Chambers will be automatically selected for the European Indoor Championships next month
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World and European indoor champion Dwain Chambers won his fourth consecutive 60m title at the UK Championships in Sheffield. The 32-year-old won in a season's best time of 6.57 seconds, but Mark Lewis-Francis only came fourth behind Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Craig Pickering. Jodie Williams, 17, ran a personal best of 7.24 seconds to take the women's title on her first senior outing. Jessica Ennis won the high jump but only came seventh in the shot put. The 25-year-old British captain received treatment following the high jump after feeling tightness in her ankle.
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I'm quite shocked. To come here against such a good field, I'm lost for words really
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Ennis said she did not want to risk anything ahead of the European Indoor Championships in Paris next month. "I could just feel it a little towards the end so I thought there was no point pushing on and injuring myself. "I've covered all the events going into the Europeans bar the 800m so I'm quite happy with everything and just want to stay injury-free." Williams' victory makes her the youngest winner of the UK Indoor 60m title since 15-year-old Sonia Lannaman won in 1971.
Williams ran a personal best of 7.24 seconds
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She said: "I'm quite shocked. To come here against such a good field, I'm lost for words really. "I maybe expected to equal my PB but didn't expect to set another one. I've been working a lot on my starts and it's paid off." However, there was disappointment for Commonwealth 100m silver medallist Lewis-Francis and 2008 Olympic finalist Jeanette Kwakye who finished outside of the automatic qualification places for Paris. Kwakye, who recently returned after two years out with injury, finished in third place in a time of 7.33 seconds, whilst Mark Lewis-Francis could only manage fourth place. Only the first two athletes across the line are guaranteed a place on the team for the championships next month, with the team being announced on 22 February. Chambers revealed he adjusted his diet to make sure of his place in Paris: "I've lost about 3kg just this winter... sorted out my diet, loads of little things that could contribute to helping me out this year." "I've done the first stage and qualified and just have to keep myself in shape and try to get to Paris in one piece," he continued. In the men's 60m hurdles, Commonwealth and European outdoor champion Andy Turner finished ahead of the field in a time of 7.61 seconds. Former heptathlete Kelly Sotherton made her debut in the 400m, winning her semi-final in a time of 54.28 seconds. Sotherton will face Jenny Meadows in the final on Sunday. Helen Clitheroe gave a strong display in the 3,000m, winning in 8:55:26.
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