Perri Makes History

NEWS

Perri Makes History

Perri Shakes Drayton secured her place in the Athletics World Championships as well as the British record books by completing a unique double at the UK Athletics Trials.

Perri became the first British athlete, male or female, in over a century of National Championship running to win both the 400 metre flat and the 400 metre hurdles titles in a single championship.

Perri, along with her coach Chris Zah, set herself a gruelling schedule over the 3 days of competition in order to test her endurance before the World Championships in Daegu later in the month. Cruising through the heats and semi-finals Perri even found time for a short nap in the warm up area before the final of the 400m. In a competitive final featuring the current Olympic 400m champion along with the former bronze medal winning Olympic heptathlete, Kelly Sotherton, Perri showed her calibre and strength coming home in a time of 51.52 seconds. Fellow MTC client Kelly Sotherton finished in 6^th position with a time of 53.42, her 4^th fastest of the season.

With one British title under her belt, and 4 races in her legs, Perri displayed why she in one of British Athletics most talked about talents by producing a dominant performance in the 400m hurdles. With two flights to go Perri pulled away from the rest of the field to finish comfortably in a time of 55.52 seconds. It was safe to say she was delighted with her victories:

"I've had a good weekend at the office. To come to these championships and run quality times, all the hard work I've put in over winter has paid off.

”It's given me the confidence to know I'm fit enough not to hold back and make it easier for the girls in the race (at the World Championships.)"

Huge congratulations from everyone at MTC!