Young Athlete Page

Williams and Hitchon nominated for European Athletics Rising Star Awards

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Tuesday 14th September 2010

EUROPEAN Athletics have announced the nominations for the 2010 European Athletics Rising Star Awards presented by MONDO, recognising the future stars of the sport in Europe.

Great Britain's world junior champions Jodie Williams and Sophie Hitchon are amongst the nominations.

Jodie Williams (Age 16) 100m & 200m, ran a national 100m junior record and European junior best of 11.24 in Bedford and clocked an impressive European-leading 22.79 in the 200m in Loughborough. She claimed gold in the 100m and silver in 200m at the world juniors in Moncton.

Sophie Hitchon GBR (Age 19) hammer, won the gold medal in Moncton with a national junior record of 66.01m.

Voting takes place on the European Athletics website until 24th September 2010 from a shortlist that includes stars from this year's World Junior Championships and Youth Olympic Games and other young athletes who performed exceptionally well this year.

Winners will be decided by votes from the general public, media, European Athletics Member Federations, and a panel of experts, with the results from each group of voters counting for one quarter of the athlete's final score.

The winners of the European Athletics Rising Star Awards along with the winners of the European Athlete of the Year Awards presented by Mondo will be invited to receive their awards during the European Athletics Convention in Budapest on Saturday 16th October.

Each voter must select their five preferred athletes and rank them in order of priority. Members of the public who have voted for the top three male and female athletes in the correct order in the poll will be entered into a draw to win a three-night trip for two to the 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Paris. There will also be some runners-up prizes.

Speaking about the Rising Star Awards, European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz said: "European Athletics has always focused resources on the development of the next generation of athletes.

"I think you will find a number of future Olympic and world champions on the nomination form and we look forward to seeing who will win the European Athletics Rising Star Awards for 2010."

Triple jumper Teddy Tamgho of France and discus star Sandra Perkovic of Croatia are nominated in both the Athlete of the Year and Rising Star categories because of their outstanding achievements in what has been their breakthrough year.

No athlete who has previously served a two-year doping ban can be nominated for the European Athletics Rising Star award.

To vote click on the following link: www.european-athletics.org/european-athletics-awards-night/european-athletics-rising-star-awards-nominations-for-2010-3.html

Double relay medal success for GB

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

2010 Youth Olympic Games

Bishan Stadium, Singapore

Monday 23rd August 2010 - Day 6

GREAT Britain collected two further podium places at the Youth Olympic Games on day six of the athletics programme in Singapore as 100m bronze medallist David Bolarinwa won silver for Europe in the men’s continental medley relay and fellow sprinter Annie Tagoe secured bronze in the women’s race.

The medley relay comprised of four athletes competing in a pyramid system of legs of 100m, 200m, 300m and 400m with the British duo running on the opening 100m sprint as the Americas team claimed double victory in both of the events.

In the men's race the team of Bolarinwa, Poland's Tomasz Kluczynski, Marco Lorenzi of Italy and Nikita Uglov of Russia clocked 1:52.11 as the Americas led by the 100m individual champion Odane Skeen of Jamaica won gold in 1:51.38.

The women's quartet representing Europe of Tagoe, combined with Italy's Anna Bongiorni, German Sonja Mosler and Biana Razor of Romania finished third in 2:07.59 as the Americas prevailed ahead of Africa in 2:05.62.

In other events Louisa James won the women’s hammer ‘B’ final with a throw of 53.21m as Andrew Elkins was second in the men’s ‘B’ final with a throw of 67.77.

Zak Seddon was runner-up in the men’s 2,000m steeplechase ‘B’ final in a lifetime best of 5:52.13 as Abi Fitzpatrick finished sixth in the women’s 400m Hurdles ‘B’ final in a time of 1:05.61.

Full results are available on the following link: www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en.html

Golden girl Emma secures England title

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

2010 England Athletics U17 & U15 Track & Field Championships

Bedford International Stadium

Sunday 22nd August 2010 – Day 2

EMMA Achurch (Leicester) claimed the biggest victory of her career to win the England U15 girl’s 3,000m race-walking title at Bedford.

Having won over 2,000m at the Woodie's DIY Juvenile Track and Field Championships last month in Tullamore, Ireland, the 13-year-old held off the challenge of Rebecca Roddy (Ashford) to win gold in a new lifetime best of 16mins 40.68secs.

Team mate at Leicester, Jasmine Nicholls, finished in fourth place missing out on a podium position with a time of 30:57.00 in the U17 girl’s 5,000m final.

In the middle-distance events Mari Smith (Leicester Coritanians) finished fifth in the opening semi-final heat of the U15 girl’s 800m clocking a time of 2:21.02 but failed to progress as a fastest loser. Team mate Freya Vincent finished 8th in the U17 girl’s 800m final with a time of 2:25.15.

David Williams (Leicester Coritanians) clocked 11.86secs to finish fourth in heat 2 of the U15 boy’s 80m hurdles.

In the field events Daley Graham (Leicester Coritanians) finished 12th in the final of the U17 men’s long jump with a best of 5.72m, whilst, Armani James (Leicester Coritanians) finished 8th with a leap of 13.43m in the U17 men’s triple jump and Forrest Francis (Leicester Coritanians) finished 7th with a throw of 44.87m in the U17 men’s discus final.

Trevelle Morris-Reid (Leicester Coritanians) with a best of 54.17m finished in sixth place in the U17 men’s javelin final.

Video highlights of the championships are available at: www.athleticos.org/

Full results are available on the following link: www.athletics-uk.net/england/results/bedfordu17/

Youth Olympic bronze for Grice

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

2010 Youth Olympic Games

Bishan Stadium, Singapore

Sunday 22nd August 2010 - Day 5

CHARLIE Grice collected Great Britain’s second track bronze medal at Youth Olympic Games in Singapore with a fine third place finish in the boy’s 1,000 metres race.   

