The cream of track and field students descended upon Bedford over the May Bank holiday weekend for the much anticipated British University Championships. Over a 1000 athletes competing for their respective universities participated over the three days in what is the early season opener for the country’s best student athletes. In a weekend dominated by Loughborough University, which scooped the men’s and women’s titles, some of our best athletes produced notable performances.

Star performer was David Brackstone (Loughborough) who racked up three medals in what was a busy weekend. First priority for Brackstone was his main event of the 400m hurdles. After comfortably placing second in his heat Brackstone was forced to run within a tenth of his personal best in the Semi Final, clocking 52.70 to place third.

In the final he came up against the Brunel West London’s pairing of Olympian Matt Douglas, and last year’s Southern champion and National AAA’s finalist over the event Steve Surety, as well as last years AAA U20 Champion Steven Green of Cambridge.

Brackstone produced an admirably brave performance. Despite being placed in the far from favourable lane eight, he was able to place third behind the Brunel duo. Coming into the home straight Brackstone was joint fourth with Loughborough team mate Olau Thomassen, over the final two hurdles though Brackstone proved the stronger as he battled his way to pip Green for the Bronze by a 0.03 clocking 52.98 to Green’s 53.01.

Once his main event was out of the way he helped Loughborough to Bronze in the 4x100m relay and more notably Silver in the 4x400m where despite competing in his 7^th race of the weekend Brackstone was able to produce a 48.5 opening leg split for his team.

The clubs other medallist over the weekend was Suzanne Owen (Staffordshire) in the 5000m. After comfortably controlling her heat, which she won, from the start of the final it was clear that Suzanne was the only athlete in the field capable of challenging Loughborough’s Louise Damen.

She bravely followed the front running Damen till 3000m. Despite Damen pulling away in the latter stages for an impressively decisive victory (16:35.9), Suzanne was able to maintain focus to secure bronze. The effect of Damen’s relentless pace was that Suzanne finished thirty three seconds clear of the bronze medallist, Erica Martin of Loughborough.

Further impressive middle distance performances were provided by Lee Turner (Staffordshire) debuting in the 5000m and Tom Gayle (Brunel West London) in the 1500m. Turner went into the championships in far from confident mood due to what he described as "motivational problems" towards intense summer training that justified his entrance into the 5000m rather than his more preferable choice of 1500m. His confidence took another blow after being drawn in arguably the toughest heat but despite this, he produced a mature run concluding with his notoriously effective sprint finish to automatically qualify for the final, raising his arms in delight as he crossed the line.

In the final Turner’s cautiousness in the event showed as he uncharacteristically sat in last for 4850m. Despite this Turner showed his untapped potential at the distance by unleashing an even better sprint finish than the previous day by going from 12^th to 6^th to clock 14:51.4 .His delight across the finish line (raising his arms and later twirling his vest around his head) was great entertainment but was also a fine example of the passion and talent he has for the sport.

Gayle was another middle distance finalist in the 1500m. After comfortably qualifying for the final when placing 2^nd in his heat he faced a formidable field in the final, which consisted of seven U20/U23 international representatives. After a suicidal early pace by Northumberland’s Nick McCormick (55 seconds for the first lap) Gayle unfortunately faded to 10^th but was pleased to make the final at his first appearance in these championships.

The weekend wasn’t all glee for the City of Stoke entourage that travelled to Bedford, as the club's defending BUSA 1500m champion Emma Ward unfortunately didn’t make the start line to defend her title. After warming up she had to concede to a recent knee problem and pull out of the event. Despite her disappointment she should be commended for such a mature decision as the possibility of a place in England’s Commonwealth Games squad beckons this summer.

For further information you can read of full report of the championships in this weeks Athletics Weekly (9/05/02) or visit the BUSA web site www.busaresults.org.uk for a full set of result listings

City of Stoke A.C Results

Heat 4
4. Michael Bourne (Crewe & Alsager) 11.50 (-1.7)

Semi Final 1
6. Bourne 11.50 (-0.8)

Heat 8
6. Mark Sinclair (Staffordshire) 2:03.1


1500m

Heat 1
2. Tom Gayle (Brunel WL) 4:00.59

Final
10. Gayle 4:00.36

Heat 1
3. Lee Turner (Staffordshire) 15:25.37

Final
6. Turner 14:51.4

Heat 3
1. David Brackstone (Loughborough) 55.02

Semi Final 2
3. Brackstone 52.70

Final
3. Brackstone 52.98

3. Loughborough 42.24 (Brackstone on 2^nd Leg)


4x400m

2. Loughborough 3:16.80 (Brackstone on 1^st leg, 48.5 spilt)

Heat 3
3. Rachael Redmond 12.60 (+0.7)


800m

Heat 2
4. Victoria Owen (Staffordshire) 2:17.2

Semi Final 1
7. Owen 2:19.83


1500m

Heat 1
7. Claire Booker (Staffordshire) 5:17.0


5000m

Heat 1
1. Suzanne Owen (Staffordshire) 18:02.3

Final
2. Owen 17:06.9