AVIVA UK Indoor Trials & Championships, 12-13 February

I feel it's about time I started a thread dedicated to the UK Indoor Champs that are looming large this weekend, getting things going with the starting lists:

http://www.uka.org.uk/aviva-series/aviva-uk-trials-and-championships/timetable/

At first glance, Jenny Meadows doesn't appear on the women's 800m starting-lists possibly saving herself for next weekend's action in Birmingham while Andy Baddeley is coming into the frame in the men's 3000m for his first track appearance this season, as is Kelly Sotherton who formally launches her new career over 400m. Jessica Ennis will be tackling quite a few events on a very busy two days around her home of the Sheffield indoor arena and Sam Ellis makes his return to action in the men's 800m.

It would be nice to think that Kelly Sotherton will do well, as will Shana Cox. The 4 X 400 relay for 2012 could then be one of those pleasant surprises some of us are looking forward to next year.

Jenny Meadows is probably thinking she's now got nothing to prove by being there. Mens sprints could be a highlight as Dwain might not start the favorite this time round.

Anyone know as I cannot find on any listings?
Maybe red button?

Jenny Meadows is going in the 400m.

skimpton
I don't think it is being televised at all.

Although the focus is expected to be largely over Jessica Ennis's efforts on a very busy schedule around her home arena in Sheffield, my own tip as highlight event of the weekend would be the men's 400m despite the absence of most top names like Martyn Rooney or Michael Bingham.

There are three, maybe four, runners that are lying on the verge of 47 secs and look poised to surge inside that mark, although the quick succession of rounds may take something out of their eventual times, so that ought to make for a fascinating final.

Richard Buck comes from his fastest ever indoor opener of 47 secs dead in Moscow last Sunday but he may have to fully stretch himself to hold off a rampant Jack Green, 19, who ran a virtual time-trial of 47.04 secs to shatter his PB by 0.9 secs last weekend too. Nigel Levine also caught the eye with an aggressive run in Glasgow, where he set his SB of 47.22 secs, and comes off the back of a big PB of 21.20 secs over 200m so should be right there in the mix.

Luke Lennon-Ford and Nick Leavey are not far behind at 47.28 and 47.43 respectively and will be looking to pounce on any potential opening. It could have been even more competitive but for Chris Clarke, who ran the fastest time in the UK with 46.97 in Birmingham yesterday, to go down in the 200m, as is Richard Strachan who has improved by leaps and bounds to 21.02 secs this season. But, all in all, the British 4x400m team looks bound to have very good depth and strength to suggest a favourite for gold in Paris.

In the women's equivalent, there is an intriguing duel between Kelly Sotherton, who formally marks the beginning of a new career, against Jenny Meadows who's stepping down to get some speedwork.

Ennis, for her part, is down for the 60mh, the high jump, the shot and the long jump to virtually simulate a full pentathlon, save the 800m, but spread over two days and could be also very likely to set a new UK record over the hurdles all things equal - and why not even in the high jump come to that.

Unfortunately for her, there won't be Tiffany Offili to push her on in the hurdles as she has returned to continue her preparations and indoor season in the States. But there will be Ireland's Derval O'Rourke in her stead with Gemma Bennett looking for a good time too.

The men's 60m looks like anybody's guess as Dwain Chambers looked very race rusty last weekend and I don't know how much ground he could make within a week - but should make the low 6.6s nevertheless. A slight favourite could turn Joel Fearon, the swiftly rising young guy that ended Chambers's long domestic unbeaten run, who is second fastest in Europe at 6.63 secs and improves substantially with every race this winter.

Nonetheless, Craig Pickering looks back in the reckoning after a modest start and MLF may have had a poor showing in Stuttgart but has shown to get it right in championship races, while Harry Aikines-Ayreety is in a similar position to where he was last year when he burst into the 6.5s.

Back to Chambers, that could be really good news for his summer season, suggesting that he may have been more over endurance work rather than speed during his recent training stint in South Africa.

The girls' 60m has been working up to an scintillating event that could be decided in even a blanket finish with world U20 champion Jodie Williams, Bernice Wilson, Beijing finalist Jeanette Kwakye, and why not Laura Turner and Ashleigh Nelson, all looking good heading to the weekend.

It's going to be intriguing to see whether Helen Clitheroe is going to embark on some lone ride out front like she did in Glasgow chasing a fast time unless someone in the field deputizes to take her through to some point in the race. Yet, I feel she could have been better off running the 1500m and leave it to some international meeting race to gun for a fast time.

