Talented trio with world at their feet

SHEFFIELD will boast three representatives at the World Athletics Championships, in Osaka.

The exodus will occur when 1500m runner Abby Westley, steeplechaser, Hatti Dean and heptathlete Jessica Ennis all say a cheery ‘sayonara’ to the Steel City, to embark on their Japanese adventure.

There are three attributes which link these young women; dedication, passion and modesty.

For baby of the bunch, Westley; aged 20, the World Championships will represent her senior Great Britain Championship debut.

The former Hallamshire Harrier turned down the chance to compete in the World Student Games in favour of the August 25th-Sept 2nd event, and has experienced a breakthrough summer season.

She has catapulted herself on to the athletics radar in 2007, with emphatic victories at the British Universities Championships, Loughborough International, European Cup First League and on the European circuit in Switzerland.

But the icing on the cake for the former High Storrs school pupil, was storming to the European under-23 1500m title in Hungary on her 20th birthday.

Westley is looking forward to the 1500m in Osaka saying: "I’m not nervous, as I got used to running with a camera in my face at the European Cup. I’m just so excited – I’ve worked so hard so it’s nice to get a reward.

“I’d like to reach the semi-final stage and run that as my final to see where it gets me. I’m confident I can run a personal best."

Currently ranked 2nd and 50th on the British and World lists respectively, with a sensational 4:08.76, Westley has come a long way since her first competitive outing; winning a 300m cross-country race as an eight-year-old in Endcliffe Park.

Initially a swimmer for the Dronfield Dolphins, she joined Hallamshire Harriers at 12. The support from family, friends and boyfriend, Tom; a national-standard 1500m runner, has ensured Westley’s achievements continue.

No stranger to pressure and attention, City of Sheffield AC multi-events star, JessicaEnnis heads into the Worlds as a genuine medal contender.

The 21 year-old’s exploits this season took the athletics world by storm. But, like the other girls, the Commonwealth Heptathlon bronze-medallist, refuses to succumb to the pressures.

“It’s nice to have people talk about me but I try not to think about it, and focus on bettering myself. In Osaka, I hope to get a personal best, and if that gets me a medal, it’ll be great.”

Ranked third in the World Heptathlon rankings, Ennis has had an unprecedented 2007 campaign.

She set out on a British record-breaking spree, as the 2006 European heptathlon 8th-placer equalled the 25-year-old high-jump mark of 1.95m and 2000 Olympic heptathlon Champion, Denise Lewis’ under-23 heptathlon record, with a superb 6388-tally in Italy.

Next on the agenda for the 2005 World University Games bronze-medallist was a scintillating 13.04 100m hurdles clocking, when claiming gold in the England Athletics under23 Championships; eclipsing 1992 Olympic 400m hurdles Champion, Sally Gunnell’s Championship record in the process.

The most eye-catching performance was her gold medal-winning display at the European Cup Combined Events Super League, in Poland which shot her to third in the global rankings.

Ennis surrounds herself with a close-knit network of friends and family. Her father, Vinroy; a schoolboy sprinter in Jamaica and boyfriend, Andy are just two of a large fan-club who help the Sheffield University psychology-graduate keep a balance in her life.

Further proof that elite athletes are just like any other ordinary people, is another Hallamshire Harrier, 25 year-old Hatti Dean. The Oxford and Sheffield University maths and statistics-graduate, combines full-time training with a job as a civil service statistician.

Having thrice broken the British 3000m steeplechase record this season, Dean goes into the Worlds brimming with confidence. Dean began her track campaign with double victory at the Yorkshire Championships, over 1500m flat and 2000m steeplechase; the latter performance lifting her to no.2 on the UK all-time lists, with a scintillating 6:30 clocking.

Dean then further impressed during England duty at the Loughborough International, by front-running to a comfortable 9:51 3000m steeplechase victory.

Next was the British Miler’s Club Grand Prix in Manchester; a meeting where Dean’s performance cemented her place in history.

Floating over the barriers to a swift 9:43.11; it was here where Dean notched up her first national record.

She then excelled in the international arena at the European Cup First League in Finland with an impressive emphatic 12-second victory, this time stopping the clock at 9:42.66; bettering her own British record. Continuing her spectacular vein of form, Dean progressed to a sensational 9:38.56 clocking at the Don Valley leg of the British Grand Prix, and was thus awarded $2500 for her efforts.

She then stormed to a scintillating 8:58 3000m flat clocking at the Crystal Palace Grand Prix.

Ranked 29th in the World over the barriers this year, Dean was keen to praise the help of her coaches during her track campaign thus far; “Bud (Baldaro) has been so good for my confidence; he’s always motivating me. Simon Richardson, my hurdles coach, has really helped too.

"I do get really nervous still, though," she reveals, "I find it hard when I'm expected to beat people.

"But running gives me confidence, it makes me happy. My aim for the Worlds is to get to the final.

Ex Tapton student Rebecca Lyne has pulled out of the Worlds due to a calf injury.