Sotherton joins strong Gateshead Long Jump field
26 May 2006 - Commonwealth Heptathlon champion Kelly Sotherton starts her preparations for a major championship double when she competes at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Gateshead next month.
Sotherton, the Heptathlon bronze medallist from the Olympic Games two years ago, was one of England’s success stories in Melbourne, winning her first gold medal at a major games.
The Birchfield Harrier is now aiming to complete a golden double at the European Championships in Gothenburg in August - and she will kick start her domestic season in the Long Jump at Gateshead.
Sotherton said: "I've been desperate to get back competing again after the gold medal in Melbourne, and it's great that there is a big UK Athletics meeting, like the Norwich Union British Grand Prix to kick the season off in style. This is the first stepping stone towards the European Championships later this summer."
The 29-year-old will be up against her British rival Jade Johnson, who was fifth in the long jump in Melbourne, as well as the Olympic long jump gold medallist Tatyana Lebedeva. The Russian jumped a hugely impressive 6.87m to win at the north east venue in 2004. Also in the line up is India’s Commonwealth Games bronze medallist from 2002, Anju Bobby George, who competes at the Gateshead stadium for the first time.
Kate McCall for the IAAF
