Hannah England (Oxford City AC) finished in tenth place in 4:05.07 in a competitive 1500m final at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona on Sunday 1 August.

The fastest athlete in the field Anna Alminova of Russia went to front of the field from the gun with another of the favourites, Hind Dehiba of France.  As they went through 400m in 63.61 seconds Hannah was positioned at the back of the field of 12.  She began to move through on the outside and as Alminova led them through 800m in 2:09.04 she was in ninth place, a little detached from a group of eight who had started to pull away.  Hannah had worked her back to the group by the time the field went through the bell but was not able to make an impression as the pace picked up.  She fought hard down the home straight but was passed by Oksana Zbrozhek of Russia on the run in, finishing tenth in 4:05.07, less than a second outside her personal best.  The race was won by Nuria Fernandez of Spain to the delight of the home crowd in a personal best of 4:00.20, with Dehiba second in 4:01.17 and Spaniard Natalia Rodriguez of Spain third in 4:01.30.  Britain’s Lisa Dobriskey was fourth in 4:01.54.

After the final Hannah said: “I have learnt a lot about myself, particularly on Friday when I just got way, way too nervous before the heat.  I wanted to enjoy today and I did except for that last 200 metres.  I felt like I put myself in an alright position and just lacked a bit in leg speed.  I definitely feel like I belong in this company and I really enjoyed it.  I can’t wait to have another go and hopefully do a bit better next time.”

In Friday’s heat Hannah had to battle hard to achieve qualification for the final.  With the first round heats cancelled, 23 entrants lined up in two semi finals with the top four from each heat plus four fastest losers to go through to the final.

The first of the two heats looked to be the tougher and so it proved, with Hannah struggling to get towards the front of the field throughout the race.  As Alminova of Russia led through 400m in just under 65 seconds and the field began to string out, Hannah was towards the back.  As the leader went through 800m in 2:10.51 she started to move round the outside of the field and was in a group of eight who had pulled away by the bell.  Caught on the inside she was unable to make an impression on the leaders and as they pulled away but fought hard down the home straight to secure eighth place in 4:06.03.  Alminova took the win in 4:04.14 with France’s Fanjanteino Felix (4:04.75), Spain’s Natalia Rodriguez (4:04.95) and another Russian Oksana Zbrozhek (4:05.18) taking the other three automatic qualifying places.

Lying in the fourth of the fastest loser spots Hannah then faced an anxious wait to see if anyone outside the top four in the second heat would run quicker than her time.  With the second heat won in 4:05.53 and the fifth place finisher clocking 4:07.20, her place in the final was secure.


Meanwhile, at the British League Premiership meeting at Eton on Saturday 31 July Mark Mitchell (Birchfield Harriers) was second in the 800m A race in 1:50.02, with OCWK supervisor Anthony Whiteman (Shaftesbury Barnet) fifth in 1:52.08.  The race was won by James Shane in 1:49.47.

At the UK Women’s League Premier League meeting, also at Eton, Shelayna Oskan (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) finished second in the A 400m in 54.82 and Tara Bird (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies) second in the B race in 55.33.  Ejiro Okoro (Birchfield Harriers) was third in the A 800m in 2:10.92 behind winner Catherine Riley’s 2:09.28.  Nikki Maddick (City of Manchester) was seventh in 2:16.20 and she also finished third in the B 1500m in 4:41.81.  At the Division One meeting at Connah’s Quay, Suzi Boast (Bedford & County) finished third in 1500m in 4:39.2 and sixth in the 800m in 2:14.4.  At the Division Two meeting on 1 August Heather Timmins (Warrington AC) won the 3000m in 9:51.2.

Emma Jackson (City of Stoke) won the 1500m at the Midland League Division 1 meeting at Nottingham on 1 August in a new personal best of 4:15.3.  She won the race by nearly 20 seconds from fellow OCWK athlete Katie Knowles (Bristol & West) who clocked 4:34.3.

Alison Leonard (Blackburn Harriers) was close to her personal best when winning the 400m at a Northern League match at Sportcity, Manchester, on 31 July.


Photo Mark Shearman