In the McCain Indoor City Challenge at Sheffield, Katarina Johnson-Thompson produced more evidence that her lay-off to recover from last autumn's medical intervention has done no lasting harm.  In fact, the opportunity to concentrate on strength and technique seems to be paying dividends.

 

Her performance is the lead story for the meeting on the UKA web site (http://www.uka.org.uk/media/news/february-2012/04-02-12-mccain-icc-1/), from where this picture came, but the headlines are that she improved her Shot PB by nearly half a metre to 11.56m, ran a respectable 60m Hurdles in 8.63secs, and lifted her own UK U20 Indoors Long Jump record from 6.28m to 6.39m.  Not surprisingly, Kat won the Combined Events crown based on those three events, with a score of 2593 points to the second placer's 2202.  Worth noting that, in the main Long Jump event, a certain Jessica Ennis only managed 6.19m, despite having six attempts rather than Kat's three.

 

Kat was not the only Liverpool Harrier taking part.  Jack Meredith started his season with a solid 8.01secs for 60m Hurdles, but that was only worth 3rd, with his constant rival, Andi Pozzi, taking the victory in 7.70secs.  Northern Champion Katey Laurie ran 8.60secs for her 60m Hurdles, Craig Jones was not far off his indoor Long Jump PB with his leap of 6.85m, while, in the High Jump, Mike Sweeney made first-time clearances at 1.87m and 1.91m, but failed at 1.95m.