Thursday 1st April 2010

ATHLETICS-LEICS.COM is now producing a Loughborough students weekly athletics newsletter available free via e-mail featuring a round-up of news, reports and results for the African Violets.

If you wish to receive a copy this please send your e-mail address to be added to the mailing list via the Contact Us page or simply e-mail to:

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The latest version of the newsletter for the current week (29th March) is produced below.
LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS ATHLETES WEEKLY NEWS ROUND-UP

AT the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, (28 March) Loughborough student Stevie Stockton finished 47th on her senior debut for Great Britain as the women's team secured sixth place overall in the event totally dominated by Kenya who completed a clean sweep of individual and team titles.

The 20-year-old coached by George Gandy commented: “I did okay but wanted to do great to prove a point. The support here was amazing and I enjoyed the whole race.”

Dan Greaves, the 2004 Athens Paralympic gold medallist threw a lifetime best and unofficial World Record of 56.50m (F44 discus) at the Wexiö Indoor Throwing meeting in Växjö, Sweden, on Saturday (27 March).

Loughborough graduate Greaves, a former Paralympic, World and European champion, surpassed his previous best of 55.60m – which was also an unofficial record at the time – by almost a metre.

England completed a clean sweep of team victories at the Home International meeting staged at Mansfield’s Berry Hill Park, (27 March).

Sheffield’s Hatti Dean led the way in the senior women’s race as the 28-year-old former UK steeplechase record-holder completed an eighteen second victory over England compatriot Hannah Whitmore (coached at Loughborough by Bill Foster) clocking a time of 25mins 09secs despite the very windy conditions.

Loughborough student Natalie Gray (25:48) and Midlands cross-country champion Gemma Steel (26:03) completed the scoring athletes for Team England finishing in fourth and fifth places respectively.

Alumni Laura Kenney won the B&Q Eastleigh 10km race in Hampshire (28 March), the 2007 European U23 5,000m gold medallist clocked a time of 32mins 48secs to claim victory for Warwickshire in the Inter-Area 10k Championships.

In Australia Alumni Melanie Purkiss finished in second place in her heat of the 400m at the Victorian Open & AWD Track & Field Championships in Melbourne clocking a time of 56.52secs.

Over in America Ruth Senior competing at the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, California, (26 March) smashed the University of New Mexico record over 5,000m clocking a time of 15mins 57.32secs taking over 19 seconds off the previous record (16:16.9).

Senior, a former Loughborough student and reigning BUCS 3,000m steeplechase champion surpassed the record set by Kathy Pfiefer way back in 1984 by finishing fifth in section 1 of the women's 5,000m at the Cobb Track and Angell Field.

"I am very happy," Senior said. "I knew it was going to be fast. I wasn't expecting to run that quick. I didn't think about the time I just ran it. I can't believe I just ran that fast."

"I ran a PB indoors in Seattle and I've been training well since then," Senior said. "I felt good, felt comfortable, I just ran. I was quite shocked to see my time when I crossed the finish line."

Fellow Lobo and Loughborough Alumni, Ashley Gibson also set a new personal best in the 5,000m, clocking 16:35.67.

In other news Natalie Gray and Kirsty Milner have been selected for the Great Britain team to compete at the 2010 FISU World University Cross Country Championships that take place in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, on Sunday 11th April.

Loughborough University is set to have a high tech world-class Mondo FX Olympic surface laid down at the Paula Radcliffe track ahead of the 2012 London Olympics as one of UKA’s National Performance Centre’s.

The London Marathon Charitable Trust has committed £220,000 to enable UKA, with the support of Loughborough University, to lay an exact replica of the Mondo FX track that will be in the Olympic Stadium in 2012.

The super fast track, which will be in place at the facility from April, is currently installed in only ten stadia around the world with two of those in Beijing.

UKA Chief Executive Niels de Vos believes this partnership approach to investment will benefit British athletes: “The London Marathon Charitable Trust is part of the £700k investment into Loughborough in partnership with UK Sport, Sport England, Loughborough University to provide GB athletes with the best possible training environment in the lead up to 2012.

London Marathon race founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, John Disley said: "The London Marathon's original objectives include a requirement to improve the standards of British distance running as well as a commitment to provide better sporting facilities in London.

“The London Marathon Charitable Trust is pleased to be working with UKA to help give UK athletes the best possible training conditions in the build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. The improved track at Lee Valley and the endurance training camps will make an important contribution to their prospects of success and leave a legacy for sport in the UK."

Athletes based at the UKA National Performance Centre at Loughborough will be able to train on an indoor straight as well as long and triple jump runways, and pole vault and high jump areas.

Written and complied by Mark Woolley.

Monday 29th March 2010

DAN Greaves, the 2004 Athens Paralympic gold medallist threw a lifetime best and unofficial World Record of 56.50m (F44 discus) at the Wexiö Indoor Throwing meeting in Växjö, Sweden on Saturday (27 March).

Loughborough University graduate Greaves (Charnwood AC) from Anstey in Leicestershire, a former Paralympic, World and European champion, surpassed his previous best of 55.60m – which was also an unofficial record at the time – by almost a metre.

The Wexiö event, which is not IPC sanctioned, is held in a huge indoor venue in Sweden. It took place for the first time in 2009 enabling throwers to compete in perfect conditions and to raise the overall profile of events such as discus, which is not normally contested indoors.

Monday 29th March 2010

THE Great Britain & Northern Ireland teams to compete at the 2010 FISU World University Cross Country Championships that take place in Kingston, Ontario, Canada on Sunday 11th April have been announced.
The women’s team includes from the Loughborough Students Natalie Gray and Kirsty Milner.
Great Britain & Northern Ireland teams:
Men
Mitchell Goose – St Mary’s
Luke Gunn - Birmingham
Derek Hawkins - Glasgow
Ben Lindsay – St Mary’s
Jon Pepper - Birmingham
Women
Natalie Gray – Loughborough
Joanne Harvey – St Mary’s
Kirsty Milner - Loughborough
Jessica Sparke – St Mary’s
Event Timetable:
(All times BST -5 Hours)
1.00pm Women’s Championship 5k
2.00pm Men’s Championship 10k

www.xc2010.ca

Sunday 28th March 2010

LOUGHBOROUGH Alumni Laura Kenney (Royal Sutton Coldfield) won the B&Q Eastleigh 10km race in Hampshire, the 2007 European U23 5,000m gold medallist clocked a time of 32mins 48secs to claim victory for Warwickshire in the Inter-Area 10k Championships.

