17 July 2009

It was a morning of mixed emotions on day two of the European Under-23 Championships, with three from four through from qualifying.

Aviva UK Championships bronze medalist Zara Hohn (Wakefield) was first up in heat three of the women’s 100mH. Her immediate reaction was disappointment at finishing outside the automatic qualifiers in fourth (13.46s): “I had a brilliant start through to the sixth hurdle,” she said, “I think I was leading all the way, but for some reason, maybe it was because the girls caught up on me, but I forgot to keep driving, I don’t know, I can’t really think.”

But moments later, as the heats concluded, the England under-23 champion was announced as a fastest loser – the quickest non-automatic qualifier of the morning – and progresses through to this afternoon’s semi final. “I’m so relieved and really pleased I’ve got through so I’ve got a fresh start,” she said, “I know what I need to do now.”

Stephen Lisgo (Mansfield), the NCAA 3000m SC bronze medallist and second ranked European under-23 with a best of 8:35.49, qualified in second place from his semi final (8:59.45).

“It was ok out there, but I was clipping people. I’ve been running 68s all year and then today running 72s, we were hitting barriers, it was different. With 800m to go I thought ‘I’m gonna catch him’, but I didn’t need to. I was gaining time on the jumps. It was alright.

On the in field, Luke Cutts (Dearneside High) – who performed brilliantly at the Aviva UK Championships to equal his outdoor best (5.55m) and win gold – made it through his pole vault qualifying group with 5.30m. He experienced a few inconsistencies in is approach run, but the overall outcome was positive.

“I was too tense, and it was getting on my nerves. It’s job done though. At my last attempt at 5.40m I used a longer pole which was good preparation for the final.”

Unfortunately Brett Morse (Birchfield), the England under-23 discus champion, failed to make it through from his qualifying group with a 54.16m best effort.