On the track of the Bishan Stadium the 16-year-old, coached by Jon Bigg, husband of 1992 Olympic 400 metres hurdle champion Sally Gunnell, finished third in a time of 2mins 21.85secs adding to compatriot David Bolarinwa’s 100m bronze the previous day.

Mohammed Geleto of Ethiopia claimed gold with an impressive time of 2:19.54 as Hamza Driouch of Qatar finished second in 2:21.25 to collect the silver.   

Georgia Peel missed out on a medal as the 16-year-old finished sixth in the final of the girls' 1,000m, this having qualified second-fastest in Thursday's heats.

Ethiopian Tizita Ashame broke clear of the field on the final lap to win gold in a time of two minutes 43.24 seconds.

Switzerland's Andrina Schlaepfer claimed silver and Kenyan Damaris Muthee bronze as Peel crossed the line in 2:49.56, almost four seconds down on her qualifying time.

Louisa James won the girls' hammer 'B' final with a throw of 53.21m as Zak Seddon set a new personal best time of 5:52.13 to finish second the 'B' final of the boys' 2,000m steeplechase having been disqualified during the heats for stepping off the track.

Andrew Elkins ended his Youth Olympics on a positive note as a final throw of 67.77m was good enough for second in the boys' 'B' hammer final as Abi Fitzpatrick finished sixth in the girls' 400m hurdles.

Full results are available on the following link: www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en.html

Podium place for Bolarinwa in Singapore

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

2010 Youth Olympic Games

Bishan Stadium, Singapore

Saturday 21st August 2010 - Day 5

GREAT Britain’s David Bolarinwa claimed a bronze medal at the Youth Olympic Games as Jamaica’s Odane Skeen took a major step forward towards realising his dream of becoming his country's next top sprint sensation by winning gold.

In front of a capacity crowd at the Bishan Stadium the 15-year-old took the title in a time of 10.42secs.

World-leader Bolarinwa clocked 10.51, but was edged out by surprise silver medallist Masaki Nashimoto of Japan who also clocked 10.51 but was judged to have beaten the Brit following a photo-finish.

The Girls' 100m final witnessed a major upset as Josephine Omaka of Nigeria defeated race favourite Myasia Jacobs of the United States.

Omaka powered down the track crossing the line in 11.58, 0.08secs faster than Jacobs as Fany Chales of the Dominican Republic secured third in 11.65. Great Britain's Annie Tagoe finished an agonising fourth as the 17-year-old crossed the line in 11.73.

Themba Luhana finished runner-up in the men's 110m hurdles 'B' final in 13.78secs Victoria Ohuruogu, younger sister of Olympic champion Christine, finished third in the girl’s 400m ‘B’ final clocking 55.99secs as Katie Byres with a height of 4.00m won the girl’s pole vault ‘B’ final.

Full results are available on the following link: www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en.html

Silver lining for Griffiths at England Championships

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

2010 England Athletics U17 & U15 Track & Field Championships

Bedford International Stadium

Saturday 21st August 2010 – Day 1

AMY Griffiths (Leicester Coritanians) improved on her third place at the Aviva English Schools Championships by securing a well-deserved silver medal in the U15 Girls 1500m final on Day 1 of the England Athletics U17 & U15 Track & Field Championships in Bedford as the 14-year-old clocked a time of 4:43.96 to finish runner-up to the impressive Abbie Hetherington (Carlisle Aspatria AC) who claimed the title with a gun-to-tape performance clear of the field in 4:39.03 with Emma Tonner (Lincoln Wellington) completing the podium places in third (4:45.02).

In the field events having improved his lifetime best with a throw of 49.86m at the McCain Throws Fest the previous week, Forrest Francis (Leicester Coritanians) finished in 7th place in the U17 Boys discus final with a best throw of 44.87m. Scotland’s Chris Barnes (Victoria Park Glasgow) won the title with a mark of 51.55.

Sipho Byron (Leicester Coritanians) finished sixth in the second semi-final of the U15 Boys 400m clocking a time of 57.86secs.

Video highlights of the championships are available at: www.athleticos.org/

Full results are available on the following link: www.athletics-uk.net/england/results/bedfordu17/EA_U17&U15_Results_Day1.pdf

Perfect Peel on target for Youth Olympic gold

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

2010 Youth Olympic Games

Bishan Stadium, Singapore

Thursday 19th August 2010 - Day 3

GREAT Britain's World School Games 1000m champion Georgia Peel looks set to collect a further global gold medal following an impressive qualifying performance on the track of the Bishan Stadium in Singapore on the third day of qualifying at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

Peel having gold at last year's World School Games in Doha and was second quickest qualifier through to the 1000m final. The 16-year old two-time English Schools champion clocked a time of 2:45.76 to finish runner-up to the Ukraine's Anastasiya Tkachuk in the fastest of the two heats.

In the field events Andrew Elkins was outside of his personal best with the lighter hammer used at this competition in Singapore by almost three metres, with a 65.86m performance in men's hammer qualifying pool.

Louisa James in the women's hammer competition recorded three of her four attempts as no throws as the 16-year-old with a third round effort of 49.94m placed her 12th in the girl’s qualifying pool failing to progress.

Full results are available on the following link: www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en.html

Bolarinwa sets the pace over 100m

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

2010 Youth Olympic Games

Bishan Stadium, Singapore

Wednesday 18th August 2010 - Day 2

DAVID Bolarinwa set the pace for British athletes competing on the second day of competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore as the athlete ranked number one in the Under-18 category clocked a time of 10.62secs in the steaming hot conditions of the Bishan Stadium as his main rival for the gold medal Odane Skeen of Jamaica finished a close runner-up in 10.63.