Claire Hallissey (Bristol & West) 33:10 finished second with Justina Heslop (Clapham Chasers) 33:20 third.

Full results are available on the following link: www.jand.co.uk/Results2010/Eastleigh10Km.htm

Friday 26th March 2010

LOUGHBROUGH University is set to have a high tech world-class Mondo FX Olympic surface laid down at the Paula Radcliffe track ahead of the 2012 London Olympics as one of UKA’s National Performance Centre’s.

The London Marathon Charitable Trust has committed £220,000 to enable UKA, with the support of Loughborough University, to lay an exact replica of the Mondo FX track that will be in the Olympic Stadium in 2012.

The super fast track, which will be in place at the facility from April, is currently installed in only ten stadia around the world with two of those in Beijing.

UKA Chief Executive Niels de Vos believes this partnership approach to investment will benefit British athletes: “The London Marathon Charitable Trust is part of the £700k investment into Loughborough in partnership with UK Sport, Sport England, Loughborough University to provide GB athletes with the best possible training environment in the lead up to 2012.

London Marathon race founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, John Disley said: "The London Marathon's original objectives include a requirement to improve the standards of British distance running as well as a commitment to provide better sporting facilities in London.

“The London Marathon Charitable Trust is pleased to be working with UKA to help give UK athletes the best possible training conditions in the build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. The improved track at Lee Valley and the endurance training camps will make an important contribution to their prospects of success and leave a legacy for sport in the UK."

Athletes based at the UKA National Performance Centre at Loughborough will be able to train on an indoor straight as well as long and triple jump runways, and pole vault and high jump areas.
Mondo FXT Specifications:
• Mondo are an Italian–based company specialising in world-class track surfacing

• FXT is the specification of the surfacing

• At Lee Valley three lanes at the upstairs sprint straight, together with a long /triple jump runway and pole vault runway will be installed with the Olympic FTX material and laid to the specifications of the Olympic stadium.

• UKA National Performance centres Lee Valley and Loughborough will be the only training venues in the world with the exact track specification Mondo FTX that will be used in London 2012. The track is currently installed in only ten stadia around the world with two of those in Beijing

• UKA are directly supporting potential Olympic medallists in those events where experience of the exact competition surface will give a competitive advantage in London.

• The softer areas which will have a force reduction value of 43.1% and 1.99mm vertical deformation will considerable reduce the risk of injuries which can be prevalent when high volumes of training take place.

• Lee Valley will be the exclusive London based training centre for the GB&NI athletics team throughout the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

• The Mondo FXT track in Beijing produced four world records (Men’s 100m, 200m and 4x100 plus Women’s steeplechase). The Men’s 100m produced 15 clockings below ten seconds and the Women’s 100m and 200m winners moved to eighth all time.

About FXT

The FTX surface is engineered to return the maximum level of energy from the surface to the athlete. This is achieved by the unique honeycomb lower layer of the surface which when deformed stores energy and which when reformed returns energy to the athlete. Additionally FTX has been designed to reduce the time interval between the foothold of the 5th metatarsus (outside portion of the foot) and the 1st metatarsus (inside portion of the foot). This is due to the new shape & size of the honeycomb backing cells. Tests have shown that athletes have a longer stride length on Mondo than on polyurethane surfaces
With elite athletes this can effect stride patterns which is a critical issue for those events where stride length is of paramount importance such as hurdles, high jump, long /triple jump and pole vault. Familiarization with a surface identical to the competition surface can eradicate these difficulties and ensure that the athlete is fully prepared for their event.

The choice of spike length and design is also critical to maximising the performance of the athlete. Different surfaces require different types of spike. Mondo’s FTX surface will provide traction with the minimum amount of spike penetration. Training on the competition surface will enable athletes to ensure that they are equipped with correctly designed spikes in order to maximise their performance. Regular training on the competition surface will enable athletes to fine tune their equipment taking into account the variations of their events and their body weight. At the highest level of competition minute attention to detail can often be the difference between winning and losing.

Saturday 20th March 2010

CHRIS Thompson (AFD) finished runner-up over 3,000m at the Oregon Preview meeting staged on the legendary Hayward Field Stadium in Eugene, the 29-year-old Loughborough graduate, a European Cross Country Championship representative for Team GB clocked a time of 7mins 54.16secs to place him fourth on the UK rankings list in the race won by American Collegiate athlete Jordan McNamara with a meeting record of 7:53.63.

The inform Thompson won the Trafford 10km in Manchester earlier in the month with a superb lifetime best of 28:02 recording the fastest British mark over the distance for 2010.

Compatriot Jemma Simpson (Newquay & Par) won over the rarely run 1,000m distance with a time of 2:39.70 ahead of American Geena Gall (2:46.18), the reigning NCAA outdoor 800m champion.

Full results are available on the following link: www.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?do=info&year=2010&event_id=52

Sunday 21st March 2010

UNITED Kingdom record-holder Goldie Sayers finished in fifth place in the javelin with a season’s opener of 58.69m at the European Throws meeting in Arles, France (20th-21st March).

In the men’s hammer Commonwealth Youth Games champion Alex Smith finished in sixth place with a throw of 68.64m finished in 11th place with 64.23m.

British Under-23 record-holder Sarah Holt finished in fifth place with a throw of 64.04m.

Full results are available on the following link: www.tilastopaja.org/staticresults/eaa12794878.htm

Friday 19th March 2010

WORLD Under-23 triathlon champion Hollie Avil looks forward to the year ahead and her participation in the Bupa Great Dublin 10km on April 18th in the latest and amusing blog from her official web-site:

“Sorry it has been a while since my last blog. I've been a real busy bee over the past few weeks, from training away like a mad woman to nearly handing myself in to 'shopaholics anonymous' after a crazy escapade in Topshop London! I've had the best partner in crime too! Liz Blatchford has been stopping with me since we returned to the UK after our camp in Spain. It's been great having Liz to train with, we've never had a dull moment, filling our spare time with things such as spa-ing at Ragdale Hall, shopping, baking...the list is endless! To say thank you for letting her stay in my humble abode, Liz also took me to London to see Chicago at the theatre - it was amazing! I know what career I'd turn to if all else fails with triathlon. I think I'd have to work on my high kick! I've nailed the jazz hands though! 



