By Mike Rowbottom

Shara Proctor_wins_long_jump_at_Olympic_Trials_Birmingham_June_24_2012June 24 - Shara Proctor (pictured), who switched her nationality from Anguilla –  a British Overseas Territory which does not have an Olympic team – to Britain with a view to qualifying for London 2012, took a giant leap into qualification by breaking the 29-year-old UK long jump record.


Proctor leapt 6.95 metres as she finally erased the 6.93m set by 19-year-old Bev Kinch at Helsinki in the first IAAF World Championships in 1983.

Holly Bleasdale also broke the British record in the pole vault to underline her growing medal potential for London 2012, clearing 4.71m, an outdoor record to set alongside the indoor mark of 4.87 she managed earlier this year.

"Today was the first competition I've put a new technique into place, and I felt like I was flying," she said.

Holly Bleasdale_wins_UK_Trials_June_24_2012
"I feel like I can go much, much higher."

With Britain's Olympic long jump champions from the Tokyo Games of 1964, Mary Rand and Lynn Davies, looking on, Proctor peaked in her third round to ensure victory.

"I'm just on top of the world right now," said the world indoor bronze medallist.

"I got the British record, I'm going to the Olympics - how good can it get?"

Jessica Ennis, putting together a series of events ahead of her Olympic heptathlon challenge, was less enthusiastic after recording only one mark of 6.27m after fouling twice and running through the remainder.

"I'm obviously disappointed with the long jump, just because I didn't quite have my rhythm right on the runway and I'm not jumping what I'm capable of," said Ennis, who had a far happier day yesterday when she achieved her best high jump of the season, 1.89m, and won the 100 metres hurdles title in 12.92sec.

Andy Pozzi and Lawrence Clarke held off the challenge of world bronze medallist Andy Turner in the 110m hurdles to earn automatic Olympic qualification, rounding off an excellent weekend for their coach Malcolm Arnold.

The former national coach, who was made an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list earlier this month, also coaches the pair who qualified for 400m hurdles places yesterday – world champion Dai Greene, and Jack Green.

Pozzi, 20, came through to take his first senior title in 13.41 with Clarke four hundredths of a second back and Turner - who is likely to take the third, discretionary place - a further metre down.

They will be joined by Martyn Rooney and Conrad Williams – respectively first and second in a tight 400m - and Robbie Grabarz, who won the high jump.

James Ellington, the sprinter who successfully gained sponsorship earlier this season by putting himself up on eBay – when his highest bid turned out to be a hoax before shaving company King of Shaves saved the day – earned Olympic selection with victory in the 200m.

Also securing London 2012 places were Lawrence Okoye in the discus and 38-year-old Jo Pavey, who narrowly failed to get the nod in the marathon, in the 5,000m.

Eilish McColgan_after_winning_3000m_steeplechase_Olympic_Trials_Birmingham_June_24_2012
Meanwhile 21-year-old Eilish McColgan - daughter of 1991 world 10,000m champion Liz – earned her Olympic debut by winning the 3,000m steeplechase.

Margaret Adeoye won the 200m to secure her place at the Olympics, along with Anyika Onuora, who finished second.

Christian Malcolm took second behind Ellington's 20.56 secs 200m win, the veteran Welshman qualifying for his fourth Olympics in the process, and world indoor bronze medallist Andrew Osagie underlined his fine form by easing away from Muktar Mohammed and Michael Rimmer to take the 800m.

Perri Shakes-Drayton took advantage of a stutter from Eilidh Child on the final flight of the 400m hurdles to retain her national title as both athletes booked their places in the squad, while Laura Weightman, coached by Steve Cram, produced a last lap of 58.42sec to destroy the 1500m field and do the same.

Goldie Sayers earned her 10th successive national javelin title to qualify for her third successive Olympics.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
June 2012: Chambers colourfully lets off steam after winning 100m at GB Olympic trials