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Proctor leaps to record

Image: Shara Proctor: Sealed her place in the Olympics with a record-breaking jump

Shara Proctor leaped into the record books and sealed her place in the Olympics at the trials in Birmingham.

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Proctor breaks 29-year-old GB long jump record to reach Olympics

Shara Proctor leaped into the record books and sealed her place in the Olympics at the trials in Birmingham on Sunday. Proctor broke a 29-year-old British record in the long jump, jumping 6.95 metres in the third round at the Alexander Stadium to surpass the previous mark of 6.90m set by Bev Kinch back in 1983. The 23-year-old had already secured the Olympic 'A' qualifying standard and therefore needed to finish in the top two to secure her place in London. She did so with victory ahead of the incredibly unlucky Lorraine Ugen, who smashed her personal best by 20cm with a leap of 6.74m in the second round, but that was agonisingly just one centimetre short of the 'A' standard of 6.75m. The 20-year-old could barely believe her bad luck as the distance flashed up on the scoreboard, exclaiming 'One centimetre' in disbelief. She will now have seven days to achieve the qualifying mark and claim her place on the team. Jessica Ennis, competing in her third event of the weekend after victories in the high jump and 100m hurdles, only managed a best of 6.27m, committing three fouls and twice running straight through the pit.