“Like I've said in previous blogs, I never like to waffle too much about my training. Things have been continuing to go well and as I always say, things are ticking over nicely. Hand on my heart I can say I'm getting a bit sick of this chilly chilly weather! You know it's not been a great block of weather when you start saying that 10 degrees is warm! It's crazy to think that three months ago I would class a 20 degree early morning in Stellenbosch as cold! 


“From what I wrote in my first paragraph, I think you can get the gist that life without uni is not that bad! But don't get me wrong, not all my time around training is filled with theatre trips and baking! I was speaking to someone last week about life without lectures and homework. I described to them how it's enabled me to do my job as an elite athlete better. Being an elite triathlete does not just consist of swim, bike and run training. I now have the time to get on top of my e-mails, fit in my physio appointments, sort out my accounts, attend more drill and technical sessions, stretch. Again, the list is endless. But now I really have no excuse not to be on top of all those things. 



“So we are quite a way in into the 40 days of Lent. I've had four weeks without chocolate and Facebook. To be honest, I'm not really missing either! I now realise how much time Facebook actually wastes and I've learnt that the people who really want to contact me will find other means to do so! You also learn who the people who just want to stalk you via Facebook, and not really contact you, are too!! 



“The next big thing on my agenda is The Great Dublin 10km, which is on April 18th. I'm pretty excited to head over to Ireland to see my Mum's side of the family and to race! One of my close friends, Becky, is coming with me too, AND we've conveniently planned a girlie weekend away around the race. I've never really done much touristy stuff in Dublin. I'll have to crack out a Lonely Planet Guide from the library and have a flick through. See, there's me still trying to find an excuse to visit the Loughborough University Library! 



“I often write my blogs whilst I'm en route to somewhere. I can't say this one is being wrote at a particular interesting time! I'm currently sitting and waiting for the washing machine repair man to arrive. Between 3pm and 6pm he said - what's the betting I'm still sat here at 6?? Like I always say, patience is a virtue!”



Hollie.

www.hollieavil.com

Thursday 18th March 2010

KATIE INGRAM led a large contingent of Loughborough University athletes in action at the latest round of the Derby Mid-week Training Races as the 25-year-old British international, a team bronze medallist for GB at the European Mountain Running Championships in Austria last year secured victory in the 5,000m clocking a time of 15mins 54secs.

Alex Wall-Clarke (Loughborough) finished runner-up in the men’s race following a very tight battle as Matt Sharp (Enfield & Haringay), the reigning Middlesex junior cross-country champion, prevailed by a margin of just one second over the line in 15:11; Luke Watson (Loughborough) finished third in 15:25.

Team GB Triathlete James Lock (Loughborough) and the world, European and Commonwealth swimming champion James Gibson (Loughborough) taking time out of the water building up his fitness levels on the road finished in 9th and 8th places overall with times of 16:00 and 16:04 respectively.

