UK Champs: Devonish wins

Devonish defends title – UK Championships
Saturday 28 July 2007

Manchester, UK - Marlon Devonish confirmed his status as Britain’s number one sprinter this year when he defended his 100m title at the second day** of the Norwich Union World Trials and UK championships in Manchester this afternoon (28).

The 31-year-old, who lowered his personal best to 10.06 earlier this summer, lived up to expectations as he took victory in the traditional headline event of the first full day of the national championships.

But it was a close run thing for the veteran as Craig Pickering, one of Britain’s young hopes, challenged the Olympic relay gold medallist all the way to the line.

Jessica Ennis hurdles to victory at the UK Champs
(Getty Images)

Devonish edged ahead of the 20-year-old to clock 10.31 into a strong headwind (-2.0). But Pickering, who burst onto the international scene to win silver at the European indoor championships in March, was only 0.01s behind in second.

“It was all about positions today,” said Devonish. “The times were silly but that was because of the wind. I defended my title so I’m extremely happy with that.”

Pickering came to Manchester seeking revenge over Simeon Williamson, the man who beat him to the European under-23 title recently, but Williamson was forced to withdraw before the championships suffering with bronchitis. Pickering, on the other hand, seems to be going from strength to strength and now has his sights set on reaching the final at the World Championships in Osaka next month.

“I’m really happy to be in the top two,” said the youngster. “I knew Marlon had the beating of me so fair play to him. If I can make the final in Osaka it’ll be a bonus for the season.”

Mark Lewis-Francis, who was the fastest qualifier from the semi-finals in 10.27, finished third in 10.39 his eighth top three finish at these championships. “The hardest thing for me this year was just to make the team,” said the former world junior champion. “Hopefully, I’ve done that. This is the happiest I’ve ever been after finishing third.”

However, under UK Athletics’ new selection policy, no-one can be absolutely assured of a place on the plane to Osaka. In a change this year, the selectors have said that as well as achieving a top two finish here, and having the A qualifying standard, athletes must also “demonstrate genuinely competitive form and fitness” to make the team – a rather vague caveat that means the door isn’t completely closed on anyone who has a qualifying time.

In theory, that could even apply to Jason Gardener, although the 31-year-old virtually admitted his days as one of Britain’s elite 100m men are over after he finished fourth in 10.44.

“I want to wish the other guys all the best in Osaka,” said Gardener. “If I’m needed to help the team then I’ll be there. But this will more than likely be my last year.”

Sanders making-up lost time

As one of Britain’s few genuine medal prospects, Nicola Sanders is one of just a handful of athletes who know her place in the team is virtually guaranteed.

Nevertheless, the European Indoor champion was delighted to defend her 400m title here after an injury-hit season that has seen her scrambling to make up for lost time.

Sanders ran with her customary dominance in difficult blustery conditions to record a highly respectable 51.33, finishing some 10 metres ahead of the former Olympic finalist Donna Fraser.

“The time wasn’t great today but in these conditions, it’ll do for now,” said the former 400m hurdler who switched to flat running last year after finishing out of the medals at last year’s Commonwealth Games.

“I wasn’t feeling very good today. I have had to train through these championships because I’ve missed so much time with injury.

“I was pretty tired going into this and that wind out there was awful – it really was in our faces the whole way round. It wasn’t fun out there.”

Sanders has been nursing her way through the season after damaging her Achilles earlier this year. And she was nursing her right knee cap too after last night’s semi-final when she complained of soreness in the patella tendon. She described the injury as “just a niggle” after her victory today, but the selectors will be anxious it doesn’t get any worse.

Ennis’ double a boost before Osaka

Sanders has been the female star of British athletics this year, a status challenged only by Jessica Ennis, the young heptathlete who broke Denise Lewis’s national under-23 record this summer.

Ennis is clearly in fine form and she left a number of event specialists in her wake by winning two individual titles here. First, she won the 100m Hurdles this afternoon in 13.25, a time probably worth something closer to 13 seconds given the headwind of -2.7. The Commonwealth bronze medallist recovered from a bad start to beat Sarah Claxton while her multi-event rival Kelly Sotherton finished back in fourth in 13.51.

Then Ennis returned to the arena just an hour later to pick up her second gold medal in the High Jump, again beating Sotherton. Ennis cleared 1.87m to win while Sotherton was second with 1.85m.

Winning a competition is a really big boost to my confidence, and knowing I’ve beaten the specialists too,” said Ennis. Sotherton described her day as “frustrating”. “Training is going really well but I’m not worrying too much about my performance today. The big day is in four weeks’ time.”

Pickering’s silver in the 100m capped a good day for Bath-based coach Malcolm Arnold as Dale Garland, another of his athletes, won the 400m hurdles earlier in the afternoon. Garland clocked 49.79, a personal best by 0.06 and 0.01s inside the B qualifying standard for Osaka.

Lyne still a lot to do

Elsewhere on the track, Andy Turner defended his sprint hurdles title, battling back after a poor start to win in 13.55, Michael Rimmer front ran his way to the 800m title, clocking 1:47.06, and the women’s 100m title went to Jeanette Kwakye in 11.59 after a photo finish with Laura Turner.

Katrina Wooton produced a personal best of 4:09.57 to win the women’s 1500m after overcoming runaway leader Charlotte Thomas. Last year’s European 800m bronze medallist, Rebecca Lyne is clearly still struggling back to form after injury. She faded to finish fifth in that final in 4:13.02 remarking afterwards that “there is clearly still a lot to do”.

