10 July 2008

Most eyes will be focused on this weekend’s Aviva UK Championships & Olympic Trials as the chase for Beijing reaches boiling point.  But over 200 miles away from the intense scrutiny of Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, competition will be equally fierce for a similar prize as one of Britain’s most resolute athletes makes a late bid for inclusion in Team GB for his third successive Olympics.

Dean Macey (Harrow AC) 4^th in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 and twice a medallist at the IAAF World Championships will compete in the decathlon at the 12^th International Combined Events Meeting at Hexham. The Olympic qualifying standards of 8000 (A) and 7700 (B) will be in his sights.

The 30 year old can expect tough competition from Daniel Awde (Woodford Green Essex Ladies), 20 and Ed Dunford (Birchfield Harriers) 23, both of whom hold the B standard and will also be nurturing Olympic ambitions.  The British trio will likely also be tested from a strong international field including Holland’s Cheil Warners, 5^th behind Macey in Athens and 2002 Commonwealth champion Claston Bernard (Jamaica).

In  the women’s heptathlon, Phyllis Agbo (Thames Valley Harriers) and Louise Hazel (Peterborough AC) will lead the British challenge against the likes of Kylie Wheeler (Australia), Isa Marcussen (Norway) and Peaches Roach (Jamaica).

For more information visit the Hexham International website.