Rush jumps PB in GB U20 debut
ELLA Rush has followed up her British Championships silver medal with a first appearance for Great Britain at Under20.
The 18-year-old Derby athlete took full advantage of the experienced competition at the Mannheim international in Germany to land a personal best in the long jump with 6.18m, finishing fourth.
She also took part in the 100m and just missed a PB in 12.26 seconds.
She won her silver medal competing as a senior in the heptathlon at the British Championships at Manchester.
Her total of 5,469 points put her just behind Jodie Smith (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow) and, perhaps more importantly, gave her a qualifying mark for the World Under-20 Championships.
The Derbyshire Institute of Sportbacked athlete started the first day with a 100m Hurdles of 14.47, the fourth fastest of eight in the competition.
A high jump of 1.65m kept her fourth, then she won the shot with a throw of 11.82m to go second.
She stayed second overnight with the second-fastest 200m of the day in 24.97.
Day two began with what was then an outdoor PB in the long jump of 6.10m.
In the javelin, she threw a PB of 33.12m to stay in second overall with only the 800m to come.
Her Amber Valley & Erewash AC clubmates Jess Turner, Alex Knibbs and Nisha Desai all contested the 400m hurdles at the championships.
GB international Turner is still working her way back after a foot operation and illness and qualified for the final as a fastest loser.
She was in contention for a medal until a stumble going over the last hurdle and finished fourth.
Knibbs also went through as a fastest loser but dropped out of the final as a precaustion with a tight hamstring.
Club coach and British Masters Champion Desai represented her home club, Morpeth Harriers, and just missed out on the final.
Rush is now within a month of heading to the United States on an athletics scholarship, although Amber Valley’s David Feeney will remain her lead coach.