9 June 2008

Andy Baddeley became the first British middle distance athlete to claim victory at the prestigious “Dream Mile” at Oslo on Friday night for 17 years – it was the first time the race has seen a British winner since Peter Elliot in 1991.

With a fantastic 1500m win for Tom Lancashire and a classy 200m PB for Christine Ohuruogu – Friday’s meet in Norway marked the start of another strong weekend of GB & NI performances.

Bislett Games, Oslo 6 June.

Andy Baddeley (Harrow) took a historic victory in the race taking the quality field by surprise. Baddeley who finished third in the last year’s race set a new PB of 3.49.38 to continue his form as Britain’s top middle distance man.

Yet a challenge cannot be too far away with another impressive victory for Tom Lancashire (Bolton) in the 1500m at the same event. Lancashire recorded an Olympic A Standard of 3.35.43 in winning the Metric mile.

Other key performers from Friday night’s event were: Marlon Devonish (Coventry) who ran his fastest 100m of the season in a slightly windy 10.08 (+2.3) and went to the top of the Power of 10 rankings for 200m with 20.48.

There was a fantastic performance from Christine Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex) who ran 22.94 in a quality 200m race and a strong run from Jo Pavey (Exeter) in the 5000m with 15:02.89 – both marks Olympic A standards.

Jenny Meadows (Wigan) ducked under 2 minutes with 1:59.76 in a strong 800m race to once again dip inside the Olympic A mark.

Finally the women’s 3000m Steeplechase saw three excellent performances – Hatti Dean (Hallamshire) clocking an Olympic A standard of 9:39.19, closely followed by Jo Ankier (Shaftesbury Barnet) with 9:45.44 and Helen Clitheroe’s (Preston) 9:46.75.

For more information, please follow the link to the Bislett Games results

Primo Nebiolo Memorial Meet, Turin 6 June.

Craig Pickering (Marshall Milton Keynes) opened his season with 10.38 into a 1.0 headwind, beating fellow Brits Harry Aikines Aryeetey and Christina Malcolm (Cardiff) into second and third with 10.42 and 10.44. James Dasaolu (Croydon) and Ryan Scott (Yates) were 5^th and 6^th in the B race.

Emma Ania (Shaftesbury Barnet) set a new pb of 11.21 in the 100m finishing 2^nd behind Angie Williams to go top in 2008 and 8^th on the UK All Time list. For further GB results visit the Primo Nebiolo meet website

Askina Meeting, Kassel 6 June

Goldie Sayers (Belgrave) won the javelin in an impressive 63.96m way beyond the Olympic A standard, against a high standard throwing field. Sarah Claxton (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies) made an amazing breakthrough in the 100m hurdles running an Olympic A Standard of 12.96 in her heat and following it up with an even swifter 12.92in the final to top the 2008 rankings and go 7^th on the UK All Time list

Weitsprung Meeting, Germany 7 June

In the specialist long jump meeting Chris Tomlinson (Newham & Essex) jumped  a wind assisted 8.09m and a legal 7.95m with fellow GB athlete Nathan Morgan (Birchfield Harriers)  leaping 7.99m.

Jade Johnson just missed an Olympic A qualification by 1cm with an impressive 6.71m jump. Follow this link to view full results from the Weitsprung meeting

Chania, Crete 7 June.

Phillips Idowu (Belgrave Harriers) went top of the world rankings with 17.55m in the men’s triple jump to show he has maintained the form which made him World Indoor gold medallist in March. Ashia Hansen (Birchfield Harriers) jumped 13.31 to finish 4th in her comeback event as she seeks to make another Olympic Games,

Montell Douglas (Blackheat and Bromley) managed 11.42 to win the women’s 100m at the same meeting. For further GB results follow the link to the Chania Meeting.

Birmingham UK Womens League Division 1, 7 June

Lee McConnell (Shaftesbury Barnet) won both the 200m and 400m, with a 200m PB of 23.1 and her 400m clocking of 51.7.  Carys Parry (Rhondda) set a new Welsh record in the Hammer with 66.93m to go 2^nd in 2008 and 4^th UK All Time – just 7cm off the Olympic B standard.

British Open Athletics Championships – SportCity, Manchester on 7-8 June

Chris Martin (Mansfield Harriers) produced the leading performance with a World Record in the F33 Discus at the final qualifying event for British athletes aiming for the Paralympic Games from 6-17 September.

After retiring from the sport in 2004, Chris Martin, former Paralympic Champion has only been back competing this season and admitted he was surprised to break the world record in Manchester with a throw of 28.91m (UKA standard 23.75m), he now has his sights set on Gold in Beijing.

Two athletes secured qualifying performances for the first time – Martin Crutchley (Cannock & Stafford AC) and Stephen Paynton (Unattached). Crutchley recorded a new PB of 13.73m in the F38 shot to put himself in contention for selection and Paynton from South Shields clocked 53.43 seconds in the T38 400m, inside the UKA standard of 54.00.

Regensburg, Germany 8 June

In the women’s 200m at Regensburg , Germany, Emily Freeman (Wakefield) led home an impressive GB 1-2-3 with a superb PB of 23.01. In second place was Ashlee Nelson (Stoke with 23.46 and Kadi Ann Thomas (Marshal Milton Keynes) in 3^rd with 23.64. Meanwhile Steve Lewis (Newham & Essex) cleared a promising 5.60m in the pole vault. For further GB results visit the German Athletics Federation website

Birmingham BAL Premier  8 June

Samson Oni (Belgrave) equalled his indoor best of 2.30 in the high jump, once again hitting the Olympic A standard, meanwhile Dale Garland (Birchfield) went top of the 2008 400 hurdles rankings with 50.17.

Jonathan Moore (Birchfield) had an impressive return to form as he became Britain’s fourth athlete to achieve an 8m jump this year with 8.00m.

For further key results please visit the BAL website