Teenager's hurdle style questioned (From Thurrock Gazette)

Hayley McLean agony over worlds disappointment

12:40pm Thursday 21st June 2012 in Sport By Ryan Goad

ATHLETICS: A DEVASTATED Hayley McLean admits it is now unlikely that she will be going to the World Junior Championships.

The 17-year-old athlete was left distraught after running the qualification time for the 400m hurdles at the trials in Bedford on Sunday, only for it to be wiped from the record books after track judges disqualified her for not clearing hurdles properly.

McLean ran 58.28s, well inside the 58.50s qualifying time, to win the under-20 race at the trials and the gold medal in the national championships.

But just minutes after enjoying the elation of the win and setting the time, McLean was hauled in front of track judges who informed her she had been disqualified.

An appeal ultimately proved in vain and McLean believes, with it went her chances of being in Barcelona for the World Junior Championships.

“There has to be written evidence that I have run under the qualifying time,” said the teenager from Stanford-le-Hope. “As it stands it’s unlikely I’m going.”

For the full story see Friday's THURROCK GAZETTE.