In the mile Charnwood’s Paul Harmer claimed a fine victory in 4mins 33secs with Lauren Kelly of Bournemouth AC winning the women race in 4:52.
Full Results:
5000m
1 00:15:11 SHARP Matthew Enfield & Haringay M
2 00:15:16 WALL-CLARKE Alex Loughborough Students M
3 00:15:25 WATSON Luke Loughborough Students Mu20
4 00:15:28 FANOUS Lawrence Unattached M
5 00:15:46 SPENCER Stuart Barrow Runners M
6 00:15:52 HURDMAN Ashley Hatton Darts M
7 00:15:53 RAINSFORD Chris Heanor RC Loughborough Students M
8 00:15:54 INGRAM Katie Horwich RMI Loughborough Students W
9 00:16:00 LOCK James Loughborough Students M
10 00:16:04 GIBSON James Loughborough Students M
11 00:16:34 CURTIS Tom Charnwood AC M
12 00:16:37 EUSTACE Malcolm Tipton Harriers M50
13 00:16:38 GRAINGE Matthew Holme Pierrepont RC M
14 00:17:03 FOX Robert Long Eaton RC M50
15 00:17:07 PEOPLES Thomas Unattached M
16 00:17:08 BENFORD Michael Notts AC M
17 00:17:13 RIALL Jonathan Charnwood Tri Club M
18 00:17:19 HALL David Highwood Hornets M
19 00:17:25 ALEXANDER Matthew Elmbridge RR M
20 00:17:28 SCOTT Chris Loughborough Tri Club M
21 00:17:41 COOPER Shaun Shelton Striders M
22 00:17:55 DUTHIE Alex Belper Harriers M
23 00:18:06 RADBOURNE Mat Sinfin RC M
24 00:18:06 RADBOURNE Ben Heanor RC M
25 00:18:09 JAMES Edward Unattached M
26 00:18:19 ROCCHELLI Mario Long Eaton RC M
27 00:18:20 BOWEN William Loughborough Tri Club M
28 00:18:23 RUSSELL Sam Wigan Harriers Mu20
29 00:18:28 DARLING Marcel Shelton Striders M
30 00:18:34 MICEK Frantisek Praha CZ M40
31 00:18:50 SMITH Lucy Loughborough Students Wu20
32 00:19:07 SADLER Duncan Unattached M40
33 00:19:21 DE BANKE Gary Wesham RR M40
34 00:19:25 SIMS Richard Ilkeston RC M40
35 00:19:29 OLLIER Sean Unattached M
36 00:19:38 EUSTACE Tom Cannock & Stafford JM
37 00:19:40 JEFFERY Ken Unattached M40
38 00:19:53 BYTHWAY Glyn Unattached M40
39 00:20:08 HANDS Liam Unattached M
40 00:20:09 HACKLAND Matt Unattached M
41 00:20:10 HANCOCK Neil Shelton Striders M40
42 00:20:15 PAGE Jez Grantham AC M40
43 00:20:26 MACGREGOR Ross Barrow Runners M
44 00:20:28 CLEGG Robin Unattached M
45 00:20:31 PYEFINCH Darren Long Eaton RC M
46 00:20:32 HAY John Long Eaton RC M40
47 00:21:04 SMITH Jake Shepshed RC M
48 00:21:07 MANN David Ivanhoe M50
49 00:21:13 NAYLOR James Little Eaton Hornets M50
50 00:21:40 GOULD David Trail Runners Assoc M50
51 00:21:44 HALL James Highwood Hornets M
52 00:21:47 BROOMHEAD Simon Unattached M40
53 00:21:52 SHARRATT Robert Burton AC M50
54 00:21:57 ROBINSON Paul South Derbyshire RC M40
55 00:21:58 REDFERN Gemma Belper Harriers W
56 00:22:17 BERRY Ian Kimberley & DAC M
57 00:22:26 BOSTOCK Colin Long Eaton RC M50
58 00:22:28 COWLISHAW Damian Long Eaton RC M40
59 00:22:32 COOK Jeremy Shepshed RC M40
60 00:22:38 MARRIOTT Alex Derby Univ AC M
61 00:23:00 ANDREW Michael Ilkeston RC M40
62 00:23:01 HEWITT Ben Unattached JM
63 00:23:02 BRADBURY Amanda Ivanhoe W
64 00:23:03 HEWITT Ian Unattached M
65 00:23:27 SENSECALL Rose Belper Harriers W
66 00:23:54 TALBOTT Teresa Ivanhoe W
67 00:23:55 CROSS Clair Derby Univ AC W
68 00:24:22 SHARRATT Carol Ilkeston RC W50
69 00:24:41 MCPHERSON Trish Ivanhoe W50
70 00:24:49 BROCKLEHURST Anna Barrow Runners W
71 00:26:23 SCATTERGOOD Colin Hatton Darts M60
72 00:27:13 ROOME Wendy Unattached W40
73 00:27:37 HEWITT Amanda Unattached W
74 00:28:00 HOWE Kim Hatton Darts W40
75 00:32:10 WHEELDON Gary Unattached M40
76 00:33:04 PANCZAK Halyna Unattached W
One Mile:
1 00:04:33 HARMER Paul Charnwood AC M
2 00:04:46 MARGIOTTA Stuart Ashbourne RC M40
3 00:04:52 KELLY Lauren Bournmouth AC W
4 00:04:58 RADBOURNE Ben Heanor RC M
5 00:05:08 COOPER Shaun Shelton Striders M
6 00:05:19 ELLIS David Unattached M
7 00:05:30 SADLER Duncan Unattached M40
8 00:05:43 BAINES Andy Blackwell & Dist AC M
9 00:05:51 PAGE Jez Grantham AC M40
10 00:05:53 TROTH Benjamin Derby Univ AC M
11 00:05:59 RADBOURNE Mat Sinfin RC M
12 00:06:00 SMITH Jake Shepshed RC M
13 00:06:01 HANCOCK Neil Shelton Striders M40
14 00:06:07 SMITH Josh Charnwood AC JM
15 00:06:09 COCKAYNE Rob Sutton in Ashfield HAC M50
16 00:06:13 SHARRATT Robert Burton AC M50
17 00:06:16 SIMS Richard Ilkeston RC M40
18 00:06:17 BERRY Ian Kimberley & DAC M M
19 00:06:26 BROOMHEAD Simon Unattached M40
20 00:06:28 COOK Jeremy Shepshed RC M40
21 00:06:38 ROBINSON Paul South Derbyshire RC M40
22 00:06:41 COWLISHAW Damian Long Eaton RC M40
23 00:06:47 GOULD David Trail Runners Assoc M50
24 00:06:53 ANDREW Michael Ilkeston RC M40
25 00:07:01 BOSTOCK Colin Long Eaton RC M50
26 00:07:04 CROSS Clair Derby Univ AC W
27 00:07:18 SHARRATT Carol Ilkeston RC W50
28 00:08:07 ROOME Wendy Unattached W40
29 00:08:26 WHEELDON Gary Unattached M40

Tuesday 18th March 2010

DAVID GILLICK has been voted European Athlete of the Month for February.

Loughborough-based Gillick, a two-time European indoor 400m champion, started the indoor season in brilliant fashion by equalling his own two-year-old national 400m record of 45.52secs at the Aviva Indoor Grand Prix meeting in Birmingham.

The 26-year-old Irishman remains the fastest European over the distance this season despite being disqualified in the final of the World Indoor Championships in Doha.

Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey collected the women’s award, the a multiple Olympic and world medallist, made a sparkling Half Marathon debut clocking a course record and world-leading time of 1:07:07 in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.

The European Athlete of the Month initiative was launched in January 2007 and is designed to recognise outstanding performers at all levels of the sport in Europe.

European Athletics names a male and female winner each month and features the athlete on the European Athletics website. Selections are based on votes by the public, the media and a panel of European Athletics experts, with each counting for 33.3 percent of the final vote.

No athlete who has previously served a two-year doping ban can be nominated for or win the European Athlete of the Month.

Sunday 14th March 2010

RACHEL Stringer (800m), Sally Scott (Pole vault) and Matt Burton (long jump) were the major individual gold medal winners for Loughborough on the second day of competition at the 2010 BUCS Indoor Track & Field Championships in Sheffield.

Commonwealth Youth Games representative Rachel Stringer produced a sparking performance for Loughborough to win gold over 800m, the 20-year-old City of Norwich athlete won by almost a second clear of Dundee’s Jenny Tan with a time of 2mins 10.98secs.

Sally Scott secured victory in the women’s pole vault final for Loughborough with a clearance of 4.10m before attempting to break the championship record of 4.15m. Team mate Abby Haywood, finished runner-up.

Scott commented afterwards: “I started off really bad, but I was on shorter poles than usual. After that I felt excellent and cleared the last two heights on my first attempt.”

Matt Burton led a 1-2 in the men’s long jump final winning the competition ahead of team mate Bradley Pickup with a best of 7.69 metres.

In the sprints David Feeney secured bronze for Loughborough over the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.22secs as Edrin Okoro (Wolverhampton) won gold in 8.03 ahead of Gianni Franks (Middlesex).

Andrean Vinet matched Feeney’s performance in the women’s event taking bronze in 8.60secs as Zara Hohn (Sheffield) won the title in 8.38.

Over the middle distances Jordan Kinney gained a podium place for Loughborough clocking 4mins 26.51 to take bronze in the women’s 1500m in the race won by Birmingham’s Alison Leonard (4:23.76).

Loughborough team captain Rob Hodges finished 4th in the final of the 1500m clocking a time of 3:50.25 as Jonathan Taylor (Teesside) set a championship record to win gold in 3:46.12, whilst, Lewis Moses claimed 5th place over 3,000m with a time of 8:18.63.

