortlist of the outstanding athletes and performances achieved by European Athletes during that month which is emailed to the European Athletics media and thousands of fans who have already signed up to receive news from European Athletics.

The poll is situated in the Fan Zone of the European Athletics website and both the public, the media and a group of expert statisticians will cast their votes with each category counting as 33.3% of the vote. For example, the winner of the each poll will be awarded 10 pts, second 9 pts etc and the athlete with the most points after the 3 different polls have been counted will be declared the winner. In the unlikely event of a tie, Hansjörg Wirz, the President of European Athletics, will have the casting vote.

The voting will close on Monday April 14th at 12 noon, to vote click on the following link: www.european-athletics.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4760&Itemid=208

Wednesday 2nd April 2008

THE new ‘On Camp with Kelly’ advertising campaign is being currently being broadcast on Eurosport, ITV (News at 10 & South Bank Show), Ch4 (News), CNBC, Bloomberg, Sky News, CNN, Euro News, BBC World and ESPN.

The advert shot on the track of the EIS Arena in Sheffield features a selection of female athletes currently in the ‘On Camp with Kelly’ squad including Loughborough University graduate Charlotte Best, the 23-year-old from Crawley AC part of George Gandy’s training group, who last year won bronze over the 800m at the World University Games in Bangkok with a new personal best time of 2:01.50 - and followed that in the 4×400m relay, running the fastest split in the Great Britain team that also achieved the bronze medal.

The performance in Bangkok was recognized at The Daily Telegraph and Norwich Union School Sport Matters Awards held at the Emirates Stadium in London last October where she received the ‘On Camp with Kelly’ Outstanding Achievement Award.

To watch the new advert on line click on the following link: www.doublegold.co.uk/ocwk

Wednesday 2nd April 2008

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY graduate Laura Kenney was delighted with her senior international debut display at Sunday's IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

Kenney, the 23-year-old Inter-Counties champion completed the 8km course at Holyrood Park in a time of 27mins 15secs to finish in 38th place. Her time was just two minutes behind winner Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia and just one minute behind top Brit and leading European Liz Yelling who finished 15th overall as Team GB finished in sixth position.

Kenney, coached by George Gandy, said the run convinced her she has made the right decision to pledge her international future to Scotland.

"I've been thinking about it for a long time but getting my first senior vest on Scottish soil has made it seem the perfect time and choice."

Kenney is the reigning European under-23 5,000m champion, who recently had her application for Scottish eligibility accepted.

She added: "It follows a long tradition of Scottish running connections in my family. "My dad also represented Scotland at cross-country and marathon and it's great to follow in his footsteps."

Kenney now joins her Loughborough team mates at a four-week training camp in Stellenbosch, South Africa.