Robert
Newton was the hurdles star of the show at the Inter
Counties championships at Bedford. The former 1999
European u20's 4th placer was impressive enough in
the heat clocking a wind assisited 13.76, but then
hours later returned to run even quicker with a 13.71
victory with a legal 1.8 following wind. Newton's
time took him to 15th on the all time UK lists [infront
of coach Lloyd Cowan's 13.75] as well as taking him
to the top of the 2003 outdoor 110H list.
Completing
a Nottinghamshire 1-2, training partner Andy Turner
also dipped under the 14 second barrier for the first
time this season, his 13.91 being only 1/10th outside
his best ever set in 2002. Also enjoying the conditions
there were pb's for Richard Alleyene [14.25] continuing
on from his fine indoor season, and Scot Francis Smith
[14.41] in 3rd and 4th respectively.
In
the women's sprint hurdles Sarah Claxton completed
a good week for Cowan's squad with a 13.25w victory,
comfortably clear of Claire Harmon 13.61 and Kelly
Sotherton 13.86.
Liz Fairs started her second season at the 400H by
retaining the title she won last year. Fiars' 59.34
was just enough to hold off Hannah Wood's trade mark
strong finish [59.50], with Jennifer Culley just holding
off Carey Marshall for the bronze. Culley and Marshall
along with the remaining four finalists had run quicker
in qualification earlier in the day, Marshall improving
to 60.34 in her new event, whilst there were also
season's best for two other Scots Shona Macherson
[61.80] and Natalie Kydd [62.95].
Brad
Yiend collected his first national title in the men's
400H taking victory in 52.24 after a 52.11 pb in the
heat and looks well set to run comfortably under 52
later in the season. Yiend's main opposition looked
most likely to come from Steve Surety, the 2002 Champion
who won the other heat, but the Essex man had to pull
out of the race early in the back straight with a
hamstring problem, leaving Noel Levy 52.81 and Richard
Scott 52.88 to challenge Yiend, but the 23 year old
Tony Hadley coached athlete was by far the stronger
on the run in.