The women's pole vault hosts the first real showdown between Britain's long-time number one Kate Dennison, now under Scot Simpson, and new sensation Holly Bleasdale who has been rocketing high ever since the start of the season. The way she cleared that new UK U23 record of 4.50m on Sunday strongly recommends that a new figure is just a matter of time!

Tom Parsons is another to watch out for in hot pursuit of the 2.30s in the high jump, where Rob Grabarz will be eyeing a height that will ensure him of a trip to Paris, and Andy Baddeley enters the season as hot favourite to take the men's 3000m.

I've just read AW's preview on the UK Indoor Champs in Sheffield this weekend and I instantly got a grin on my face when I saw that Helen Clitheroe has reportedly opted to drop to the 1500 rather than possibly pursue another lone ride to a fast time like she did in Glasgow a few weekends back - thought she overheard me *laugh*!

Yet, checking on the starting-lists, Helen still appears to go into the 3000m while Charlene Thomas, referred to as her main rival over 1500m in the same preview, doesn't even appear as an entrant at the championships. Any late news on that?

I see that the AW's preview has Helen Clitheroe corrected as going into the 3000m, with no mention of Charlene Thomas, so everything stands as it was yesterday I guess!

A few notes on some other events that I didn't have time to touch on earlier...

Andy Turner stands out as red hot favourite to get the men's 60mh and hopefully steer inside 7.6 secs for the first time this season to boost his claim to a second European title in quick succession on the back of his Barcelona triumph. If there is going to be any surprising challenge from behind, that should come from the European U20 champion Lawrence Clarke who has grabbed a PB of 7.71 secs out of his sole outing this winter. Gianni Frankis, back to good form and very consistent, looks like the best bet for third unless a surging Julian Adeniran can pull another tenth of a second out of his hat.

Also of great interest will be how the duo of very talented U20s of Jack Meredith and Andy Rozzi are going to fare looking for times in the low 7.9s!

Andie Osagie looks like in around 1:46 shape all the way in the 800m but could still get a tough race, in particular from that audacious U20 Scot Guy Learmonth who pushed him tight down to the wire last weekend - a potential big star at the Europeans U20 this summer. Joe Thomas is capable of anything on his day, with a strong finishing kick, but you never know what you're going to get from him from race to race.

20-year-old Mukhtar Mohammed has shown plenty of potential and could be very dangerous while former European bronze medallist Sam Ellis looks back fully fit after a long time and is none to be overlooked in such a race - looked quite impressive on a 600m leg in a medley event at the same track last weekend. I wouldn't be surprised if he pulls off a shocker here!

In the women's 1500m, I'm eagerly waiting to get a glimpse into the form of Stacey Smith, another very talented charge of Mick Woods's, whom I tip to make a top class runner over both middle distances in the future. Charlotte Browing and Emily Pidgeon are in this one too but the former hasn't shown at her best recently.

Marilyn Okoro is the overwhelming favourite for the women's 800m and could engage in a fast run from the front much to her liking, while the men's 200m is 'overloaded' with some of the top 400m looking for some useful sharpener - namely, Chris Clarke, Richard Strachan and Conrad Williams (also down for the 800m) - with also Andy Turner and Danny Talbot involved.

Interesting, as well, to see what sort of form Steven Lewis is in coming into the pole vault, under Dan Pfaf now and having spent plenty of time training alongside Steve Hooker Down Under.

Chris Clarke, who posted the fasted time over 400m in Britain in 46.97 secs on Wednesday, looks to have withdrawn from the men's 200m as his name doesn't appear anymore in the starting-lists.

The girls have been quick out of their marks to post some promising times in the first round heats of the 60m, with UK-leader Bernice Wilson laying down the gauntlet in a fast 7.31 secs in the first heat. But it's early days yet.

Laura Turner, looking lively, got the third heat slightly ahead of sensational World U20 sprint champion Jodie Williams in 7.36 to 7.38 secs respectively, with Commonwealth 100m silver medallist Katherin Endacott third through in a SB of 7.41 secs.

Beijing finalist Jeanette Kwakye easily tucked away the second heat in 7.40 secs while veteran Joice Maduaka got the fourth in a SB of 7.38 secs - that makes six the British girls under 7.4 secs so far this winter. Ashleigh Nelson was runner-up in the last heat in 7.41 secs. The whole affair is building up very nicely!

