ENGLAND SQUADS TAKE FIRST AND SECOND IN LOUGHBOROUGH (written for England Athletics, o5/08).

The England women’s team scored a close victory at the 50th anniversary of the Loughborough International, whilst the England men’s squad finished second during a nail-biting and exhilarating day’s action at the Loughborough University track, writes Nicola Bamford.

Scoring an impressive 90 points over runners-up; Loughborough University Past and Present with 87 points, the England ladies wrapped up the tight triumph at the wire, as the 4x400m relay outfit narrowly helped the squad to the title in the final event of the day. The England men meanwhile were left to lick their wounds, as they lost the match to Loughborough due to a disqualification in the final relay race.

Amina Ceesay and Joice Maduaka both finished second in the 100m and 200m, with 12:08 and 24.04, respectively and Perry Shakes-Drayton scored an impressive and emphatic 400m flat victory, with a superb 53.76 clocking.

Jo Ankier notched a useful l 10:21.09 for the runner-up placing in the 3,000m steeplechase, whilst Zara Hohn took seventh position in the 100m hurdles, with 14.70.

Sophie Morris took the 5,000m with a scorching 16:20.88 and Faye Fullerton scored a 1500m third-place, with 4:10.45.

Susan Moncrieff dominated the high-jump with an impressive 1m82 leap, whilst Phyllis Agbo took fourth in the long-jump with a 6m07 leap and Zoe Derham finished runner-up in the hammer, with a 64.81 throw.

Eden Francis took the second-place spot in the shot put, with 15.43, as Emma Carpenter also placed runner-up with 54.82 discus throw. Lauren Therin was third in the javelin, with 45m64 and triple-jumper; Nadia Williams took second with 13m45.

The 4x100m squad took the win by over a second, in a notable 43.65 clocking, whilst the 4x400m team taking the top spot with 3:38.98.

On the men’s side, Richard Hill ran imposingly to take the 800m in 1:47.47, whilst Glen Comish ran away with the 3000m steeplechase to win by over 10-seconds, with a fine 8:57.91. Phil Nichols ran strongly to dominate the 5000m; registering 13:58.28.

Eli Winn placed fourth in the 200m with 21.67, as did Nick Gayle in the 110m hurdles, with 14.46 and Neil Speight in the 1500m, with 3:44.47.

Andy Frost dominated the hammer, with a winning 66m15 throw, as Martin Lloyd leapt top third-place with 2m15 in the high jump. Jonathon Moore was prevailed in the long-jump; registering 7m74.

AbdulBuhari placed second in the discus with 57m64, as Mervyn Luckwell was runner-up in the javelin, with a useful 72m throw. Julian Golley jumped to second with 15m12 in the triple-jump, before the men’s 4x100m relay winners sped to a 39.46 victory.