15 June 2009

British athletes abroad …

DKB-ISTAF IAAF Golden League, Berlin, Germany 14 June 2009

In the 100m Simeon Williamson (Highgate Harriers) finished in second place with 10.13 in a race won by pre-race favourite Daniel Bailey from Antigua & Barbuda in 10.03 (+1.4 m/s), but disaster struck James Dasaolu (Croydon Harrers) 20m from the line when he had to pull up with an injury. In the B race, world 100m finalist Marlon Devonish led British athletes to the first three places. The Coventry Godiva athlete clocked 10.25, defeating Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Sutton and District) (10.30), with Tyrone Edgar third (Newham & Essex Beagles) (10.33).

In the women’s 100m races, Laura Turner (Harrow AC) finished in second place in 11.46 while Kadi-Ann Thomas (Marshall Milton Keynes) recorded 11.59 in the B Race. In the C Race Emily Freeman (Wakefield Freeman), 11.33 and Ashlee Nelson (City of Stoke) 11.36 both ran lifetime bests.

In the 1500m Tom Lancashire (Bolton Harries) recorded a fine pb of 3:34.29 in seventh place behind the winner Augustine Kiprono Choge, Kenya in a world leading 3:29.47 which was the fastest time for three years. In the 800m, Michael Rimmer (Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton) finished in second place with 1:46.31.

Lee McConnell (Shaftesbury Barnett) finished in fourth place in the 400m in 52.22.

In the 4x100m the GB quartet (Williamson, Edgar, Fifton, Aikines-Aryeety) sped to victory, finishing ahead of the German team in a useful 38.52. The women’s team (Turner, Freeman, Douglas, Nelson) proved just as effective winning their race from the German’s in 43.18.

Junioren-Gala, Mannheim, Germany 13 & 14 June 2009

A British junior team took part in the Junioren-Gala with some good results. In the 200m Antonio Infantino (Enfield & Haringey) finished in sixth place with 21.52 with Junior Ejehu in equal seventh with 21.68. Lawrence Clarke finished runner-up in the 110mH in 13.62 after a 13.57 heat and  Niall Flannery also finished in second place in 51.32 in the 400mH, both lifetime bests. In the women’s 400mH Lauren Bouchard finished in fourth place with 58.72. Dan Pembroke threw the javelin 68.18m for sixth place. The GB team won the 4x100m relay (Funmi, Ejehu, Tobias, Ayanful) in 40.23 from the Czech team (40.81). The 4x400m team (Persent, Green, Wake, Clarke) also brought the baton home in first place in a time of 3:09.85 beating the German squad (3:10.32).

NCAA Championships, Fayetteville AR, USA 13 June 2009

Michael Bingham (Wake Forest University) finished in second place just 4/100th short of his pb recorded earlier this season behind Jonathan Borlee who won in 44.78. Chris Gowell (Swansea) running for Baylor University finished in a fine 1:46.88 for fourth place in a pb in a closely contested race. Lee Emanuel (Sheffield) running for New Mexico University ran an excellent race to clock 3:39.66 for third place. Yasmine Regis (WSEH) and running for Texas A&M University finished in an excellent second place in a windy 13.82 (3.3). The previous day, 12 June, Stephen Lisgo (Mansfield) and running for Baylor University, finished a magnificent third in a lifetime best of 8:35.49.

Cezmi Or Memorial, Istanbul, Turkey 13 June 2009

There was a large British contingent at the Cezmi Or Memorial in Istanbul. Rion Pierre finished in fourth place in the 100m with 10.46 and also won the C Race of the 200m in 21.44. Sebastion Tully finished in third place in the 200m B Race with 21.46. Julian Adeniron finished in fifth place in the 110mH with 14.14 while Kola Adedoyin (Blackheath & Bromley) claimed tenth spot in the triple jump with 14.86m and Lloyd Powell was eleventh in he high jump with 2.00m. Anike-Shand Whittingham (Blackheath & Bromley) finished in sixth place in the 100m with 12.08 and fourth in the 200m with 24.56. Harriet Scott ran a season’s best of 4:19.49 to finish in sixth place in the 1500m and Tina Brown was twelfth in the 3000SC with 10:16.76. Jade Nicholls threw the discus 52.23 for sixth place and Helen Asher finished in seventh place in the 100mH in 14.32 while Zara Hohn dnf.

