Ulm fails to reach World Junior Championships (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Ulm fails to reach World Junior Championships

10:12am Thursday 3rd July 2008

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Devizes runner Toby Ulm rued his bad luck with injuries after failing to qualify for July's World Junior Championships.

The 400m hurdler needed a time of 51.50 seconds in the World Junior Trials to make the Great Britain squad but his 53.60 wasn't good enough despite getting him a silver medal.

The 19-year-old was disappointed with his performance despite the windy conditions. He said: "I just couldn't get it together, I'm gutted.

"It's come down to not having done enough 400m hurdling, I wasn't smooth over the barriers.

"It all goes back to my injury and missing a crucial stage in the season where I'm working on technique and developing my stride pattern".

Ulm thought he probably could have made the 4x400 team. He said: "I'm fully recovered and was probably in good enough shape to make the 4x400 relay squad had I entered the 400m.

"But I don't think athletics is about making relay teams."

For Ulm the silver medal was little consolation. He said: "Not many people are going to come second at a national championships but for me that wasn't the focus of the season.

"The weather meant getting the qualifying time was going to be difficult but even in the conditions it wasn't a good time.

"The GB team managers were encouraging me after the race but I didn't want to know anything about athletics that day."

Ulm is now deciding whether to run in the Senior triple A's. He said: "I think it's probably worth doing.

"It's a chance to get another race under my belt and maybe I can salvage something from the season.

"If I get 51.50 then at least I'll have proved I'm good enough to be at the World Junior Championships."

n Ulm immediately put his disappointment behind him as he was the star of Swindon Harriers' latest outing in the men's Southern League Division One at the County Ground track in Swindon.

The Harriers finished fourth on the day, behind winners Exeter.

A number of Swindon athletes were unavailable for various reasons and the breeze had some effect on the times and distances in some events.

However, several of the Harriers' big guns were on show and they did not disappoint. Under 20 athlete Ulm started the day off with a comfortable win in his main event, the 400m hurdles A, where he eased down before the finish to record 54.0 secs.

Later he ran a well-controlled 400m flat A race, moving to the front in the home straight to win in 50.3 secs, and he also won the B event in the high jump.

Under 23 athlete Ben Scarlett eased into the lead at the end of the back straight on the second lap to cosily win the 800m A in 1m 59.9 secs.

Later, in a tactical 1500m race, Scarlett kicked on some 150m from the finish and put daylight between himself and his rivals to win the A event and complete a middle distance double.

In the pole vault 18-year-old Rob Warensjo patiently waited for his opening vault and wrapped up the A event with his first clearance.

He went on to clear 4m 40cm in tricky blustery conditions.

Under 23 athlete Jak Field was making his first league appearance since joining the Harriers last year.

In a closely contested long jump he leapt to victory in the A event when achieving 6m 70 cm.

Later he produced a decent 13m 42cm distance in the A triple jump and this resulted in a second place. Field ended up a close second in an enthralling A high jump with 1m 90cm which was the same height cleared by the winner.

There was a second place for the 4x400m relay team in a useful time of 3m 24.3 secs.

Howard Moscrop returned from a recent injury and finished strongly to overhaul a Bournemouth athlete resulting in a second place in the B 400m.

Kenton Mielnik had his best performances of the season and finished a close second in the B triple jump. He also finished third in the B long jump.

Alex Fisher had a rare outing on the track and over 5k he finished third A against some strong Winchester opposition.

Ed New came through to eventually finish third in the A 110m hurdles. Allan Webb was joint third in the B pole vault.

Other athletes picking up points were Patrick North (sprints), Tony Jackson (throws), Ashley Fox, Shaun Mochan and Danny Ireland.

Match Score: Exeter 133, Bournemouth 115.5, Nene Valley 101, Swindon Harriers 94.5, Winchester 69.

The next league meeting is on Saturday, July 12 at Milton Keynes where several Harriers will be unavailable due to the AAA trials or English Schools finals.

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