Sharman encouraged by third-place display

Will Sharman continued his impressive form ahead of the Commonwealth Games with another quick time, but lost out in a three-way photo finish in the 110m hurdles at Horse Guards Parade yesterday.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Jul 2014, 07:59 BST
Great Britain's Christopher Tomlinson during the Men's Long Jump during the London Anniversary Games at Horse Guards Parade, London.Great Britain's Christopher Tomlinson during the Men's Long Jump during the London Anniversary Games at Horse Guards Parade, London.
Great Britain's Christopher Tomlinson during the Men's Long Jump during the London Anniversary Games at Horse Guards Parade, London.

Running on a purpose-built track in the shadow of Whitehall and St James’ Park at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games, the 29-year-old, who is in the form of his life after twice running a personal best of 13.21secs this summer, clocked 13.24 into a slight headwind.

The bad news was it was only good enough for third, Sharman just edged out by American world championship silver medallist Ryan Wilson, who was credited with the win, and Shane Brathwaite, from Barbados, with all three given the same time.

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But he took the scalp of Olympic champion and world record holder Aries Merritt, while the time maintained Sharman’s hugely encouraging recent run, which has most notably included a victory over world No 1 and Commonwealth rival Hansle Parchment of Jamaica at Hampden Park last weekend.

Sharman, the Commonwealth silver medallist four years ago, said: “The times I am running on average now would get medals at all of the championships.

“Before it would take a World Championship final for me to run a personal best, now I’m doing them in rain, hail or shine.

“I’m running quicker than I do in the finals. So hopefully, given the way I’ve been operating in the past, when the final comes I lift my game and step up again.

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“That’s what I’m working towards, making my average time much faster so, even if I get to the final and have a bad race, we can come away with something.”

Horse Guards Parade was used memorably for beach volleyball at London 2012 and staged jousts during the reign of Henry VIII, but Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock came off second best again in his tussle with American Richard Browne.

Beaten in Glasgow the previous weekend, Peacock had to settle for second place once.

In the absence of compatriot and Olympic champion Greg Rutherford, who pulled out as a precaution following a knee problem, Middlesbrough’s Chris Tomlinson claimed long jump victory with 7.94m.

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Allyson Felix responded to a storming start from Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to win the 100m, bursting through in the second half of the race to beat her Jamaican rival, the two-time Olympic champion.

There were also victories for Paralympic champions Halifax’s Hannah Cockroft in the T34 100m and Aled Davies in the F42 shot put.