Meeting de Montreuil, Montreuil-sous-Bois, France 11 June 2009

The small British contingent put in some impressive performance and in the 100m Dwain Chambers (Belgrave Harriers) cruised to victory in 10.17 (-0.1) from Harry Aikines-Aryeetey 10.33. Christine Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex Beagles) opened her 400m campaign with a solid 51.14. Michael Rimmer finished in third place in the 800m with 1:47.04.

IX European Athletics Festival, Bydgoszcz, Poland 10 June 2009

David Greene (Swansea Harriers) followed up his European leading time of 48.62 with a second place over 400mH in 48.71 which was exactly the same time given to the winner LJ van Zyl from RSA.

Iberoamericano Meeting, Huelva, Spain 10 June 2009

Helen Clitheroe (Preston Harriers) (V35) finished in fourth place in 9:55.38 which is the second fastest time by a British athlete this season.

… and at home

British Milers’ Club Grand Prix II, Watford 13 June 2009

In excellent conditions there were an incredible 175 pbs and the following Aviva GB&NI qualification standards:

IAAF World Athletics Championship ‘B’ Standards
Colin McCourt (Dundee Hawkhill) – 3:38.76 (Standard 3:39.2) – 1500m
James Brewer (Cheltenham) – 3:39.01 (Standard 3:39.2) – 1500m
Katrina Wootton (Bedford & County) – 4:07.94 (Standard 4:09.0) – 1500m

European U23 Championships
Paul Bradshaw (Blackburn) – 1:47.37 (Standard 1:48.00) – 800m
Hannah England (Oxford City) – 2:01.50 (Standard 2:04.00) – 800m
Emma Jackson (City of Stoke) – 2:03.32 (Standard 2:04.00) – 800m
David Forrester (St. Helens Sutton) – 3:40.81 (Standard 3:43.00) – 1500m
Jonathan Taylor (Morpeth) – 14:06.00 (Standard 14:10.00) – 5000m

European Junior (U20) Championships
Niall Brooks (Sale Harriers Manchester) – 1:47.99 (Standard 1:49.50) – 800m
Stacey Smith (Gateshead) – 2:03.63 (Standard 2:06.00) – 800m
Alison Leonard (Blackburn) – 2:04.52 (Standard 2:06.00) – 800m
Simon Horsfield (East Cheshire) – 3:42.29 (Standard 3:47.00) – 1500m
Ross Murray (Gateshead) – 3:43.93 (Standard 3:47.00) – 1500m
Daniel Clorley (Luton) – 3:46.92 (Standard 3:47.00) – 1500m
Ronnie Sparke (Woodford Green) – 14:25.10 (Standard 14:30.00) – 5000m
Charlotte Purdue (Aldershot Farnham & District) – 15:49.25 (Standard 16:40.00) – 5000m
Kate Avery (Shildon) – 16:04.60 (Standard 16:40.00) – 5000m
Louise Small (Aldershot Farnham & District) – 16:11.03 (Standard 16:40.00) – 5000m
Hollie Avil (Rugby & Northampton) – 16:25.35 (Standard 16:40.00) – 5000m

Welsh Open Senior Championships, Cardiff 13 June 2009

Highlights from Cardiff were a closely contested 200m which was won by Christian Malcolm (Cardiff AAC) in 21.0 from 400m specialist Tim Benjamin (Belgrave Harriers) who recorded the same time. Rhys Williams (Cardiff AAC) showed he is starting to recapture his form with a fine victory in 49.38 which was not that far off his best. In the women’s hammer, Carys Parry (Rhon) won with a throw of 66.10m from Laura Douglas (Sale Harriers) 61.88.

England Senior and U20 Combined Events Championships, Stoke 13 & 14 June 2009

The senior men’s decathlon saw Guy Stroud, Exeter winning with a total of 7258 points from Martin Brockman, Medway & Maidstone a mere three points adrift with 7255.

In the U20 men’s event, Daniel Gardiner, Leeds City won in a championship best performance of 7567 points which was also a European Junior Championships qualifier. In second with 7409 points was David Guest, Bridgend and in third was Ashley Bryant, WSE&H with 7267 points, both also European Junior Championship qualifying marks. The trio are now first, second and third in the Pof10 rankings.

The senior women’s heptathlon was won by Catherine Holdsworth, Colchester with 5421 points and runner-up was Gemma Weetman, Oswestry Olympians with 5217 points.

The U20 women’s event was won by Katrina Johnson-Thompson, Liverpool U17 in a championship best performance of 5481 points. Second was Amy Marchant, Leeds City with 4577 points. Katrina is now top of the Pof10 rankings by a massive 503 points and stands in second place in the European rankings.