Lewis plans in doubt after long jump flop

14 April 2012

Olympic heptathlon champion Denise Lewis is expected to decide if she will compete at the World Championships before the final wave of the British team is announced tomorrow.

But after a disappointing performance in one of her top events - the long jump - in yesterday's IAAF Golden League Berlin meeting, there must be a big question mark about Lewis chasing a third World Championships medal.

As she was competing against specialist long jumpers, it was not the fact she finished last that mattered but her terrible performance of clearing only 6.06 metres. Lewis, 30, produced two jumps under six metres.

The long jump is one of her strongest events and Lewis might have expected better. Away from competition, Lewis is also under pressure because of her relationship with former East German coach Ekkart Arbeit, the alleged director of drugs policy in the former communist country. That, and yesterday's performance, could influence her to change her plans.

At least Lewis is assured of a place in Paris if she wants to add to the silver medals she claimed six years ago in Athens and two years later in Seville.

In contrast, Jo Fenn is relying on running a time of two minutes 1.51 seconds yesterday to earn a place in the women's 800m.

Having improved by five seconds in a week, there is no reason to believe Fenn, a subtwominutes performer, will let anyone down if chosen. British record holder Kelly Holmes, who ran 1:59.58 for fourth place in Berlin, has no doubts about Fenn. "They should pick her," she said. "She can only get better. Jo showed indoors she is a world class performer and to come back so quickly with a fast time shows she can get even quicker."

Fenn, 28, has made a remarkable recovery from a stress fracture of the fibia and shown determination by making a late bid to get into the Norwich Union GB team.

Jonathan Edwards, meanwhile, hopes to be back in training in the next few days despite twisting his ankle at the Norwich Union London Grand Prix.

There were fears the British triple jumper would miss this month's World Championships in Paris, but a hospital scan showed he had not broken any bones in his right foot.

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Lewis plans in doubt after long jump flop

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