Bolarinwa’s compatriot Annie Tagoe also progressed in the girl’s 100m as the third fastest qualifier with an impressive 11.78secs.

Zak Seddon failed to progress in the boy’s 2,000m steeplechase after he heavily hit the barrier and then was disqualified for stepping off the track, however, the British Olympic Association officials have lodged an appeal so he can possible run in the ‘B’ final.

In the field events Freya Jones reached the girl’s javelin final with an effort of 48.24m to finish in seventh place overall.

Sophie McKinna with a 14.30m effort qualified through to the girl’s shot final finishing in fifth place as Poland's Anna Wloka led the way with 15.77.

Full results are available on the following link: www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en.html

Tough going for Team GB in Singapore

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

2010 Youth Olympic Games

Bishan Stadium, Singapore

Tuesday 17th August 2010 - Day 1

THE opening three-days of qualifying began at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore as the British trio of Katie Byers (pole vault), Themba Luhana 110m hurdles) and Victoria Ohuruogu (400m) all failed to progress to the main ‘A’ finals having struggled with the extreme hot and humid conditions in the Bishan Stadium.

Katie Byres, the United Kingdom Under-17 pole vault record-holder cleared a best height of 3.70m in her qualifying competition to finish in ninth place overall.

Themba Luhana, the Youth Olympic Games European trials winner over the 110m hurdles clocked a time of 14.02secs to secure ninth place.

Victoria Ohuruogu, younger sister of Olympic champion Christine, English Schools national 400m champion, crossed the line in a time of 55.56secs to finish 11th.

Full results are available on the following link: www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en.html

Double world junior bronze for GB

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships

Moncton, Canada

Sunday 25th July 2010 – Day 7

GREAT Britain’s Jack Meredith recovered from a sluggish start out of the blocks to take bronze in the men's 110 metre hurdles on the final day of competition at the IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships in Moncton, Canada.

Meredith clocked a time of 13.59secs into a strong headwind of -2.4m/s to claim a podium place finishing third behind winner France's Martinot-Lagarde (13.52) and silver medallist Vladimir Vukicevic of Norway.

There was also a bronze for Great Britain’s men’s 4x400m relay team led by Nathan Wake and compatriots Dan Putnam, Seb Rodger and Jack Green.

They finished in a time of 3:06.49 with Nigeria second in 3:06.36 as the impressive American quartet setting a superb new world leading time of 3:04.76 to take gold.

In the middle-distance finals Niall Brooks just missed out on a podium finish in the 800m, finishing two one-hundredths of a second off third place with a new lifetime best of 1:47.02 as Kenya’s David Mutinda Mutua prevailed in 1:46.41.

Laura Weightman finished sixth in the women's 1500m with a personal best of 4:14.31 in the race where Ireland's Ciara Mageean secured silver with a new national record time of 4:09.51. Ethiopia’s Tizita Bogale claimed victory in 4:08.06.

On the infield Ben Williams finished 11th in the men's triple jump final with a best of 15.42m (-2.5m/s), however, team mate Kola Adedoyin had to pull out with an injury.

The GB and NI team collected a total of eight medals in Moncton, two gold, two silver and four bronze, their second best ever performance, matching efforts from Lisbon in 1994 and Athens in 1986.

Full results are available on the following link: www.iaaf.org/wjc10/results/eventCode=4146/index.html

World junior hammer gold for Hitchon

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships

Moncton, Canada

Saturday 24th July 2010 – Day 6

SOPHIE Hitchon won Great Britain’s second gold at the IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships in Moncton, Canada, with a new United Kingdom record of 66.01 metres in the women’s hammer final.

On the penultimate day of competition Hitchon, a former ballet dancer turned athlete became the first British athlete in history to win a global gold medal in the hammer gold breaking her own UK record in the process as the 19-year-old from Blackburn defeated Slovenia's Barbara Spiler by a margin of 73 centimetres.

A delighted Hitchon commented afterwards: “I’m exhausted but so excited, I felt a bit tired between the middle two rounds but I knew I just had to go for it on my last throw.

“I thought after qualifying that I had a really good chance but I wanted to stay calm and just focus on the day because anything can happen in a final, the weather didn’t really help me because I’m not used to it being so hot. The fact that I was neck and neck with the Slovenian all the way through made it a really good competition and really drove me forward."

Success in the field events continued for Team GB as fellow Blackburn athlete Holly Bleasdale secured a podium place in the women’s pole vault competition with a height of 4.15m as Loughborough University student Sally Scott, coached by Steve Rippon, finished ninth with 3.80m.
In the men’s discus final Lawrence Okoye finished outside of the medals in sixth with a best of 59.77m.

Other highlights included Kola Adedoyin and Ben Williams qualified through in the triple jump alongside Jack Meredith in the 110m hurdles and Niall Brooks in the 800m, plus the men’s 4x400m relay team progressed.

Adedoyin produced a best of 15.85m (-1.1m/s) in the final round of the triple jump this after two no-jumps as World Youth champion Williams with a leap of 15.50m (-0.7m/s) also qualified through.

World-leader and gold medal favorite in the 110m hurdles Jack Meredith cruised through to Sunday’s final clocking the fastest qualifying time of 13.52m (-0.9m/s) in his semi final.

Niall Brooks went through in a very controversial heat of the men’s 800m, this following the disqualification of Moroccan athlete Amine El Manaoui for impeding the Brit who finishing third in 1:49.01. Compatriot Adam Cotton went out of the competition finishing sixth in his semi-final with a mark of 1:50.25.

The men’s 4x400m relay team of Nathan Wake, Dan Putnam, Sebastian Rodger and Jack Green flew round the Moncton track setting a world junior leading time of 3:06.88 to cruise into the final.

