Ennis left with plenty to work on after long jump fails to work out

The Sheffield heptathlete fouled three times and ran through twice as she struggled to get her run-up right at the Alexander Stadium.

Her only clear jump of 6.27 metres saw her finish sixth, after impressive victories in the high jump and 100m hurdles on Saturday.

On her last long jump display in Bedford earlier this month four of her jumps were fouls, meaning she has now fouled seven of her last 12 jumps, plus run through twice.

The 26-year-old said: “I don’t know (what’s wrong with the run-up).

“It was just not there, the rhythm was not right.

“It needs changing a bit because I’m just not comfortable. I don’t know if I’m running quicker or a bit stronger, the runway’s not suiting me at the moment.

“Generally when I jump I’m normally behind the board, I take off a lot behind the board. The last few competitions I’ve done a lot of no jumps which I don’t normally do.

“I think it’s definitely to do with my rhythm and the way I’m attacking the board.

“We’ve just got to go away and work on it a bit.”

Ennis has a best this year in the long jump of 6.51m, a personal best, set when she broke the British heptathlon record in Gotzis with a world-leading points total last month.

And she insists the recent struggles are not a worry.

“I don’t think it’s a major worry,” she added.

“Obviously I would have loved to compete better, but it’s just another competition to show what I need to work on.

“I feel in good shape and everything’s going well so it’s just something that needs a bit more work.

“I’m planning to jump at Loughborough (on July 7) so I’ll have another long jump which is good.”

While Ennis floundered, Shara Proctor broke a 29-year-old British record in the event to seal her place in the Olympics in brilliant fashion, while one of her rivals agonisingly missed out by a single centimetre.

Proctor jumped 6.95m in the third round, surpassing the previous mark of 6.90m set by Bev Kinch back in 1983 – five years before Proctor was born.

Only five women have jumped further than Proctor in 2012 and the 23-year-old is certainly aiming high when it comes to the Olympics.

“Of course I’m thinking gold, why am I here?” said Proctor, who hails from the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla, but was cleared to compete for Britain in November 2010 as Anguilla is not recognised by the International Olympic Committee.

“I don’t settle, I refuse to settle. I would say it will take 7m to win gold, I know I can (produce that). It all comes down to the day, anything can happen.”

Proctor had already secured the Olympic ‘A’ qualifying standard and therefore needed to finish in the top two here to secure her place, doing so with victory ahead of the incredibly unlucky Lorraine Ugen.

Ugen smashed her personal best by 20cm with a leap of 6.74m in the second round, but that was just one centimetre short of the ‘A’ standard.

There was a magnificent performance in the 800 metres from Sheffield’s Mukhtar Mohammed. Ranked fourth in the UK this season, Mohammed finished runner up.

Well-placed in the early stages, Mohammed lost ground with 300m to go and looked out of it on the final bend, but he finished superbly to push Michael Rimmer into third place. Andrew Osagie was an impressive winner and booked his Olympic place. There will be a place, too, for Mohammed if he can achieve the ‘A’ qualifying mark of 1:45.60.

He is not far away, having run 1.45.90 although yesterday’s time was a modest 1.47.52. He will get the chance to run the time in the European Championships.

So, too, will Hatti Archer who finished runner-up in the 3,000 metres steeplechase behind Eilish McColgan.

In her first race of the season following problems with a hip injury, Archer made a brave bid, leading until the last lap when McColgan went clear. Archer held on well for second place although the time was only 10.02.35 compared with the ‘A’ standard of 9.43. Archer could be selected on the basis of her ‘A’ standard from last year.

City of Sheffield’s Lee Doran retained his javelin title with 79.72m, leading from the first round with his best effort coming in round five.

It was a personal best for Doran who will get the chance to chase the Olympic ‘A’ standard of 82m when he lines up for the European Championships in Helsinki, the Mecca of javelin throwers.

Joe Dunderdale (Lincoln Wellington/City of Sheffield) finished sixth with 67.96.

Hull hammer thrower Alex Smith (Sale) retained his title with 74.79m which is better than the Olympic ‘B’ standard.

James Wilkinson (Leeds City) finished runner-up in the 3,000m steeplechase, narrowly behind Luke Gunn (Derby) in a time if 8:42.86

Middlesborough’s Chris Tomlinson had a disappointing day, finishing third in the long jump well below his best with 7.89m.

In a non-trial event Johanna Jackson (Middlesborough) was in a class of her own in the 5K walk winning by over two minutes in 21.45.98.

There was disappointment for Wakefield’s Charlene Thomas, fourth in the 1,500m and for Richard Buck (City of York), fifth in the 400m.

Luke Cutts (Dearne ALC/City of Sheffield) was fifth in pole vault with a height of 5.20m.