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07 July 2010

International stars lined up alongside domestic talent in tonight’s Super8 2010 event at Scotstoun, Glasgow in a superb occasion for the newly reopened venue.

Here’s an event by event review of how the teams faired

Men’s High Jump

Robbie Grabarz (London) took an expected high jump victory over a strong domestic field, clearing 2.23m on his first attempt. Birmingham’s Matthew Roberts was second with 2.17m ahead of Gateshead’s Adam Scarr who also cleared a height of 2.17m.

Despite his win Grabarz was disappointed on not achieving greater heights with his efforts:

“I’m a bit disappointed with that actually. I should have got to 2.28m. The headwind was unbelievable though, it was tough to stand up. I feel more confident than I did the other week – I feel fresh.

“My focus is the Commonwealth Games now – that’s the main target for me. British high jumping is really strong at the moment which is great.”

Women’s 100m Hurdles

International wildcards Lolo Jones (Glasgow) and Danielle Carruthers (Gateshead) put on a great show with the night’s opening track event, racing to the line and breaking the 13 second barrier with 12.93 and 12.95 respectively.

Although Jones was the expected winner of the two internationals it was a close fought race that Carruthers triumphed in, with Birmingham’s Louise Hazel taking the first Brit honours in 13:38.

Carruthers, who suffered a nightmare experience by falling at her national championships in the USA last month, was delighted in beating her USA rival and putting in a strong performance for the Gateshead team:

“It was a good way to redeem myself, I fell in my trials, I was a little nervous, and it was a good way to get back into it.

“I needed to get through 10 hurdles today without falling. It’s always hard after a fall. I am ready to go to the Aviva British Grand Prix in Gateshead and run well there now.”

Jones commented after: “I just need to do a better job of staying focussed on every hurdle. I’m just extremely disappointed that I let Team Glasgow down – I wish I’d picked another day to lose!”

Women’s Javelin

Laura Whittingham represented Sheffield and, currently in great form, beat the former Scotstoun stadium record with her best throw of 54.46m, but it still wasn’t enough to prevent wildcard entrant Asdis Hjalmsdottir (Glasgow) from taking the win with 57.43m.

Hjalmsdottir, who will compete in the European Championships later this month, was pleased with her performance ahead of her final preparation phase going towards Barcelona:

“It was a very good competition; the conditions were quite hard to begin with. The wind slowed a bit in the third round, my first two throws weren’t that’s good but then it changed and I am pleased with that.”

Men’s 110m Hurdles

Despite the disappointment of Allen Johnson dropping out during warm up with a late injury, there was still plenty of excitement with Manchester’s wildcard Tyrone Akins taking the win in 13:37, however youngster Lawrence Clarke – representing Plymouth – excelled in coming second in 13:51, although a wind speed of 3.5m/s robbed him of an official personal best.

Akins said: “That felt good. It was a little bit cold and a little bit windy but other than that it did feel good. This is my first time in Glasgow and I love it. The crowd was good and everything else is great.”

Men’s Long Jump

Chris Tomlinson took a popular victory for team Gateshead with a solid 7.96m against a 1.5m/s headwind. Opening with 7.89m he was already leading Plymouth’s Jeremy Hicks with 7.72m, but his final round leap extended the gap further and  he was pleased with a third consecutive win in his last three competitions:

“Jumping 7.96m into a 1.5m head wind probably is one of the best jumps I have ever jumped given the head wind; I can’t be too dissatisfied with that,” he said.

“Things are going steady Eddy! I am looking forward to Gateshead. I am a north east lad and am looking forward to jumping there.”

Women’s 200m

Stadium record holder Joice Maduaka protected her record and took useful maximum points for the London team with her 200m win in 23:64.

However she had to work hard over the closing stages as home crowd favourite Lee McConnell closed her down over the final 30m, and finished a tenth of a second behind in 23:74. It was a nice celebratory run for McConnell who found out less than a day earlier she had been selected for an individual place in the 400m at the European Championships later this month.

But the moment belonged to a jubilant Maduaka who was delighted with the team atmosphere that provided the backdrop to her win.

Maduaka said: “I’m pleased with that. Someone said ‘here comes Lee, so I just kept my head down for as long as possible. I love the concept of Super8. Being here with them team; it reminds me of club running. The atmosphere is great and it takes you back to how it all started.”

McConnell said: “I think the competition is good and the set up here at the stadium looks great. I’m really happy with my selection this week for the team for the European Championships – that’s such a relief.”

Women’s Pole Vault

International wildcard Jirina Ptacnikova took the maximum points for team London clearing 4.41m, whilst Henrietta Paxton was second for the Glasgow side with 3.96m, Plymouth’s Sophie Upton also clearing 3.96m and finishing third.

Women’s 100m

Former World 100m Champion Lauryn Williams may well have been the class act in taking first for Cardiff, but London’s Abi Oyepitan made sure she pushed the American all the way to the line in 11.61 – both athletes clocking the same time. In third, Gateshead’s Bernice Wilson clocked 11.77.

“That was a very close race! I am so glad to be back on the track. I am really excited to be here in Glasgow.

“I love the way the UK does sport, the make it a team effort and that makes people come out and support!”

Williams, who also joked after that she did at least have a welsh surname; added she was pleased to have taken maximum points for her adopted team.