Full results are available on the following link: www.iaaf.org/wjc10/results/eventCode=4146/index.html

Silver lining for Williams as winning streak ends

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships

Moncton, Canada

Friday 23rd July 2010 – Day 5

JODIE Williams remarkable 151-race unbeaten record came to an end in Moncton as the 16-year-old Brit added 200m silver to her 100m gold on Day 5 of the IAAF World Junior Championships in Canada clocking a time of 23.19secs in the race won by USA’s brilliantly named Stormy Kendrick in 22.99.

Kendrick, from Gastonia, North Carolina, ran a brilliant bend and held on down the home stretch to win the USA's first gold medal of the championships ahead of Williams with The Netherlands Jamile Samuel third.

"I just ran my own race and was patient," Kendrick said. "I was feeling very good, and I came here to win. There was great competition but I kept my focus on me. I love running because I am good at it and I have been doing it forever."

The defeat for Williams' brings to a close her remarkable unbeaten record stretching back an amazing five years and admitted afterwards that the tough race schedule at the championships finally caught up with her.

"I'm happy to be a medallist here and Stormy ran really well, I just couldn't catch her,” Williams reflected. "I had 12 hours' sleep last night because I was absolutely shattered after the 100m; six races in four days is an awful lot and not having enough sleep the night before last wasn't good, I think the expectation was way too much, but I did all I could."

Looking back on her unbeaten record, one of the longest in world athletics history at senior or junior level Williams was quite pragmatic: "It's been a long time. I knew it would come to an end one day and that's it, it's come to an end tonight.

"I'll be happy later on, but at the moment there's still great shock at finishing second and losing my unbeaten run. It's weird that all this winning streak stuff has come out now in the press and now I've got beaten, but that stuff happens."

Loughborough University student Emily Diamond, finished in sixth place in 23.62secs.

In other events, Great Britain’s Jack Green in the 400m hurdles final finished fifth in 50.49secs as Jehue Gordon from Trinidad and Tobago prevailed with a narrow victory in 49.30 edging gold by a margin of just 0.16sec from the fast finishing Takatoshi Abe of Japan with the US Virgin Islander Leslie Murray third in a season's best 50.22.

Dan Pembroke claimed 11th place in the men’s javelin final with a best of 68.12m in the competition where German Till Woschler improved his own world-lead with a massive throw of 82.52m taking the title ahead of Japan's Genki Dean who produced a lifetime best of 76.44m with Russia's Dmitri Tarabin (76.42m) completing the podium places.

The Great Britain men's and women's 4x100m relay teams both made it through to tomorrow's finals.

The women team of Rebekah Wilson, Jennie Batten, Twinelle Hopeson and Shaunna Thompson finished second in their heat behind the United States in 44.62secs, whilst, the men’s quartet of Jordan Huggins, Sam Watts, Deji Tobais and Junior Ejehu qualified through as a fastest loser after finishing third in their heat in 40.07secs.

In the morning qualifying session Niall Brooks and Adam Cotton qualified automatically for the 1500m and 800m semi-finals finishing first and third in their respective heats with times of 3:38.62 and 1:50.24.

Great Britain’s top two pole vaulters, UK record-holder Holly Bleasdale and Loughborough University student Sally Scott secured their places in Saturday’s final as the duo qualified through with a height of 3.95m.

Lawrence Okoye progressed to the men’s discus final with a best of 59.56m in the final round. Compatriot Zane Duquemin failed to progress with a mark of 54.62m.

Isobel Pooley and Matthew Graham finished outside of the qualifying places in the high jump and 3,000m steeplechase respectively. Pooley cleared 1.78m, but went out on countback, whilst, Graham finished eighth in 9:09.36.

Laura Weightman finished third to gain an automatic qualifying place for the women’s 1500m final with a time of 4:17.11 as World leader Jack Meredith won his heat in the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.77secs (+0.1m/s).

Full results are available on the following link: www.iaaf.org/wjc10/results/eventCode=4146/index.html

World silver and national record success for Samuel

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships

Moncton, Canada

Thursday 22nd July 2010 – Day 4

GREAT Britain’s Laura Samuel secured a well-deserved silver medal for Great Britain in the women’s triple jump as compatriot as Andrew Sutcliffe claimed bronze in the men’s pole vault on a highly successful evening on Day 4 of the IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships in Moncton, Canada, this following the programme earlier in the day being disrupted by torrential rain.

Loughborough College student Laura Samuel, coached by Glenys Morton, produced the performance of her life to break her own United Kingdom junior record with a superb personal best of 13.75m (x, 13.49, 13.57, 13.75, 13.66) recorded in the fourth round of the women’s triple jump final to secure the silver medal – a mark that places the 19-year-old in fifth position on the UK all-time list.

Dailenys Alcantara of Cuba retained her world junior title with a best of 14.09m in the third round with China’s Lina Deng taking bronze 13.72m.

A delighted Samuel commented afterwards: “Coming in I was ranked fifth so I was targeting that bronze medal and I’ve got the silver now, so I’m really happy.

"It feels absolutely amazing, I’m on top of the world; as soon as I knew I had it I got my flag out and started celebrating.”

Andrew Sutcliffe secured his podium place also with a lifetime best of 5.35m in the men’s pole vault final to take bronze in the competition affected by the weather with water lying on the infield where Anton Ivakin equalled his World leading mark of 5.50m to become the fourth Russian pole vaulter to lift the gold medal in the last five years. Ivakin won ahead of Italy's Claudio Stecchi who cleared a personal best of 5.40m

Loughborough University student Matt Devereux, coached by Steve Rippon, went out after three failures at 5.10m.