Mica Nottingham secured fourth place for Loughborough in the women’s 200m final clocking a time of 27.87secs as Amy Godsell won gold for Brunel in 24.40.

In the field Ricardo Twumasi claimed bronze for Loughborough in the men’s triple jump final with a leap of 14.49m as Brunel’s’ Nathan Fox won gold (15.26).

Robert Mohan also gained a podium place in the shot final finishing third with a best of 15.58m as team mate Charlotte Rose finished fourth (12.65) in the women’s final.

Jonathan Broom-Edwards completed the medal haul for Loughborough with a bronze in the men’s high jump with a best of 2.00m.

In the team competition Loughborough won the men’s championships title ahead of UWIC as the women finished runners-up to Brunel.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link: www.thepowerof10.info/resultsfiles/2010/31034_6123_14032010192826_BUCS_results_2010.pdf

Saturday 13th March 2010

KIRSTY MILNER highlighted the opening day’s action for the Loughborough Students at the 2010 BUCS Track & Field Championships with a fine hard fought and competitive victory over 3,000m.

Milner (20), clocked a time of 9mins 41.59secs to edge out Imogen Ainsworth of Bristol by a margin of just 15 hundredths of a second over the line on the track of Sheffield’s EIS Arena. Team mate for the African Violets Emma Leigh Heighway finished eighth in 10:46.54.

Milner commented afterwards: “I feel absolutely brilliant. It’s my first ever UK indoors and it’s my last year as a student so I thought I’d come here and have some fun. I’ve really enjoyed it.”


In the field events Ben Gregory completed victory for Loughborough in the men’s pole vault clearing a height of 4.95 metres as Nick Cruchley of Birmingham finished second with 4.90 and Loughborough’s Robert Warensjo claimed bronze with 4.80m.

In the women’s 60m, Ashlee Nelson of Middlesex, who trains with trackside guest, Loughborough Alumni Jeanette Kwakye, crossed the line first in a time of 7.45secs with Loughborough’s Elaine O’Neill taking second in 7.47.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link: www.thepowerof10.info/resultsfiles/2010/31034_6123_14032010192826_BUCS_results_2010.pdf

Thursday 11th March 2010

THE best of Great Britain and Europe will go head-to-head with the finest athletes on earth as the Qatar capital city Doha welcomes the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships over this weekend (12th-14th March).

A total of 15 athletes from the African Violets of Loughborough University and College students team’s past and present and those who are based at the UKA High Performance Centre on the campus will take part on the track and field of the spectacular Aspire Dome over the three days of competition.

Alumni David Gillick representing Ireland in the 400m is the most likely to challenge for gold, the 25-year-old double European gold medallist over the distance comes into the championships in top form having been nominated for the European Athlete of the Month Award for February after equalling his own Irish national record of 45.52secs with victory at the Aviva IAAF Grand Prix in Birmingham.

Compatriot Billy Ryan will join Gillick in the 4x400m relay squad.

Loughborough College student and 2012 scholar Harry Aikines-Aryeety will be looking to make the final of the 60m and could gain a podium place for Team GB.

Fellow 2012 scholar Vikki Hubbard competes in the high jump having won the UK championship in Sheffield and set a personal best of 1.92 metres in Split, Croatia, hitting the qualification mark for Doha.

The 2007 Commonwealth Youth Games champion Chris Clarke, a Loughborough College student coached at the University, takes his place in the 4x400m relay squad alongside UK champion Richard Buck.

UK pole vault champions Steve Lewis and Kate Dennison, coached at Loughborough by Australian Steve Rippon, arrive in Doha in top form with Dennison breaking her own British record on three occasions already in 2010.

Loughborough alumni Victoria Barr, Hayley Jones, Lee McConnell and Kim Wall are all in the British women's 4x400m relay team, with fellow ex-students Samson Oni (high jump) and Charlotte Best on her senior debut (1500m) also selected for the team.

Former Loughborough College student, California-based Barbara Parker, goes over 3,000m.
Full Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team:
(Individual athletes coaches in brackets.)
Men
60m:
Dwain Chambers (Daniel Plummer); - Belgrave
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Michael Khmel) - Sutton
400m:
Richard Buck (Michael Khmel); - City of York
Dale Garland (Malcolm Arnold) – Channel Islands
800m:
Andrew Osagie (Craig Winrow); - Harlow
Ed Aston (Mike Smith); - Cambridge & Coleridge
1500m:
Tim Bayley (John Bigg/ Chris Puppione) – Belgrave Harriers
3000m:
Scott Overall (Robert Chapman); - Blackheath & Bromley
60mH:
N/A
4x400m:
Richard Buck (Michael Khmel); City of York
Dale Garland (Malcolm Arnold); - Channel Islands
Chris Clarke (Nick Dakin), Marshall Milton Keynes
Nigel Levine (Simon Duberley); Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow
Conrad Williams (Linford Christie); - Kent
Luke Lennon-Ford (Rodger Walters); - Birchfield
High Jump:
Samson Oni (Trevor Llewellyn); - Belgrave
Tom Parsons (Fuzz Ahmed) - Birchfield
Pole Vault:
Steve Lewis (Steve Rippon) – Newham & Essex
Long Jump:
Greg Rutherford (Dan Pfaff), - Marshall Milton Keynes
Chris Tomlinson (Frank Attoh) –Newham & Essex
Shot:
Carl Myerscough (n/a) Blackpool Wyre & Fylde
Women
60m:
Joice Maduaka (Loren Seagrave); - Woodford Green with Essex Ladies
400m:
N/A
800m:
Jenny Meadows (Trevor Painter); - Wigan
Vicky Griffiths (Stan Roberts); - Liverpool H
1500m:
Helen Clitheroe (Trevor Painter); - Preston
Charlotte Best (George Gandy); - Crawley
3000m:
Gemma Turtle; Gloucester
Barbara Parker (John Nuttall/Sean Burris) – City of Norwich
60mH:
Gemma Bennett (Lloyd Cowan) – Shaftesbury Barmet
4x400m:
Victoria Barr (Ayo Falola), Rugby & Northampton
Hayley Jones (Jared Deacon); - Wigan
Dawn Hunt (Ayo Falola); - Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow
Lee McConnell (Rodger Harkins) – Shaftesbury Barnet
Perri Shakes-Drayton (Chris Zah); - Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets
Kim Wall (Tony Lester) - Basildon
High Jump:
Vikki Hubbard (Graham Ravenscroft) - Birchfield
Pole Vault:
Kate Dennison (Steve Rippon) - Sale
Long Jump:
N/A
Triple Jump:
N/A
Shot:
N/A
Pentathlon:
Jessica Ennis (Toni Minichiello) - Sheffield

www.doha2010wic.com/

Saturday 6th March 2010

LOUGHBOROUGH Students teams completed a fine double success retaining both the men’s and women’s titles for second consecutive year at the 2010 edition of the Ed Prickett Memorial Relays held on the roads surrounding the picturesque Nottingham University campus.

