27 August 2007

Nicola Sanders (Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow) and Christine Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex Beagles) were highly impressive qualifiers for Wednesday’s 400m final and Andy Baddeley (Harrow) also clinching his place in the men’s 1500m final on the same night.

Women’s 100m

Laura Turner (Harrow) was eliminated from the semi-final of the 100m, running 11.32 (-0.3) in seventh. The 25-year-old’s performance equalled the best ever placing in a World Championships 100m by a British woman.

She said: “I’m really struggling to find what to say, it was rubbish. Coming here is not about times. My goal wasn’t the semi-final it was the final. It’s good to make the semi, but it’s not enough.

“I knew I’d have to run low 11.1s to get through and I thought I was in that shape. I need to run more quality races, as I’m not used to running so many races at that level. All the girls are looking good for the relay so I’ll be concentrating on that now.”

Men’s 1500m

Andy Baddeley (Harrow) qualified for Wednesday’s final of the 1500m after claiming fifth spot in the first semi-final. Baddeley ran 3:43.03 in an uneven paced race, coming from ninth on the final bend to claim the final qualification place.

He said: “It’s now the World Champs final, I’m so pleased. I came here to get in the final and do my best in the final. Now I’m in it I’m not content just to be there, I’m going to be giving it my all.”

Women’s 400m

Nicola Sanders (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow) and Christine Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex Beagles) both set personal bests while cruising into Wednesday night’s 400m final by winning their semi-finals, whilst the other British semi-finallist Lee McConnell (Shaftesbury Barnet) missed out.

Sanders smashed her previous best on the way to winning the second semi-final in 49.77, while Ohuruogu won the third semi in 50.16. It is the first time the Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland team have had two finalists in the women’s 400m at the World Championships.

Sanders said: “What with being injured earlier on in the season it wasn’t going great, but I think that’s been a blessing in disguise now. I’m just coming into some form and to run a PB and to get into the final, it’s fantastic. But the main event is in two days time. I’ve just got to get ready for that now.

Looking ahead to the final, she said: “It’s so open. I mean anything could happen. I’m just glad to be in there in the mix and who knows?”

Lee McConnell, who was fifth in the first semi in a season’s best 51.07, said: “I’m a little bit disappointed. I’d like to have ran under 51 seconds. I wasn’t far off it.”

Men’s triple jump

Phillips Idowu (Belgrave Harriers) was sixth in the men’s triple jump final with 17.09 (-0.9m/s). He leapt out to 17.07m (0.5m/s) in the second round and despite his best efforts could only marginally improve it in the sixth and final round.

Afterwards, he said: “It was a long day and a long competition and I came into it very positively. After qualifying I thought I had a 17 metre jump in me, but I wasn’t sure how many.

“I was comfortable with my hop and step phase, but I missed the snap at the end. I enjoyed it as a couple of weeks ago I didn’t even know if I would jump at all.

“I owe a big thanks to the doctors and physios as they have helped me so much and without them I wouldn’t have even been out there tonight.

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