7 March 2008 

Day 1- Morning session

The Norwich Union Great Britain & Northern Ireland team had a successful first morning in Valencia, beginning a weekend of high quality athletic competition with solid performances.

Kelly Sotherton (Birchfield Harriers) opened her pentathlon account with a convincing win in the 60m hurdles, finishing in 8.25.

She continued her good winter form, achieving a season’s best of 1.81m in the high jump. After two events she lies in third place with 2064pts, behind Russia’s Anna Bogdanova (2070pts) and Tia Hellebaut of Belgium (2232pts).

Mo Farah (Newham & Essex Beagles) qualified in a scrappy 3000m race, which saw the lead change several times. Farah held third spot for the last lap to finish in 8:04.65.

Nick McCormick (Morpeth Harriers) failed to qualify after coming ninth in Heat 2 with a time of 8:00.01.

McCormick said: “I should have attached myself to the front group from the start. It’s obviously very frustrating, I was trying to catch the guy in eighth in the closing stages, but just couldn’t catch him.”

Lisa Dobriskey (Ashford AC) easily made the final of the 3000m, coming forth in Heat 1 in a time of 8:56.56, while Helen Clitheroe (Preston) made it through as a fastest loser after she came seventh in Heat 2 with 8:52.58

Samson Oni (Belgrave Harriers) bowed out of the high jump competition at 2.27m, falling just short of his season’s best of 2.30m. 

Making his major championship debut Oni cleared 2.24m on his third attempt after entering the competition at 2.15m.

Laura Turner (Harrow AC) and Jeanette Kwakye (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies) both came second in their 60m heats with 7.34 and 7.33 respectively. They progress through to the second round of qualification later today.

Both Dwain Chambers (Belgrave Harriers) and Simeon Williamson (Highgate Harriers) won their 60m heats in 6.69 to qualify for the semi-final.

Chris Tomlinson (Newham & Essex Beagles) easily qualified for tomorrow’s long jump final, meeting the 7.95m requirement with his first attempt.

Carl Myerscough (Blackpool & Fylde) failed to make the final of the shot put, despite reaching a season’s best of 19.86m to finish 12^th.

Full Results