The outstanding sprint talent Jodie Williams extended her unbeaten run to a remarkable 151 races as she won her 200m semi-final heat in 23.20secs qualifying for Friday's final where the 100m gold medallist will be joined by Loughborough University student Emily Diamond who clocked 23.47 to progress automatically.

Sarah Kelly ran a solid race to finish seventh in the women’s 800m final with a time of 2:04.80 in the race won race won by Romania’s Elena Lavric in 2:01.85.

England U20 champion Dan Pembroke qualified for the men’s javelin final with a last round throw of 69.44m.

Full results are available on the following link: www.iaaf.org/wjc10/results/eventCode=4146/index.html

Williams races to world gold in Canada

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships

Moncton, Canada

Wednesday 21st July 2010 – Day 3

JODIE Williams claimed Great Britain’s first gold medal of the 17th IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada, winning the women’s 100m final with a superb performance clocking a time of 11.40secs (-0.7m/s).

Williams finished ahead of America's Takeia Pinckney and Jamile Samuel of Holland as the 16-year-old UK junior record-holder and current world number three, will now bid to make it a sprint double when she begins her 200m campaign.

Earlier in the evening programme, Williams, the reigning World Youth Games champion eased through her semi-final as the fastest qualifier with a time of 11.59 (+1.2m/s).

A delighted Williams commented afterwards: "I needed to get a good start because I knew both Americans could come through at the end,"

"I thought that if I got off to a good start I'd be in with a good chance and that's just what I did, I knew it was going be a close race and I wasn't quite sure I could come out and perform again, so it's obviously a huge relief and the pressure has lifted a bit."

The victory in Canada now men’s that Williams is unbeaten in a remarkable 149 races going back to 2005.

Reflecting on this achievement Williams was philosophical: "I know the day I get beaten will come eventually, but my winning streak has given me great confidence coming here and getting a medal is brilliant,"

"This is another step up for me. The next step is the World Seniors so this is a stepping stone but it means a lot, it's a great achievement."

Compatriot Marilyn Nwawulor failed to progress in her 100m semi-final heat finishing fifth in 11.95secs (+1.7m/s).

In other events Great Britain’s decathletes David Guest and Ashley Bryant failed to make the podium places.

Guest was in third place as the final session began but a below par performance in the javelin with a best of 44.62m dropped him down into fourth place.

Bryant having recorded a no height in the high jump the previous day did end the championships on a positive note setting an outdoor personal best in the pole vault with 4.20m and a season's best in the javelin (65m) as he finished 15th overall.

Back on the track European junior 3,000m silver medallist Kate Avery finished 11th in the women's 5,000m final (16:23.97) in the race won with a championships record time of 15:08.06 by Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba.

Sprinter Deji Tobais was eliminated in the semi-finals of the men's 100m (10.73secs +2.2m/s) and Sam Bailey missed out on qualification for the men's high jump final with a mark of 2.10m.

Loughborough College student and UK junior record-holder Laura Samuel qualified for the final of the triple jump and Jack Green progressed to the semi-finals of the 400m hurdles.
Great Britain & NI Results:
Men
100 h2 (2.2): 4 Deji Tobais (WSEH, U20) 10.73.
110HU20M h2 (0.2): D Ashley Bryant (WSEH, U20) 14.38. h3 (0.9): D David Guest (B'end, U20) 14.25.
400H h1: 2 Jack Green (Kent, U20) 52.16.
HJ QA: 13 Sam Bailey (Chelm, U20) 2.10.
PV A: D David Guest (B'end, U20) 4.60; D Ashley Bryant (WSEH, U20) 4.20.
DTU20M A: D David Guest (B'end, U20) 40.36. B: D Ashley Bryant (WSEH, U20) 41.66.
JT B: D Ashley Bryant (WSEH, U20) 65.00.
Women
100 (-0.7): 1 Jodie Williams (Herts P, U17) 11.40. h1 (1.7): 5 Marilyn Nwawulor (Harrow, U20) 11.95. h3 (1.2): 1 Jodie Williams (Herts P, U17) 11.59.
800 s1: 3 Sarah Kelly (Dund H, U20) 2:02.89.
5000: 11 Kate Avery (Shild, U20) 16:23.97.
TJ QA: 5 Laura Samuel (Leic C, U20) 12.98/0.1.

Full results are available on the following link: www.iaaf.org/wjc10/results/eventCode=4146/index.html

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Jodie Williams wins 100m gold for Great Britain.

Medal favourite Jodie Williams through to semi-finals

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships

Moncton, Canada

Tuesday 20th July 2010 – Day 2

GREAT Britain’s medal hope Jodie Williams began her bid for double sprint gold at the IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships in fine style by qualifying through to the semi-finals of the women’s 100m clocking 11.53secs (0.0m/s) in Moncton, Canada.

The UK junior record-holder and World Youth Games 100m and 200m champion cruised through with ease as third fastest behind the American champion Takeia Pinckney (11.48/+0.2m/s) and Germany’s Leena Gunther (11.50/+0.3m/s).

Williams commented afterwards: “I feel it went really well. I executed at the start, which was my race plan, and then just sort of relaxed from there.  

“It's quite difficult being out of the mix (in lane 1). I prefer being in Lane 4 or 5, but that's what my lane was and I've sort of got to deal with this, I could see the Canadian runner (Loudia Laarman) on the outside so I knew I had to push quite hard, I couldn't just relax through.

“I'm happy with the time, I'm just going to go a bit harder (in the semi-final) and see how it goes.”

Williams compatriot Marylyn Nwawulor also progressed as a fastest loser in the opening heat with a time of 11.85 (+0.3m/s).