This annual event attracted athletes from all over the country who turned out to pay tribute to the popular and talented young athlete Ed Prickett who tragically died in a road accident whilst representing Nottingham University at the 2004 BUSA Championships in Gateshead.

In the Women’s 3-stage race the Loughborough past and present teams dominated filling the top three places as Charnwood's Gemma Hillier with the overall fastest individual leg of 11:30 anchored home the team of Estelle Damen (11:57) and Alex Snook (11:39) to victory in a combined time of 35mins 06secs taking the title over the current crop of African Violets, Sarah Hudak (12:00), British international Sian Edwards (11:47) and Claire Tarplee (12:12) - runners-up in 35:39.

Third place went to the Loughborough ‘B’ team of Kate Spilsbury (12:32), Sophie Crumly (12:01) and Kelly Anne Speight (12:02) in a combined time of 36:35.

In the Men’s 4-stage race Woking’s Gary Bradbury was on top form recording the fourth fastest overall individual leg of 9:36 as the Loughborough University team of Steve Emery (9:43), Lewis Moses (9:39) and Ollie Blake (9:54) crossed the line in a combined time of 38:52 to secure victory finishing ahead of the Loughborough Old Boys in 39:40.

The ‘Old Boys’ of Frank Baddick (9:48), Tim Dalton (9:54), Robbie Schofield (10:22) and British international Chris Warburton (9:36) finished clear of Derby AC (39:55) to secure second place.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full Results:
Men
1 Loughborough Uni Present And M 38:52
S EMERY (3) 9:43
L MOSES (1) 9:39
O BLAKE (1) 9:54
G BRADBURY (1) 9:36
2 Loughborough Old Boys Robbie 39:40
F BADDICK (5) 9:48
T DALTON (3) 9:54
R SCHOFIELD (3) 10:22
C WARBURTON (2) 9:36
3 Derby AC A 39:55
T LAWRENCE (13) 10:22
R WEIR (7) 9:35
J WILDRIANNE (6) 10:17
D WESTBURY (3) 9:41
4 Loughborough Prestonians 40:05
P STREET (2) 9:40
N BIBBY (4) 10:03
S BENNETT (2) 10:06
D RIGBY (4) 10:16
5 University Of Birmingham A 40:23
A STANTON (7) 9:58
J WILKINSON (2) 9:32
J MEE (4) 10:35
C SMITH (5) 10:18
6 Uni Of Birmingham C 40:29
J SWALLOW (10) 10:09
D CLIFF (6) 9:47
A STANTON (5) 10:15
D CLIFF (6) 10:18
7 Crawley AC 40:40
J CLEWERTT (18) 10:34
G THOMPSON (9) 9:56
C JOHNSON (9) 10:19
P RODGERS (7) 9:51
8 Loughborough Uni Horses 40:52
M SULIRAN (6) 9:55
C PERRY (8) 10:22
S EMENS (7) 10:12
L MOSES (8) 10:23
9 Uni Of Birmingham B 40:53
J MEE (17) 10:33
C SMITH (10) 9:58
C BOOKER (10) 10:36
J WILKINSON (9) 9:46
10 Students Past Present 41:39
B NORRIS (1) 9:30
NEILL A MC (11) 11:11
NEILL C MC (12) 11:10
N RENAULT (10) 9:48
11 Loughborough Uni Warriors 42:02
R WARBURTON (12) 10:17
J HOOD (12) 10:27
A WARBERTON (11) 10:58
P STREET (11) 10:20
12 Nottingham University 42:21
J THEWLY (4) 9:44
T CROWLEY (5) 10:06
M MOORE (8) 10:50
I KIMPTON (12) 11:41
13 Loughbourgh Uni Vikings 42:30
S CAMERON (14) 10:26
A MARIAMI (13) 10:20
T GRIFFITHS (14) 11:17
T DALTON (13) 10:27
14 Crawley B 43:02
S HARRIS (8) 10:05
R CREED (20) 11:49
J SWALLOW (15) 10:22
R WARD (14) 10:46
15 Guernsey Atheletics A 43:05
M LOVERAGE (16) 10:31
M BASTISTE (17) 10:52
B WILLEN (18) 11:13
W BODKIN (15) 10:29
16 Mansfield A 43:09
M JOHNSON (15) 10:27
D ROSS (18) 11:09
C DALE (13) 10:24
J MEE (16) 11:09
17 Heanor Running Club 43:10
J RAINSFORD (21) 10:47
C RAINFORD (15) 10:27
A DEEMING (17) 11:13
S ASHMORE (17) 10:43
18 Derby AC B 43:32
M BOOTH (11) 10:10
T OFFORD (16) 11:06
I STEVENS (16) 11:06
R WILSON (18) 11:10
19 Leicester Mixed 44:31
A SABIN (19) 10:42
M CROFT (19) 10:54
C SABIN (20) 11:51
R SHEEN (19) 11:04
20 14ac Mmx 44:38
L FOSTER (24) 11:02
M KILPIN (21) 11:01
A GREENLEAF (19) 11:01
S WOONTON (20) 11:34
21 Uni Nottingham B 45:12
J SISMEY (28) 11:40
J CLIFFORD (26) 11:16
J HIORNS (22) 11:39
R SMITH (21) 10:37
22 Mansfield B 46:24
S GRANGER (23) 10:58
A CREWE (24) 11:53
T RAYNOR (24) 12:00
D ROSS (22) 11:33
23 Heanor Running Club B 46:57
B RADBOURNE (22) 10:56
S ASHMORE (23) 11:42
D RIDOUT (25) 12:57
C RAINFORD (23) 11:22
24 University Of Central Lancs 47:24
D HORNIMANDA (20) 10:46
AAVEDRACHOP (25) 12:08
KACHU HANLON (23) 11:43
NUMPTY A D (24) 12:47
25 Guersey Athletics B 47:34
I BAILEY (32) 12:25
STEELE-MOORE (28) 11:53
P INGY (26) 11:47
M LAVERIDGE (25) 11:29
26 Uni Nottingham C 47:38
M SHUTE (31) 12:13
C SMITH (27) 11:29
S THOMPSON (28) 12:48
A MCLEAN (26) 11:08
27 Reigate Priory 48:16
D RAYNER (26) 11:17
T KIMBER (22) 10:53
D RAYNER (21) 11:51
P PRICKETT (27) 14:15
28 University Of Sheffield AC 49:19
Y MOHAMUD (9) 10:08
S LITTLE (14) 10:57
SETTERINGTON (27) 15:15
M LEVERY (28) 12:59
29 Sheffield Rc B 49:36
M TAYLOR (34) 14:32
A EAGLE (33) 12:17
Y MOHAMUD (30) 11:19
S LITTLE (29) 11:28
30 Uni Of Nottingham D 50:35
D NUTHALL (33) 12:37
T MCCUBBIN (30) 12:37
D RISDON (29) 12:44
D KETT (30) 12:37
31 Leicester University 'A' 53:10
T Snowden (29) 11:52
M Bisla (31) 14:23
T Humphrey (32) 13:55
O Johns (31) 13:00
32 Mansfield C 54:21
G WILKINSON (30) 12:07
C FELL (32) 14:17
D ROBERTSON (33) 14:02
T HISCOX (32) 13:55
33 Leicester University 'B' 56:07
C Lloyd (35) 14:44
S Corps (34) 13:34
S Lewis (34) 14:16
N Rowland (33) 13:33
Fastest Leg:
1 B NORRIS StudentsPP 9:30
Women
1 Loughborough Past 35:06
G HILLIER (1) 11:30
E DAMEN (1) 11:57
A SNOOK (1) 11:39
2 Uni Loughborough Team A 35:59
S HUDAK (3) 12:00
S EDWARDS (2) 11:47
C TARPLEE (2) 12:12
3 Uni Loughborough Team B 36:35
K SPILSBURY (10) 12:32
S CRUMLY (4) 12:01
K SPEIGHT (3) 12:02
4 Derby Team A 36:58
R OLIVANT (6) 12:17
A NORMAN (3) 11:57
A BINNS (4) 12:44
5 University Of Birmingham 37:58
R BLACKWELL (5) 12:13
J KNOWLES (8) 13:57
L THOMAS (5) 11:48
6 Heanor Running Club 38:10
L PALMER (2) 11:47
N CLAYTON (6) 13:23
L RADBOURN (6) 13:00
7 Nottingham University 39:55
J FERNANDO (14) 13:21
R CARD (9) 14:12
L DAY (7) 12:22
8 Loughborough Students 'C' 40:03
K MCHALE (4) 12:03
K STUCFT (5) 12:59
E HOPE (8) 15:01
9 Derby Team B 40:58
S SPENCER (12) 13:18
C MORLEY (10) 14:16
N SHAW (9) 13:24
10 Mansfield Harriers 41:30
G MILTON (16) 13:53
K RAYNOR (12) 14:42
E SAXTON (10) 12:55
11 Nvac Old Girls 41:31
L SPENCER (8) 12:25
J MICHAELSON (11) 16:07
L SPENCER (11) 12:59
12 University Of Birmingham B 44:08
M SHARP (19) 15:20
L JACKSON (14) 15:23
L HALL (12) 13:25
13 Uclan Athletics 45:58
E TAYLOR (17) 14:30
K REID (13) 15:57
E TAYLOR (13) 15:31
14 Nottingham University 'B' 45:59
R FERNANDO (15) 13:34
S BICK (16) 19:24
H LANGHAM (14) 13:01
15 University Of Sheffield AC 47:36
K CADELL (18) 15:13
A HILLARY (15) 16:24
L SAVAGE (15) 15:59
Fastest Leg:
1 G HILLIER L'boroPast 11:30

