SUPER8: London defend title in Glasgow

By Gerard Meagher, Sportsbeat, in Glasgow

GREAT Britain veteran Joice Maduaka rolled back the years to clinch 200m victory and help London defend their title at the Super8 event in Glasgow.

CAPITAL GAINS: American high jumper Chaunte Howard-Lowe helps her adopted city, London, to defend their title in Glasgow

The team from the capital were victorious in the inaugural condensed two-hour event in Cardiff 12 months ago, and a year on in the revamped Scotstoun Stadium, London were once more victorious with 340.5 points.

Other winners for the capital included Robbie Grabarz with a best clearance of 2.23m in the high jumper and 800m runner Darren St Clair, who edged out Cardiff's Gareth Warburton, crossing the line in 1:50.60.

And both of the capital's star guest - Chaunte Howard-Lowe, the world's number one high jumper in 2010, and javelin thrower Jirina Ptacnikova of the Czech Republic both collected victories in windy conditions in Glasgow.

London captain Emeka Udechuku managed fourth place in the discus and despite a late charge from hosts Glasgow, who the women's medley relay, last year's winners made it two years in a row.

"We have some of the best athletes from the country in the capital and it was a deserved victory," said Udechuku.

Crucial to that victory was Maduaka's win, as the 36-year-old held Glasgow's Lee McConnell at bay to notch up 200m - and the Woodford Green & Essex Ladies runner could not be happier.

"I was really pleased with my run," said Maduaka, who clocked 23.64 to take victory by 0.1. "Someone said to me, ‘here comes Lee', so I just kept my head down for as long as possible.

"I love to concept of Super8 and being here with the team really reminds me of club running.

"The atmosphere among all the competitors is great and it really reminds you of where you all started."

Meanwhile, McConnell refused to be too downbeat, with the Scot seemingly still on cloud nine, having been selected as the only 400m individual runner for the European Championships in Barcelona later this month.

"I think the competition was great for all concerned and the stadium now looks great," she said. "I'm really happy about my selection for the European Championships, it's a relief."

With Glasgow piling on the pressure in the closing events, London knew that a win in the final race of the night - the men's medley relay - would secure victory.

And a fine last leg from 400m hurdler Jack Green was enough to secure the trophy for the second successive year, with Glasgow second, 30.5 points behind and Birmingham finishing third on 274.

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