Deji Tobais was a comfortable winner of his men’s 100m heat in 10.49secs (+0.8m/s) as Jamaica’s defending champion and joint world-leader Dexter Lee eased through his heat in 10.39 (+1.3m/s).

In the men’s decathlon the British duo of David Guest and men’s team captain Ashley Bryant began their campaigns with a very positive start setting new lifetime bests in the 100m.

Guest, who currently heads the IAAF World junior rankings finished second in heat three with a time of 10.90secs, whilst, Bryant in the opening heat clocked 11.02 to also finish runner-up.

Bryant continued to re-write his own personal record-book by lowering his lifetime best performance in the long jump with a mark of 7.11m (-1.6m/s), whilst, Guest in round two went within one centimetre of his best with a leap of 7.36m (+1.2m/s) in round two.

In the final competition of the morning session the duo produced solid performances in the shot with Guest recording 13.56m and Bryant 13.14m respectively.

The high jump event began the evening session with Guest achieving a best height of 1.95m, however, there was huge disappointment for Bryant who failed to record a height in the competition.

In the final event of a very long day over the one-lap sprint Guest clocked 49.11secs in the 400m as Bryant bounced back after the high jump to set a new personal best of 49.53.

At the end of the first day of competition Guest finished in a podium place, third overall with a total of 4073 points behind leader Kevin Mayer of France (4159) and Cuba’s Jose Angel Mendieta (4078). Bryant, as a result of his no height in the high jump finished 23rd (3233).

In the middle-distance races Sarah Kelly qualified through to the semi-final of the women’s 800m finishing fourth in an automatic qualifying position with a time of 2:07.72. Harry Ellis in a very fast run men’s 1500m heat finished eighth in 3:46.83.

In the men's pole vault Loughborough University student Matt Devereux, the reigning England U20 champion coached by Steve Rippon, and compatriot Andrew Sutcliffe, the UK indoor silver medallist, both progressed through their qualification groups to Thursday's final with clearances of 5.05m and 5.15m respectively.
Great Britain & NI Results:
Men
100 (0.3): D David Guest (B'end, U20) 10.90; D Ashley Bryant (WSEH, U20) 11.02. h3 (0.8): 1 Deji Tobais (WSEH, U20) 10.49.
400: D David Guest (B'end, U20) 49.11; D Ashley Bryant (WSEH, U20) 49.53.
1500 h3: 8 Harry Ellis (Warr, U20) 3:46.83.
HJ: D David Guest (B'end, U20) 1.95.
PV QA: 7 Matthew Devereux (NEB, U20) 5.05. QB: 3 Andrew Sutcliffe (Sale, U20) 5.15.
LJ: D David Guest (B'end, U20) 7.36/1.2; D Ashley Bryant (WSEH, U20) 7.11/-1.6.
SPU20M: D Ashley Bryant (WSEH, U20) 13.56; D David Guest (B'end, U20) 13.14.
Women
100 h1 (0.3): 4 Marilyn Nwawulor (Harrow, U20) 11.85. h5 (0.0): 1 Jodie Williams (Herts P, U17) 11.53.
800 h4: 4 Sarah Kelly (Dund H, U20) 2:07.72.

Full results are available on the following link: www.iaaf.org/wjc10/results/eventCode=4146/index.html

Gorecka kick’s off Team GB campaign in Canada

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships

Moncton, Canada

Monday 19th July 2010 – Day 1

EMELIA Gorecka set the Team GB campaign in motion on the opening day of competition at the 13th IAAF World Junior Championships in the New Brunswick city of Moncton, Canada.

In hot humid conditions Gorecka, the 16-year-old reigning World School Games champion from Aldershot, Farnham & District finished in 11th place in the women’s 3,000m final clocking a time of 9:18.43 as Kenyan Mercy Cherono successfully defended her title winning gold in a world-leading 8:55.07.

Cherono had to hold off the challenge of Ethiopia’s Emebet Anteneh who clocked a personal best 8:55.24 and Layes Abdullayeva who set a Azerbaijan record of 8:55.33 to complete the podium places.

Cherono, the pre-race favourite commented afterwards: "It feels so good, I was so happy because I defended my gold, the best part was that I felt so comfortable out there.

"My plan was to defend my gold, but the race was difficult because of the weather, I expected to have more of a lead."

Prior to the race Canada's Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Stephen Harper opened the championships following a spectacular opening ceremony in the packed Stade Moncton with the participating countries marching with pride behind their National flags.

Full results are available on the following link: www.iaaf.org/wjc10/results/eventCode=4146/index.html

Double podium success for Leicestershire at English Schools

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Tuesday 13th July 2010

LEICESTERSHIRE & Rutland young athletes Amber Burdett (javelin) and Amy Griffiths (1500m) secured podium places with bronze medals bronze medals at the 2010 Aviva English Schools Track and Field Championships staged at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium (9th-10th July).

Over the two-days of competition held in sweltering conditions with the Saturday session broadcast live on Sky Sports, Amber Burdett (Charnwood) representing Beauchamp College finished in third place on her debut in the Senior Girls javelin final with a best attempt of 45.74m in the competition won with a championships record by Izzy Jeffs (North Devon) 50.54m ahead of Danielle Bentley (Sale) 46.70m.

Burdett, the 17-year-old coached by Eliska Binks will now travel north next weekend to the Diamond League venue Gateshead International Stadium to complete in the two-day England Athletics Senior Outdoor Championships that incorporates the Commonwealth trials for the games that take place in Delhi in October, this before representing the Midlands region in a representative International in Antwerp, Belgium.

In the middle-distance finals Amy Griffiths (Leicester Coritanian) continues to impress and improve through the age-groups claiming bronze with a new lifetime best of 4mins 36.41secs in the race won by Southern Counties area champion and Virgin London Mini-Marathon winner Sophie Riches (Chelmsford) in 4:31.15 with Abbie Hetherington (Carlisle) completing the podium places in 4:34.79.