The boys respond equally well in the 60m heats where MLF looks over a niggling injury to take his heat in a SB and equal fastest time in the UK of 6.63 secs. Could he suggest an early favourite on this? The joint fastest in Britain, season's find Joel Fearon, won't be happy though as he looks to have sustained a hamstring injury trailing HAA in 6.82 secs in the second heat, which could deal a huge blow to his hopes to secure a place on the British team to Paris.

HAA gets that run in 6.69 secs, marginally outside his SB, so is he up to a repeat of 'Sheffield 2010' for him? Dwain Chambers looks much better to cross the line in a SB of his own in 6.68 secs in heat four and Craig Pickering gets the fifth in a much slower 6.77 secs, but off a horrible start reportedly.

Jenny Meadows turned the more impressive in the early stages of her duel with Kelly Sotherton over 400m as she romped through her heat in a SB of 54.10 secs while the latter took a while to get off into the race and finished second in a season opener of 55.36 secs in heat three, behind Irelands's Michelle Carey's 55.31.

Laura Samuel, turning 20 next week, has already completed a full set of UK titles in the women's triple jump with a convincing win today in a last-attempt new indoor PB of 13.24m, having gone through an intermediate best of 13.19 at her first jump. That has been her first indoor competition over 13m as a matter of fact!

22-year-old Hannah Frankson sneaked over 13m by a couple of cms for the first ever time to get silver.

Not sure that Jessica (Ennis) will be pleased with that 1.88m season opener in the high jump on her home arena so some polish-up should be in order therein. On the other hand, U20 Isobel Pooley should be jumping up and down after a big PB of 1.85m for silver!

All leading contenders were safely through in the men's 400m heats save Luke Lennon-Ford who was been disqualified. Richard Buck was fastest in 47.58, with Rick Yates getting a big indoor PB of 47.99 secs in second behind, while Jack Green set 47.72 secs to take his own heat.

Andy Turner looks on fire as he storms to a SB and UK-leading 7.62 secs from the off in the men's high hurdles and Lawrence Clarke follows suit as he tears to his second 7.71 secs in as many races this season in the third heat, an equal PB! Gianni Frankis gets his own heat in 7.81 secs ahead of Chris Baillie (7.84).

Well behind him, U20 Andy Rozzi runs a huge PB of 7.91 secs in his only second race over the senior scale hurdles to upstage Jack Meredith, who was fourth in the previous heat in 8 secs dead, in the 'unofficial' battle of the juniors and progress as a fastest loser - Jack didn't make it through!

Slowest time to make the final was Julian Adeniran's 7.94 secs, a sign of the progress in the event this season.

Jodie Williams is showing her teeth as she sneaks the women's first semi in an equal PB of 7.28 secs tied with Bernice Wilson on the line, while Jeanette Kwakye is a close third in 7.30 secs. Katherin Endacott makes the fourth qualifying spot in a SB of 7.37 secs.

Laura Turner makes lighter work of winning the second heat in an equal SB of 7.33 secs clearly ahead of Ashleigh Nelson (7.37 secs). The final looks as though is going to be very tight!

MLF is slightly slower but gets another race under his belt in 6.65 secs where Joel Fearon looks to have survived his hamstring scare in the first round heats as he finishes second in 6.68 secs, with James Ellington third through in a PB of 6.69 secs.

Dwain Chambers reasserts his authority with a big SB and a new UK leading mark of 6.61 secs, emerging now as clear favourite for the final later on. A nice surprise from Andrew Robertson in second place in a PB of 6.68 secs - didn't quite show anything of the like leading up to the champs, so nice to see him back on track!

HAA snatched the last semi ahead of Craig Pickering, who fared well better than the first round, in a SB of 6.67 to 6.68 secs.

The men's 800m qualification process is very tough with just the winner of each heat automatically through but all favourites have coped sufficiently so far on an identical pattern, taking the field through the bell at a slow pace and winding it up over the second half to relatively equal splits. Joe Thomas, U20 Guy Learmonth, Andie Osagie and Mukhtar Mohammed are all safely through at the moment with a heat to go.

Former 400m man Mark Berridge makes the last automatic qualifying spot in the 800m but drags along comeback boy Chris Reynolds as the sole fastest loser - his last major domestic final was back in 2008 if I'm not mistaken. But there's no Sam Ellis on show today, was so looking to his performance...

Andy Turner marginally improves to a new UK leading 7.61 secs to easily put away the men's 60mh title but Gianni Frankis catches out Lawrence Clarke for second in an equal PB of 7.75 secs. Lawrence (7.77) must be really disappointed with that after such a start to the day... Andy Rozzi runs just a hundredth outside his 50mins-old PB in 7.92 secs in sixth, a great day's job from him!

