Phillips Idowu leaps 17.58m at UK Olympic Trials (© Getty Images)
When you’ve produced the two longest jumps in the world you may as well call it a day. Job done, as they say.
That was the thinking of Phillips Idowu after he confirmed his standing as Triple Jump’s world number one with a dominating victory on the final day of the Aviva National Championships and UK Olympic Trials in Birmingham today (Sunday 13).
The World Indoor champion cut the sand at 17.58 with his first attempt, three centimetres further than his previous best this year, then promptly followed it with 17.57 and 17.27 before sitting out the final three rounds.
“I just felt I had done enough today, so I pulled out of the rest of the competition,” said Idowu who is out on his own as Britain’s main hope for Olympic gold in Beijing next month. Not that the 29-year-old is phazed by the swelling expectations here in the UK.
“I’m comfortable with it,” said Idowu. “I’m not bothered by the attention. If anything my expectations are higher than everyone else’s.”
A year ago Idowu left the national championships with a back injury that later hindered his performance at the World Championships in Osaka. Now, after a change of coach and a new rehab regime he describes himself as “bullet proof”.
He’s certainly adopted a new, more confident attitude since his victory in Valencia earlier this year. “I want to be the greatest triple jumper in the world,” he said. “Whatever it takes that’s what I’ll do.”
Despite bowing out early, the red-haired Idowu won the title by 40cm from Larry Achike and Nathan Douglas who were evenly matched at 17.18m. Achike took the silver by virtue of a second best leap of 16.99. They too could be contenders in Beijing.
Sub-2 for Okoro
If men’s triple jumping is looking healthy, there’s also a confidence about British women’s middle distance running these days. Marilyn Okoro won a thrilling 800m tussle with Jemma Simpson, dipping under two minutes with 1:59.81 as Simpson pushed her to the line to take second in 2:00.49.
“I’ve been dreaming of this for a long, long time,” said Okoro after securing her Olympic selection. “It means so, so much. There have been some highs and lows but it all came together today.”
2.30m PB for Parsons
It came together for high jumper Tom Parsons too. The 24-year-old raised his personal best by a centimetre to clear 2.30m and put himself in the frame for an Olympic final place.
“When I went over I was praying the bar would stay on,” he said. “I couldn’t get off the mat quick enough. Now I know I can compete with some of the best in the world in Beijing.”
Ohuruogu and Freeman get under ‘A’ qualification
Christine Ohuruogu has already proved she can do that. The World 400m champion pushed Emily Freeman all the way to the line in the 200m as both dipped under 23 seconds, the Olympic qualifying standard. Freeman just held on to clock 22.92, while Ohuruogu was just 0.07 behind.
“Two hundreds are all about racing speed for me,” said Ohuruogu. “The Olympics are coming fast and I feel there is work to be done.”
It was a similar story in the men’s 200m as Christian Malcolm came from the back of the field over the final 50 metres to pip Alex Nelson on the line. The former Olympic finalist was rewarded for his surge with his best time of the year, 20.52, and, more importantly, an Olympic qualifying time.
Nelson, whose sister Ashlee won a World Junior silver medal last week, was second in 20.61.
Two national records
There some good distance running too, including two British records – in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase and the 5000m Race Walk – and a commanding display from Jo Pavey in the 5000m.
Helen Clitheroe broke the Steeplechase record with a gutsy run from the front in 8:36.17, while Johanna Jackson set a British record in the women’s 5000m Race Walk, taking nearly 12 seconds from the six-year-old mark with a time of 21:30.75.
“It’s great to get a British record but I need to step it up to get in with the world’s best runners,” said Clitheroe, realistically.
Pavey, fourth in the World Championships 10,000m last year, was an easy winner of the 5000m in 15:12.56, while Tom Lancashire, a victor at the Oslo Golden League last month, won a hard fought 1500m in 3:38.92.
Sotherton – injury niggle is “nothing to worry about”
Kelly Sotherton’s disappointing weekend continued. She pulled out of the Long Jump after three attempts complaining of a quad problem, then managed a best throw in the javelin of just 34.31.
“It was just a precautionary measure and is nothing to worry about,” insisted Sotherton of her thigh “niggle”.
She finished second in the Long Jump with 6.28 as Jade Johnson took the title with 6.30. “That was probably the worst competition I’ve ever done in my life,” said Johnson, who has 6.81m to her name this year. “I think this has given me a kick up the bum.”
Goldie Sayers dominated the women’s Javelin Throw competition and won with a best of 62.62m. “You could say it was average,” said Sayers.
Martyn Rooney took the 400m in what he described as a “disappointing” 45.31, while Sarah Claxton was similarly downhearted by her winning time in the 100m Hurdles, 13.12. “I came here to try and get the British record,” she said after falling 0.32 short.
There should be another chance to do that in China. The British team is annouced on Monday.
Matthew Brown for the IAAF
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