11th February 2009

Ten To Follow At Trials

 

11 February 2009

Follow these links to see the latest athlete lists and timetable for this weekend (please note cancellation of women’s 1500m heats – now just a straight final on Sunday)

This weekend the best of British will battle it out to claim their title as UK Champion and gain the qualifying standards to enable them to represent the Aviva Great Britain & Northern Ireland Team at the European Indoor Championships in Turin, on March 7-9.

Here’s this weekend’s ten to follow –

Phillips Idowu

One of the most colourful characters in athletics, Commonwealth gold medallist and World and European Indoor Champion Idowu had an exceptional 2008, winning all five outdoor competitions before topping it off with an Olympic silver medal in Beijing. Idowu has pledged to try and win gold at every major championship between now and 2012 and first up is the European Indoor Championships in March.

Mo Farah

Last year’s European Cup winner and GB number one over 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000m, Farah made a brilliant start to the year winning the 3000m and claiming the national record at the Aviva International Match. After being knocked out before the final in Beijing, the hugely talented Farah is determined and confident of a podium place at the European indoors in Turin. Today he will run the 1500m at which he was silver medallist in last year’s outdoor championships.

Steve Lewis

Lewis has already set himself a new PB of 5.75m in 2009 and is now fifth in this season’s world rankings. The 22-year-old rose to international class when he cleared 5.05m for the World Youth bronze medal, and followed this up with a Commonwealth bronze in 2006. Ever improving, Lewis will be looking to gain selection this weekend and challenge for a medal at the Europeans Indoors in March.

Craig Pickering

The 22-year-old claimed a bronze medal at the World Championships in the 4x100m relay in Osaka 2007. In June that same year he achieved a new PB to win the 100m at the European Cup and gained a silver medal in the 60m at the European Indoor Championships. He made his debut appearance at last year’s Olympic Games making it to the second round. Pickering is a world class indoor performer and two weeks ago claimed his third successive victory at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow.

Greg Rutherford

Overcoming a number of injury problems, Rutherford made a fine return to top form in 2008 with a massive jump of 8.20m to take the UK title. He followed this up with a win at the Aviva London Grand Prix and finished 11th in the final at his first ever Olympics. European silver medallist in 2006, Rutherford, jumped an indoor personal best two weeks ago at the Aviva International Match, adding weight to suggestions that he is a future global medallist.

Tyrone Edgar

European Cup winner Edgar, claimed a series of fast times and personal bests throughout 2008. Representing Great Britain in the 100m in Beijing, Edgar progressed further than both of his British rivals and made it to the semi-finals. Spending most of his time training in America, he returns to a British indoor track for the first time in seven years this weekend.

Tasha Danvers

The 31-year-old hurdler looked in fantastic form in Beijing, and underlined her ability in the 400m hurdles with a series of impressive performances through the rounds, culminating in a bronze medal and a lifetime best in the final. As part of her winter training, Danvers will line up in the 800m against European Cup winner Jenny Meadows.

Jenny Meadows

Dominating the domestic indoor scene in the 800m last year, Meadows was fifth in the World Championships in Valencia and then won the European Cup in the summer. In her debut Olympics in Beijing, she made it successfully to the semi-finals, matching her British rival, Marilyn Okoro. Coming second at the Aviva International Match last month, Meadows will be looking to get back on top in time for the Europeans and this weekend will aim to win her sixth national title indoors.

Marilyn Okoro

Okoro steadily came through to top form in 2008 winning the UK title and the Aviva London Grand Prix. In her first Olympics she reached the semi-finals and continued this form in to 2009 where she beat long term rival Meadows in Glasgow a few weeks ago. Okoro will run the 400m this weekend but will still be targeting the 800m for the European Indoor Championships.

Kelly Sotherton

Sotherton has picked up Commonwealth gold, world indoor silver and two European indoor silvers to go with her Olympic bronze and world outdoor bronze. Competing this weekend in the 60m hurdles, high jump, long jump and shot, Sotherton could win medals in all four events. After finishing fourth in Beijing she is determined to get herself back on the podium at both the Europeans and Worlds.

Tickets for the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships at the EIS, Sheffield on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February are available by phone on 08000 556 056 or online at www.uka.org.uk