12 December 2011

While all eyes were on Great Britain’s amazing performance in Slovenia, there were still plenty of other top performances from British athletes with encouraging performances from some Olympic hopefuls Holly Bleasdale and Paula Radcliffe

Orleans, December 11
Holly Bleasdale (Coach: Julien Raffalli-Ebezant) fancied having a break from training and it resulted in a sensational British record. She cleared heights of 4.21m, 4.36m, 4.51m at the first attempt and then 4.61m at the second, which wrapped up victory. A 4.71m vault gave her the British record and obviously improved her position at the head of the McCain Power of Ten rankings and moves her up to ninth in the World rankings. She exited the competition with three failed attempts at 4.81m, a height that only three vaulters managed in 2011. The previous UK indoor best stood at 4.60m, set by Kate Dennison in 2010. Bleasdale now lies 12th on the world indoor all-time list, and her 4.71m is the highest ever vault achieved in December. 

Katie Byres (Julien Raffalli-Ebezant) jumped 4.16m for fifth place for a new UK indoor junior record.

Results http://bases.athle.com/asp.net/liste.aspx?frmbase=resultats&frmmode=1&frmespace=0&frmcompetition=100144

Monaco, December 11
World marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe (Coach: Gary Lough) celebrated her Olympic marathon selection with a fast win, which enabled her to finish fourth overall. Her time of 32:06 puts her second in the McCain Power of Ten rankings.
It was her fastest 10k time for six years.
Results: http://ow.ly/7Wk1y

Sion, Switzerland, December 10
Jessica Coulson (Coach: Mick Woods), who made a sensational breakthrough over 10 miles in 2011, finished third in the 5km race behind two top Kenyans, Caroline Chepkwony and Jane Muia . Her time was 16:06. Stephanie Barnes (Coach: Keith Brackstone) was fifth in 16:47.
Results: http://services.datasport.com/2011/lauf/sion/RANG092.HTM

South of England Inter Counties, Croydon, December 10
Jessica Judd (Coach: Jeremy Freeman) who declined selection for the European Championships as she felt she was too young to compete at 16 won the under 17 race by 27 seconds.
Results http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2011/londonic.pdf