On the penultimate night of competition inside the stadium, Team GB experienced mixed fortunes.
Jo Pavey and Julia Bleasedale raced in the 5000m final, a race always dominated by the African nations. Tonight was no exception with Ethiopia and Kenya taking the top six spots.
The surprise winner was Meseret Defar, with Vivian Cheruiyot in silver and Tirunesh Dibaba in bronze. But a strong run from both the Brits saw Pavey come in seventh and Bleasedale in eighth place.
While Laura Weightman and Lisa Dobriskey both went in the 1500m final, but neither managed to make a real impact, finishing 10th and 11th respectively. The race was won by Asli Cakir Alptekin of Turkey, with her teammate Gamze Bulut taking silver and Maryam Jamal of Bahrain in bronze.
Speaking to the BBC afterwards Weightman said, ”It was a messy race. I gave it my all but I didn’t have the pace to stay with it. I’ve got nothing to complain about. I am bit battered and bruised but I loved it out there. This is just the beginning for me and there is more to come from me in the future.”
Dobriskey also commented on her race to the BBC, ”I was expecting the pace to go a bit earlier and I left myself too much to do. I was too far back. I knew the other girls were strong and it would have been a tough ask to have got a medal but I am a bit dejected now.”
Team GB’s relay team are through to the final of the 4x400m after qualifying third fastest in tonight’s heats. Shana Cox led the team out with legs by Lee McConnell, Eilidh Child and Christine Ohuruogu, the 400m Olympic silver medallist taking the final leg.
After the race Cox said, “The first leg was good. I got us into position. It went very well. We will run faster in the final.”
It is likely that Perri Shakes-Drayton will be brought in for the final, as she was part of their gold medal winning team at the world indoor championships earlier this year.
Ohuruogu commented, “We knew we would get a spot. I just wanted to get the job done.”
21 year old Sophie Hitchon finished 12th in the hammer final tonight. She was unable to improve on the British record she set in qualifying, but a final place finish was a good result for this young thrower who shows great potential for Rio 2016.
Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
