The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Management error is a costly one for GB team
ATHLETICS: Naming of shot putter in relay team costs a possible fourth after some fine performances
A weakened GB and NI athletics team rose to the occasion to finish fifth at the European Team Championships Super League in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
However, a horrendous management mistake before the final race cost the squad a possible fourth.
The management team inexplicably named a shot putter as lead off for the men’s 4 x 400m relay.
It proved a costly error as the team were unable to start.
Performance director Neil Black said: “It is gutting for the athletes involved. There was an error with the declaration process and we are exploring exactly what happened.”
Earlier Inverness athlete Kirsty Law hit 54.78m with her opening effort in the discus. A 52.54m followed before a foul, with Law’s first attempt placing her eighth, securing five points.
The British men’s 4x100m relay quartet of Dominic Ashwell, Oliver Bromby, Richard Kilty and team captain Harry Aikines-Aryeetey posted the team’s first victory with a winning 38.73 seconds.
In-form Charlie Grice did not claim the win over 1,500m, held off by home hope Marcin Lewandowski.
Daryll Neita overcame a restarted women’s 100m finishing second in 11:33, just 0.02 behind Carolle Zahi of France.
Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (800m 2:01.45), Dwayne Cowan (400m 46.18) and Chris Baker (high jump 2.22m) all took second places to take the team up to fourth before the final day.
The final day saw a morale-boosting field victory as Ben Williams won the triple jump with a personal best 17.14m. More valuable field points came in the women’s long jump, Abigail Irozuru leaping to 6.75m.
Lothian RC’s Sarah Inglis made third in the 5,000m, clocking 15 minutes 45.23 seconds and Jamie Webb gained yet another second place for the GB team in the 800m (1:47.25).
Richard Kilty returned to the track, winning the 200m in 20.66 seconds, while Jodie Williams excelled to finish second in the women’s 200m, timed at 22.89.
True to form, the 4 x 400m relays bagged good points for the GB women’s team. Aberdeen athlete Zoey Clarke teamed up with Emily Diamond, Jodie Williams and Jessica Turner to place second in their heat and second overall of the three heats in 3:27.12 bagging 11 points.
GB totalled 302.5 points in fifth. Poland, roared on by the home crowd, celebrated overall victory totalling 345 points.
Dundee Hawkhill’s James Donald won his 1,500m at the British Milers Club meeting at Stretford, Manchester, in a personal best 3 minutes 50.57 seconds, with Owen Miller (Fife AC) in 10th – 3:59.73. Annabel Simpson (Fife AC) placed second in her 1,500m, clocking 4:32.48.