Men’s 100m

Trell Kimmons (Manchester) was another USA athlete who took maximum points for his adopted team, but Birmingham’s Mark Lewis Francis and Sheffield’s wildcard and former world champion Kim Collins followed on soon after.

Kimmons crossed the line in 10.22, whilst Lewis Francis clocked 10.35 and Collins 10.40.

Women’s Shot put

Sheffield’s Rebecca Peake threw a PB 16.62m to take the maximum points for her team with Eden Francis in second with 15.65m for the Birmingham team. Cardiff’s Shaunnagh Brown also achieved a PB with her 15.32m for third spot.

Peake said: “I’m so chuffed I got a PB and someone just told me it means extra points for my team which is awesome. At the UK champs I had a knee problem so I wasn’t producing what I should. Then I changed something, had a rest and now I’m throwing well.”

 Women’s High Jump

Chaunte Lowe – the world’s leading high jumper, took expected maximum points for London as their International wildcard, but blustery conditions meant her attack on the stadium record of 1.98m was not to be.

Meanwhile, Steph Pywell (Birmingham) who is enjoying a superb season back to her high jumping best took second place for her team with 1.80m.

Lowe, was disappointed not to have put on more of a show for the Glasgow crowd:

“I really wish I could have jumped higher,” she said. “But I love this concept as it has you thinking strategically and mentally tough because you only have seven jumps.

“Everyone here was super nice, I guess that’s why it’s called Super8!”

Men’s 800m

Darren St Clair (London) and Gareth Warburton (Cardiff) reignited their close rivalry from the Aviva European Trials last month with both teams playing their ace cards against their 800m representatives.

As it was it proved a superb race with the two neck and neck over the final 50m and St Clair just taking the line ahead of Warburton in 1:50.60 to 1:50.63.

St Clair said: “I’m still really tired from the trials, it’s always hard the first competition after that because it’s such a high there, but I got myself into a good position.

“The competition is great for athletes who are on the edge of top competition and can’t get a lane in a Diamond League or international competitions. You get the chance to have a top class athlete in the race which will prepare you for when there are seven top athletes lining up against you.”

Men’s Discus throw

Gerhard Mayer – the International wildcard for Birmingham took victory ahead of promising Cardiff youngster Brett Morse, with both athletes having thrown 60.63m. Manchester’s Carl Myerscough took third with 60.13m.

Women’s 400m

Dominique Darden took maximum points for her adopted Sheffield team ahead of Maggie Vessey – the Plymouth International Wildcard, with Kim Wall (London) the first British finisher.

Darden, held on to the win ahead of a fast finishing Vessey with 53:74 to 54:03 and Wall crossing the line in 54:25.

“I was thinking as the announcer said that Team Sheffield was tied ‘that’s my team’. So I just though please let me finish and let me be first!” said Darden.

“The Aviva British Grand Prix is next and that’s a Diamond League race. The competition is going to be fierce and hopefully it’s all going to go well.”

Women’s long jump

Athlete turned Gladiator Jennifer Pacey won the event with 6.27m to take full points for her Gateshead side, but was pushed for the title by Manchester’s Abigail Irozuru in second with 6.24m.

In windy conditions nearly every athlete had a different condition to deal with, but Pacey was able to wait for a relatively mild 0.4m/s for her winning leap which was also a personal best.

She said: “It’s really nice that I got a PB so I’m delighted, and it’s a legal PB. It was quite windy but not too windy thank goodness. Tonight it all just magically came together at the end.”

Men’s 400m Hurdles

Rick Yates (Manchester) took the victory in an event which contained a high quality domestic field that rivalled the UK Championships of just a few weeks back.

Yates crossed the line after a blustery lap in 50:46, just holding off Dave Hughes (Gateshead) 50:60 and World Junior athlete Jack Green in third with 51:44 representing London.

Men’s 400m

The Home crowd was delighted with the sight of Glasgow’s Kris Robertson putting in a strong finish for second with 46.98, but the win went to Cardiff’s Jeremy Davis in 46.98.

Women’s 1500m

Manchester’s Helen Clitheroe took maximum points for the North West side but was pushed all the way by young raw talent Stacey Smith representing Gateshead. Clitheroe ran a mature race taking the line in 4:14.44, but youngster Smith was in close contention with a personal best of 4:15.63.

Clitheroe acknowledged the challenge she had faced:

“It was a strong field today with a lot of up and coming athletes so I was under pressure,” she said.

“I’ve had a few setbacks recently but I’m relieved to be back and feeling good. I’ve raced here at Glasgow before but it looks great now!”

Medley Relays

In the action packed medley relay races of 200m, 200m, 400m and 600m laps, the Glasgow women took a resounding win in their race as the foursome of Diane Ramsey, Hope Robertson, Gemma Nicol  and Jade MacLaren were first over the line in 3:17.53.

The men’s race was equally exciting with the London team of Stephen Johnson, Daniel Davis, Darren St Clair and Jack Green taking first in 2:47.40, but only just leading in the well supported Glasgow team who clocked 2:48.50.

Overall

Despite the home crowd support, Glasgow could not overcome the powerful challenge from the London team that saw them take a comprehensive victory over the host team. Third placed Birmingham stretched ahead of Sheffield, although with less than 20 points covering the final five teams, the night was competitive until the end.

Final standings:

London 340.5

Glasgow 287

Birmingham 274

Sheffield 258

Manchester 253.5

Gateshead 245.5

Cardiff 241

Plymouth 239.5