Sotherton set to quit heptathlon

The 30-year-old rival of Sheffield's Jessica Ennis finally added a World Championship medal to the Olympic bronze she won in 2004 after finishing third in Osaka last week.

But Sotherton revealed it could be her final multi-event outing at the World Championships as she looks to stay injury-free heading into the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

"I want to go to 2012 and I don't want to be injured," she said.

"Heptathlon is an event where there is a high chance of injury and I have got so many things going on I struggle even now.

"I still want to have a life after athletics. I have never said 2012 is out of the question for heptathlon but I don't want to go there if I am full of injuries and after Beijing I might try other sports."

Rotherham

finished third in the Northern League promotion match at Wavertree, Liverpool, on Saturday behind Bolton and Blackburn.

With the top two going through to Division 1 next year, Rotherham appear to have missed out but there is still a glimmer of hope for the South Yorkshire club.

Northern champions Leeds City compete in the qualifying competition for a place in the National League in two weeks time. If they are successful then Rotherham are next in line to take their place in Northern League Division 1.

Rhian Hastey won the 800 metres for Rotherham in 1:58.5 and another middle distance success for the South Yorkshire team came from Jonathon Thewlis in the 1500 metres (4:06.1). In the women's events Robin Lanceley won the 1500 metres for Rotherham in 4:59.1 with Jo Walker winning the 3000 metres (10:44.4).

Rotherham also had B string winners Jessica Fawcett, 800 (2:24.9) and 1500 (5:17.1), Laura Spence, 3000 (10:53.8) and Helen White, shot (8.53).

Match score: 1 Bolton 427; 2 Blackburn 410.5; 3 Rotherham 358; 4 Preston 352; 5 Boston 334.5; 6 Middlesborough AC 308; 7 West Cheshire 289.