National record-holder racks up her 10th UK outdoor title in Birmingham as Jazmin Sawyers continues impressive comeback
Morgan Lake’s fine recent form continued as she won her 10th consecutive national outdoor high jump title at the UK Athletics Championships on Sunday (August 3). Her first Diamond League victory, achieved in London last month with 1.96m, had seen her come incredibly close to breaking her British record of 1.99m and, while she didn’t reach such heady heights given the changeable conditions in Birmingham, confidence levels are high as she looks to cement her place in the British team for next month’s world championships.
Having entered the competition at 1.83m, it was a first-time clearance of 1.87m that made sure of victory before Lake then sailed over 1.90m without any trouble at all. The bar was moved to 1.94m but, this time, she couldn’t go over.
“It has been a good season – the fact this is one of my most disappointing heights tells you I am in a good place this season,” she said. “I still have to get the qualifying standard of 1.97m. I have hit 1.95m and 1.96m, so hopefully I will get that in the next few comps. I have some really exciting Diamond Leagues coming up, so I am looking to build on this momentum.”
A clearance of 1.83m at the final attempt gave Leeds City’s Gabrielle Garber a PB and the silver medal, while Halle Ferguson was third with 1.79m, also achieved at the third time of asking.
Jazmin Sawyers’ remarkable comeback from serious Achilles injury continued with a convincing long jump win. In blustery conditions the now five-time national outdoor champion produced an excellent series of jumps – five out of six going beyond 6.70m – that was finished off by a leap of 6.82m, albeit aided by a tailwind of +4.7m/s. Lucy Hadaway got closest to the former European Indoor champion with 6.50m (3.8), with Alice Hopkins third in 6.28m (2.3).
“I am never stuck for words but today I am!” said Sawyers. “To have the title back and perform well in front of this British Champs crowd, it means the world to me, especially after the injury and being forced to take a year out. It just reinforces how much I love it. It really felt like [the crowd] wanted a big jump as much as I did. I was so glad I could give them the biggest one of the day in the last round.”
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