Athletics: Clitheroe secures 3000m gold in a final day medal rush in Paris

The final day of competition at the European Indoor Championships saw the Aviva GB&NI team secure five further medals in Paris, four silver and a gold, to create a total eight medal haul leaving them in fourth place overall.

Team Captain Helen Clitheroe secured gold with her blistering 3000m performance which kicked off the proceedings. The 3000m British steeple chase record holder demonstrated her experience with her determined performance, despite early challenges from Dolores Checa (ESP) and later Layes Abdullayeva (AZE).

Russian Olesya Syreva managed to pass her with two laps to go but the brief placing switch only seemed to spur Clitheroe on, with her leading again within 300m. Her 8:56.66 was a dazzling result for the 37-year-old, securing her the gold.

She said: “I am so happy that is a dream come true. You all know how long I’ve been trying to get on the podium.

“I’ve had a really good batch of training in Kenya and I’m believing in myself. I kept believing.”

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Jenny Meadows followed Clitheroe’s powerful lead with her performance in the 800m final along with Marilyn Okoro. Meadows secured silver with a time of 2:00.50, just missing out on the gold due to Russian advancements on the home straight. Okoro ran a seasons best time of 2:02.46 and finished in fifth place with 2:02.46.

She said: “I have real mixed feelings, it’s a bit of both really. I’m disappointed with the 800m. I felt amazing and like I could run a couple of seconds faster than that so I took the decision last night that I’d take the race from the front.

“On that last lap I tensed up a bit, maybe I felt the pressure. But then I couldn’t think about my disappointment because the relay was the perfect opportunity to get back out there and do something and it was fantastic, really great by the girls.”

The women’s 400m relay quartet brought home another medal for the Aviva GB&NI team following a strong start from Kelly Sotherton and a safe handover to Lee McConnell. The Scott’s performance saw them move up to second place before a smooth exchange with Marilyn Okoro.

Okoro seemed to stress her fifth place 800m individual frustration on the track, overtaking France on the final bend as a waiting Jenny Meadows loomed. Given a great start by her teammates, she managed to bring the team home in second place for a silver medal.

Speaking after the race, McConnell said: “The Russians were always going to be difficult to beat.”

Sotherton added: “I didn’t do myself justice, I’m learning 400m is a dangerous indoors! I skipped, tripped and was pushed, it was a comedy of errors but we are pleased with silver.”

On her senior International debut Jodie Williams equalled her personal best of 7.21 in the 60m final, a brilliant achievement for the 17-year-old who has a three junior International titles to her name.

She finished in fourth place, but leaves the competition having gained valuable experience and proved she can mix with the best in Europe.

“It’s frustrating but I was happy to be in that race with the big names who are running big times. If someone would have said you would get into the final and run a personal best I would have taken that! It’s been an amazing experience, I think I’ve come a long way as an athlete.

“It’s been great being part of the senior team, everyone has been lovely and welcoming.”

Jessica Whittington, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

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