Jodie Williams makes her first official statement as a would-be queen of the women's British dash as she powers to her first senior UK title in a big PB of 7.24 secs, sneaking ahead Bernice Wilson by a mere hundredth of a second. That's a PB for the latter as well as booking her place for Paris too. Jeanette Kwakye a distant third in 7.33 secs, I was expecting her to be deep in the thick of the action. Well done Jodie!!

Jodie

Wow, Dwain didn't take long to hit high gear and re-establish himself firmly at the top of British male sprint in a classy 6.57 secs for a comprehensive win over HAA, who comes a runner-up for a second season in a row in a SB of 6.64 secs. Craig Pickering just nicks third in 6.67 ahead of MLF, who sees his chances of making the trip to Paris further slip away if competing in Delhi wasn't enough of a drawback in his claim...

A very good race in the women's 3000m, much more competitive than anticipated, where Helen Clitheroe convincingly prevails in a fast 8:55.26 from a determined Gemma Turtle who gave in in the late stages, still getting second in a SB of 8:57.24. Both look like having secured their places for Paris.

The turn-up of the first day of action has definitely to go down, in my view, to Max Eaves's startling upset of winning the men's pole vault in a massive PB of 5.61m, no more nor less than a thorough 21 cm on his previous best! At the first time of asking at that! It's not a little thing to walk onto an arena as a decent promising vaulter and walk out of it a few hours later on the fringe of international class. But the guy looks to take his opportunities by the forelock, while apparently working his socks off at training, and is placing that Commonwealth bronze in Delhi to excellent use. He lies now in a much different perspective and can seriously ponder over his chances to make the Olympic squad next year - and why not the Worlds in Daegu at the rate he's been progressing.

Luke Cutts is steadily drawing back to his best after a modest season last summer and that 5.51m was a good stepping stone in that direction whereas Steve Lewis still seems to have a long way to go and will have to come to terms with defeats on an ever more competitive domestic front. Pole vault is a very individual event and things may take time to bed in like in his case. But I feel he'll be back firing on all cylinders by summer by the look of things.

Behind the top three, 21-year-old Nick Crutchley levelled his total PB of 5.21m to tie with World U20 bronze medallist Andrew Sutcliffe in fourth place. The latter looks on a blip after a solid start at the moment but is one who can definitely join things over 5.50 soon.

Jenny Meadows looks in fearsome form this term and came to run 53.50 secs in the semis of 400m with ease yesterday, her fastest for years in any environment, so could be well on her way inside 53 secs on that evidence. She's so thorough in very much everything about her performance and I can dare say in better form than last year when she went on to smash the UK indoor record over 800m in Doha. If she can stay healthy and on that course, she's going to be a genuine gold medal contender in Korea come late August.

But I think that women's 400m final will be tight today. Kelly Sotherton has been so over-conservative through the rounds and it's now the time to show her true colours, where she ought to give Meadows a real run for her money.

Thanks Isabre for your detailed reports.

The pole vault must have been a great competition to watch but no doubt the BBC would have ruined it if they had shown it. Hoping for the same again today with the women's vault.

Happy to hear how disappointed Andy Turner was with only 7.61. He knows of course that he needs to raise his game a bit to have a chance of a medal in the Worlds. Interesting also to see whether a slimmer Chambers is going to be more competitive in the summer over 100 metres.

What has happened to Kwakkye (spelling?) who seems now to be struggling again? Jodie Williams stepped up though and it will be fascinating to see how she does amongst the seniors.

You're very welcome Teassoc!

So good to see Dwain click into gear within a single week and turn things round to already gain a sound grip on Europe's top. He isn't at his sharpest yet, so there's a lot more to come, but deep inside I hope he doesn't hit his peak. I'm convinced anything around 6.53 to 6.55 will be enough to win in Paris, therefore he'd better save himself to do himself justice in the outdoor season.

Harry Aikines-Ayreety is steadily getting back to where he was around this time last year, before disaster struck in that serious hamstring injury in Doha, but I can't see Craig Pickering getting much faster at this point. He said he's been working more on his 100m rather than indoor racing in training so could be just content to make the final in Paris if he gets the qualifier.

About MLF? Well, the guy just seems to relish doing things the hard way! But anyone to write his chances off could find one's reputation on the line! I feel a little for Joel Fearon, the lad really showed a clear chance to make the team but suffered that hamstring injury. It doesn't seem very bad as he came back to race within short notice but it's going to sideline him for a few days at least, which is crucial at this stage.

