16 February 2011

World and European heptathlon Champion Jessica Ennis has been voted European Athlete of the Month for January, alongside Russian high jumper Ivan Ukhov.

Ennis (coach: Toni Minichiello) once again clinched victory over 2010 World Indoor 60m hurdles Champion Lolo Jones at the Aviva International Match in Glasgow on 29 January. The win over the American saw Ennis post a world-leading time of 7.97 seconds.

She consolidated this with solid performances in the North of England Indoor Championships and Aviva UK Trials and Championships, as well as recording a new personal best of 14.61i in the shot put at the Loughborough Open Meeting on 22 January.

Ennis will compete in the pentathlon at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Paris in March where she could well challenge the long-standing pentathlon world record.

Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team mate Helen Clitheroe, who clocked 8:52.31 to win the 3000m race in Glasgow and went on to win the Aviva Indoor UK Trials and Championships, finished third in the women’s poll.

The poll is based on votes from thousands of athletics fans and media as well as a panel of European Athletics experts.