Report by Tom Gayle
The opening fixture in the British Miler Club Grand Prix calendar saw
athletes greeted with perfect distance racing conditions at Sport City
Stadium in Manchester.
Yet again Emma Jackson consolidated herself as the country's top junior
athlete over 800m with another scintillating performance. Jackson took full
advantage of the pace making provided by the BMC as she maturely sat off the
early pace over the first 200m, but glided herself into contention at the
bell, which was passed in a swift 59 seconds.
From there on the Stoke AC starlet was determined to keep this hot pace
going and came upon the shoulder on her conquered at the Loughborough
International, Charlotte Best (Crawley). Into the last quarter of the race
Jackson pushed past Best and as she entered the home straight began to open
up daylight between herself and the opposition. Unfortunately though yet
again Best showed her grit and fought back in the closing stages as Jackson
struggled to hold onto her lead.
In a blanket finished Best snatched victory (2.01.66), while this years
Inter-counties Champion Victoria Griffiths
(Liverpool Harriers) snuck through into second (2.01.90), with Jackson third
(2.01.95). All three revised their personal bests, but it was a double
success for Jackson as she not only took a staggering 1.45 seconds of her
previous best but also her time shot here to top of the European U20
rankings.
Fellow Alan Morris coached athlete Michelle Ross proved that she is a
threat over all surfaces. Ross, who back in January scooped the Midland
Cross Country crown, has followed that form on with notable performance on
the road, including her recent 32.41 for 10km around the streets of
Manchester. Here she transferred that form onto the track, a surface she
rarely contests, in fact her last track 5000m race was back in 2002 when she
clocked 17.56. Cope drew on her wealth of experience as she paced herself
race to perfection as she worked her way through the field to eventually
take third place in a race full of top domestic talent. She was rewarded
with a massive personal best, which was not only a new club record but took
her up to 6th on this years national rankings.
Stoke AC Results
Men
800m F Race
4. Andy Prophett 1.55.43
Women
800m A race
3. Emma Jackson U20 2.01.95 pb
5000m
A race
3. Michelle Ross V35 16.06.68 p.b
Full
results can be found at www.britishmilersclub.com/results/bmcresults.aspx?meetingid=5785
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