• UK Trials & Championships, Day One

Ennis encourages on opening day

Jessica Ennis won the high jump - after something of a scare © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Olympic hopefuls head indoors in Istanbul
  
• Profile: Jessica Ennis-Hill

London 2012 hopeful Jessica Ennis kicked her season into gear with an encouraging showing at the UK Trials & Championships on Saturday, winning the high jump and putting in an assured display in the shot put.

Ennis, competing at the English Institute for Sport in her native Sheffield, edged Emma Perkins to claim victory in the high jump, clearing 1.91m at the first time of asking to beat her Worthing rival.

It was an encouraging finish for Ennis - who had previously needed three attempts to clear 1.89m - despite subsequently failing with all three attempts to overcome 1.93m.

"I'm really happy then," Ennis said. "It was a good competition because it puts you under pressure and a different state of mind when you have to clear heights at the third attempt.

"It was my first high jump competition of the indoor season and it felt comfortable. My run up felt good.

"You always want to jump as high as you can for yourself, but when you have someone there and a real battle it makes you raise your game, which I need to do in the World Indoors."

A fifth place finish was the best the heptathlete could manage in the shot put, but her recorded distance of 14.09m was just 52cm short of her personal best. Eden Francis won the event thanks to a 16.72m effort.

In the triple jump, Yamile Aldama proved herself to be a cut above the rest of the field as she romped to victory with a season's best of 14.09m.

Aldama, considered by many to be another bright Team GB medal prospect later this year, fouled in her first jump but then set a mark of 13.75m, before clinching victory with her third jump. She cleared 14m once again before the competition finished, as Shaftesbury team-mate Nadia Williams finished a distant second with a best jump of 13.53m.

Elsewhere, Margaret Adeoye geared up for what she hopes will be a successful year with victory in the women's 200m with a time of 23.36s, while German Sven Knipphals won the men's equivalent - after the emerging Danny Talbot was forced to withdraw from the final after suffering a slight hamstring strain.

Nick Thomas won the high jump with a leap of 16.18m, while Sale's Andrew Sutcliffe set a new personal best as he claimed the pole vault crown with a clearance of 5.55m. Birchfield Harrier Scott Rider dominated the men's shot put, winning by over a metre thanks to his 18.28m effort.

Finally, Jonny Mellor won the men's 3000m in the last final of the day, crossing the line in a time of 7m 58.36s in race where the top six runners all set personal bests.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.