9 July 2008

Full timetables and results can be found at the World Junior championships website

Day 2 – morning 

There were more mixed fortunes for the Norwich Union GB & NI team on the morning of the second day in Bydgoszcz at the World Juniors. Consistent performances from all rounder Daniel Gardiner (Leeds City Athletics Club) prompts high expectations for the afternoon session while other juniors experience the highs and lows of international competition.

Leeds based decathlete Daniel Gardiner (Leeds City Athletics Club) opened his account in style with a convincing win in the first event of his speciality the 100m. Gardiner crossed the line in 11.00, achieving a new personal best and moved into the long jump in third place overall. 

“I got a good start and got away fast, I went in thinking I was going to win because that’s what you have to do. I’m pleased with that, the first day is my strongest. It’s my first international competition, a cracking start and hopefully I can keep it up.”

Nathan Woodward was unfortunate in the men’s 400m hurdles heats. Despite feeling in "pb form" the Tamworth athlete lost his stride pattern going into the third hurdle and failed to recover. He finished fifth in 53.42 and will not go through to the next round.

He said: “I’m gutted, I don’t know what happened. I’m really grateful for the opportunity and I have learn a lot.”

Meghan Beesley (Birchfield Harriers) goes through to the semi-final of the women’s 400m hurdles. Her 59.83 effort was enough to earn her third place, even after hitting a hurdle early on: “I thought I was falling over, but I thought, keep going, keep going. At least I’m through.” She will race again in the morning session on Thursday.

Daniel Gardiner continued his decathlon crusade in the long jump, his best leap of 6.80m (+0.4m/s) kept him to fifth place.

Making a valiant effort in the women’s pole vault, Jade Ive (Sutton) bowed out at 3.90m following three unsuccessful attempts at 4.00m. She recently achieved her PB of 3.95m at the Southern Under 20 Championships in June but was unable to stretch to the height set here in Poland.

She said: “I knocked it off twice and then got it on my third attempt at 3.80m and 3.90m. I haven’t been jumping that high yet because I’ve just recently moved up poles. I’ve been jumping with them for about five weeks, I’m getting used to them now but more competitions will just give me that extra.”

In the third decathlon event of the morning Daniel Gardiner finished fourth in the shot with 14.29m. He continues to threaten more with consistent performances and will have the chance to prove it this afternoon in the high jump and 400m. He sits in seventh place at the close of three events.