Arnold backs Gardener for GB team

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Coach Malcolm Arnold believes Jason Gardener will be given a place in the GB squad for next month’s European Indoor Championships in Birmingham.
Gardener only finished seventh over 60m in the weekend trials but is expected to get the third discretionary spot when the team is announced on Tuesday.

“Jason is not running at his best, but he has had a cold for four or five weeks,” said Arnold.

“Hopefully he will be fit and fully ready by Birmingham.”

Gardener had a poor start to his season as his Bath-based training colleagues Craig Pickering and Ryan Scott dominated the final at the English Institute of Sport.

The “Bath Bullet” is ranked third in Europe this year and, although his preparations have been hampered by illness, the 31-year-old is expected to be included by the selectors as he targets his fourth European indoor title.

Gardener was “very disappointed” with his showing in Sheffield before undergoing a demanding weights session on Monday morning under the tutelage of Arnold.

He plans to see his doctor for an update on his health on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Mark Lewis-Francis is set to miss out on a place in the team after failing to reach the 60m final.

“I had a bit of a tight calf and a tight Achilles but it’s irrelevant,” said the 24-year-old.

"There is nothing at all I can say to you to make it look good - because it’s definitely not good, I know that, you know that.

"At the end of the day, we all know it’s outside that counts. In two months everyone will have forgotten about this.

“If I come out and have a great outdoors then it’s a whole different chapter.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/6355153.stm

FIRE AWAY! :smiley:

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I’ve heard there is a race off at the Grand Prix at the weekend. Lets see what happens as the 3rd place is open.

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NO NEED FOR A RACE, IT SEEMS.

Jason Gardener has been named in Great Britain’s team for next month’s European Indoor Championships despite finishing only seventh in the trials.

The 31-year-old is the defending champion in the men’s 60m event.

More to follow.

Great Britain team for the European Indoor Championships, Birmingham, 2-4 March

Men:

60m: Jason Gardener (Wessex & Bath AC); Craig Pickering (Marshall Milton Keynes); Ryan Scott (Yate); reserve: Simeon Williamson (Highgate Harriers)

1500m: James Thie (Cardiff AAC)

3000m: Mo Farah (Newham & Essex); Scott Overall (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

60m hurdles: Andrew Turner (Sale Harriers)

High jump: Martyn Bernard (Unattached)

Pole vault: Steve Lewis (Newham & Essex)

Triple jump: Nathan Douglas (Oxford City); Phillips Idowu (Belgrave Harriers)

Women:

60m: Jeanette Kwakye (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies)

400m: Nicola Sanders (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

800m: Karen Harewood (Corby AC); Jenny Meadows (Wigan & District); Marilyn Okoro (Shaftesbury Barnet)

1500m: Helen Clitheroe (Preston); Katrina Wootton (Bedford)

3000m: Lisa Dobriskey (Ashford AC); Jo Pavey (Exeter)

60m hurdles: Sara McGreavy (Sale Harriers)

Pole vault: Kate Dennison (Sale Harriers)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/6355153.stm

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Favoritism. I have never actually seen an unofficial race-off that was “accepted” anyway. I remember in 2000, JaWarren Hooker had a “race-off” with a few of the guys in the US Olympic 4x4 pool. They said the results of that race-off would dictate who ran in the Olympics. He won…his prize: not running in any race at the Olympics.

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Why hold Trials if you can get a place based on efforts from past races?? The whole favoritism game is one that annoys me at selection level in UK Athletics. Gardener got opened up in the final. Simple. Cold/flu what ever…when you step on that line you’re telling the world that you’re ready to run. If you get smoked, take the defeat and give the place to the man that deserves it.

If the rules are first 3 past the post (providing qualifying time has been run) then that should be the case. If anything a race off IF they both achieved the same time at the trials. Simeon has got bumped.

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Kind of ironic for Arnold to make a statement like this after the Black : Baulch fiasco in 1997. In this case however I think he’s right - Gardener has a significantly faster time and an outstanding indoor record. Hopefully Jason can justify his selection at the Grand Prix on Saturday.

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What happened to the girl who won the trials in the 60? did she not have the standard??

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I agree it is annoying as an athlete but I think leaving the 3rd place open is also a good thing because you don’t want to force someone who is clearly one of your best to have to race even if they are carrying a minor injury. I know Charlie talked about Ben having to run some race when he was tight and getting injured, when it was clear he was already the best.

I think Simeon has earned his race at the Grand Prix and now he can prove himself again. If he beats gardner again well that will be ironic. Yes it is great to get to the European Champs but i’m not sure if its always a good thing to step up there and run without first doing a few races in the limelight. To be successful at a major senior championship on your debute I think is important.

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Yeah she did I don’t know what is up with that.

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Agreed… Laura and JK should get the outright 1st and 2nd slots…let the rest battle for 3rd spot. I’ve always had a feeling that UKA don’t like Laura Turner. She is a hard worker and very down to earth. She has earnt her spot in the team. She’s now won Indoors and Outdoors championships…and she’s still over looked…no kit deal or funding (that I know about). Its when you see things like this you understand why athletes leave the sport or defect to other countries (representation). They should be glamorising the sport and marketing it…Not showing that even if you win a major Trial you’ll still be broke and unselected!

If I had my way, I’d make track like WWE/Boxing (without the gimicks of course!) Introductions with personal music and small intros…make it more entertaining and show that money can be made from the sport…That way you’ll have kids growing up saying “…yeah i wanna run fast like Laura and go to the Worlds…” and not " forget athletics! You win races,make no money and don’t even get selected if you win…pass me a cigarette please Tasha…"

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Without knowing much, I am under the same impression about Laura. Who’s her coach?

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Madeleine Cobb. - Based in West London.

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What’s Laura’s next best 60m time? Who else is vying for the spot?

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Charlie, Laura’s best time before that one was 7.32 (PB) - London (LV) on Sunday 28th Jan 07 and before that - 7.33 (PB) London (LV) 20 Jan 07 South of England Championships. Other girls in contention - Joice,Montell,maybe Asha Phillip - she’s the new kid on the block. 16 years old - ran a PB in the Senior AAA final of 7.35 just missed a medal. Used to be a gymnast and displays great movement and dorsiflexion. :wink:

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Tim Abeyie, no funding or kit contract! Won the indoor double last year, went to Europeans. Surely deserves something??? I think Simeon and Chin and possibly Findlay might have been thinking they were in with a shout of that 3rd spot, but I think based on Jason’s past performances indoors, and his 6.58 it was a wise decision. We always knew how UKA would swing. How many chances did they give Darren at the champs???

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Wait, surely you win the championships and hit the qualifying then you go.Thats the way it is. They must only have one place left to select.

As for TA, if you knew the inside story you’d know why he doesn’t have any funding and it is all politics.

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She has decided not to go to the Euro indoors, and prepare for the outdoor season with Osaka being her main aim of the year.