28 June 2012
Day Two Morning Session
Women's 800m Update
Jenny Meadows (coach: Trevor Painter) has had to pull out of the 800m in Helsinki. Under the selection policy, she is considered selectable with 7 As from the longer period as well as major international medals from Berlin, Doha, Barcelona and Paris. Below is a statement from Jenny.
"It has been a battle to get back to full fitness after suffering an Achilles tear earlier this year. I have never been fitter, having spent all winter training on the bike or the Alter-G and mentally I was ready to come here and compete for a medal.
"But my injury seems to have reacted badly to the flight and whilst we all genuinely believed I would be ready to get to the start line this setback means I'm so close yet so far. I know I'm selectable based on my previous 7 A standards, but it is no longer in my control."
Women’s 400m Hurdles Semi-Finals
Meghan Beesley (Nick Dakin) bowed out of the European Championships in the semi-finals. The Birchfield Harrier finished last in a time of 57.32.
Disappointment was etched on Beesley's face post-race.
"It was difficult," she explained. "Lane one was always going to be tough, I ran alright but it was a little bit messy. I just haven’t clicked with the hurdles this year.
I’ve no idea why – every race is just like that, I don’t really know what’s going on with it."
Women’s Pole Vault Qualification
Sally Peake’s (Scott Simpson) time in Helsinki is over after failing to vault 4.25m. The Birchfield Harrier had to settle for 10th spot with a height of 4.15m. However, Peake refused to be too downbeat afterwards.
“It was good that it was my first major championship but I would have hoped to have jumped a little bit better, hopefully I can take some things from it, learn from it and come back a little bit stronger," she said.
“I learned in qualification anything can happen really. There are a few big names who maybe haven’t qualified for the final and so if you can get yourself in the mix there is a good chance for you, but it just didn’t seem to be my day today.”
3000m Women’s Steeplechase Semi-Finals
Despite running a season’s best (9:57.00) it was not enough to clinch a place in the final for Hatti Archer (Bud Baldaro) as she finished 10th.
“I haven’t done the session this season, I’ve had quite a lot of injury problems and I haven’t got any track sessions in – I’m lacking that speed.
“I feel strong but I’m not used to running that pace. Even when I am fit I find the first lap or two take longer for me to get going than other people and I always like to come through the field – both physically and tactically that’s how I race, but when I’m not fully fit it shows up even more.
“I tried to keep up but I couldn’t – the gap was growing only very slowly and I was running the same pace for a few laps but I couldn’t get back to them which was very frustrating.”
Women's Shot Put Qualification
Eden Francis' (Glenys Morton) shot put final dreams have been dashed when she only threw a distance of 16.35m thus failing to qualify in 8th spot.
