23rd January 2012
WEEKEND ROUND-UP
23 January 2012
Villeurbanne, Lyon, France, January 21
European Under 23 champion Holly Bleasdale (coach: Julien Raffalli-Ebezant) enjoyed an astonishing breakthrough to lead a British 1-2-3.
Bleasdale went second on the world all time lists with a vault of 4.87m, having first set British records of 4.72m and then 4.80m both at the first attempt.Her 4.87m came at the third attempt and then she had three attempts at a world record 5.01m, where she had one good vault.
“I went for 4.87 as I knew that would make me 2nd all time indoors,” said Holly.
“I was thrilled when I got 72, and then 80 then when I got 87 I was so happy I couldn’t believe it! I just lay still on the bed in astonishment. The crowd was absolutely electric and this was an amazing boost!
“Everyone was on their feet shouting and when I attempted 5.01m the atmosphere was just out of this world! I’ve never experienced it like that before.
“I ran through twice and had one good attempt!! I was lucky to have the chance to attempt a world record but next time I will be more mentally prepared.
“I can’t wait to watch the videos and get back into a little block of training before the trials where I will be off a full approach and hoping the crowd can spur me on some more.”
Former British record holder Kate Dennison (Scott Simpson) made a good competitive start to 2012 to finish second with 4.34m while Sally Peake (Scott Simpson) matched that mark in third with a new Welsh indoor record which gives Britain four vaulters in the current world top 20.
2010 world junior bronze medallist Andrew Sutcliffe (Julien Raffalli-Ebezant) also had a big breakthrough top win the men’s B event with a PB 5.54m.
Wuppertal, January 21
Another to step up a level this weekend was Robbie Grabarz (Fuzz Ahmed). He not only bettered the UKA World Indoor standard of 2.29m but like Bleasdale he also set a world leading mark. His PB of 2.34m puts him into world class and was a 5cm PB and places him third on the UK indoor all time lists.
It hadn’t started that promisingly as his opening heights of 2.19m and 2.23m were only cleared on his third and final jumps. However he then cleared 2.26m first time and then 2.28m second time. He set a PB of 2.30m for the first time. However he failed his first jump at 2.32m which Russian Alexey Dmirik managed. He therefore needed 2.34m to win which he did with his second and final attempt. Samson Oni (Trevor Llewellyn) jumped 2.19m.
“At the end of last season (2011) I was disappointed with how I had performed all year, so my decision was to never let that happen again, it gave me great motivation to train hard this winter,” acknowledged Grabarz.
“This was my second full winter with my coach Fuzz Ahmed, we work well together because we challenge each other at the track and away from it, we have used the last two years to understand each other, and we are both working together to achieve the same goal.
“I have worked very hard on the mental aspect of my training this winter, as well as the physical side. I made a decision to be a good as I possibly could at what I have chosen to do, now it’s just about leaving myself alone and letting it happen, the hard training is done.
“It felt great to jump that height, before the season started I knew heights like this and above were going to be needed to be competitive against the world’s best.”
Results: http://www.leichtathletik.de/results/4544_wuppertal_hoch-mae_210112.pdf
Reflecting on the performances of Bleasdale and Grabarz, UKA Head Coach Charles van Commenee said: “It is a promising start of the season. If Holly and Robbie manage to repeat this in the Olympic arena we will all be partying afterwards!”
“I recently witnessed outstanding practice in South Africa and Kenya at our warm weather training camps and based on that I expect more athletes to make a strong mark in the months to come.”
Simmons-Harvey Invitational, Ann Arbor, January 21
Tiffany Porter set a world leading mark at the weekend as the World Championship fourth placer ran 8.06 for the 60m hurdles bettering the top listed time of 8.07 by American Brianna Rollins.
She had a busy day as she also ran 8.08, ran 60m twice in 7.42 and 7.46 and even ran a 24.58 200m. She won all five races.
SEAA Championships, Lee Valley, January 21/22
Simeon Williamson ran a fast 60m in 6.64 while Abi Oyepitan (Tony Lester) won the women’s equivalent of 7.31 from Laura Turner (Linford Christie) 7.33.
Results: http://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=56899
Watch Athleticos footage of Day 2: www.athleticos.org
New York, January 21
In the one mile, Andrew Baddeley (Andrew Hobdell) led a British one-two and his 3:57.22 was the fastest indoor mile in the world thus far of 2012. James Brewer (Craig Winrow) finished second in his best indoor mile of 3:57.92, while Ricky Stevenson (coach: Steve Shaw) was fourth in 3:58.91. All three times are in inside the UKA World indoor standard of 3:59.00.
Results: http://www.armorytrack.com/Meet/34/New-Balance-Games/#317
Crystal Palace, January 18
European and Commonwealth 110m hurdles champion Andy Turner (Lloyd Cowan) had his first races of 2012 and he timed 7.79 and 7.82 for 60m hurdles.
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