Former Olympian makes dream return to action

GREAT BRITAIN international Jeanette Kwakye returned to action in superb fashion.

After winning silver at the 60-metres World Indoor Championships in Valencia in 2008 and following it up with sixth place in the Beijing Olympics 100m final, the 27-year-old has been dogged by injuries.

But in her return to action in the second part of the South of England Indoor Championships held at Lee Valley, she won her heat and then the semi-final before taking the final in 7.28 seconds.

Another Beijing Olympic finalist also returned from injury, in the form of 100m hurdler Sarah Claxton.

Completing over the flat 60m, she won her heat and finished second in her semi-final, before deciding not to compete in the final.

Nick Leavey continued on from his success the previous week in the 400m by winning the 200m title in a time of 21.67, whilst Paul Scanlan won the junior 200m title with 22.13.

Ezekiel Ewulo gained silver in the long jump with 7.19m, whilst in the junior event, Youcef Zatat picked up a bronze in the shot putt, although primarily a discus specialist.

Hannah Frankson produced on her return after missing the whole of the 2010 season through injury as she took silver in the women’s triple jump.

? MEANWHILE, Woodford Green with Essex Ladies AC still hold top spot in the men’s Metropolitan League, despite finishing third in the weekend’s events at Alexandra Palace.

They welcomed back, Ben Hope, Dan Hawellek and Dave Wardle, with the latter being the highest finisher of the club out of a field of 345 runners.

Wardle completed the race in seventh, with Dan Agustus next home in 11th.

The finishers started to pile in for Woodford as Hywel Care, Bertie Powell and Hope finished in 17th, 19th and 20th respectively.

Other finishers for the club included Tom Phillips in 30th and Angus Holford in 47th closely followed by Jim Roache, Tomaz Plibersek and Matt Molloy in 49th, 53rd and 62nd respectively.

In the women’s match, Jessica Sparke had to settle for second in her return to racing, in an event won by Becky Penty of Highgate.

Kat Gundersen was next home in 12th and was just 25 seconds off her best run of the season.

Two seconds separated Bernie Pritchett and Diana Kennedy in 29th and 31st respectively.

The club’s final finishers were Jenny Thomas and Kavita Solder who took 85th and 86th spot.