In the field, a weary Chris Tomlinson pulled victory out of the bag with the penultimate jump of a wind-affected long jump. The British record holder, who was trailing Nathan Morgan’s 7.89m by 13cm before the last round, managed to snatch the title with a final effort of 7.99m.

“Obviously I am in wonderful shape but I’m really tired,” said Tomlinson, who extended the national record to 8.29m earlier this month. “I’ve been competing on the circuit a lot because my contract with Asics went and I didn’t have enough money to pay the bills. I’m really tired but I managed to pull it together when it counted. It was just pure determination.”

Stadium records for Lewis and Sayers

Elsewhere in the field, there were stadium records for Steve Lewis in the men’s pole vault, with 5.61m, and for Goldie Sayers in the women’s Javelin, Throw with 63.02m.

Emeka Udechuku took gold in the men’s Discus Throw shortly before winning the silver medal in the Shot Put, the gold in that event going to Carls Myerscough with 19.39m. Andy Frost won his third successive Hammer Throw title with a season’s best of 71.02m, while Zoe Derham won the women’s event with a best of 64.99m.

**The Championships conclude tomorrow (Sunday 29). For Day One (Friday 27) results click on the link below.

Matthew Brown for the IAAF

Happy Devonish retains 100m title

Devonish is the British number one over 100m this season
Starts: Friday, 27 July
Ends: Sunday, 29 July
Venue: Manchester Regional Arena

Live coverage on BBC One (Sat: 1635-1755 BST) and BBC Two (Sun: 1715-1930) and Radio Five Live (Saturday from 1300 and Sunday from 1500).

Pre-race favourite Marlon Devonish defended his 100m crown at the UK Championships and World Trials.

A strong headwind made times largely irrelevant but the 31-year-old finished well to clock 10.31 seconds ahead of Craig Pickering and Mark Lewis-Francis.

“It was all about positions and I’m happy to defend my title because I’ve worked hard,” Devonish told BBC Sport.

Jeanette Kwakye edged out Laura Turner in a tight women’s 100m final which saw both clock 11.59.

Kwayke’s dip on the line gave her the title while defending champion Joice Maduaka, who was chasing a 13th national title, was third in 11.68.

Pickering will be expecting to join Devonish in Osaka while Mark Lewis-Francis, who has been battling a leg injury, has an outside chance.

“Just to make the team alone would be enough for me,” Lewis-Francis said.

Jason Gardener, who finished fourth, hinted again that this could be his last outdoor season.

Heptathlete Jessica Ennis pipped specialist Sarah Claxton to the 100m hurdles title, winning in 13.25.

The Commonwealth bronze medallist then made it a double success, winning the high jump title ahead of fellow heptathlete Kelly Sotherton with a jump of 1.87m.

European indoor champion Nicola Sanders, whose progress this summer has been held up by an Achilles injury, kickstarted her outdoor season by claiming the 400m title in 51.33.

Sanders was followed home by 34-year-old Donna Fraser, who hopes to go to Osaka as part of the relay squad.

Tomlinson is back to his best this season in the long jump

Chris Tomlinson claimed the UK long jump title for a second time with a leap of 7.99m ahead of Nathan Morgan.

The 25-year-old set a new British record of 8.29m in Germany earlier this month which qualified him.

Morgan and European silver medallist Greg Rutherford, whose season has been blighted by injury, must wait.

In the following 110m hurdle race, Andy Turner delivered a dominant display to defend his UK crown in 13.54, good enough to qualify.

There were also encouraging performances from Michael Rimmer, Dale Garland, Steve Lewis and Katrina Wootton.

Liverpool’s Rimmer controlled the 800m, cruising across the line in one minute 47.06 seconds to win clear ahead of Richard Hill and James Brewer.

Former decathlete Guernsey’s Garland won the men’s 400m hurdles in a new personal best of 49.79, which puts him in contention for Japan with the ‘B’ qualifying standard.

Lewis also sneaked the ‘B’ standard as he went over in a lifetime best 5.61m to claim pole vault honours.

“I think I have a good chance of getting selected but I’ve no idea,” Lewis told BBC Sport afterwards. “Please pick me.”

606: DEBATE
Is 14 finalists and three medals a realistic target for British athletes in Osaka? Tell us what you think.

Wootton unleashed a fast finish on the final bend to deny race leader Charlene Thomas and claim the 1500m title in 4:09.57 - just inside the ‘B’ standard.

In the javelin, Goldie Sayers broke her own stadium on her way to a fourth UK title and a place at the Worlds with a throw of 63.02m.

Carl Myerscough remained imperious in the shot, taking the title with a throw of 19.39m.

Andy Frost claimed the hammer title with a throw of 71.02m while Emeka Udechuku landed a third discus crown as he reached 60.83m. Both distances put them well outside reckoning for the Worlds.

The championships are being held in Osaka, Japan from 25 August to 2 September.

The first two athletes home in each event who reach the required qualifying standard will be selected. The selectors can also offer a third place at their discretion.

If an athlete reaches the ‘B’ standard then they will only be chosen if they have the potential to reach a final or if they are up-and-coming athletes who are expected to perform well at future championships.

However, UKA performance director Dave Collins has laid down tough standards and the team heading for Osaka could be smaller than expected.

UKA’s new chief executive Nils de Vos has set a target for Osaka of 14 finalists and three medals.

Devonish’s win will be the last for the old guard. I see CP breaking 10.1s at the worlds and then sub 10s (injury permitting) in the next 2 years. Craig made a great start for once but was very tight in the last 20.

MLF must hold the WR for the number of excuses. Mark - enjoy this year cos you won’t be going to Beijing in an individual event. Retired at 23?

Thats a bit harsh?