Winner – Helen Clitheroe
THE British steeplechase record-holder turned 37 at the start of the month but despite being firmly embedded in the veteran ranks these days, the Preston athlete delivered a spirited performance as she took her second victory in succession at Kelvin Hall.
Clitheroe has just returned from a stint of altitude training in the Kenyan highlands in Iten and the two-time Olympian seems to have benefited from this excursion as she front-ran to victory in the 3000m, setting a stadium record and world-leading mark of 8:52.31. What's impressive is Clitheroe didn't have any assistance from pacemakers and very little competition from the other athletes in the field but despite this she still set one of her fastest ever times for the distance. In a paced race on the European indoor circuit, Clitheroe must be able to lower her three-year-old PB of 8:51.02.
Clitheroe is renowned for her ability at 1500m and the 3000m steeplechase but after her victory, she told the BBC she will be trying the 5000m and 10,000m this summer.
Splits
1km 2:54.43
2km 5:52.19 (2:57.76)
3km 8:52.31 (3:00.12)
Fastest 3000m races
8:51.02i Birmingham – February 2008
8:51.82 Rieti – August 2010
8:51.94 London – August 2007
8:52.31i Glasgow – January 2011
8:52.48i Valencia – March 2008
Runner-up – Holly Bleasdale
IN her first major competition as a senior competitor, Bleasdale performed admirably as she outlined her promise for the upcoming seasons. The 19-year-old, who improved her UK junior record to 4.35m last year, has already set a PB to 4.40m this year and the world junior bronze medallist continued to impress as she finished second for the Commonwealth select team.
The Blackburn athlete has rarely faced a field of this calibre but Bleasdale wasn't overawed by the occasion. She cleared a PB of 4.41m at her first attempt, before raising the bar to 4.48m, which she also achieved on her first try and in doing so, Bleasdale moved to No.2 on the British all-time lists.
Bleasdale also took the scalp of Angelica Bengtsson from Sweden, who defeated Bleasdale en route for the world junior title in Moncton last year.
International performances of the meet
Winner – David Oliver
THE US record-holder isn't renowned as a fast starter and despite a lethargic showing out of the blocks, the Olympic bronze medallist still powered to his third victory in the 60m hurdles in Glasgow in a world-leading mark of 7.51, which also equates to his fastest ever opener to the indoor season. The 28-year-old goes head-to-head with Dayron Robles in Stuttgart next week.
Runner-up – Lisa Ryzih
RYZIH equalled her indoor PB of 4.55m to help Germany to the overall title.
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