Great Britain’s Jessica Ennis continued her excellent start to the season with a world-leading time of 7.97, and victory over the American hurdler and 2010 world indoor champion Lolo Jones, in the 60m hurdles at the Aviva International Match in Glasgow on Saturday.
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| Great Britain's Jessica Ennis set a world-leading time of 7.97 in the 60m hurdles in Glasgow on Saturday. |
Into the bargain, the 2009 World Championships and 2010 European Athletics Championships heptathlon gold medallist defeated the American hurdler and 2010 world indoor champion Lolo Jones.
The time was just short of her own British record of 7.95 set at the same meeting last year and the perfect boost to her morale ahead of her contesting the pentathlon at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in five weeks time.
The 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships will be held in the French capital Paris at the Palais Omnisport Paris-Bercy from 4-6 March.
'I'm really pleased. I love competing here, it always goes really well. It's a great track to run on and I'm really happy to get under eight seconds again,” said a delighted Ennis, second in the 2010 European Athlete of the Year voting behind Croatian high jump queen Blanka Vlasic.
'I ran 7.95 last year and I knew I was in good shape so to come here and do that again shows I've done the right things over the winter. I had no idea about Lolo because I was right over the far side, it's very hard to see. I concentrated on my own race but it's good to beat her again.
'My start wasn't very good, I kind of sat in the blocks a bit, but I think my general speed's good. I've done a lot of work on that over the winter. I think the latter part of my race is better so I came through quite well and I'm hoping that bodes well for the summer,” added Ennis.
Great Britain’s Tiffany Ofili, born and raised in the United States but competing as a Briton for the first time, clocked 8.04 for second place. Germany's Nadine Hildebrand was third in 8.21 while Jones, who hit several hurdles hard, never got into her stride and had to settle for fourth in 8.27.
Ennis later recorded 6.38m in the long jump to finish behind Germany's Nadja Kather, who won with 6.58m, and the United States’ Funmi Jimoh, who was second with 6.48m.
'I'm quite pleased to be honest. It started off a bit shaky but 6.38 is not too bad. I'm hoping I can squeeze a bit more out of that in the future,' said Ennis, reflecting on her long jump performance.
Germany’s Lisa Ryzih, the 2010 European Athletics Championships pole vault bronze medallist, took her specialist event with a clearance at 4.55m, which equalled her indoor best.
“That was really good, we had really good winter training so I know I can jump high. I’m very confident for the next competition. In Germany it’s difficult to qualify for the European Indoor Championships because there are very strong women pole vaulters but I have a few more competitions before then, so we will see then,” said the 22-year-old former World youth and junior champion.
Behind Ryzih, Great Britain’s Holly Bleasdale set a new personal best of 4.48m.
Great Britain’s Jenny Meadows, showed that she can reasonably expect to be medal contender again at a major international championships when she had an excellent win the women's 800m.
Meadows, the 2010 World Indoor Championships 800m silver medallist, led from gun-to-tape to clock 2:01.17 and come home head of Germany's Jana Hartmann, who was second in 2:02.48. Great Britain’s Marilyn Okoro was third in 2:02.99.
“It felt really comfortable, really smooth. I got to the front quite early, I could see the scoreboard and could see that I was really clear. I was quite surprised it wasn't closer,” said Meadows.
'I'm hoping that's a good omen for the rest of the year. Last year I had a really good indoors but I spent much of the outdoor season frustrated,' she added, reflecting on her third place finish at the 2010 European Athletics Championships.
Great Britain’s Helen Clitheroe followed Meadows’ example and also led from start-to-finish to win the women's 3000m in a stadium record of 8:52.31 and finish more than 15 seconds in front of her nearest rival.
'I'm delighted to come out and run so well in my first indoor (race of the season) especially as I just came back from altitude training in Kenya on Thursday and was travelling through the night,' said Clitheroe.
The 2010 European Athletics Championships 100m silver medallist Mark Lewis-Francis won the men's 60m in 6.66.
“It looks like I'm in decent shape; I didn't know what sort of shape I was in before I came. I'm on top of the world right now, I'm just glad to be performing again. Now I want to get back to competing with the best in the world again. That's my aim,” said the Briton, who equalled the fastest time by a European this year.
In the men's 60m hurdles, Britain's 2010 European Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games 110m hurdles gold medallist Andy Turner finished second behind American star David Oliver.
Oliver was unbeaten outdoors last season and also never looked like being beaten in Glasgow as he sped to a time of 7.51, the fastest time in the world this year.
Turner was second in 7.66 while the 2009 European Athletics Junior Championships 110m hurdles gold medallist Lawrence Clarke got third in 7.71.
“Technically I got out of the blocks really well, the first two hurdles were quite nice, but I think I hit the third or fourth hurdle which threw me off a little bit. I think it would have been closer (if I hadn't hit the hurdle). I'm not saying I would have beaten him but it would have been close. I was hoping to get at least within a metre of David but I'm confident that things can only get faster,” said Turner.