Frankis has no complaints in hurdles (From Southend Standard)

Frankis has no complaints in hurdles

12:07pm Monday 25th June 2012 in Sport

GIANNI Frankis admitted his sixth-placed finish in the thrilling men’s 110m hurdles race at last night’s Olympic trials was “as good as he could have hoped for”.

Frankis, from Pitsea, was dreaming of a spot in the British team for London 2012 but injuries have blighted his season.

He ran two season’s best yesterday in the heat (13.73s) and then the final (13.68s) but came up a fraction short of threatening the top three places.

Frankis (pictured) said: “The way the season has gone for me I can’t complain. It was another season’s best and that shows I’m getting there.

“I only started training properly three weeks ago so I’m behind. I started well but it’s towards the end where the missed training is felt, I just couldn’t hang on to those top guys.”

Youngsters Hayley McLean and Gemma Kersey were both hard on themselves after doing brilliantly to make finals.

Stanford-le-Hope 17-year-old McLean finished seventh in the final of the 400m hurdles in 59.48s which was outside the time she needed to qualify for the World Junior Championships, her main aim for the season.

She said: “It’s not the time I wanted. The time overshadowed the whole experience. I’m frustrated.”

Basildon AC’s Kersey admitted she had achieved her main aim of making the 1,500m final, but was a bit disappointed by finishing 10th (4m 25.72s) in a tactical final.

“I would have preferred it faster,” she said. “I got a bit boxed at the bell when the move went and probably pushed too early to get it back.”

Southend AC’s Adam Hickey finished 17th in the 5,000m in 14m30.04s at his first national championships.

Hickey said: “I wasn’t in the right position to go with it,” said Hickey. “I’m a bit disappointed I didn’t get a PB but it was a great experience.”

FitzWimarc School PE teacher Kate Cowley went out at the opening height of 3.51m in the women’s pole vault final.

Canvey’s Dale Clutterbuck was desperately close to making the men’s 1,500m final, finishing sixth in his heat in 3m 48.77s, just outside the last fastest losers’ spot.

Paul Whittaker, from Southend, was 11th in the 10,000m in 30m 38.31s.