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Meadows sets national record

Jenny Meadows dipped under the two-minute mark in Birmingham © Getty Images

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Jenny Meadows set a national record of 1:59.11, breaking Kelly Holmes' mark, when taking the 800 metres at the UK Grand Prix in Birmingham.

There were bigger names on show, but Meadows stole the show with a powerful display of running. "I am absolutely ecstatic," she said. "Last week at the UK's I felt good and kicked myself that I did not push it on. To get the record is great and the crowd were fantastic for me."

Dayron Robles thrilled the Birmingham crowd by running the fastest time in the world this year to take the 60 metres hurdles. The Cuban was beaten off the blocks, but powered through from halfway and such was his dominance that he had over a metre in hand of Petr Svoboda at the line in recording a time of 7.44.

"That was very good for me today," Robles said. "I am getting better and better with every race and feeling very confident. I'm sure there is more to come. It's looking good."

Tirunesh Dibaba missed out on the world record in the women's two-mile race, but ran the second quickest time in history of 9:12.23 to take the prize.

Christian Olsson took the scalp of Britain's Phillips Idowu, winning the triple jump with an effort of 17.32 metres.

Andrew Lewandowski ran down Richard Kiplegat to win the 800m, but Britain's Andrew Osagie finished strongly to take third in a time of 1:47.71 which secured him a qualifying berth for the world championships in Doha.

"I am delighted," Osagie told the BBC. "I am still struggling to step up to world class, but am working hard. I need to mature tactically and I am looking for that experience. The World Championships will be amazing for me. I can't work on the experience, but I can work hard in training."

Sammy Mutahi produced a powerful display of front-running to land the 3000 metres. He wound the race up from the front and kicked away from his rivals from 200m down to record a time of 7:44.58. Andy Vernon benefited from running in such a powerful field as he recorded a personal best, 7:49.84, as did Scott Overall.

"I wasn't sure how I was feeling going into the race, my legs weren't feeling great but Scott [Overall] and I decided to share the work," Vernon said. "The second time I took it on I started to make up some ground on the Africans and that gave me a great boost. I felt really strong and it was good to see what I could do."

Novlene Williams fended off the challenge of the challenge of Britain's Kim Wall to take the women's 400 metres, while the men's 60 metres went the way of Michael Rodgers.

Deresse Mekonnen of Ethiopia produced a fine effort to take the 1500 metres and he was delighted with the run. "To run 3:33 indoors, I can't believe it," he said. "That was such a fast race but I am so pleased to win and to run that time. I'm so happy."

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