4 August 2012

Day Two Morning Session

Women’s Heptathlon – Long Jump

Jessica Ennis (coach: Toni Minichiello) continued from where she left off yesterday by jumping 6.48m in the long jump, just 6cm behind winner Tatyana Chernova. Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Mike Holmes) produced a jump of 6.19m, while Louise Hazel (Aston Moore) finished with a season’s best of 5.77m.

Women’s Pole Vault Qualification

Holly Bleasdale (Julien Raffalli-Ebezant) qualified for Monday’s final in equal fourth with a clearance of 5.55m.

 “I’m just really happy to be in the final – I was really nervous but now I’m full of confidence. If the crowd get behind me and lift me up, then I can be even better – they were amazing today and I’m so excited.”

There was disappointment for teammate Kate Dennison (Scott Simpson), who suffered a nasty fall during qualification.

Men’s 400m Heats

Nigel Levine (Linford Christie), Conrad Williams (Linford Christie) and Martyn Rooney (Nick Dakin) all secured their places in the semi-finals of the 400m. Rooney finished in the fastest time of 45.36 in heat seven, while both Williams and Levine finished in third place in 46.12 and 45.58 respectively.

Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Qualification

Barbara Parker (Sean Burris) narrowly missed out on qualification for the 3000m steeplechase final by finishing 6th in heat one in a time of 9:32.07, while Eilish McColgan (Liz McColgan) marked her Olympic debut with a 9th place finish in heat three.

Women’s Heptathlon – Javelin

Jessica Ennis goes into tonight’s session 188 points clear thanks to a personal best of 47.49m in the javelin and is within touching distance of finishing on top of the podium. Louise Hazel was also in great form, also throwing a personal best of 47.38m, while Katarina Johnson-Thompson threw 38.37m.

Ennis said: “It’s a great way to go into the 800m and I think I’ve got to run 2.05 (to break 7000) – that’s a tough time, but I’ll see what I’ve got left in my legs and I’ll go for it."

 Men’s 100m Heats

There was triumph for the British representatives in the men’s 100m with Adam Gemili (Michael Afilaka), James Dwain Chambers and James Dasaolu (Kevin Tyler) all qualifying for tomorrow’s semi-final. Gemili qualified 2nd in his heat in a time of 10.11, while both Chambers (10.02) and Dasaolu (10.13) produced season’s best times to qualify in second and third. 

Gemili said: “I came here just wanting to run quick – I wasn’t trying for a round, I thought maybe the final was a possibility if I execute my race properly. It was amazing out there – no feeling will ever match it.”

Day Two Evening Session

Men’s 400m Hurdles Semi-Finals

There was mixed fortunes for the Team GB hurdles trio. Dai Greene (Malcolm Arnold) qualified for the final as a fastest loser after finishing fourth in heat one in 48.19. It was not the same story for Jack Green (Malcolm Arnold) and Rhys Williams (Dan Pfaff) with both failing to make it through to Monday’s final. Green did not finish the race after hitting the hurdle in heat two, while Williams finished fourth with 49.63 in heat three.

World Champion Greene was disappointed with his performance despite making the final.

"I just don’t really know what went wrong. I can’t really explain how I feel I’m just devastated," he said.

"I’m still second fastest qualifier, but that ‘s no way to perform if you are world champ in my mind. I feel like I’ve let everybody down. I should be able to do better than that. I know I’m better than that. It’s really disappointing nonetheless, I shouldn’t be making the final that way."

Williams was understandably dejected:

"I gave it everything. I’m absolutely gutted, gutted that’s as far as I’ve gone, I’m not going to get a chance to go out there. I’ve got mixed emotions but I gave it everything I just didn’t have the legs at the end of the race."

Green explained his hurdle hit: "I hit hurdle three and then hit the floor. It’s a lack of experience in the event. I felt a headwind in my face going into the hurdle, I am absolutely distraught as you can see."

Women’s 100m Semi-Finals

The women’s 100m final will not see Abi Oyepitan (Tony Lester) on the start line. The Shaftesbury Barnet athlete finished eighth in 11.36 in semi-final one.

"I’m not feeling too happy about that. I executed the first part of my race pretty well, but the last part of my race was messy, I didn’t get my knees up and my position quite right so I’m a bit disappointed."

Women’s 400m Semi-Finals

Christine Ohuruogu (Lloyd Cowan) progressed into Sunday’s final with a season’s best time of 50.22 to finish second. Shana Cox (Lloyd Cowan) and Lee McConnell (Rodger Harkins) failed to qualify from semi-finals two and three.

Cox admitted her performance was not up to scratch: "It wasn’t the best, definitely not the way I wanted to go out time wise. I need to go back to the drawing board and clean that up a little bit. I need more race sharpness and to get that rhythm back. I don’t think it’s a fitness thing."

"I’m very disappointed to have run that time, I would have hoped to have done better," said McConnell. "It was tough being in lane two and I tried to work to 300m to give myself a better chance but these girls are just in a different class."

Women’s Heptathlon – 800m

Jessica Ennis won Team GB’s first athletics medal following her 800m. A gold medal and a new British record of 6955 points was in order for the Sheffield athlete.

"I can’t believe that I’ve had the opportunity to come to my first Games in London and win an Olympic medal," she said. 

"I was really nervous I felt really emotional after the javelin because it was so close and I wanted to make sure I finished the job off properly and not get carried away."

Katarina Johnson-Thompson finished 15th overall, setting a new PB of 6267 points. Louise Hazel scored 5856 to secure 27th.

"I was crying all the way round the glory lap at the end and I was so emotional watching Jess," said Johnson-Thompson. "It’s really inspirational as well – all the pressure Jess has been under and watching it all come out – I can’t even say."

Men’s Long Jump Final

Team GB’s second gold medal of the evening was won by Greg Rutherford (Dan Pfaff) after he jumped a distance of 8.31m. Chris Tomlinson (Frank Attoh) finished sixth with 8.07m.

"I would like to thank my coach Dan Pfaff who is incredible, my therapist Gerry Ramogida is incredible. I have the most amazing parents you could possibly have, the most beautiful girlfriend," said Olympic champion Rutherford.

"I can’t tell you how much everybody has worked so hard for me as well as myself. It’s been a long process. I thought I was going to jump further but I don’t care I’m Olympic champion.

"This is what I have dreamt of my entire life. I knew I was going to be a sportsman and when I picked athletics I knew I wanted to be Olympic champion."

Men’s 10,000m Final

The third gold medal of the evening went to Mo Farah (Alberto Salazar) on a record breaking night for British athletics. Farah’s time of 27:30.42 sealed an historic moment in UK long distance running.

"I can’t believe it," said Farah. "I’ve never experienced something like this. It doesn’t come round often to have this on your door step and the amount of people supporting me, shouting out your name.

"It’s never going to get better. This is the best moment of my life. It’s something I have worked so hard for."

Chris Thompson (John Nuttall) finished 25th.