BRITISH Olympic athlete Sarah Claxton returned to action last weekend, with an impressive showing at the Loughborough University indoor open meeting.

The Woodford Green with Essex Ladies runner, who represented Great Britain in the 100 metre hurdles finals at the 2004 and 2008 Games, ran two 60m hurdles races at the indoor track on Saturday.

Claxton finished second in her first race, behind European and World Heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis, in 8.31 seconds, but improved with a winning time of 8.21, pushing her up to fourth in this season’s UK indoor rankings.

Also in action at Loughborough was 2009 European junior 100m bronze medalist Eugene Ayanful, who recorded 6.93, enough for third place in his race.

Team-mate Jason Greenidge clocked 7.21 and 7.16 at the same meeting.

Maria Seager was in action at the Welsh Championships in Cardiff, where she won the pole vault with a leap of 3.90m. The London Indoor Games began on Sunday at Lee Valley, with the club’s younger athletes in action.

In the under-17 girl’s 300m event, Hannah Pattie-Belleli clocked 45.92, while team-mate Georgina Ferrari finished in 46.94.

Olaoluwa Abioden competed in the under-17s 60m event, recording times of 7.76 and 7.79, whilst in the under-15 girls’ race, Chelsea Kwakye, sister of Olympic 100m finalist Jeanette, recorded times of 8.22 and 8.35.

At Sunday’s Scottish National Open Meeting in Glasgow, Francis Smith won the 60m hurdles in 8.34, while Kevin Kane was third in the 800m, clocking 1.55.73.

Debutant Isobel Lavine was the star turn for the junior runners at their Chingford League meeting, finishing fifth in the under-13 girls’ race, leading home five of her team-mates.

Not to be outdone, in the under-13 boys’ event, Daniel Rowden’s recent hard work away from the track paid off, as he finished first.