Meadows secures sixth UK title with plenty left in tank

Meadows recorded a stadium record of two minutes 00.91 seconds in Sheffield, more than two seconds ahead of Liverpool's Vicky Griffiths, who also achieved the qualifying standard.

The 28-year-old, who claimed a bronze medal at the World Championships in Berlin last year, led from start to finish in what was effectively a time-trial and admitted: "I would have like to have run 1:59 but 2:00 on my own is quite good four weeks before Doha.

"I had no idea if I had a big gap or not so half of me was hanging back a little bit to make sure I had enough for the last 150m. I wish I would have pushed on a little bit more maybe but it's great how I felt at the end of that race.

"I wasn't really out of breath at all which was great to show I have a lot more in me. After Birmingham next weekend I'll have faced all my opponents in Doha and after that I will have three weeks to get it right."

One opponent she will not face in Doha is Caster Semenya, the controversial South African whose gender is still the subject of an official inquiry following her stunning victory in Berlin.

Meadows could be upgraded to a silver medal if Semenya is stripped of the world title but the Wigan athlete added: "I just read that she wasn't doing the South African season (but) I've tried to stop reading it because it changes every week.

"The jury's still out. I've always said just concentrate on myself. If I run against her I run against her, if I don't then great, because 1:55 (Semenya's winning time in Berlin) was just absolutely awesome and I'm sure she can better that.

"I've just got to concentrate on the Russians and the girls I'm facing next week and see who is doing what before Doha.

"It's still a big ask, it's a global event, but I'd be gutted if I didn't win a medal. I want to get on the podium. I'm one of the most experienced indoor runners but I've never particularly done myself justice so I'm hoping I can produce a good performance in Doha. I want to walk off the track thinking I've done my best."

With Britain's two world champions absent – Sheffield's heptathlete Jessica Ennis with injury and triple jumper Phillips Idowu electing not to compete – star quality was sadly thin on the ground on the second day of competition at the English Institute of Sport.

Helen Clitheroe, who has joined Meadows's training group this season, led from start to finish to win the 1,500m title in 4:13.90 and secure a place on the team for Doha.

Kim Wall also achieved the qualifying standard in winning the 400m in 53.07 and Joice Maduaka made it a sprint double following her success in the 60m on Saturday, the 36-year-old winning the 200m in a season's best of 23.48.

The parlous state of middle distance running was summed up by a tactical men's 1,500m final which was won by Colin McCourt in 4:04.83, eight seconds slower than the previous slowest in championship history and more than 22 seconds outside the qualifying time.

On Saturday, Dwain Chambers confirmed his status as a genuine contender for the World Indoor title by storming to the fastest time in the world this year.

Chambers blasted to a time of 6.50 seconds to claim the 60m title for the third year in succession ahead of Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Craig Pickering.

Aikines-Aryeetey set a new personal best of 6.55secs in second with Pickering, who had already said he would not compete in Doha next month even if he won, clocking 6.66.

Olympic relay gold medallist Mark Lewis-Francis was fourth in 6.67.

Chambers won silver at the last World Indoor Championships in Valencia two years ago and is the reigning European champion after victory in Turin last year, where he set a new European record of 6.42 in the semi-finals.

Asked about being ranked No 1 in the world now, Chambers said: "It's nice but it's still early days, I'm sure the Americans are going to come out and do something crazy.

"It's nice to know I have made the team and can hopefully focus my attention towards Doha now."

The controversy over Chambers's return to the sport following a two-year drugs ban appears to have faded into the background and the 31-year-old admitted he is more relaxed this season.

"I've made my fair share of mistakes, I just want to put that behind me now and concentrate on what's right for the sport," he added. "Me running fast is the best thing I can do.

"There's lots of things I wish I'd done correctly but it's done now and I just want to do the best I can while I'm in the sport. Running fast is what I enjoy doing and it spurs these guys on as well."

That view was confirmed by Aikines-Aryeetey, who added: "You have to follow the people who are leading the sport and Dwain is leading the way.

"I'm just happy that I'm realising my potential and things are moving in the right direction."