Birmingham saw a sunny weekend of action at the Alexander Stadium for the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships. A number of female athletes added to their count of UK titles and secured places on the Aviva GB & NI team for the Spar European Championships.

Laura Turner took the women’s 100m title in 11.4, just one hundredth of a second ahead of Joice Maduaka in a close run final. In third, Elaine O Neill set a PB of 11.52. Afterwards, Turner was pleased to turn her season’s form into a winning result in front of the enthusiastic crowd:

“It was close at the line. Joice and I have had some great battles and it was closer than I wanted it to be,” she admitted. “The race didn’t go quite how I planned it but that was to be expected. I was happy with the result.”

Perri Shakes Drayton and Meghan Beesley dominated the 400m hurdles in impressive style and in turn qualified for Saturday afternoon’s final; Beesley powering to 57.63 and Shakes Drayton easing through in 57.09.

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More Athletics on Sportsister:

Athletics: Olympic medallist Tasha Danvers sets sights on Commonwealths ^[1]

Athletics: Cecilia Morrison, 69, sets 5km record ^[2]

Athletics: Wilson voices confidence of UK Championship success ^[3]

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In the 800m heats, Emma Jackson crossed the line in 2:07.56 first place – just ahead of Marilyn Okoro who showed solid form following an injury hit winter. In the final heat Jenny Meadows was top of the qualifiers with time of 2:05.31.

The women’s triple jump title was also decided on Friday with Leicester’s Laura Samuel taking victory in a PB of 13.52m ahead of Shaftesbury’s Nadia Williams in 13.49m. She said: “I took myself a bit by surprise; I didn’t think I could jump that far. I definitely think I’ve got a lot to learn and I can go further. I’m so happy that I’m going to the world juniors.”

Day 2 highlights included, Kate Dennsion taking victory in the Pole Vault and a superbly judged 1500m final by Hannah England taking victory in 4:33.23. “The first few laps were slow but that suits me. I was surprised that the other girls let it go like that as it plays into my strength but I’m not complaining,” she said.

Laura Turner took the women’s 100m title in 11.41 and the women’s 800m semi finals saw Jenny Meadows taking first place 2:02.46

Perri Shakes Drayton turned on the class to take an expected victory over the 400m hurdles ahead of Meghan Beesley. “It’s good to know I can go out to Barcelona with confidence and know I can do my thing, but not get ahead of myself because I’ve run a good time,” she said.

Other athletes taking UK Championship titles on Saturday included Steph Pywell winning the women’s high jump; Zoe Derham winning the women’s hammer in 66.11m – her fourth national title - and heptathlete Louise Hazel took the women’s 100m hurdles title in a personal best of 13.32.

Day 3 saw Jemma Simpson retaining her UK title with a strong performance. Laura Turner completed the sprint double having won the 100m during Saturday’s session, and then took the win over the half lap distance. Turner won the race in 23.66. Jade Johnson took the women’s long jump title with 6.48m demonstrating improving form with each competition.

Goldie Sayers who competed at last weekend’s Spar European Team Championships did not disappoint, taking her eighth national Javelin title with 58.60 in swirling wind conditions on the in-field. Apologising for not putting on a better show for the spectators, she looked almost disappointed with her eighth consecutive win.

“I jarred my hip on the second round and that was bothering me but I’ve only got myself to blame,” she said. “I was hoping for something about 8m further than I managed today. It wasn’t the way I wanted to do it, I have to say.”

In the race walk finals over 5000m, Freya Murray front-ran her way to a solid 5000m winning performance taking the line in 15:48.75 ahead of Laura Kenney in second with 15:54.57; whilst Barbara Parker put in a good performance to take the UK 3000m steeplechase title with 9:37.77.

Jennifer Tippett, Sportsister,
The Women’s Sports Magazine