Apart from her superb run and PB of 7.24, I really liked the way Jodie Williams built up and managed her races through the rounds, more mature than even her years older rivals! She cruised through the first round, hit high gears in the semis to serve her notice and still had got something extra for the final. All things equal, she'll be hopefully hitting under 7.2 secs before long!

Bernice Wilson had a very good campaign herself and rewarded with an automatic spot on the British team to Paris, coupled with a new PB, but I was hoping to see more from Jeanette Kwakye, who's not quite there yet despite a good start. But what matters right now is that she puts a healthy racing spell together and things will start going sooner or later for her.

Scot Rider, by the way, has got the first title on offer today with a best put of 17.96m (SB) in the shot, followed by Jamie Williamson at 17.58m (SB) in second.

Jessica Ennis has withdrawn from the second day of the UK indoor champs taking some of the gloss off the meeting. But her overall condition and form looked quite worrying yesterday and I feel she'd better call it a day on the indoor season and turn her sights on her outdoor campaign. She doesn't need to compromise things when she can turn up and win that title in two years from now again.

http://www.athleticsweekly.com/news/uk-trials-day-tw/

Katherin Endacott, the Commonwealth 100m bronze medallist goes straight to the top of the domestic season lists with a 23.72 secs in the first heat of the women's 200m, while Joice Maduaka follows on with a SB of 23.79 to get the second one - ahead of comeback girl Joey Duck who sets an indoor PB of 23.84 secs to go through as fastest loser.

Nadine Okyere, the 400m girl, gets another PB in a considerable line of late in 24.13 secs to also make a fastest loser.

Andy Turner feels indeed hot as he powers to a new indoor total PB of 20.90 secs to go straight to the top of the UK season lists in the 200m - and that was just a first round heat! His previous best of 20.93 secs was outdoors from the UK European Trials in 2006, quite dusted I guess!

Good to see Richard Strachan, looking on the brink of a breakthrough all the way, to have returned healthy and fit with a solid run of 21.38 secs in the heats as he cramped up last weekend in Birmingham. Liam Talbot looks also good with a 21.21 secs win in his own heat.

Andy Baddeley looks very impressive as he takes up the pace through the 2nd kilometre to cruise to a runaway victory in a SB of 7:54.60 (2:36.17 last km), second fastest in the UK behind Mo this winter. In doing so, he tows a whole lot string of bests across the line behind him headed by a revived Ross Murray, still only 20, who shatters his PB by over 22 secs and edges inside 8 mins in 7:59.19. That makes six the Brits under 8 mins over the distance already this season.

Liverpool's Jonathan Mellor comes just outside 8 mins in a PB of 8:00.49 in third, Ryan McLeod is fifth behind Irishman Dan Mulhare in 8:02.40, Jonny Taylor gets a SB of 8:04.58 in sixth, John Beattie also gets an over four-second new PB of 8:05.52 in seventh and very talented James Shane gets his share shaving an over six seconds to also a PB of 8:05.65. Very good job guys!

Yet, I guess it was sort of an anticlimax for that women's 400m to be won by Kelly Sotherton at rather only 53.46 secs, but she did play her cards right in this end whereas Jenny Meadows sinks deep in the field for a disappointing 5th in 54.47 secs. Don't know how the race shaped up but Sotherton hit the bell first in 25.08 secs. Jenny put her run down to a tactical error as I see on the Twitter...

Kelly Massey gets silver in a PB of 53.68 secs as 19-year-old Laura Wake creeps under 54 secs for bronze and a new lifetime mark of 53.97 secs.

That's the first time that Holly Bleasdale doesn't lay down a new U23 UK record or, at least, a PB in six competitions this season but that's a first senior home title for her, the winning height at 'only' 4.36m this time - which would have still been a PB at the beginning of the indoor term. Kate Dennison has to succumb to a comprehensive second defeat at the hands of the rocketing 19-year-old but can get a slight consolation of a SB of 4.26m, still a long way from her best.

Sally Peake gets third adding a solid 6cm to her PB for 4.16m, the same as fourth-placer Emma Lyons (SB) and young Sally Scott (indoor PB).

Gemma Bennett was easily the fastest qualifier from the women's 60m hurdles in 8.21 secs and will be virtually racing against the clock in the final. Meantime, Gemma Werrett set a new Scottish record of 8.39 secs in heat 3, the second fastest of the day. The event has been definitely struck a blow after Jessica Ennis's late withdrawal, with Tiffany Offili and Sarah Claxton also missing.

