MAR-VELLOUS!

By RICHARD LEWIS, Sunday Mirror 29/07/2007

ATHLETICS: NORWICH UNION WORLD TRIALS Devonish glorious in a thriller

MARLON DEVONISH is the king of British 100m sprinting once more after showing the young stars how to do it at the Norwich Union World Trials in Manchester.

Devonish, 31, retained his title in amazing fashion, hanging on by just 100th of a second to beat Craig Pickering, with Mark Lewis-Francis reviving his career by finishing third yesterday.

Even though he was the fastest in the field on times following his 10.06 earlier this season, Devonish knew that European Cup champion Pickering, 20, was a major threat.

Pickering made the best start but Devonish, who had not looked sharp in the rounds, came storming back to win in 10.31.

Pickering was second in 10.32, with Lewis-Francis third in 10.39 at the trials for next month's World Championships in Osaka.

Devonish said: "This week I have been feeling a bit flat. Maybe all the races have caught up with me, but I am happy.

"I was conserving my energy and set myself up for the final. I do not feel on top of my game but I took care of business."

Pickering said: "My target was to make the semi-finals in Osaka and it would be fantastic to make the final."

Lewis-Francis, the 2000 World Junior champion, has failed to deliver as a senior but he said: "I hope I have silenced a few critics. It is the happiest I have been in finishing a race in third and hopefully I have made the team."

Yet he will have a few days of worry before the team is named.

The third spot is at the discretion of the selectors and Simeon Williamson, 21, the European Under-23 champion, was missing with a chest infection and could still be given the place.

In the women's competition, Nicola Sanders shrugged off her injury problems to win the 400m. The European Indoor champion needed treatment following the heats on Friday night but never looked troubled as she led all the way to win in 51.33 seconds from Donna Fraser, second in 52.65.

"Everything is on course, even though I have had this knee irritation," said Sanders. "The knee is not too bad. The time wasn't great today but it will do for now."

Jessica Ennis is having a sensational summer and produced a superb run to win the 100m hurdles.

Ennis sits third in the world rankings for the heptathlon and her appearance here was as much about fine-tuning herself for Osaka. But what an outcome.

She beat defending champion Sarah Claxton in a ferocious finish, snatching victory in the last few stages in 13.25 secs.

Claxton was second in 13.31, with Gemma Bennett third in 13.44.

Ennis said: "My heptathlon is going so well there is no reason why I'd want to do single events at the moment, but the hurdles is something I might do as an individual discipline in the future."