30 January 2012

While the main action was in Glasgow at the weekend for the Aviva International Match, there were plenty of other notable performances both on track, field and on the country, including a great 60m outing for sprinter Asha Philip at the London Games and a World Indoor qualifier for high jumper Samson Oni.

London Games, Lee Valley, January 28/29

European Junior champion Jodie Williams (Coach: Mike McFarlane) suffered her first ever defeat by an UK athlete when she was beaten by 2007 world youth champion Asha Philip, first 7.30 to 7.31 and then 7.24 to 7.32. Both times were PBs for Philip breaking her 2007 best. The World indoor qualifying mark is 7.30.

European Junior silver medallist Andi Pozzi (Coach: Malcolm Arnold) set big PBs of 7.66 and 7.67 over 60m hurdles to go top of the McCain Power of Ten rankings. He just missed the UKA World indoor qualifying standard of 7.65.
There was also a fast 60m win for Andy Robertson (self-coached) in a PB 6.65.
Results: (partially complete):  http://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=56986

Combined Events International, Prague, January 28-29
The Aviva GB & NI team finished fifth in the men’s, and third in the women’s competitions.

Ben Gregory (Coach: Emily Parker) was the leading British man in sixth with a PB Heptathlon score of 5582. His marks included 7.25 for 60m, 2:44.80 for 1000m, 1.90m for high jump, 8.29 for 60mH, 4.80m for the pole vault, 12.71 for the shot and 7.12m for the long jump.

Francis Baker (Gareth Lease) was eighth on 5538 points, Daniel Gardiner (Antonio Minichello) was 19th on 4897, after no heighting in the pole vault and Michael Holden was 20th on 4719 after not completing the 1000m.

Gemma Weetman (Greg Richards) finished 7th in the women’s pentathlon with a PB 4083, her marks were 5.96m in the long jump, 11.20m in the shot, 1.66m in the high jump, 8.79 in the 60mh and 2:16.48 in the 800m. Jessica Tappin (Parker) was 9th on 3902, Karla Drew (Minichello) 12th on 3797 and Jessica Taylor (self) 13th on 3794.
Results http://online.atletika.cz/vysledky.aspx?idk=14863

Adelaide Track Classic, January 28
Julia Bleasdale finished second in the 5000m in 15:45.90, missing her PB by less than two seconds to go top of the McCain Power of Ten rankings. She was fourth in the same race last year.
Results http://www.athletics.com.au/~athlivestats/

Hustopeče, Czech Republic, January 28
Samson Oni (Coach: Trevor Llewellyn) equalled his PB and set a World indoor qualifying mark of 2.31m when he placed third equal (with Ivan Ukhov) in a top quality competition that saw Russian Aleksey Dmitrik overhaul  Robbie Grabarz’s world lead of the week before with 2.35m. Oni cleared 2.28m first time and then 2.31m at the second attempt. The qualifying mark is 2.29m.
Results http://www.skakani.cz/vysledky/index

Midland Cross Country Championships, Nottingham, January 28
James Walsh (Coach: Trevor Baxter) won the men’s race by 26 seconds from Rory Fraser to gain his third successive title.
Juliet Doyle (Coach: Roy Stowell) won a much tighter women’s race. She beat Hannah Doran (formerly Whitmore) (Coach: Bill Foster) by just two seconds with Doyle’s twin sister Jane Potter a further seven seconds back in third.
Results http://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=56665&pagenum=1

South of England Championships, Brighton, January 28
Ben Tickner won an exciting men’s race catching early leader Phil Wicks in the closing stages to win by just four seconds. Ceri Mitchell, only 20th in 2011, was a surprise women’s winner, taking gold by five seconds from Lauren Deadman (Coach: Bill Foster).
European junior champion Emelia Gorecka (Mick Woods) had a clear win in the Under 20 race though World youth 800m medallist and National Inter Counties and English Schools champion Jessica Judd (Coach: Jeremy Freeman) was beaten by Alex Clay (Coach: Peter Mullervy).
Results: http://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=55654

North Championships, Pontefract, January 28
Steve Vernon (Coach: David Turnbull) won the men’s record for a record equalling fourth time narrowly from steeplechaser James Wilkinson (Coach: Philip Townsend). The women’s race saw a surprise victory for fell expert Lizzie Adams (Coach: Bashir Hussain) with Susan Partridge (Coach: John Montgomery) and Jessica Coulson (Mick Woods) taking the other medals.
Results http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2012/naxc12.htm