8 March 2008

Day 2- Afternoon Session

Chris Tomlinson was the highlight of the day’s action in Valencia, claiming silver in the long jump to round up a rollercoaster day of competition for the Brits.

Tomlinson (Newham & Essex Beagles) placed second with his first attempt of 8.06m. He looked in great shape but just couldn’t find the extra 2cm needed to get top spot in his last few tries.

The Middlesborough born athlete said: "I’m really happy to get my first major championship medal and i would have certainly taken the silver beforehand.

"I was thinking throughout about whether 8.06m was good enough to win it, but unfortunately it wasn’t. I have been in a lot of major finals but always seem to finish fifth or sixth and it’s great to make the breakthrough and finally win a medal."

Allan Scott (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers) started well in the final of the 60m hurdles but lost a brief lead to finish in sixth place with 7.65.

He said: "I’m very very disappointed and extremely frustrated. I really wanted a medal and I thought I was in the shape to do it but I caught the fourth hurdle and that really stopped me. Beijing is obviously the main goal this year and I’ve learnt a lot here that I’ll be able to use in the summer."

Jenny Meadows (Wigan AC) ran a very strong 800m in the second semi-final of the afternoon. Finishing in second place and smashing her personal best with a time of 1:59:73, she now has a chance of grasping a top three spot in the final tomorrow.

Sarah Claxton (Woodford Green and Essex Ladies) found herself in unfamiliar territory having finished the second semi-final of the 60m hurdles in equal fourth place with Aleksandra Antonova of Russia in 8.07, but failing to go through to the final as only one of the athletes in a tied position can progress.

The decision was made by time keepers who judged that the Russian edged Claxton by 3/1000ths of a second.

Although she achieved a new season’s best Claxton was extremely disappointed: “I thought I had qualified. My aim was to come here and get to the final. I’m gutted.”

Richard Hill (Notts AC) failed to make the final of the 800m, finishing fourth in the first semi-final in 1:47.82. Hill battled down the home straight but couldn’t catch the leaders in a fast last lap.

He said: “When I saw the draw I thought it would be hard for the top guys let alone someone like me at their first major championships. I did everything I could, I was in the right places.”

Richard Buck (City of York) was unsuccessful in the second semi-final of the 400m. He ran a race of ‘catch up’, finding himself in last place throughout but managed to take back one place on the home straight finishing fifth in 47.60.

He said: “I struggled a bit, although at one point I thought I got myself in a decent position but it just didn’t happen. If I had got it right I really should have made the final but this is a stepping stone for the summer and that’s the most important thing.”

Lisa Dobriskey (Ashford AC) and Helen Clitheroe (Preston) finished ninth and tenth respectively in the 3000m final.

Both Brits found themselves in difficult positions as the pack split with five laps to go, led by eventual winner Meseret Defarof, Ethiopia. Clitheroe crossed the line in 8:52:77 just ahead of team-mate Dobriskey with 8:52:92.

Dobriskey said: “I’m reasonably pleased with my performance but still a little disappointed. I made a few surges too early and lost much needed energy at the wrong time.”