Friday 5th March 2010

BILL Foster representing Great Britain clocked a time of 9mins 23.28secs to secure gold in the M50 3,000m at the 2010 World Masters Indoor Championships in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.

Foster (Blackheath & Bromley), the women’s endurance coach at Loughborough University, finished clear of the Spanish duo of Domingo Menaraves (9:30.14) and Jose Navarro (9:59.10) to claim victory on the track of the Hillside Stadium.

Full results are available on the following link: www.kamloops2010masters.com/Results/index.htm

Friday 5th March 2010

HARRY Aikines-Aryeetey suffered a narrow defeat by the width of a vest over 60m at the Meeting Pas de Calais in Lievin on Friday night.

The 20-year-old Loughborough-based sprinter in his final race before the Doha World Indoor Championships, was edged into second place by former European junior 100m champion Christophe Lemaitre of France with the duo given the same time of 6.58secs.

Full results are available on the following link: www.meeting-pasdecalais.com/resultats2.html

Friday 5th March 2010

SAMSON Oni warmed-up for the Doha World indoor championships by setting a lifetime best of 2.31m in the high jump competition in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, on Thursday evening (4th March) finishing runner-up behind Russia’s reigning European champion Ivan Ukhov’s world-leading mark of 2.38m.

Loughborough University Alumni Oni competing at the 17th Europa SC High Jump meeting added one centimetre to his existing personal best in the sixth round as the 28-year-old UK champion looks to challenge Ukhov for gold in Doha later this month. His performance moves the Birchfield Harrier to fifth on the UK all-time list.

Oni finished ahead of Russia's 2009 European Athletics Junior Championships gold medallist Sergey Mudrov, who cleared the same height but had more failures throughout the competition.

Croatia's reigning world indoor and outdoor world champion Blanca Vlašić won with 2.04m, a height only she has beaten this year.

It was the fourth win in five consecutive appearances in Banská Bystrica for Vlašić and she ended the evening with three unsuccessful attempts at Kajsa Bergqvist's world record of 2.09m.

