THREE local athletes made their marks in the BAF Olympic Trials meeting at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham.

Robert Brocklebank of Blackburn Harriers was far from overawed by the occasion. In fact he literally rose to it when he equalled his season's best in the high jump with a clearance 2.15 metres.

This gave him fifth place in a competition where Steve Smith of Liverpool beat Haringey's Dalton Grant for first place to avenge the London man's selection ahead of him in the Europa Cup team.

Robert's 2.15 metres was only six inches short of the winning height. Look at it as half the width of this page and you will see how close our local lad is to reaching the very top. Amanda Parkinson of Hyndburn was another local finalist at Birmingham. In the 1500 metres she clocked a personal best 2mins 18.94secs which gave her 10th place among the best in Britain.

The early pace was hot with the time at the bell 2mins 11secs. Considering that Amanda's best-ever mark in an actual 800m race is only 2mins 09secs she did well to finish as high as she did.

Most importantly, she is improving all the time. So is her clubmate Kerry Smithson who was eliminated in the heats of the 800m, but this was her first taste of a major championship and the experience is sure to help.

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