British Hurdlers Open 2003 Campaigns in USA

A number of Britain's top hurdlers opened their 2003 outdoor campaigns in Californian meets as the US season picked up pace.

Britain's number one 400m Hurdler Chris Rawlinson, was unable to repeat his Mt Sac triumph of 2002, but did finish a promising second with 49.01, to mark his season's debut behind Loughborough training partner Kemel Thompson. The Jamaican 2002 champion set a new personal best of 48.52 in a strong field also containing America's second ranked 400H of 2002, Joey Woody, and Japan's World Bronze medalist Dai Tamsue. Rawlinson's performance was a World Championship A standard qualifier and his fastest time since winning the 2002 AAA championships last July.

Los Angeles based Natasha Danvers similarly finished second in the women's event, but her time of 56.34 was some 3/10th faster than her victorious time last year as she finished between San Diego training partners Brenda Taylor [55.38] and Megan Addy [56.61]. In the same race Tracey Duncan opened her season with a useful 57.74 clocking.

In the support races, former European junior bronze medallist, Nicola Sanders, enjoyed a good start to 2003 with a 59.23 second place, whilst in the men's programme Sale Harrier's Liam Collins ran 51.33 after a comfortble 51.94 victory at Long Beach the previous day.

The Long Beach meeting had seen some promising if wind assisted pewrformances from Lloyd Cowans' sprint hurdles group, Rob Newton leading home a 1-2-3 in 13.94 [+4.9] from Mohammed Silah Freckelton 13.99 [his first ever sub 14 second run] and Andy Turner's 14.08.

Newton clocked 14.27 [-0.9] the following day at Mt Sac, where Sarah Claxton was aslo in action running 13.55 for the women's 100H.

Will Sharman will most likely focus in on the multi events during 2003, but his 14.79 into a two metre head wind during the Mt Sac Decathlon at Azusa, bodes well for some good hurdles perforrmances. Whilst Tim Reetz clocked a promising 14.04 at Colordo Springs earlier in the month.

19 April 2003