Report by Tom Gayle

The reality of the fact that in just a few weeks Manchester will host the largest multi-national sporting event ever to be held in Britain, finally sank in over the week end as England’s elite gathered at the newly built Commonwealth stadium. Those present, all carried the collective goal of being privileged to pull on the England vest and represent their country in their own backyard (well Manchester).

Only the first two English athletes in each event were guaranteed selection into the team, providing they met or bettered the Commonwealth standard for their respective events, a third athlete would be added later at the selector’s discretion. The City of Stoke Club was well represented at the trials with a total of five athletes on show with the main highlights coming from Amanda Forrester in the 100m and Katie Dennison in the Pole Vault.

Forrester who frustratingly missed out on a place in last year’s Great Britain World Championship team in Edmonton, despite running the UK’s second fastest time was the club’s strongest hope for a medal and a place in the team. A tough qualification standard of first place in each heat and the six fastest losers represented the quality required. After placing second in her heat behind Olympic and World medallist Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas, Forrester qualified as a fastest loser with Joyce Maduaka (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies) being the only other competitor to run faster than her.

In the final, Amanda kept her composure to finish third in the race, but more importantly second English athlete. Ferguson represented the international class that Forrester is aspiring to and was a comfortable winner. The race between the English athletes was won by Shani Anderson (Shaftesbury Barnet) with Forrester 0.06 behind. Neither clocked the Commonwealth standard of 11.40 but Forrester must have felt she had done enough to make the team as she has a legal 11.37 clocking from last year.

The English Athletics Association later confirmed Forrester’s ambitions as she was selected to compete for England in the 100m and 4x100m relay at Manchester in the team named on Tuesday (18/06/02).

Dennison on the other hand just missed out on a place in the team but most definitely has youth on her side. Katie was just one of a handful of juniors on show at the trials, most were present in search of the their respective qualifying marks for the World Junior Championships in Jamaica. Dennison though is in the unique position where it is ‘easier’ for her to make the Commonwealth team than it is the World Junior team.

UK Athletics have set a tough standard of 3.95 to make the flight for Jamaica (any athlete would have to break the UK Junior record to achieve this!). Whereas 3.85 is required to make the shorter journey to Manchester, so therefore Dennison was trying to kill two birds with one stone.

Having already recorded the Commonwealth qualifying height of 3.85 already this season, the focus for Katie was the much desired top two English spots.

In probably the most competitive domestic female pole vault competition ever, Dennison finished 6^th and 4^th English athlete. The competition was won in a new UK record by Janie Whitlock (Trafford) in 4.41, second was Australia’s Olympic silver medallist Tatyana Grigorieva (4.25) with English athlete Irie Hill (4.15) in third.

On the day though not all was not lost for the 18 year old Dennison as she still had the anxious wait till Tuesday with the slight possibility of being selected. Lucy Webber (Belgrave Harriers), the third placed English athlete had recorded the same height as Dennison, but finished above on count-back. With Dennison coming the closest to clearing 3.95 there was always a slight glimmer of hope that the selectors would add her name to the team.

In the end experience over youth prevailed as the English Athletic Association went with Webber. Hopefully just missing out on selection will only motivate Katie further to secure a trip to Jamaica after mixing it with the best seniors England has to offer.

The rest of the Stoke athletes had mixed fortunes. In their first year out of the junior ranks Dave Mountford and Dave Brackstone are already making their presence known in the senior ranks as there mere presence at the trials at such a young age must be an achievement in itself.

Unfortunately though Mountford had to retire from the long jump after just two jumps due to injury, while Brackstone failed to progress beyond his heat in the 400m hurdles despite running just 0.06 outside his personal best.

Stokes Senior Men’s team captain Morris Fox couldn’t replicate the 16 metre plus form he showed when claiming Silver in the Midland Champs just two weeks earlier as he struggled in the shot putt.

Results from the trials can be found at www.ukathletics.net, while a full list of the English team that will be competing in Manchester can be found at www.englandathletics.org

Stoke AC Results


Men

400m Hurdles
Heat 1
5. David Brackstone 52.66

Long Jump
12. David Mountford 6.70

Shot Putt
12. Morris Fox 15.43


Women

100m
Heat 1
2. Amanda Forrester 11.58 (0.2)
Final
3. Forrester 11.57 (0.1)

Pole Vault
6. Katie Dennison 3.85