7 March 2009

An action packed morning session on the second day of competition at the European Indoor Championships in Turin, Italy produces six more finalists from team GB&NI.

The highly anticipated 60m competition began with a GB&NI triple in the first stage of qualifying.

Craig Pickering (Marshall Milton Keynes) flew into the semi-finals of the men’s 60 from the first heat with 6.63. Dwain Chambers (Belgrave Harriers) joined him, winning the third heat in a confident 6.53. While Simeon Williamson made it three out of three for team GB&NI with 6.61 in the fourth heat.

Chambers said: “I feel a little bit nervous but that’s normal, I feel good. Physically and mentally I am focussing just on my run and the best results.”

Greg Rutherford (Marshall Milton Keynes) qualified in third place from the first pool of participants for the final of the men’s long jump with a first round of leap of 7.99m, an indoor personal best. The final will take place on Sunday afternoon.

In the men’s pole vault qualification Steve Lewis (Newham & Essex Beagles) came into the competition on 5.40m with one no jump and one clearance at that height. He continued that trend at 5.55m and 5.65m before clearing 5.70m on his first attempt, a jump that put him on third place in the rankings and gave him passage into his first senior pole vault final.

The British number one said: “5.40m was good but on the first attempt the pole was a bit small, so I changed the pole and then got over. It was the same for the next height, so I was just progressing through the poles. Then I started jumping better and felt really good, I’m happy. I’m going to go have physio now and get some rest. I’m going to enjoy the final.”

Katrina Wooton (Bedford & County) qualified for the final of the women’s 3000m on a fastest loser ticket from her 9:01.21 effort. She began her heat at the back of the group only making her way up to the middle of the pack by the half way point in the race. She managed to maintained sixth place for the remaining two laps until the line.

She said: “I’m a bit disappointed I was hoping to qualify as a fastest loser if anything. I was hoping to come fifth but in sixth I was a place down on where I wanted to be. When you’re racing these girls you have to be looking to finish quick. It’s not like back home in the UK where it can get spread out, here in Europe nobody cares who you are, there was lots of bumping and I got spiked.”

Carl Mysercough (Blackpool, Wrye & Fylde) never found his form in the qualification stages of the men’s shot put. With only three attempts to prove his worth he threw 18.65m on his first try then failed twice and subsequently did not qualify, placing 18th overall.

He said: “I just couldn’t get any rhythm going I felt in good shape, I felt good physically I just couldn’t get my timings right. I wasn’t connecting with the shot, this is a big disappointment, I just didn’t do myself justice. It’s frustrating, but I’ve got to be consistent and I have to really work on that.