Other highlights in the finals included Midlands U20 champion Charlie Stocks (Charnwood) setting a lifetime best of 60.28m in the Senior Boys javelin final narrowly missing out on a medal as Joe Dunderdale (Lincoln) won the competition with a throw of 62.60m.

Travelle Morris Reid (Leicester Coritanian) finished fourth in the Inter Boys javelin final with a best of 55.99m, whilst, Laura Haslam (Charnwood) finished fourth in the Senior Girls 100m final clocking 12.43secs.
Full Leicestershire & Rutland Individual Results:
Junior Boys:
100m: H 3 Jordan Forrester 11.74, SF 4 11.54; H 7 Elliot Powell 12.04; H 7 Jason Wong 12.25
400m: H 8 Ryan Lee 55.58
80m Hurdles: H 4 David Williams 11.66, SF 8 12.18
Discus: 13 Matt McLoughlin 32.82m
Triple Jump: 12 George Drake 11.59m
4x100m Relay: Jason Wong, Ryan Lee, David Williams, Jordan Forrester, H 2 46.15, F 4 45.98
Inter Boys:
Long Jump: 15 Daley Graham 6.30m
Triple Jump: 8 Armani James 13.40m
Discus: Pool A 3 Forrest Francis 44.78m, F 9 44.88m
Javelin: 4 Travelle Morris Reid 55.99m
4x100m Relay: H 5 Daley Graham, Travelle Morris Reid, Forrest Francis, Armani James 46.82
Senior Boys:
100m: H 7 Marcel Hodge 11.3, SF 9 11.3
200m: H 6 Ben Morris 22.81
110m Hurdles: 8 Chris Brice 15.90
Javelin: 4 Charlie Stocks 60.28m; 10 Harry Hollis 52.92m
Junior Girls:
800m: H 7 Mari Smith 2:21.54
1500m: H Amy Griffiths 4.40.91, F 3 4:36.41
75m Hurdles: H 7 Holly Barton 12.08; H 8 Rosie Jones 12.18; H 8 Helena Milsom 12.38
4x100m Relay: H 6 Iona Magee, Holly Barton, Helena Milsom, Rosie Barton 53.29
Long Jump: 13 Iona Magee 14.51
Inter Girls:
200m: H 6 Andrea Barrow 27.75
800m: H 6 Emily Sales 2:22.13
1500m: H 10 Freya Vincent 4:47.06
Javelin: 21 Alice Knight 31.55m
Hammer: 13 Vicky Judd 35.06m
Senior Girls:
100m: H 2 Laura Haslam 12.40, F 4 12.43
800m: H 7 Briony Bendle 2:17.87
Javelin: 3 Amber Burdett 45.74m
Hammer: 19 Sophie Allen 32.19m
Shot: 14 Stephanie Hurst 19.54m

Full results are available on the following link: www.esaa.net/

Loughborough High in action at National Schools Final

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Saturday 10th July 2010

LOUGHBOROUGH High School finished with a top-ten place overall at the 2010 Aviva English Schools Track and Field Cup Final held at the Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday 3rd July.

The team qualified through from the regional finals to line-up at the Diamond League venue and were set to secure a top five finish, however, such is the unpredictability of sport sprint hurdler Nicola Tewson unfortunately fell at the final hurdle and was unable finish and therefore scored no points.
Loughborough at the end of the competition finished eighth with 358 points in the event won by James Allen's Girls School from London with a total of 419 as Essex-based Brentwood (386) and Southend (384) completed the podium places.
Loughborough High Individual Results:
100m: Evelyn Powell (14.1secs, 18pts), Beatrice Kelly (14.9, 12)
200m: Jemima Green (28.5, 23), Victoria Cheung (29.9, 18)
800m: Alice Murfitt (2:34.3, 23), Liberty Bramwell (2:52.5, 17)
1500m: Mari Smith (4:58.3, 26), Anna Zair (5:35.5, 20)
Hurdles: Holly Barton (12.5, 26), Nicola Tewson (DNF, 0)
Relay: 60.1, 16
HJ: Alice Murfitt (1.26m, 16), Liberty Bramwell (1.17m, 13)
LJ: Jemima Green (4.02m, 15), Rebekkah North (3.74m, 12)
SP: Holly Barton (6.35m, 13), Beatrice O'Kelly (6.34m, 13)
DT: Harriet Cooper (24.13m, 15), Evelyn Powell (16.68m, 15)
JT: Elizabeth Johnson (17.98m, 16), Mari Smith (21.57m, 21)
Overall Team Standings:
1 James Allen's Girls' School, London 419pts
2 Brentwood School, Brentwood 386pts
3 Southend High School for Girls, Southend-on-Sea 384pts
4 Queen's College, Taunton 382pts
5 Hymers College, Hull 360pts
5 Campion School, Northampton 360pts
5 Putney High School, London 360pts
8 Loughborough High School, Loughborough 358pts
9 St Thomas More RC School, London 349pts
10 Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate, London 336pts
11 Bourne Grammar School, Bourne 327pts
12 Kirkham Grammar School, Preston 323pts

Full results are available on the following link: www.esaa.net/2010/tfcupresults/resultsdetailindex.html

Great Britain Junior team announced for World Junior Championships

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Tuesday 6th July 2010

UK Athletics have announced the final wave of selections for the Aviva Great Britain & Northern Ireland team to compete at the 2010 IAAF World Junior Championships that take place in Moncton, Canada, from 19th-25th July.