Nick McCormick showed the favourite to win from the heats and it's nice to see him edge an indoor UK title in a SB of 3:45.30, which may appear as second fastest in the UK lists on PowerOf10 but it actually isn't. Ricky Stevenson has set a 1500m split of 3:43.1 earlier on this season and Chris O'Hare must have definitely gone through in around a high 3:40- low 3:41 in his staggering 3:56 mile in Fayetteville.

Hopefully, that's a first sign that Nick is getting firmly back on track to resume where he left off when he ran 3:33.9+ en route to the Bislett mile.

Moses Lewis was second in an indoor PB of 3:45.57, with European Cup winner Colin McCourt third in 3:45.63 a little better but not so convincing still. Welsh Steven Davies made a close fourth in 3:45.69 (SB) for a very competitive final. Last 300m for McCormick was covered in 42.51 secs.

Mick Woods's Stacey Smith, keep that name well in mind when the outdoor season is around, was an easy winner of the women's equivalent in 4:22.96 (SB).

As I've said, Joe Thomas is capable of anything on his day and today was his day! He edges out Andie Osagie, the arguable favourite going into the champs, to the title in a big indoor PB of 1:47.87, fastest in the UK this winter, while the latter winds up a close runner-up in a SB of 1:47.96. Both should be going to Paris on that.

U20 Guy Learmonth clocks a big PB of 1:49.34 for a new Scottish U20 record some way behind, he's really flying at the moment, and former 400m Mark Berridge comes in fourth in a PB of 1:49.49. Very nice race!

Wow, Tom Parsons has cleared a new total PB with a reportedly impressive second attempt over 2.31m in the high jump!! I can't say I'm surprised, he's been looking to own that since the beginning of the season. Rob Grabarz was close to clear a European qualifier of 2.28m but he'll be still content with a new indoor PB of 2.25m, having still time to make the team.

Joice Maduaka celebrates another UK indoor title at 37 in a SB and fastest in the UK 23.63 secs over 200m, with Katherin Endacott second in 23.74 and (sensational) Joey Duck third in 23.93. I was looking to something more from the latter but it's good that she's back healthy and racing at the moment, the rest will fall in place.

Danny Talbot, 19, fashions an upset on an impressive in the heats Andy Turner to claim his first UK title in a big total PB of 20.89 secs, beating his previous best of 20.97 secs set outdoors! He hasn't even been an U20 UK champion for this matter! Turner has got to do with silver in a slower 20.94 secs and Richard Strachan is a distant third in 21.27, possibly affected to a degree by that injury last weekend.

Both 400m finals haven't quite been up to their billing today. Nigel Levine, back in good form after a modest summer, storms to a big new indoor PB of 46.76 secs for a comfortable win over Richard Buck, who didn't quite follow up on his run in Moscow with 47.30 in second. Young Jack Green didn't feel as flowing as last week through his build-up in these champs and comes fourth in 48 secs flat. Two rounds yesterday may have taken the edge of the legs of many runners though and I feel some of them are going to run a lot faster times next week on the sharper turf of Birmingham.

World Youth champion Ben Williams lands precisely at his SB of 15.88m to claim the title in the triple jump.

Marilyn Okoro went rather too fast through 400m (58.05 -27.51 at 200m) to apparently die in the late stages of the 800m as her final time of 2:04.36 suggests. Still work to be done there but glad she's healthy again.

Obviously Parson's PB was the highlight. Otherwise results didn't live up to their promise. Joyce Maduaka winning the 200 once again shows how little talent is coming through in that event. Pleased for Sotherton though as we need her for the 4 x 400 relay. Wouldn't have been good for anyone if Meadows had beaten her.

Steph Twell has reportedly suffered a fracture to her right ankle as she apparently slipped on some muddy patch on the course in a cross-country race in Hannut, Belgium, while well on the way to clinch victory. First references around appeared very worrying but as I understand now from certain things I've seen it may not be a serious as it first sprang up. Depending on the degree and the placement of the fracture, as well as the quality of the joint, she could still be back fully fit in time for the main summer events. Best wishes to her over that, it was so unfortunately at the time that she was fully establishing herself in the very top tier.

Unfortunately, Steph Twell's injury looks very serious as it is described as 'open fracture', although there are different types of those...

http://www.athleticsweekly.com/news/twell-suffers-severe-ankle-injury-in-belgium/