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