Vlašić won the competition after clearing 2.00m on her second attempt and then also went over 2.04m on her second attempt. Sweden's Emma Green jumped a season's best 1.95 for second place.
Full Results:
Men
1. Ukhov (RUS) 2.38 WL [2.21 – 2.28 – 2.33 – 2.38/3 – 2.41/xp]; 2. Oni (GBR) 2.31 PB [2.11/2 – 2.16 – 2.21 – 2.25 – 2.28 – 2.31 – 2.33/xxx]; 3. Shapoval (UKR) 2.28 SB; 4. Mudrov (RUS) 2.28; 5. Horak (SVK) and Torro (FIN) 2.25; 7. Diarra (FRA) 2.25 SB; 8. Bubenik (SVK) 2.21 PB; 9. N Ciotti (ITA) [SB=] and G Ciotti (ITA) 2,21; 11. Kabelka (SVK) 2.16; 12. Sayevych (UKR) 2.16. No height: Ninov (BUL) [2.16].
Women
1. Vlasic (CRO) 2.04 [1.85 – 1.92 – 1.95 – 2.00/2 – 2.04/2 – 2.09/xxx]; 2. Green (SWE) 1.95 SB; 3. Klyugina (RUS) 1.92; 4. Stepaniuk (POL) 1.92 PB=; 5. Kufaas (NOR) 1.85 ; 6. Lalakova (CZE) 1.85; 7. Szabó (HUN) 1.81; 8. Blazej (POL) 1.81; 9. Dunajska (SVK) 1.76.

Thursday 4th March 2010

LOUGHBOROUGH University Alumni David Gillick has been nominated for the European Athlete of the Month Award for February.

The 26-year-old double European indoor 400m champion, coached by Nick Dakin, gains his nomination for equaling his own Irish national record of 45.52secs with victory at the Aviva IAAF Grand Prix on the track of Birmingham’s NIA.

Throughout February many of the top European athletes were putting in their final preparations for the IAAF World Indoor Championships to be held in Doha, Qatar, through 12th-14th March.

A number of European records, national records and personal bests were registered during the national indoor championships and other indoor meetings across the continent.

Following this, European Athletics is pleased to announce the nominations for the European Athlete of the Month for February representing nine countries.

At the end of each month, a panel of experts produces a shortlist of the outstanding athletes and performances achieved by European athletes during that month which is emailed to the media and thousands of fans who have signed up to receive news from European Athletics. The poll is situated in the Fan Zone of the European Athletics website and the public, the media and a group of expert statisticians will cast their votes with each category counting as 33.3 percent of the vote.

The winner of each poll will be awarded 10 points, second nine points, etc. and the athlete with the most points after the three 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 Wednesday 17th March at noon CET.

The European Athlete of the Month initiative was launched in January 2007 and is designed to recognise outstanding performers at all levels of the sport in Europe.

No athlete who has previously served a two-year doping ban can be nominated for European Athlete of the Month.

The winning male and female athletes of the monthly awards will be announced and profiled on the European Athletics website

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

Photo by Nigel Farrow.

Saturday 27th February 2010

LOUGHBOROUGH University athletes produced a fine set of performances at the McCain City Challenge Final as the Sheffield Flames successfully defended their title at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre.

World junior bronze medallist Meghan Beesley won the 400m for the Flames’ in a time of 53.90secs ahead of Laura Wake (54.57) and Vicky Griffiths (55.74).

UK indoor champion Samson Oni warmed-up for next months Doha world indoors by claiming victory in the high jump for London South Sharks with a height of 2.25m.

Performance of the day came from Louise Bloor with a superb double victory on the track and the field.

The 24-year-old representing Sheffield won the 200m with a time of 24.66secs and the long jump with a leap of 5.96m.

Alumni Nick Samuels (Birmingham Falcons) finished runner-up to Newcastle Angels' Jonathon Taylor in the 1500m with the duo split by a margin of just six seconds as Taylor prevailed in 3:44.93.

Current student and Doha-bound Hayley Jones set a new lifetime best of 7.36secs in the 60m as the former European junior 200m champion finished runner-up to Bernice Wilson.

In the final Sheffield secured an impressive total of 498.39 points to finish ahead of the North London Lions, second with 454.9 points with Birmingham Falcons finishing on 380.29 in third.

Friday 26th February 2010

CHARLOTTE Best will line-up for Team GB at next months World Athletics indoor Championships in Doha to rubber stamp the remarkable return to form and fitness for the 24-year-old Loughborough student just five months after under going ankle surgery.

Best gains selection for the 1500m after finishing ninth over the mile distance setting a personal best of 4mins 32.29secs at the Aviva Indoor Grand Prix in her first race of the indoor season won in the race won by Doha 1500m gold medal favourite Gelete Burka of Ethiopia in a world-leading time of 4:23.53.

The time places her ninth on the UK all-time list for the indoor mile and her time at 1500m was inside the UKA qualifying time for the World Indoors of 4:15.00.

The race in Birmingham came as a last minute decision to race when the opportunity was offered by coach George Gandy, head of Endurance for UK Athletics, due to a spot in the mile field becoming available following a withdrawal.

Best reflecting on her selection said: “My coach told me on Thursday that someone had dropped out of the mile event in the last Grand Prix of the season at Birmingham and asked whether I’d give it a go,” She continued:
“I have been training very hard and knew I was in good shape, but didn’t know what to expect.”



The selection will be the Crawley athlete’s first senior vest having represented Team GB at junior and World University Games level where in 2007 she won bronze over 800m in Bangkok to winner Yuliya Krevsun of the Ukraine.

“I’ve still got some key training sessions to prepare for the championships before flying out on to Doha, arriving just three days before the qualifying race.



“The 1500m is being run in heats and my aim is to reach the final. I feel that I’m in good enough condition to set a new personal best. I’m sure it will be a very tactical race and I’ll need to respond positively to whatever is going on around me.”



Best is an original member since 2004 of Dame Kelly Holmes Aviva sponsored ‘On Camp with Kelly’ mentoring scheme along with fellow Loughborough athletes Laura Finucane, Rachel Thompson and America-based Charlotte Browning.

Dame Kelly Holmes reflecting on Best’s selection said: “I would like to congratulate Charlotte and her coach George on the selection for the World Indoor Championships. One of the aims of ‘On Camp with Kelly’ is to help athletes make the successful transition from junior to senior ranks and it is great to see OCWK athletes achieving that.

“Competing on the international stage against some of the top athletes in the world will be an excellent experience for Charlotte and I am sure that she will learn a great deal.”

Best will hope to build on this success and will target a place on the GB squad for the Europeans in Barcelona in August and the Commonwealth Games in October representing Team England over the distance in Delhi.