Cooksey hopes luck’s on her side (From Worcester News)

Cooksey hopes luck’s on her side

9:50am Friday 10th July 2009

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MELINDA Cooksey is hoping that she won’t need to be drawing lots for a place in the UK Championships 200 metres final on Sunday.

The Worcester-based sprinter heads for Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium this weekend for the national championship which also doubles up as trials for the World Championships in Berlin next month.

The 25-year-old is concentrating on the 200m this time after competing in the 100m as well at the Olympic trials last summer. But it was the 200m semi-finals at last summer’s trials that left the Worcestershire County Cricket Club press officer needing a slice of luck.

After tying with Margaret Adeoye in a time of 24.37 seconds, the Tipton Harrier was left in a bizarre tie-break.

Officials held a one pence coin in one hand and a two pence coin in the other with the person choosing the 2p moving into the final — sadly for Cooksey, Adeoye picked correctly.

“Hopefully that won’t happen this time around,” she said. “I have been running well this summer and I have set a new personal best of 23.8. I’m feeling in good shape and hopefully I can make the final.”

Cooksey, who reached the final of the 100m Olympic trials last summer, begins her quest on Saturday evening in the heats, which start at 8.10pm.

She will then hope to qualify for the semi-finals on Sunday, which are set to start at 4.55pm and the final is scheduled for just after 7.15pm, which will be broadcast live on BBC Two.

“There is a strong competition this year,” Cooksey said. “A lot of girls are running very quickly. Hopefully, concentrating on just the 200, I can get to the final.”

Cooksey is planning to progress into the 400m over the next few years where she hopes her time doing the 100m and 200m will help her succeed.

“It will be a gradual progression into the 400m,” she added. “It is an event that I’m still learning.

“I have to try and set my own pace rather than following someone else.”

The Aviva UK World Trials and UK Championship starts this evening at 5pm and will conclude on Sunday night.

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