Yus-ful showing

May 14 2007 By The Evening Chronicle

Rabah Yusif stormed into the record books with an eye-catching run in the 200 metres which saw him claim the only senior championship record.

The Teesside-based athlete, running in the Newham and Essex Beagles colours, came home clear of the field to win in 21.11sec, dipping below Dave Deacon's record of 13 years ago of 21.19sec.

While Yusif can claim the only official senior new record of the championships, Wearsider Mark Christie cleared a new life-time best of 5:15 metres in the pole vault, 15 centimeters better than his own outdoor record.

Unfortunately, because of the adverse weather conditions the competition had to be switched to the new indoor facility, so the record will not count.

Chester-le-Street-based Victoria Barr had mixed fortunes.

After being disqualified for two false starts in the 200 metres on Saturday, she put the disappointment behind her to win both the 400 and 100m yesterday.

The 400m, in particular, would give her huge satisfaction for her winning time of 53.94sec was just outside Angela Piggford's record time of 53.9 in 1986.

Former junior international Sarah Todd, runner-up behind Barr in the 100m, won the 200m and 100m and 400m hurdles.

Another former under-23 international, Leslie Richards, was in excellent form to win the discus and shot competitions. In both events, Gateshead's Craig Sturrock finished in second place.

Gateshead's Andrew Sturrock showed he has put his injury problems to one side to win the 110m hurdles and 100m flat. Gosforth's Drew Graham also had a double to celebrate.

The Leeds-based athlete got the better of Ryan McLeod (Elswick) and Darlington's Lewis Moses to win the 1,500m in 3:55.82 but he had to call on all his reserves to edge ahead of Gateshead's Kieran Flannery in the closing stages of the 800m.

Morpeth's Mark Brown held off the persistent challenge of Durham City's Michael Crawley to retain his 5,000m title while Ian Archbold, now 41, won his third 10,000m gold medal 15 years after his first success.

Other senior successes included Blaydon's Lianne Tucker who won the discus and finished runner-up in the shot behind Gateshead's Leah Weatheritt.

Lisa-Marie Shippen (Gateshead) won the hammer competition, while on the track North Shields Poly's Karen Johns showed a welcome return to form by winning the 800m in 2:09.38secs. Ashleigh Gibson (Elswick) retained her 1,500m title.

SATURDAY RESULTS - Senior men - 100 (1.9): 1 A Sturrock (Gate) 11.1; 2 A Rogers (Sale) 11.2; 3 M M Suggitt (Gate) 11.7. 400: 1 N Little (Tyne) 49.2; 2 J Lowdon (Tyne): 50.2; 3, J Carmichael (Gate) 51.3. 1,500: 1 D Graham (Gosf) 3:55.82; 2 L Moses (Darl) 3:57.63; 3 R McLeod (Els) 3:57.72. 10,000: I Archbold (Leeds C, M40) 35:29;11; 110H (1.5: A Sturrock 15.05. SP: 1 L Richards (Traff) 16:39.3 John Stacey (Gate) 11.24. DT: 1 L Richards 51.79; 2 C Sturrock 40.92; 3 S Appleby (Morp) 32.44. PV (Ind): 1, M Christie (Sale) 5.15; 2 G Blenkinsop (M'bro) 3.70; 3 James Stacey (Gate) 3.70

Senior women - 200 (1.5): 1 S Todd (Bord) 25.4; 2 S Burns (Gate) 25.9. 800: 1 K Johns (NSP) 2:09.38; 2 N Desai (Traff) 2:12.59; 3 N Youden (Gate) 2:14.36. 100H (1.8): 1 S Todd 14.44; 2 A Berry (J&H) 16.92.

SUNDAY RESULTS - senior men 200: 1 R Yusif (N and EB) 21.11, 2 D Riley (Morp) 22.38, 3 N Litle (Tyne) 22.4. 800: 1 D Graham (Gosf) 1:54.02, 2 K Flannery (Gates) 1:54.24. 5,000: 1 M Brown (Morp) 15:02.22, 2 M Crawle (Dur) 15:13.88, 3 L Gambvle'Thompson (N Marske) 15:34.91. 3,000 st: 1 Old (Gates) 11:04.0. 400 h: 1 K Flannery 63.72.

Senior women - 100 (0.2): 1 V Barr (Rugby) 12.20; 2 S Todd (Bord) 12.48; 3 T Ameobi (Gate) 12.58. 400: 1 V Barr 53.94; 2 N Desai (Traff) 56.83; 3 N Youden (Gate) 57.74. 1500: 1 A Gibson (Els) 4:37.4; 2 M McDonnell (CleS) 4:42.0; 3 E Waterhouse (CleS) 4:48.9. 5000: A Ansell (M&C) 21:06.03. 400H: 1 S Todd 61.7, HJ: A Berry (J&H) 1.50. TJ: 1 E Wooff (Gate) 11.67; 2, S Evans (Gate) 10.33.