Herne Hill Harrier Jade Johnson was again beaten by her long-time rival Kelly Sotherton in the Norwich Union AAA women's long jump championship at Manchester Regional Arena last weekend, writes Ziad Chaudry.

The 27-year-old Dulwich resident produced a gallant fifth round effort of 6.51m, but it was well short of the required 6.60 qualifying standard for world championships. However, she has not given up hope and will be making a last-gasp bid to achieve the necessary distance.

Sotherton, the Commonwealth heptathlon champion, made it three titles in the row with a season's best 6.53m, while Belgrave Harriers' Julie Hollman came third in 6.29 Johnson said: "It was good to come second, but I really wanted to jump 6.70. It was so frustrating when they called my last jump a foul. It looked like being a big one and it was disallowed for a technicality."

Tasha Danvers-Smith retained her 400m hurdles Norwich Union title. The 29-year-old Commonwealth Games silver medallist and daughter of Brixton's former AAA England schools sprint hurdles champion Don Danvers broke the stadium record which she held by 500th of a second in 55.23sec.

Danvers-Smith has already booked her place for the World Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Crystal Palace-based Joice Maduaka was edged into third place in a tight women's 100m final finish, while Croydon Harriers' Donna Fraser claimed runners-up spot in the women's 400m final and was third in the 200m final.

In this Friday's annual Norwich Union London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace, Fraser will race against world number one Sanya Richards over the one-lap distance.

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