Lally lets fly to break British discus record

Jade Lally returned from the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam last weekend having sent British discus records tumbling.
Olympic Discus thrower Jade Lally at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre. Pic Steve Robards SR1618863 SUS-161207-140632001Olympic Discus thrower Jade Lally at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre. Pic Steve Robards SR1618863 SUS-161207-140632001
Olympic Discus thrower Jade Lally at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre. Pic Steve Robards SR1618863 SUS-161207-140632001

The Horsham athlete finished seventh in the final with a throw of 60.29m - the highest-ever finish and the furthest-ever distance thrown at the championship by any Brit, either male or female.

Earlier she had qualified for the final in ninth place with 58.76m, but despite her success Lally wanted to go even further.

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She said: “It was a bit disappointed originally - my aim was to get to the final. My next aim was to make the top-eight and have six throws. I then wanted to finish fifth. When you see other people struggling you step-up.

“It was really swirling wind conditions - if you flighted it during a gust it would carry it if it was blowing in the right direction.

“Martyn Rooney won the 400 metres and gave me a high fives which gave me more motivation to do well, as did Jazmin Sawyers when she won the long jump silver medal.”

Last week, Lally, 29, was named as the only discus thrower in the Team GB track and field squad for the Rio Olympics. She had already achieved the qualifying distance in Australia and New Zealand earlier in the year.

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She completed the second part of her journey towards Olympic selection by finishing in the top-two in the country which she did in style, winning the British Championship in Birmingham.

Lally, who works as a fitness trainer at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre, will be back in action this weekend at the Anniversary Games at the Olympic Park in London.

It will be the first time she has competed there in a major competition, having missed out on selection for the 2012 Olympics, despite being the country’s top thrower.

She added: “It will be great to finally throw there as I have only competed there as a guest in the British University Championships. I haven’t actually seen the exact entry list but it will be a very strong field, similar to an Olympic line-up.

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“My aim will be to throw 62m and finish around fourth, which should be good enough to make the Olympic final.”

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