Report by Tom Gayle
Highlight of the championship was Emma
Jackson who secured herself a place on Great Britain’s team for the
European Junior Championships that are scheduled to start on the 19th
July in Hengelo, Holland, by winning the U20 800m crown.
There could not of been a hotter favourite
over the weekend. Jackson, last years World Junior semi finalist, is the
current U.K and European number one, and the defending champion.
Sometimes
though the favourite tag can be a sever hindrance as many buckle under the
pressure. The Alan Morris coached athlete held her nerve in a far from
straightforward victory. A cagey and steady opening lap which saw Ejiro
Okoro (Birchfield Harriers) fall (Jackson had to hurdle her) meant that the
majority of the field still in contention at the bell. Knowing that a slow
pace would leave the race wide open for strong kickers Jackson could wait no
longer and unleash her run for home at 500m.
She was made to work hard for
the title though as she was chased hard by Hannah Brooks (Crawley A.C).
Thankfully Jackson was strong enough to withstand the challenge and defend
her AAA title with a winning time of 2.05.81.
The club's other victory went to Marin Bartholomew in the U18 discus. This event
was specifically added to the championships programme to give those the
seeking World Youth qualifying marks a last chance to achieve the standard.
Bartholomew, using the lighter 1.5kg discus, won with his opening round
throw of 51.88.
While undoubtedly delighted to secure his first National
title, leaving her nearest rival over 6 metres adrift, the Mike
Morris coached athlete would
no doubt have been he was disappointed not to breach the entry standard of
55.00 metres that would have booked him a spot on the plane to Czech
Republic for the World Youth Games.
Ashlee Nelson earmarked herself as potential
medallist for the U20 100m title
after comfortably winning her heat in 11.74. Unfortunately though in doing
so the 16 year old felt a twinge in her hamstring. Admirably she withdrew
from the final after acknowledging that bigger challenges may lie ahead.
The
standard of the U20 woman sprinting at the championship was phenomenal.
Spare a thought for Jazmine Rowe despite equalling her personal best of
11.90, a time that has been good enough to at least medal and even win
previous championships, failed to qualify for the final.
Stoke AC Results
U23
Men
Shot
Putt
Final - 7.
Gregg Nixon 12.58
Discus
Final - 6.
Nixon 44.07 p.b
U20
Men
100m
- Heat
1
- 6.
Rob Black 11.24 (+1.0)
200m
Heat
4
- 7.
Black 23.06 (+1.2)
Shot
Putt
Final
5.
Martin Bartholomew 15.00
U18
Men
Discus
Final
- 1.
Bartholomew 51.38 p.b
U20
Women
100m
Heat
1 - 4.
Jazmine Rowe 11.90 (+2.3)
Heat
2
- 1.
Ashlee Nelson (U17) 11.74 (+1.2)
Final - Nelson
DNS
200m
Heat
1
- 5.
Rowe 25.08 (+0.9)
800m
Heat -
1.
Emma Jackson 2.10
Final - 1.
Jackson 2.05.81
Full
results can be found at www.englandathletics.org/events/under-20-and-23-championships/
while pictures can be found at www.fotoccompli.com/070623uk.html
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