The team features Loughborough athletes Emily Diamond (200m) the England U20 silver medallist, Matt Devereux (pole vault) the reigning England U20 champion, Sally Scott (pole vault) the double BUCS indoor and outdoor champion and Laura Samuel (triple jump) the new junior British record-holder.
Full Aviva Great Britain & Northern Ireland Junior Team:
(Individual coaches listed in brackets.)
Men  
100m: Deji Tobais (Simon Duberley) – Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow
200m: Kieran Showler-Davis (John Davis) – Basingstoke & Mid Hants - Danny Talbot (Dan Cossins) - Birchfield
800m: Niall Brooks (Norman Poole) – Sale Harriers Manchester; Adam Cotton (Geoff James) – Birchfield
1500m: Harry Ellis (Phil Hicken) - Warrington
110mH: Jack Meredith (Donald Moss) - Liverpool
400mH: Jack Green (June Plews) – Kent
3000m SC: Matthew Graham (Patrick Savage) - Kirkintilloch
High Jump: Sam Bailey (Carol Jackson) – Chelmsford
Pole Vault: Matthew Devereux (Steve Rippon) - Newham & Essex Beagles; Andrew Sutcliffe (Julien Raffalli-Ebezant) - Sale Harriers Manchester
Triple Jump: Kola Adedoyin (Frank Attoh) – Newham & Essex Beagles; Ben Williams (John Crotty) – City of Stoke
Discus: Zane Duquemin (John Hillier) – Jersey; Lawrence Okoye (John Hillier) – Croydon
Javelin: Daniel Pembroke (Kevin Pembroke) – WSEH;
Decathlon: Ashley Bryant (Ian Grant) - WSEH; David Guest (Michael Guest) - Bridgend
4x100m: Relay: Liam Clowes (Steve Walker) – Crewe & Nantwich; Junior Ejehu (Ayo Falola) – Woodford Green with Essex Ladies; Jordan Huggins (Mike McFarlane) – Enfield & Haringey; Showler-Davis; Talbot; Tobais; Sam Watts (Gladys Bird) – WGEL
4x400m: Relay: Green; Richard Morrissey (Mark Bishop) – Havering Mayesbrook; Dan Putnam (John Blackie) – Blackheath & Bromely; Sebastian Rodger (Steve King) - Eastbourne; Nathan Wake (Ayo Falola) - Herts Phoenix
Women
100m: Marylyn Nwawulor (coach: Harry King/Carol Jackson) - Harrow; Jodie Williams (Mike McFarlane) – Herts Phoenix
200m: Emily Diamond (Jared Deacon) - Bristol & West; Williams
800m: Sarah Kelly (Liz McColgan)– Dundee Hawkhill Harriers
1500m: Laura Weightman (Steve Cram) – Morpeth
3000m: Emelia Gorecka (Mick Woods) – Aldershot, Farnham & District
5000m: Kate Avery (Bob Ashwood)- Shildon;
High Jump: Isobel Pooley (George Male) – AFD
Pole Vault: Holly Bleasdale (Julien Raffalli-Ebezant) - Blackburn; Sally Scott (Steve Rippon) – Gateshead
Triple Jump: Laura Samuel (Glenys Morton) – Leicester
Long Jump: Lorraine Ugen (Frank Attoh) - Blackheath & Bromley
Hammer: Sophie Hitchon (Derek Evely) – Blackburn; Myra Perkins (Alan Bertram) – Falkirk Victoria Harriers
4x100m Relay: Jennie Batten (Roger Walters) - Stroud; Diamond; Twinelle Hopeson (Josef Hopeson-Sowah) - Croydon; Nwawulor; Shaunna Thompson (Robert Gaisie) - Sale Harriers Manchester; Williams; Rebekah Wilson (Morris Condon) – Sale Harriers Manchester

www.moncton2010.ca/

Top of the class as Leicestershire’s young guns line-up at English schools championships

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Saturday 3rd July 2010

THE 2010 Aviva English Schools Track & Field Championships take place next weekend (9th-10th July) at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.

The event will be shown live on Sky Sports 3 on the Saturday from 2.00pm. Listed below are the Leicestershire & Rutland athletes who have qualified for the championships.
Leicestershire & Rutland Representatives:
Junior Boys
Jordan Forrester 100m John Ferneley
Jason Wong 100m Catmose College
Elliott Powell 100m Lancaster School
George Drake TJ Lancaster School
Xander Tansey 1500m Bushloe HS
Ryan Lee 400m Bushloe HS
David Williams 80m H Lancaster College
Matt McLoughlin discus Thomas Estley CC
Junior Girls
Amy Griffiths 1500m Bushloe HS
Mari Smith 800m Loughborough HS
Hannah Nuttall 1500m Humphrey Perkins
Rosie Jones 75m h Hastings HS
Holly Barton 75mH Loughborough HS
Iona Magee LJ St Pauls RC School
Helena Milsom 75m H Kibworth HS
Inter Boys
Daley Graham LJ Beauchamp College
Armani James TJ Lancaster School
Forrest Francis Discus Leicester GS
Travelle Morris Reid Javelin Lancaster School
Inter Girls
Freya Vincent 1500m Guthlaxton College
Andrea Barrow 200m Bosworth College
Alice Knight Javelin Our Ladys Convent
Vicky Judd Hammer Wreak Valley CC
Emily Sales 800m John Cleveland College
Senior Boys
Marcel Hodge 100m Loughborough College
Ben Morris 200m Leicester GS
Sam Stabler 3000m Ratcliffe College
Harry Hollis Javelin Rutland College
Charlie Stocks Javelin Rawlins CC
Chris Brice 110m H Oakham School
Senior Girls
Laura Haslam 100m Burleigh CC
Briony Bendle 800m King Edward VII
Stephanie Hurst Shot Loughborough College
Amber Burdett Javelin Beauchamp College
Sophie Allen Hammer Brooksby College